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Breed profile

Jack Russell Terrier

Small, fearless working terrier, shorter-legged than the Parson Russell. Big energy and a strong prey drive in a 5 to 6 kg package.

White Jack Russell Terrier with tan head and body patches standing alert on a sunny wooden boardwalk beside a rock garden
Compact, alert and plainly up to something.Photo: Bernt Rostad from Oslo, Norway / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
Weight
5–6 kg11–13 lb
Height
25–30 cm10–12 in
Lifespan
12–15 yrs
Group
Terrier
Origin
England & Australia
Popularity
#60 US#47 UK · 2025

Known for: Low groomingWorking dogs

Energy
Shedding
Trainability
Barking
Good with kids
Flat-friendly

Temperament

Fearless, Energetic, Bold, Stubborn.

Health problems to know about

  • Primary lens luxation (DNA test available)
  • Spinocerebellar and late-onset ataxia
  • Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease
  • Patellar luxation

Ask breeders for the parents' health test results, and check what your national breed club recommends screening for.

Daily care

An hour of exercise a day plus games and training to keep the brain busy. Secure fencing, since they dig and chase. Weekly brush.

A good fit for

Active owners who enjoy training and dog sports and find a cheeky, opinionated dog funny.

Probably not ideal for

Homes with cats, rabbits or rodents, very young children, and owners wanting a quiet lap dog.

Sources

  1. Royal Kennel Club: Jack Russell Terrier
  2. Wikipedia: Jack Russell Terrier

Popularity: AKC 2025 registration rankings (US); Royal Kennel Club 2025 registrations (UK, ranked by us). Breed traits are tendencies, not guarantees. Individual dogs vary, and mixed breeds and rescues can be wonderful fits too.

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Rat Terrier

Compact American farm terrier bred to clear barns of rats. Quick to learn, keen to work, and happiest with a job to do.

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Miniature Bull Terrier

The Bull Terrier in a smaller frame: egg-shaped head, comic timing and a stubborn streak.

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Parson Russell Terrier

A leggy, fox-hunting terrier built to keep up with hounds. Bright, tireless, and always checking whether that hole goes anywhere.

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Manchester Terrier

A sleek black-and-tan ratting terrier with a whippet's lines. Smart, loyal and easy to groom, with a sharp eye for anything small that runs.

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