Parson Russell Terrier is an interesting breed of dog from the UK. These cute animals were bred to hunt small game. However, such a dog can be a great companion, or just a fun four-legged friend. Consider in more detail the features of this breed, find out to whom it is suitable and what care requires.
Origin history
The breed received such a name for a reason. The fact is that it was created by an English priest. "Parson" is translated from English as "pastor". Russell is the name of the priest.
John Russell was very fond of fox hunting, so he needed a four-legged assistant who would drive the prey out of the hole. The dog was supposed to have a mind, speed, stamina, sensitive sense of smell and hearing. He had to calmly walk next to the horse, and if necessary, fearlessly rush into the pursuit of a fox. Then he should have called the owner with a clear bark.
At the same time, courage, hunting excitement, persistence in achieving the goal should have been combined with a friendly disposition. The pastor did not seek to breed an aggressive breed. He wanted the four-legged hunter to track and drive the prey from the hole, but not to tear it.
In 1819, a priest acquired a female wire-haired terrier from a milkman. The dog was white with beige color. With this, the process of breeding a new breed began.
Crossbreeding involved many fighting species. Thus courage, fearlessness, and a strong grip on the dogs were formed. Only bulldogs were not used because of their excessive aggressiveness.
Only the working qualities of the animals were taken into account. Beauty was not important to the pastor.Nevertheless, the result is a breed with very nice external data.
Until 1990, the world knew only the Russell Terrier breed. However, in 2001, the International Cynological Federation decided to distinguish two subspecies. Each of them (Jack Russell Terrier and Parson Russell Terrier) got its own breed standards. The main difference was the height of the animals. In Europe, individuals with longer legs (the second subspecies) became more popular.
Today, the Parson Russell Terrier is a breed that is in demand in many countries, including Russia. Some still use animals for hunting. Some keep them as farm working dogs. Often a pet plays the role of a companion. An active and curious dog can make an excellent company for an athlete, a travel lover.
The main thing is not to forget about the need for daily physical activity. It will be difficult for the animal to sit for days in a city apartment.
Breed description
Parson Russell Terrier is a short-haired small dog. Boys reach 34-38 cm in height. Girls are slightly smaller - 31-35 cm. Weight is not specified in the standard.
Consider the description of the adult representative of the breed in more detail.
- Head. The skull is medium sized. Muzzle slightly narrowed. The nose is wide, black. Jaws strong, regular bite (scissor-like).
The lips are pigmented in dark color. The eyes are almond-shaped, dark brown. The look is smart, insightful. The ears are small, V-shaped.
- Body. The neck is medium length, rather muscular. The body is proportional. The back is straight, the stomach is tight.
The ribs are movable. This feature allows the animal to crawl into the hole. The tail is straight, high, can be cropped.
- Limbs. The legs are strong, straight, have an average length. They stand parallel to each other. Dog movements are free, light, well-coordinated.
As for the coat, it is characterized by rigidity, the presence of undercoat. The fur covers the entire body of the animal. In this case, 3 lengths are allowed.
- Relatively long coat. Typically, these pets have pronounced eyebrows, mustaches and a beard. For the convenience of the animal itself, in this case, trimming is necessary.
- The coat is medium length. Such dogs are also trimmed.
- Short coat. These dogs give the impression of a smooth coat. They don’t need a haircut.
It is worth noting that until the final length, the hair grows after puppies reach 2 months. Up to this point, it may not be clear what type the baby belongs to on this basis.
The color of thoroughbred representatives varies. Occasionally completely snow-white individuals are found. But more often the Parson Russell Terriers are spotted.
The main color is white. It may be located spots and drawings of brown, red, black colors in any combination. The number and location of colored areas are diverse, but more often it is the back, tail region, muzzle.
Tiger color and spotting of more than 50% are considered unacceptable by the standard.
Character Features
Parson Russell Terrier is a funny and very energetic doggie. He quickly becomes attached to a person, loves attention, communication. The dog is friendly, does not show aggressiveness, plays with children with pleasure. However, whether the terrier makes friends with other pets depends on the specific case. With dogs, it’s easier for him to find a common language, but cats can annoy him.
It is especially undesirable to settle small rodents in the same house as the dog, which will provoke his hunting instinct.
As already mentioned, representatives of this breed need constant movement. They are temperamental, like long walks, active interesting activities. Therefore, such a dog is recommended to start only energetic people. If you do not give the pet the necessary physical development opportunities, he will suffer.
Dogs are smart, easy to educate. Moreover, they are able to make independent decisions. Among the shortcomings can be noted some pooping dogs in relation to other dogs. In addition, they are restless naughty (especially in childhood and adolescence).
In general, the owners of Parson Russell Terriers speak of their pets as loyal, charming, playful and quick-witted animals.
Life span
This breed is distinguished by good health and good immunity. This explains the rather long life span of animals. On average, these dogs live from 13 to 16 years. Of course, a lot depends on good nutrition and care.
How to choose a puppy?
If you want to get a thoroughbred puppy, it is better to contact a trusted breeder. It is important to know the conditions in which puppies are kept. It is advisable to verify the authenticity of the documents. If possible, it is worth getting to know the mom of the kids, assessing her appearance and health.
When choosing a pet should be preferred strong and energetic individuals. Thin puppies are better not to take. The same applies to the most well-fed. Be sure to find out what vaccinations the animal has already received.
The puppy's nose should be moist and cool.. It is also worth paying attention to the mucous membranes. They should be light pink, but not too pale. The coat should be silky. Individuals with a docked tail are preferred.
You can take the puppy to a new home at the age of 8 weeks. Experts say that these kids are already independent and ready to get acquainted with the new conditions. Moreover, the puppy can already be raised, instilled in him norms of behavior.
Content Rules
Parson Russell Terrier feels great in a house or apartment. But on the street, even in an insulated booth, the dog will be uncomfortable. Not only that, if you live in the middle lane, a harsh winter can be fatal for a pet.
Representatives of this breed are compact, do not take up much space. In addition, they are clean, have no smell of "dog", almost do not fade.
The only caveat is the need for daily long walks. At the same time, it should be not just calm walking next to the owner, but a variety of active games and tasks.
If the dog cannot realize all its irrepressible energy in the fresh air, it can begin to bully at home. This can be expressed in damage to furniture or some things, noisy fuss, obsession.
Ideal conditions for the dog - a private house with a spacious territory for games and running.
Urban alternative - special areas for walking. In the summer, the pet will be happy to ride with the owners to the cottage, picnics, go hiking. At home he needs to equip a cozy corner with a comfortable couch. It is also recommended to buy toys for the dog so that at any moment she can occupy herself with something.
Care
The breed does not require special care. Animals almost do not fade. If the pet is short-haired, it is enough to comb it every week using a stiff brush. If the hair is medium length or longer, you need a haircut. Most dog breeders turn to specialists for this.
Despite the fact that these dogs have a fairly light color, they do not need frequent washing. Pet hair is cleaned naturally. In this regard, water procedures are carried out only in case of severe pollution. Also, females should be washed after estrus.
Mandatory hygiene measures include regular inspection of the ears and eyes of the animal. If necessary, they are cleaned with a cotton swab dipped in veterinary lotion. You can also use chamomile infusion.
Dogs are taught to brush their teeth from an early age. To do this, purchase special paste and brush in a specialized store. The procedure is carried out at least twice a week. Do not forget about claw trimming.
To maintain the health of the pet, it is important to maintain its proper nutrition, timely vaccination. Regular checkups with a veterinarian are required.
What to feed?
The breed is characterized by increased energy, so the nutrition should be quite high-calorie and balanced. Nearly half the diet should be proteins, because daily exercise requires strong muscles. At the same time, fats, carbohydrates, dietary fiber and fiber are also necessary for the normal functioning of the digestive tract and the well-being of the pet.
If the owner decided to feed the dog with natural food, he should include in the menu beef, turkey, offal. Chicken and pork in this case will not work. They can even trigger allergies and digestive upsets. To strengthen the muscles of the jaw, animals are given bones. Sea fish can be part of the diet, but only after the elimination of fins and bones.
Useful to dogs porridge. In particular, rice, buckwheat and oatmeal are good. The best option is a mixture of boiled cereals with meat or fish. Also, a pet can get vitamins from vegetables. The latter give both raw and processed form (boiled, stewed). Sometimes you can please the dog with an apple or a pear.
It is worth noting that terriers are prone to rapid weight gain, therefore, regardless of the type of feeding, it is important to monitor the daily norm of calories consumed. It is impossible to overfeed a dog.
Parenting
Parson Russell Terriers are pretty smart. They understand the teams very well, but excessive independence, activity and unbalance prevent them from being ideal students. In this regard, the learning process requires patience and firmness of character from the owner.
Funny dogs have a good memory, but quickly lose interest in boring training. To achieve obedience, you should turn learning into an entertaining gameplay. Then the restless pet will show attention, and training will be much more effective.
It is also important to encourage the dog, praise him for his merits. Scolding for disobedience is not worth it, it is better to try to interest the animal. It’s better to start training at an early age. The same applies to socialization and mastering the rules of behavior in the house.
Long legs allow representatives of this breed to run fast, overcome various obstacles. In this regard, many owners of hunting terriers introduce them to participate in mini-agility. If you are fond of hunting, then the skills that allow you to track and catch game should also be developed in the dog from childhood. The instincts are inherent in the animal from the beginning, but only the improvement of abilities will make it a truly valuable assistant in this matter.
You can learn interesting facts about the representatives of this breed from the next video.
