Jack Russell Terrier: English den dog, specialist in tunnels and King of tunnels where rabbits reign supreme.
The Jack Russell Terrier is considered to be one of the smartest dogs in the world.
Used for hunting game that hides in burrows, such as foxes, badgers and rabbits, this breed has starred in several Hollywood films.
Some small dog breeds used to track down wild animals such as badgers, rabbits and foxes are considered "den dogs".
The most common breeds of "burrow dogs" are part of the dachshund and terrier family.
The purpose of the den dogs is to force the wild to leave the den and come out into the open, thus giving the hunter the opportunity to take it down. Many specimens of the lair breeds, in recent years, have been considered and used as companion dogs, thanks to their cheerful and affectionate character and their small size.
But the real "application" of these breeds is hunting; in fact, from the hunting point of view, some breeds from lair are added to the packs for the hunted hunts, in particular the wild boar.
The Jack Russell Terrier is a small breed of dog that originated in England but developed in Australia. For this reason the breed is also known by the names: Australian Jack Russell Terrier, Parson Russell Terrier and Russell Terrier.
The Jack Russell is native to the Devon region, in England in the 1800s, thanks to the work of the Reverend John Russell, who selected a type of Terrier suitable for running with his Foxhounds and able to enter the den, creating a breed with the inclination to hunt.
When Russell came into possession of the "mythical" dog named Trump with hunting skills, the reverend decided to engage in the selection and reproduction of specimens with the same characteristics, by mating Trump with Fox Terriers.
Two varieties resulted from this union: the taller variety now known as the Parson Russell Terrier, suitable for chasing horses on hunting trips, and the shorter, short-legged variety known as the Jack Russell Terrier. The specimens of the latter variety were transported on horseback to the hunting site and released when the fox took refuge in the den.
This breed therefore gained the ability to hunt foxes, badgers and rabbits directly from the den, as well as all the "terriers" which are literally "den dogs".
The Jack Russell was only recognized by the FCI in 2000 after the Parson Jack Russell Terrier was declared in 1990 as a distinct breed. The difference between these two varieties is mainly found in the size, as the Jack Russell is of smaller proportions and lower height.
The recent and perhaps too late recognition of the Jack Russell has meant that the specimens can present very different characteristics, to the point that there are specimens recognized as Jack Russell which, however, do not have the typical standards of the breed after a careful morphological analysis.
Only with meticulous work and thanks to the support and incentive provided by the recognition of the breed, the characteristics of the Jack Russel can become detailed and give life to a "definitive" breed standard.
The Jack Russell terrier is predominantly white in color, with a combination of brown, and / or black markings that usually occur on the head more than on other parts of the dog's body. Its height at the withers is between 25-30 cm, while the ideal weight is 1 kilogram for every 5 cm of height.
The tail is short and rises upwards, the nose and lips are black, the small ears are V-shaped and fall forward, while the eyes are brown and "awake".
The hair is of three types: smooth, rough and Broken, the latter obtainable by crossing specimens of the first two types. The absolute majority of Jack Russells, especially in Italy, have smooth hair and only the most specialized farms are able to afford to breed them with rough hair.
The character is very lively, in fact it is a very attentive and intelligent dog, very playful and never boring. It becomes very balanced when well raised and lends itself well to company for children. The Jack Russel is very brave and determined and is also an excellent guardian for the property. It is also suitable for sports such as agility.
The true Jack Russell has a bright, yet totally manageable and reliable character. It is an ideal breed for those who have a lot of time and desire to devote themselves to the creation of a valid relationship with their dog, since it will never lack attention and receptivity.
It is strongly not recommended to let his character develop without constant guidance, because in most cases it would result in a very unbalanced and disobedient subject, as with all dog breeds.