Where the Parson Russell Terrier came from
The Parson Russell Terrier is named for Reverend John Russell, born in 1795, who loved fox hunting and breeding small white terriers. In 1819 he bought a small white and tan terrier named Trump, who is said to be the start of his breeding program.
By the 1850s his dogs were known as a type of fox terrier. They were built to run with hounds and go to ground after a fox. John Russell was also a founding member of the Kennel Club in England in 1873.
The AKC recognized the breed as the Jack Russell Terrier in 1997, and changed the name to Parson Russell Terrier in 2003. The Parson is the taller, longer legged type, as opposed to the shorter legged Jack Russell.
- 1819 John Russell buys a small terrier named Trump, the start of his breeding line
- 1873 Reverend John Russell is among the founders of the Kennel Club in England
- 1997 AKC recognizes the breed as the Jack Russell Terrier
- 2003 AKC changes the breed name to Parson Russell Terrier
The job a Parson Russell Terrier was bred for
A hunting terrier that ran with the hounds, then went into the den to bolt the fox. That is why many Parsons are fast, driven, fearless and quick to chase anything small that moves.
What you may see at home
Nonstop energy, digs, chases small animals, escapes yards.
Give them: Flirt pole, barn hunt, agility, and lots of structured games.
Sports that fit a Parson Russell Terrier
- Agility. Fast, athletic and a good jumper
- Barn hunt. A safe way to use the hunting drive
- Earthdog. The breed's original work
- Fast CAT. Burns energy by chasing a lure in a straight line
- Flyball. A good match for a driven, fast dog
Training tips for a Parson Russell Terrier
- Give daily exercise and training. This breed has high energy and needs a job.
- Teach a firm recall and a leave it with high value treats, and practice with a long line.
- Keep the yard fenced well, since Parsons can dig and climb.
- Reward calm behavior and teach an off switch, because they can be nonstop.
Body and health
A lean, athletic dog with long legs. A very active breed can strain joints on hard jumps, so build fitness slowly. Ask the breeder about eye, knee and hearing testing.
Fun fact. Reverend John Russell, the man the breed is named after, was one of the founders of the Kennel Club in England in 1873.
Breed is where we start
A study of more than 18,000 dogs found breed explains only about 9 percent of the differences in behavior between dogs (Morrill and others, Science, 2022). So your Parson Russell Terrier is a starting guess, not a label. We find the drive your dog actually runs on, give it a job, and teach you to read them.
Free tools for your dog
- Breed drive calculatorMixed breed? Add the other breeds and see the drives your dog was bred with.
- Dog breed quizTen photos, four names each. The same quiz our trainers take.
- Dog drive testAnswer everyday moments and find the job your dog runs on.
Looking for a different breed? See what 137 breeds were bred to do, and download any of their guides.