The Parson Russell Terrier

The Parson Russell Terrier is none other then the Jack Russell Terrier; he got a name change back in 2003. This is an active dog that has plenty of spunk, he loves everything he does and really puts his heart into it; he has a lot of stamina and is generally known as a courageous dog. Because of this fear nothing nature he will take on any dog that is three times his size and not notice the difference.

These are dogs that love to be part of the family and everything that the family does, they are very loving and affectionate but that is combined with a good stubborn streak. Because of his active nature, the Parson Russell Terrier does need to have a lot of exercise but at the same time he is not to be trusted, so a fenced in area is really a must when it comes to this breed. If you do not have much time to spend with this dog, then do not bother to get one because they live off of the attention of their owners, when they do not get it they will most likely become destructive, which means that they will start dogging and chewing and just being destructive in general. This dog also likes to bark so he is a good watchdog.

This dog is a smart dog that can learn things really fast but because of his stubborn streak and know it all personality, it can get rough when trying to teach him…that means that this is a dog that is best with those that have some experience working with dogs, when training it is best to motivate him with praise and play with a little bit of treat reward mixed in…but even then it will take a while, and a lot of patience to get anything accomplished. This is a dog that is best with no other animals in the house because he has a very strong prey drive he will try to eat the hamster and he will try to get the cat, they are not to be left alone with another dog, especially with another Russell terrier because the consequences can be anything but pleasant.

This is a small dog, well put together; he has a sturdy athletic build and an intelligent look about him. When it comes to the coat of the Parson Russell Terrier…well, there are two kinds, the broken coat and the smooth coat; as you might have guessed, the broken coat has a very rough texture to it and the smooth coat is close fitting and silky. The colors of the coat can be white with brown, tan or black markings, there are also tri-colored to be found. The Parson Russell Terrier can reach a height of 13-15 inches at the shoulder and a weight of 12-17 pounds.

The coat of the Parson Russell Terrier varies in the grooming according to what type you have: the broken coat or the smooth coat. The broken coat needs to be brushed at lest once a week, and it needs to be clipped every couple of months to keep it in top condition. For show dogs the coat will need to be stripped. On the other hand the smooth coat variety needs very little grooming, it just needs to be brushed about once a week to keep it in top condition, these dogs do shed year around so they are probably not the best for those suffering from allergies.

This dog is known for being a healthy breed that can live for about 13-15 years, but there are the occasional health problems associated with the breed, such as: deafness, eye problems, thyroid problems and others. Because of the problems it is best to find a good breeder that can offer health guarantees on his dogs and on his puppies, not to mention the fact that the puppies that originally come from a good environment are much more likely to be well socialized and many times even some of their training has already begun. Always ask to see proof of veterinary visits not only for the puppy but also for the parents of the puppy, it will cost more money in the end but you will get a better dog because of the effort.