Rancho Rivera Russell Terriers

Since January of 2001, the United Kennel Club viewed the 10-12 inch Jack Russell Terrier as a "Russell Terrier," and pets registered during that time were considered "Russell Terriers."  However, since Ireland, England and Australia see the shorter dog as a "Jack Russell Terrier," and since in those countries the longer-legged dogs are known as "Parson Russell Terriers," as of January 2009, the UKC now sees the 10-12 inch dogs as "Jack Russell Terriers."

HOW CONFUSING IS THAT!  Did you get that?  Bottom line, our Russell Terriers are now Jack Russell Terriers . . . again . . . through the United Kennel Club (UKC.)

Now, keep in mind that  the 10-12 inch dog has been recorded in the Foundation Stock Service of the American Kennel Club (AKC) since October 2005 as a "Russell Terrier."  The AKC sees the 13-14 inch dogs as "Parson Russell Terriers."

Long story short (no pun intended) if you purchase a true "Russell Terrier" that is double-registered with both the AKC-Foundation Stock Service and the UKC, your puppy will be both a "Jack Russell Terrier" (from the UKC’s perspective) and a "Russell Terrier" (from AKC’s perspective.)  Nevertheless, he will still be the same sweet, lovable, athletic dog!  And these precious dogs have won our hearts.

The longer-legged Jack Russell in Ireland, England and Australia are known as the “Parson Russell Terrier.” That same type dog in the United States is known as the “Jack Russell Terrier.”

The Reverend John Russell was a parson from the 19th century. (In the pre-reformation church, a parson was the priest of a parish church not under the control of a larger ecclesiastical or monastic organization, or what’s called an independent parish church.) He had a passion for fox hunting, for which he developed the well-known variation of Fox Terriers. From this variation was developed the Jack Russell Terrier, the smooth and wire Fox Terriers and a fourth breed was also developed from these hunting terriers.

This was the smaller, longer-bodied, shorter-legged dog used almost entirely to hunt rabbits and vermin.

(Vermin are various animal species regarded as nuisances or pests, such as rodents.)

For years, these shorter dogs were referred to as “shorties” or “puddin” or “puds.” Through the work of many hard-working people who loved this smaller breed, the UKC recognized the short-legged dogs as Russell Terriers on January 1, 2001.

Through growing recognition and again of hard work, the AKC has begun to accept the Russell Terriers for recording in their AKC Foundation Stock Service. As of February 9, 2007, the AKC Board of Directors approved the eligibility of Russell Terriers to compete in AKC Companion Events. This was effective January 1, 2008. Because of this eligibility, Russell Terriers can now compete in all venues of obedience, tracking, agility and rally.