Dog
Group:
Terrier 
Parson Russell Terrier Champions
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Pronunciation:
pahr-suhn ruhs-uhl ter-ee-er
Breed Description:
The Parson Russell Terrier breed of dog is a small sized dog that should be well-balanced with a strong body that is robust and athletic. This should be a sturdy dog without being over weight and they should have a wedge shaped head. The ears should be folded forward and should be set moderately high on the tead. The tail should be medium in length and carried high, although it is commonly docked.
The Parson Russell Terrier can be found in two coat types. Both should have a soft, short undercoat and should follow the line of the dog. The coat types are:
Smooth: This is a short coat that has a shorter undercoat. The top coat should lay flat on the dog and it should be dense. The texture is hard.
Broken: This is a coat with a soft undercoat and a medium length top coat that is slightly longer than the smooth coated variety. The broken coat should have a wiry texture and can also be known as a wire coated Parson Russell Terrier. It should be free of any wave or curl but it is not straight in any way. The broken coat should have face furnishings including a beard and eyebrows.
Both coats can be found with a white coat that has markings in either tan, black or grizzle or a combination of two colors on white.
Temperament:
The Parson Russell Terrier breed of dog is a very mischievous and bright eyed dog that is full of personality. In fact, the breed is often described as being "Mr. Personality" and they spend much of their time delighting their owners. The Parson Russell Terrier is usually very friendly and affectionate and they love being with their family. They can make an excellent breed for an active child but they are not the best breed for young children since they can be snappish. The breed is usually very energetic and they are not a breed for everyone, espeically since they can be stubborn. This is a breed that needs a firm owner who can give consistent rules. They do not usually do well with other dogs unless they are properly socialized and they are not recommended for homes with small, non canine pets since they have a very strong prey drive. Potential buyers should be aware that this is a Terrier breed with all of the Terrier habits of chasing, digging and barking.
Height:
The average height for a Parson Russell Terrier is between 12 to 14 inches.
Weight:
The average weight for a Parson Russell Terrier is between 14 to 18 pounds.
Health Problems:
The Parson Russell Terrier breed of dog is a healthy breed of dog but they do have some health problems including Legg-Calve-Perthes Disease, Deafness, Patellar Luxation, Glaucoma and Lens Luxation.
Living Conditions:
The Parson Russell Terrier breed of dog can do very well in apartments if they are exercised properly, however, the ideal living condition is a home with a large fenced yard. In addition, while they do enjoy being outside, they should not be an outdoor dog; this is a breed that loves being with their owners.
Exercise:
The Parson Russell Terrier breed of dog is a very energetic breed of dog and will need about 60 minutes of exercise each day to stay healthy and happy. It is important to note that the breed will become very destructive if they are bored so exercise is very important.
Life Expectancy:
14 to 16 years
Grooming:
The Parson Russell Terrier breed of dog is a very easy breed to groom and they require little to no maintenance to keep their coats healthy. On average, you should expect to brush your dog on a weekly basis to remove dead hairs and dirt. A wipe down with a damp cloth will keep them clean and they should only be bathed when it is absolutely necessary. Ears should be cleaned on a regular basis and nails should be clipped once or twice a month.
Origin:
The Parson Russell Terrier breed of dog is actually the same breed as the Jack Russell Terrier, however, the name was changed to encourage acceptance by the AKC, which occurred in 2000. The Parson Russell Terrier is not a new breed and it can actually trace its origins back to the mid-1800's. The breed was first developed as a hunting dog to work alongside hunting hounds as a way to make foxes bolt from their dens. The breed was developed by Parson John Russell, which they gained their name. The Parson Russell Terrier gained popularity very quickly and by the early 1900's, the breed was imported into the United States. However, the breed did not gain acceptance by many kennel clubs until over a hundred years after its development. Comments
The standards for all the breeds accepted to the AKC are used here for breed information, and those not part of the AKC are resourced from FCI standard information, where it is written and coded into the club rules for those breeds.
