Jack Russell Terrier
積羅素㹴
Updated 2026-09-09
At a glance
The Jack Russell Terrier (the AKC's 'Russell Terrier') is the small, mostly-white fox-working terrier descended from the kennels of Rev. John Russell, standing 25–30 cm with a smooth, broken or rough coat. Jaunty, clever and almost inexhaustible, it is a great companion for an outdoorsy family and a poor choice for a sedentary one: it bores quickly, digs and chases, and keeps a prey drive that socialisation does not erase. The parent club says plainly that the breed is not for everyone.
Facts
| Size | Small |
|---|---|
| Height | 25–30cm |
| Weight | 4.1–6.8kg |
| Life expectancy | 12–14years |
| Breed group | AKC: terrier FCI: 3 |
| Role | Terrier |
| Coat | Wire coat |
| Shedding | 3/ 5 |
| Exercise | 30–180min/day |
| Can be left alone | up to 3 hours |
| Companionship need | 5/ 5 |
| Trainability | 3/ 5 |
| Barking | 4/ 5 |
| Good with children | 3/ 5 |
| Good with other dogs | 5/ 5 |
| Heat tolerance | 3/ 5 |
| Cold tolerance | 3/ 5 |
Health
This page is general information compiled from published sources. It is not veterinary, legal or purchase advice. Dogs vary within a breed — talk to a vet or a reputable breeder about the dog in front of you.
Health notes are not veterinary advice. Conditions listed are those reported for the breed, not a diagnosis of any dog. Always consult a veterinarian.
Inherited eye conditions
Various inherited eye conditions are reported in the breed; annual eye examinations by a veterinary ophthalmologist are recommended for breeding stock. Ask your vet about eye screening.
Patellar luxation
Patellar luxation (slipping kneecaps) is commonly reported in small breeds; breeders screen for it. Ask your vet if your dog skips or holds up a hind leg.
Congenital deafness
Congenital deafness is reported in the breed; puppies can be BAER hearing-tested. Ask your breeder about hearing tests.
Glaucoma
Primary lens luxation (PLL) is an inherited condition in the breed; the parent club lists a PLL DNA test among its minimum health screenings for breeding stock. Ask your breeder about PLL status and your vet urgently if an eye becomes cloudy, red or painful.
Late-onset ataxia
Late-onset ataxia, an inherited neurological condition, is reported in the breed and the parent club lists a DNA test for it. Ask your breeder whether the parents were tested.
Behaviour
Not a couch-potato breed
The AKC says the Russell Terrier is not a breed for a couch-potato family: its high energy and robust personality suit an outdoorsy household that hikes, cycles and takes long daily walks, and "a tired Russell Terrier is a good RT". It has kept a strong prey drive, so early, thorough socialisation is needed to head off problems.
Train with a sense of humour
The AKC says the first tool for training a Russell is a good sense of humour: they are extremely intelligent, love problems and games, bore easily unless sessions stay entertaining, master tricks and love to perform, and excel at agility, flyball, obedience, rally and lure coursing. The parent club adds that training must be firm but loving, that instinct can override training in some situations, that they are good with children if raised with love and respect, and that the breed is not for everyone.
Energy and exercise
Energy level is rated 5/5 (very high) on the AKC breed-trait chart. The Royal Kennel Club puts its exercise need at "up to 1 hour per day".
Training and barking
AKC trait chart: trainability 3/5, barking level 4/5. Individual dogs vary; early socialisation and reward-based training are recommended for every breed.
Official guidance
Summaries of official documents are ours; the source is linked. Breed standards, laws and licensing rules change — check the issuing body for the current version.
American Kennel Club — Russell Terrier
Breed overview, breed-trait chart, history, official standard summary and health notes from the AKC and the national parent club.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
Canadian Kennel Club — Russell Terrier (Terriers)
Origin, temperament, activity level, height/weight, coat and grooming as described by the Canadian Kennel Club.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
The Royal Kennel Club — Jack Russell Terrier
Breed characteristics (size small, exercise up to 1 hour per day, lifespan over 10 years).
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
FCI nomenclature — Jack Russell Terrier (standard no. 345, group 3)
FCI breed nomenclature entry with the official breed standard PDF in English, French, German and Spanish.
Read the sourceAccessed 2026-09-09
What owners say
Owner advice is quoted from public community posts and reflects those owners' opinions, not PocketPaw's position. It is unverified and not a substitute for professional advice. Each item links to where it was said.
“The American Russell Terrier Club's temperament page is frank that the breed is not for everyone: it is a small, feisty working terrier with a strong hunting instinct and a vast amount of energy that thrives in active families, needs early socialisation with dogs and people, and must be trained firmly but lovingly — and even a well-socialised dog may let instinct override training around livestock or small animals.”
— American Russell Terrier Club — Russell Terrier Temperament via breed clubWorldwide2026-09-09
Sources
- [1]Russell Terrier — Dog Breed Information — American Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [2]Russell Terrier — Choosing a Breed — Canadian Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [3]Jack Russell Terrier — Breeds A to Z — The Royal Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [4]Jack Russell Terrier — FCI standard no. 345 — Fédération Cynologique Internationale (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [5]How do I help my dog adjust to spending time alone? — The Royal Kennel Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [6]Incidence and risk factors for heat-related illness (heatstroke) in UK dogs under primary veterinary care in 2016 (Hall, Carter & O'Neill, Scientific Reports 10:9128) — Nature / Scientific Reports (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [7]Russell Terrier Temperament — American Russell Terrier Club — American Russell Terrier Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
- [8]Health — American Russell Terrier Club — American Russell Terrier Club (Accessed 2026-09-09)
Still have questions?
Ask owners on the PawMunity forum — every breed has its own board.
Breed data compiled by PocketPaw from the sources credited on each entry. Text and layout © 2026 NextPath Solutions Limited. Please link to a page rather than copying it.