Parson Russell Terrier
Other names: Parson Terrier, Parson, Parson Jack Russell Terrier

Parson Russell Terriers are small dogs with large personalities. Being members of the Terrier group, they were originally bred for hunting rats, badgers and foxes. This dog has abundant energy levels and can keep working all day. It’s just not possible to fool a Parson Russell Terrier, as he is a very intelligent dog and brilliant at solving problems. These small dogs don’t appear to be afraid of anything and have very independent minds.
Key facts about the Parson Russell Terrier
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Origins and history
The Reverend John Russell, a keen country sportsman, was the originator of the Parson Russell breed. It was bred for the first time in the early 1800’s, with a bitch named Trump, who was thought to have been purchased from a milkman. With a white body and tail and head markings, the first line of Jack Russell Terriers began. The breed later became recognised as the Parson Russell, (as opposed to the Jack Russell who has slightly shorter legs) with KC recognition following several years later in 1990.
FCI breed nomenclature
FCI Group
Group 3 - Terriers
Section
Section 1 : Large and medium sized Terriers
Physical characteristics of the Parson Russell Terrier
Adult size
Female : Between 12 and 14 in
Male : Between 13 and 15 in
Weight
Female : Between 11 and 18 lb
Male : Between 11 and 18 lb
Coat colour
These small dogs are generally white, or mainly white with either black, lemon or tan markings. Any combination of these colours is acceptable, however the colour patches are usually located on the head or the end of the dog’s tail.
Type of coat
The Parson Russell Terrier has a short coat.
The Parson Russell Terrier can have a variety of coat types. Either smooth, broken or rough coated, all have dense, close hair which is weather resistant. The coat should always have a natural look, and this little dog never needs to go to the grooming salon.
Eye colour
The dog’s eyes are dark in colour, and they are always almond shaped, with an intelligent, keen expression.
Description
The characteristics of this small terrier show that he is built for endurance and stamina. With an agile and very active temperament, he is always prepared to begin work. He has a wedge-shaped head, black nose and muscular, strong jaws. The dog’s ears are quite proportionate to his head, dropping forward and are V-shaped.
If the dog’s tail hasn’t been docked, it will have a straight appearance of moderate length. It has previously been customary to dock the tail to a desired length. His legs are moderately longer than his counterpart’s, the Jack Russell Terrier.
Good to know
Although the Parson Russell breed isn’t as well-known as its counterpart, the Jack Russell Terrier, they are still very popular with the country sporting fraternity. Trump, the first known parent of the breed, has her image immortalised as a portrait which in still on display at Sandringham House, the home of King Edward VII, who bought the painting following Reverend Parson’s death.
There are no known cross-breeds with a Parson Russell Terrier, although there are many for his fellow dog, the Jack Russell. The Parson Russell Terrier is a close family member to the Jack Russell Terrier. Similarly, both breeds have been used for fox-hunting, are confident, alert and very enduring dogs. Although this dog might be a quick-tempered rascal at times, it’s impossible to deny his cuteness.
Temperament
Behaviour of the Parson Russell Terrier
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Compatibility
Price
Expect to pay anywhere between £450 to £650 for a dog, depending if he is KC registered or not.
Taking into consideration the cost of pet insurance and vaccinations, together with feeding costs, a Parson Russell terrier will set you back around £50 to £70 per month.
Grooming
As the Parson Russell terrier has a short, dense coat, regular brushing will keep him looking prim and proper. It will also help if the coarse type of broken haired coat is stripped once or twice a year.
Shedding
There are two coat types of the Parson Russell Terrier. The smooth-coated type do shed hair quite often, whereas the roughs and broken-coated dogs don’t lose their coat, but do need to be stripped.
Nutrition of the Parson Russell Terrier
As these are quite energetic dogs, they do have very healthy appetites. Two small meals a day, of a well-balanced diet should meet their digestion and energy needs.
Health of the Parson Russell Terrier
Life expectancy
13 to 15 years.
Strong / robust
A very wiry, wilful constitution makes this small terrier quite hardy and strong.
Withstand heat
Even though this terrier has a dense coat, he is quite happy to live indoors.
Withstand cold
Never seeming to stay still for very long at all, the high energy levels of this small dog keep him on the move for most of the day. Although quite happy to be a house dog, he is equally content to be outdoors, digging in the hedgerows or fields, in search of vermin.
Tendency to put on weight
Because of their agility and constant energy levels, these small dogs don’t tend to gain weight.
Common illnesses
Some possible problems that this breed can inherit are:
- Cataracts – cloudy opacity of the eye lens
- Lens luxation – eye issues when the lens dislocates
- Luxating patellas – kneecap problems
- Canine Hip dysplasia