Jack Russell Terrier

Updated on March 9th, 2026

JRT, Jack, “that dog from Wishbone”

The Jack Russell Terrier is a fearless, energetic small dog originally bred for fox hunting. Known for intelligence and determination, this lively terrier thrives with active owners who can match its energy, curiosity and love of adventure.

Temperament

Energetic, Fearless, Intelligent

Colors

White & Black, White & Tan, White & Brown

WEIGHT

13 - 17 Pounds

HEIGHT

10 - 15 Inches

LIFE EXPECTANCY

10 - 15 Years

Maintenance Level

Low Maintenance

High Maintenance

Friendliness

Reserved

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About Jack Russel Terriers

The Jack Russell Terrier is a small dog that comes from the hunting grounds of England. These feisty and energetic dogs have a strong hunting drive and passion for a good chase. Jack Russell Terriers have boundless energy wound up in their small frames, perfect for fox hunting and other outdoor pursuits in old England. They are intelligent and proud with a vocal personality. While they might seem like a typical small dog, the Jack Russell Terrier is hyperactive for its size. They are perfectly suited to agility and flyball competition but not so much to apartments and small living spaces.

Origin: United Kingdom Other Names: JRT, Jack, “that dog from Wishbone”

Terrier Breed Group

Terriers are known for their bold, spirited personalities and low tolerance for other animals, a trait rooted in their history as vermin hunters. Many still show a feisty attitude and eagerness for debate. Their wiry coats require specialized grooming called stripping to maintain their classic look. Terriers make engaging companions but do best with owners who can match their lively, determined nature.

Breed Appearance

The Jack Russell Terrier Club of America maintains the official American breed standard. They look for a dog with a lively, alert, and active appearance. Jack Russell Terriers should be fearless and happy at all times as a working dog. The JRTCA looks for sturdy and well-balanced Jack Russell Terriers for official registration. Ears should drop and not just stand up straight. The dog should be well balanced in size and shape.

The Jack Russell Terrier should have a coat that is predominately white (51%+) along with black, brown, and tan markings. One interesting note in the breed standard mentions scars and injuries for judges. Since the Jack Russell Terrier is a working breed, no old scars or injuries should prejudice the judges unless the battle wounds impede the working ability of the dog.

Brown & White

Size & Weight

Jack Russell Terriers are small dogs. They typically grow to be around 10-15 inches tall at the shoulder with an average weight of 13 to 17 pounds.

Full Grown

Female

10 in. / 13 lbs.

Male

15 in. / 17 lbs.

Height is measured up to the shoulders.

Jack Russell Terrier Characteristics

Size & Coat
Lifestyle
Training & Behavior

Size

Tiny

Jumbo

Weight

Light

Heavy

Shedding

Minimal

Abundant

Coat Length

Short

Long

Grooming Frequency

Occasional

Frequent

Living Space

City apartment

Ranch

Exercise

Couch potato

Bring it on!

Climate

Warm

Cold

Personality

Antisocial

Outgoing

Protection

None

Bodyguard

Behavior with Kids

Always monitor

Babysitter

Training

Headstrong

Obedient

Barking

Mute

Loud

How to Care for Jack Russel Terriers

Caring for a Jack Russell Terrier means providing plenty of daily exercise, mental stimulation and consistent training. With the right balance of activity, structure and routine grooming, these energetic terriers can thrive as devoted companions.

Grooming

Coat & Grooming: Jack Russell Terriers are either smooth- or broken-coated. No matter what, they all have a double coat with a rough texture. The smooth coat is shorter and a little less unruly. You need to perform regular brushing to maintain a healthy coat for your Jack Russell Terrier. If your Jack Russell Terrier has a broken coat, you’ll need to strip it once a year to promote good health. Other than caring for the coat, you don’t need to do much else to groom your pet. Keep their teeth clean with brushing or dental products for dogs. Trim the nails so they don’t click on a hard floor. If you can hear your dog across the house, the nails are too long.

Coat length: Short
Grooming: Occasional

Shedding: Jack Russell Terriers can shed a lot, especially compared to other small dogs and even other terriers. They will shed year-round with extra activity as the seasons change. Unfortunately, those little white hairs tend to show up clearly on anything with dark coloration. Excessive shedding may be a sign of poor health, but Jack Russell Terriers shed a lot even when they are perfectly healthy.

Training & Behavior

Training: Jack Russell Terriers are smart and adaptable dogs. While they are usually friendly to every human, they can be aggressive with other dogs and small children who play rough. Make sure to invest some time and money into obedience or you’ll suffer the consequences later in the life of your dog. Jack Russell Terriers love routine and the challenge of training, but keep your sessions short to keep their attention up during your lessons.

Barking: Jack Russell Terriers have a sharp, loud bark that often comes in bunches. They are vocal and happy to announce the presence of strangers, cars, and squirrels on your property. Jack Russell Terriers usually need a lot of exercise and stimulation to avoid bad behavior like excessive barking.

Make sure you get out and run around your Jack Russell Terrier for at least an hour or two each day. They really suffer when they aren’t getting enough activity, and this problem will often manifest itself in barking, aggressiveness, and destroying your things while you’re away.

Temperament & Behavior: Jack Russell Terriers haven’t traveled too far from their roots as a working dog for hunting. They are hyperactive and full of energy even after a day full of running around. They are fearless and athletic animals bred for the fast pursuit of badgers and foxes. Jack Russell Terriers are susceptible to moodiness and bad behavior if they are left alone and ignored for too long.

Since they are so full of energy, smart, and athletic, Jack Russell Terriers are perfect for dog agility circuits and obedience competitions. They perform well given the right training and opportunities to strut their stuff. With the right amount of exercise and proper training early in life, Jack Russell Terriers make pleasant companions. Otherwise, watch out for their rambunctious and hyperactive ways.

Behavior with Kids: Unfortunately, many families have had to return their Jack Russell Terriers after bad experiences. They can do fine as family pets, but they are a poor choice for households with small children. Jack Russell Terriers have been known to nip at anyone who invades their space or plays too rough. Always supervise children around your dog, especially young ones or any that don’t know how to handle being around your dog.

Protection: The Jack Russell Terrier makes an excellent alarm system. They are vocal and alert to the sounds of approaching strangers. Some dogs are much more protective than others, but overall the breed is hard to ignore when they hear something that perks up their ears.

Health

Life Span: On average, Jack Russell Terriers live to be about 10 to 15 years old

Inherited Health Issues: Whenever you’re considering buying a puppy, you should always consider the genetic diseases that the particular breed you’re interested in is predisposed to. Talk with prospective breeders to determine if they routinely test their breeding pairs for genetic disease, and remove any dogs who might pass on undesirable traits from their breeding programs. These conditions may include, but are not limited to, the following: dermatophytosis (ringworm), Myasthenia gravis and lens luxation.

Preventive Care: Because Jack Russell Terriers are high-energy dogs, it’s important to make sure that they get sufficient exercise everyday. This can reduce the likelihood of behavioral problems, which can be difficult to sort out once they start.

Nutrition

Keep your Jack Russell Terrier lean and he’ll avoid many of the problems that plague overweight dogs, especially skeletal problems. Work with your veterinarian to determine his ideal weight, along with a “dose” of food that will keep him at that level.

Supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids in the form of fish oils is a good way to keep joints and skin healthy. Purchase a good quality product that is manufactured for pets and follow label dosing.

Daily Consumption: Average daily consumption for an adult Jack Russell is 1/2 - 3/4 cups

Exercise & Lifestyle

Energy Level: Frisky, energetic breed that is always ready for action

Exercise: Jack Russell Terriers need a ton of exercise. If you have a big property with tons of space for your Jack Russell Terrier to run around, this dog can make a great companion for your family. If you plan to keep your dog cooped up all day, be prepared for a disaster area when you get home. Jack Russell Terriers love to chase things and do anything that reminds them of a foxhunt.

Climate: Jack Russell Terriers were working dogs for a cold early-morning hunt in the English countryside. They are hearty and do fine outside until the thermometer drops too low. If you live in a place with cold winters, invest in a good coat and some winter boots for your dog. They do well in hot climates too, but always keep an eye out for uncontrollable panting and other signs of heatstroke.

Living space: Jack Russell Terriers are full of energy and need a huge amount of exercise to avoid behavioral problems. Don’t be surprised if you call it quits long before you dog, so you’ll need a place to let them tire themselves out. Don’t confine a Jack Russell Terrier to a small apartment unless you’re ready to spend hours outside getting the proper exercise for your dog.

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Cost of Owning

On average, owning a middle-aged Jack Russell costs around $900 per year

$250

Vet Care

$200

Grooming & Boarding

$250

Food & Treats

$200

Other

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Fun Facts

A Jack Russell Terrier named Nipper became famous in 1989 when the painter Francis Barraud painted a dog listening to a phonograph for his work known as “His Master’s Voice.” The painting later gained recognition as part of the design inspiration for the RCA, EMI, and HMV brands.

There’s a Jack Russell Terrier that’s been to both poles. A dog named Bothy earned a place in the history books as the first dog to visit both poles as part of the Transglobe Expedition in 1982. Dogs are now banned from Antarctica for fear of transmitting diseases to local animals, so Bothy’s record will likely hold up for a long time to come.

Eddie was the Jack Russell Terrier from the show Frasier, played by father-and-son team Moose and Enzo. Eddie received more fan mail than any other character on the show including the star of the show, Kelsey Grammer!

“Wishbone” was an Emmy-winning children’s TV show that ran from 1995 to 2001 featuring a time-traveling dog called Wishbone. The character was played by a real-life Jack Russell Terrier called Willowall Soccer and voiced by human/actor Larry Brantley. The show featured great works of literature daydreamed by the dog with Wishbone cast as the main character. The show inspired books, computer games, and several feature films.

History

The Jack Russell Terrier comes by its name honestly. Reverend Jack Russell was an English parson and hunting enthusiast who lived from 1785 to 1883. He was known as “the Sporting Parson” for his love of foxhunting and dog breeding. The Jack Russell Terrier is a descendant of the old English Fox Terrier. He bred the Jack Russell Terrier to be fast, agile, fearless, and shock white for visibility on the foggy early-morning hunts. It helps when you can differentiate between your dog and your quarry. Rev. Russell first saw a small white terrier owned by a local milkman and fell in love. He bought the dog on the spot and began breeding his very own line of English terriers. The Rev. Jack Russell was a founding member of The Kennel Club, the official kennel club of England. The Russell, Parson Russell, and Jack Russell Terrier are all named after the famous Reverend.

After World War II, the demand for hunting dogs fell swiftly as people found other things to do with their time. The Jack Russell Terrier became a common companion and family dog, largely abandoning its working heritage. The AKC explored registering the breed in the 1990s, but the Jack Russell Terrier Club of America strongly opposes it. Founded in 1976, the JRTCA strives to protect the working heritage of the breed today. Many Jack Russell Terriers from popular culture helped to keep the breed popular into the 21st century.