Sometime around 1989 the Australian KC started registering the 10-11 inch tall "Jack Russell Terriers". These are not the crooked legged, long backed dogs that we call puddins here in the US. They are far more uniform in conformation, straight legs, head in proportion to the body, etc.

In 1990, The Kennel Club (Great Britain's KC) recognized the 12 -15 inch variety of JRT as a "Parson Jack Russell Terrier" (recent name change now calls them Parson Russell Terriers). Most, if not all, of the rest of Europe recognizes Parsons and they are registered via the FCI (don't ask me what that stands for, its foreign & unpronounceable). Some countries in Europe will "record" the short legged JRT's with FCI, but they don't have the same sort of registration as Parsons. In the US, the AKC recognized the "Parson" type of JRT (12-15 inches) in 1998 into the Misc. Group. They moved into the Terrier Group and were able to earn championships in April of 2000. So in a nut shell, all Parson's are Jacks, but not all "Jacks" are Parsons.

Julie Dalbey
Somerset Jack Russell Terriers
Dallas, OR
Jack_Russells@yahoogroups.com
 

I'm from OZ - the JRT (10-12") was, unfortunately for the breed, recognised by the ANKC (Austr. Nat.Kennel Council) 11 years ago. They purloined the JRTC of Australia's standard, changed a few words. Their reason was purely financial - they needed more dogs in terrier group as fox terriers etc were out of fashion. - oh the JRTC of Aust still exists and thrives - their members have imported a couple of dogs from the US and Canada quite recently.

The KC breed standard calls for 10-12" marginally longer than tall when measured from the withers to base of tail / wither to ground. Straight legs.

The English KC was probably a bit "pissed off" with us mere Colonials (LOL) so they decided to recognise a breed "Parson Jack Russell Terrier" a more square dog with the recommended height being 12" and over, bitches ideally 13", dogs to 14" but could be taller without penalty.

Both types Parson and Jack MUST BE SPANNABLE BY A MANS HANDS - viz. their girth should be no larger than 43 cms (I've forgotten what the translation in inches is but I thinks is about 13" around the girth}. The reason for span ability - was the working ability - if either dog was not "lithe and active" it couldn't turn around in a small den if it had to - so they should be supple in body.

About 2 years ago (or when the breakaways in the USA from JRTC of America got into the AKC) the English were asked to change the name of the Parson JR to Parson Russell - because a man in the USA owns the name Parson Jack Russell and was not prepared to let it go - he is a purist and didn't want the type of dog recognised. They did this and effective last year the taller type was renamed Parson Russell Terrier.

I breed, show, race, hunt both of what used to be 2 types and 1 breed, which are now 2 breeds with an ever-widening gap in their genepool similarity. My JR's carry tall genes - from the pre-KC ancestors (who were fox terriers and parson JRs) - because tall is a dominant gene over small. So I can produce pups that grow to 15" tall from 2 parents who are both 11" tall!!

It is a bit confusing to the newcomer to breeding - but they don't bother to research the genetic background either. I've been breeding JRs for 18 years - originally with the JRTC of Austr - and some of my dogs are still dual registered with both JRTC of Aust and ANKC (show dog mob).

Hope this expands and expounds a bit further?? If you want to see both types "carrying a stick" together - have a look at my community website at http://communities.ninemsn.com.au/DHAtheHarveyteam

Denise and the DHA team from Downunder