Parson Russell Terrier

Even though they are quite mischievous, these small terriers make brilliant companion pets. They thrive on human interaction, and are always ready for an adventure or a game. Be prepared though, he won’t enjoy lazing around on the sofa too much.

Having boundless energy, this dog will always be wanting to play another game of fetch the ball. They do, however, get bored quite easily. One of their worst habits is digging. They are bred to dig and go underground chasing vermin, so if he gets the chance to dig a hole, he is in his element.

Famous for their antics and mischievousness, these little dogs like to be on the move. Very high-spirited, they love raising a laugh with their owners.

Although amusing and entertaining, this breed is known for its intelligence and high energy.

This breed of terrier has a very playful and mischievous temperament. Over many years they have been bred to hunt out all types of vermin from underground. Because of this high prey drive, they are quite unsuitable for living with cats and other small pets.

It’s not very often that a Parson Russell Terrier shows any signs of aggression towards humans. They are quite happy when any strangers visit their home, although they will probably bark when someone knocks at the door.

This little dog loves nothing more than to be involved in whatever is going on around them. Even going so far as to look for escapades, especially if it involves digging in the garden.

You will quite often find your Terrier following you around as you go about daily tasks. Not really suited to solitude, this friendly little pup loves to be around people. Being left alone for long periods will cause boredom and destructive behaviour such as digging or chewing.

Early training and mixing with people from a young age will produce a happy, sociable pet. Although the Parson Russell is a very intelligent dog, they do get easily bored. Because of this, short training sessions, without much repetition, are advised. Patient, consistent and firm training methods are required.

If your dog is alarmed by someone at the door, he will bark, but otherwise is quite a serene canine.

As a result of his hunting leanings, when you are out walking and he sees or smells any vermin, he will chase off after it without hesitation. Because of this, in certain situations its best to keep him on a long leash to prevent him from running off. As a digger, he will be prepared to dig an escape route under the garden boundary, in search of new adventures.

Not normally a destructive character, but given his predisposition for digging out his prey, he will quite happily dig under the garden fence without a second thought. Likewise, when bored, he will chew on anything in his reach.

Although these are small terriers, they do need sufficient food intake to match their energy levels. Although not greedy pets, they do love treats as rewards when training.

Although he will bark to warn you of anyone approaching the home or knocking at the door, he isn’t likely to ward off any threats or attack anyone. His voice is certainly louder than his bite, except when it comes to the postman approaching your door!

Don’t be fooled by the small size of this terrier. He is an active dog who is always on the move, certainly not suited to apartment living. If he is cooped up in a small space, he can easily become bored, which can lead to destructive behaviour. Any outside space must be fenced off, as the Parson Russell Terrier is prone to chasing anything that moves, such as cats, rabbits, squirrels and even motorbikes.

Parson Russell terriers are very active pets that absolutely love chasing balls. In fact, this is one activity that he will never tire of playing.

These small dogs are very happy to travel in a car, or even in the boot space for small journeys.

As this breed of dog have high hunting instincts, they don’t generally get along too well with small pets, particularly from the rodent family. However, if a puppy is trained from an early age to respect and live with cats and other small pets, they can generally get along together.

This spirited little dog will happily get along with and live in the same home as other dogs, especially if they have been raised together from a young age.

Although they love being with family, he won’t be happy with lots of pulling and teasing. Because of this, they aren’t really suited to families with young children.

Although this terrier is happy as a companion pet, he does need lots of exercise and daily walks, so perhaps not suited to an elderly owner.

Given his strong and sometimes stubborn personality, the Parson Russell Terrier is only recommended for owners who already have experience in training dogs, and know how to assume their position as pack leader. It is not a first-time owner breed.