Small
15 Years
8 Kg
Terrier Dogs
Alert, Cheerful, Energetic, Intelligent, Lively
The Parson Russell Terrier is a medium-sized working terrier, compact and athletic. It features a flat, moderately broad head that narrows gradually to the eyes. It has a black nose, deeply set, almond-shaped eyes of dark colouring, small, v-shaped ears that drops forward and carried close to the head, and muscular jaws with regular scissor bite. The muscular neck is thick at the base, provides adequate support for the broad head. The legs of the Parson Russell Terrier are straight and muscular; supporting a body with a fairly small chest (can be easily spanned by average sized hands) and an appearance that is slightly longer than it is tall. The feet are firmly padded which cushion the breed effectively in any terrain. The highly-set tail is customarily docked and is carried gaily. The harsh coat is close and dense and comes entirely white or white with tan, lemon or black markings, or any combination of these colours.
All dog breeds have different levels of intellect. Some dog breeds; working dogs in particular, are very independent thinkers and have been evolved to be very intelligent. Typically, a highly intelligent dog does well in obedience training and other activities. A highly intelligent dog can be very demanding and do require lots of physical and mental stimulation. If you’re looking for a relatively laid-back dog, that doesn’t require lots of mental and physical stimulation, then you must fully understand the level of intelligence of your dog breed of choice.
Before committing to a certain dog breed, you must fully understand their intellect levels and their specific levels of energy. To keep your dog well-balanced and happy, their needs must be met and maintained.
All dog breeds have different needs when it comes to the level of exercise they require. For the high energy dogs; which are your typical working dogs, they have a lot of energy and require lots of daily exercise along with plenty of mental stimulation. A highly energetic dog breed would suit an individual or family that is equally as active and loves the outdoors. There are also breeds that have relatively low exercise needs, such as toy dog breeds. Although they require daily exercise and mental stimulation, they’re just as happy chilling at home with their loved ones. This type of dog breed would suit an individual or family that prefers the peace and quiet and relaxation.
Before deciding on your chosen dog breed, Mypetzilla recommends that you research the exercise needs and whether you’re well equipped before committing to buying or adopting a particular dog breed.
There are several dog breeds that are known and potentially predisposed to developing health related conditions. Sensible breeding can help prevent the onset of health related conditions and this should always be taken into condition when researching your dog breed of choice. Before committing to a dog, you should speak to the breeder about any health related conditions that may affect the dog you’re looking to buy or adopt. You can also request to see any test results from genetic testing.
There are many dog breeds that tolerate children really well and are not affected by the constant noise and need for play-time. However, there are some dog breeds that don’t do very well with children and can become frustrated and snappy. That being said, all children should be shown how to handle and care for a dog in their home and should always be supervised when playing. As much as a dog can become annoyed and snappy with a younger child, the child can also become less tolerant and misbehaved towards the dog.
Mypetzilla recommends that you always supervise play-time between your children and dog. Children need to respect the boundaries and feeding time for the dog and likewise for the child. We also strongly advise that play-time doesn’t get out of control and too rough which can cause injury to both child and dog.
There are lots of dog breeds that are well suited to living in an apartment. It’s worthwhile noting that you need to check that you’re allowed dogs in your building before committing to bringing one home. If you do decide to own a dog and are living in an apartment, then you must make sure that they have plenty of room to roam around and frequent walks outside to prevent them from becoming bored and depressed.
Mypetzilla recommends that you check as to whether you’re allowed dogs in your apartment building and to fully ensure your apartment is dog proof before committing fully to bringing a dog home.
All dog breeds shed to some extent, some more than others. With this, all potential dog owners should be aware of this, as it will be a matter of putting up with some hair or lots of hair being left around the house. Depending on the dog breed, there are certain times during the year where some dog breeds shed the most and this is typically around spring and autumn. However, there are some dog breeds that shed all year round.
If you’re very house-proud, they you may want to choose a dog breed that sheds very little. Mypetzilla strongly recommends that you fully research your dog breed of choice and their shedding levels before committing.
All dog breeds require different levels of grooming. Some dog breeds are easier to maintain than others and only require a weekly brush to help keep their coat in good condition. There are some dog breeds that require regular trips to the grooming parlour and this can come at a huge cost. Either way, all dog breeds require their coat and nails to be maintained and cared for.
Mypetzilla strongly advices that potential owners research the grooming needs and associated costs with their desired dog breed before fully committing.
Barking is a necessity for your dog to communicate. However, it can also be a nuisance to yourself and fellow neighbours if it’s not kept under control. If you live in an apartment, then you’re better off choosing a dog breed that doesn’t bark as much. If you live further out and far from civilisation, then it’s worthwhile looking into a dog breed that does bark and will bark to alert you of any other company on your property.
Mypetzilla advices that you research the behaviours of your dog breed of choice and whether this would work for you and your family. It’s worth noting that dogs can be trained to bark less and this will take a lot of effort and training from the owner.
Majority dog breeds form very close relationships with their owners and as a result can become very stressed when left alone for a period of time. If a dog is suffering with separation anxiety then they’re very likely to become destructive around the home as a way of dealing with their anxieties. Dog breeds that do form strong bonds with their owners are better accustomed to a household where one member of the family remains home, whilst the others are out, this is to help avoid further anxieties and destructive behaviours.
Mypetzilla recommends that all potential owners research their dog breed of choice on their bonding abilities and how well-adjusted they are to being left alone at home. It’s also worth noting that you should never leave your dog for longer than 4 hours alone at home.
There are certain dogs breeds that have very high intellect and therefore easier to train than other dog breeds. There is also a downside to this; as fast as they learn the new trick or command, they can easily pick up bad habits just as quick. Other dog breeds that don’t rank as high on the intellect scale require patience and plenty of reward treats from their owners during training.
Before committing to a certain dog breed, Mypetzilla advices you to fully research your dog breed of choice and their level of training needs.
All dog breeds have different energy levels. The working dog breed has one of the highest energy levels in comparison to the low-energy dog’s breeds such as the Toy dog breed group. To keep a dog truly happy, healthy and well-balanced, their energy levels must be met.
High-energy dog breeds need lots of exercise and mental stimulation. High energy dog breeds would suit an active family or person. Dog breeds that are considered as low-energy, love to spend the majority of their time relaxing and sleeping in their favourite, comfy spot. A low-energy dog breed would suit an individual that equally loves the quiet life and relaxing lifestyle. Of course, low-energy dogs still need their daily walks and mental stimulation, just not as much as a high-energy dog breed.
Mypetzilla recommends that potential owner research fully on the type of dog breed that would suit their existing lifestyle and to also take into consideration the dog breeds energy levels and exercise requirements.
Before you decide on what dog breed would be suitable for you and your family, you must consider whether they’re a friendly dog breed and if you already have other pets within the household. For homes that already have dogs and other domestic pets, then it’s wise to choose a dog breed that has a friendly personality and temperament.
There are some dog breeds that mix well with other dog breeds and there are others that don’t suit one another and this could potentially cause issues later on down the line.
Another important point to consider is whether the dog breed of choice is friendly towards people and children.
Mypetzilla recommends to research fully on the right dog breed for your family and to also consider their temperament and characteristics.
The Parson Russell Terrier is the former Jack Russell Terrier. The name change was requested by the Jack Russell Terrier Association of America (now known as the Parson Russell Terrier Association of America) effective April 1, 2003 to narrow the Jack Russell standard. The breed was developed by The Reverend John “Jack” Russell (December 12, 1795 – April 28, 1883) from a white terrier bitch named “Trump” that he bought from a milkman. This bitch became the foundation stock of a line of fox hunting terriers which would later become the Jack Russells. This energetic little terrier was bred to hunt fox by bolting the game out of its den. Emphasis was made in the breed’s working ability and not so much on its aesthetic qualities. However, the Parson Russell Terrier is principally a show dog, and not so much of a hunter.
Because it was originally developed as a working terrier that will bark at prey, the Parson Russell Terrier is absolutely a vocal dog. It is very intelligent, packing a lot of energy which are required in the field. This breed can be aggressive with other dogs, especially towards the same sex if not socialized and trained early. The Parson Russell Terrier has a very strong prey drive and it should not be trusted with small household animals. It likes to dig and is an excellent climber. A twelve-inch Parson Russell Terrier can easily scale a five-foot fence. It is also a very courageous and fearless breed and will most often disregard its size when confronting larger dogs. When out in the open, make sure that this breed is kept on-leash all the time.
The Parson Russell Terrier requires regular and consistent training in order to maintain its temperament and keep its mind active. It is known to be receptive in training if the Trainer/owner is effective and patient. It is not recommended for inexperienced pet owners since setting rules and limitations is important to gain dominance over Parson Russell Terrier. It is important to set their boundaries while still young but making sure that their opportunity to socialize and explore will not be compromised. It will do fine in an apartment or condominium provided that it is given sufficient exercise. It is very active indoors and a home with a medium-sized yard is a more suitable dwelling.
Grooming the breed is very straightforward. Regular brushing with a firm bristle brush to remove dead or loose hairs is all that is required. Occasional stripping of the coat is also necessary.
The Parson Russell Terrier is a long-lived breed, having an average lifespan of 14 to 16 years. Others have been known to reach an age way over 16. Some health issues that are known to affect the Parson Russell Terrier include:
Make sure that the puppy you are buying has been BAER tested for hearing.
Thorough exercise should also be regular; typically taking the dog for daily long walks to keep it fit. Failure to train the breed on a regular basis or if it is not exercised regularly may lead to unmanageable and unsocial behaviour (i.e. excessive barking, too much digging inside and outside the home, over aggressiveness, escaping from the yard.)
Enjoys plenty of space for exercise like an open area, park or even a country home.
It is generally good with children. It is described as being single minded and tenacious at work and playful and affectionate at home and requires regular attention.
It gets along with horses and loves to play with other dogs. Although it will not tolerate teasing or even innocent abuse.
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