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What is a Parson Russell Terrier?

The Parson Russell Terrier was the first Kennel Club recognized
variant of the Jack Russell Terrier, first drawn into the UK Kennel
Club in 1990, and into the American Kennel Club in 2001.

The Parson Russell Terrier is a balanced, square dog, very similar
in form to other Russell Terriers, but is largely a show breed rather
than a working dog.

Like all Jack Russell, the Parson Russell Terrier is descended from
early white-bodied fox-working terriers used in the hunt field. At the
end of the 19th Century, these dogs were drawn into the Kennel
Club as "fox terriers," but their still-working antecedents were
referred to as "Jack Russell" terriers throughout the 20th Century, in
honor of the Rev. John "Jack" Russell, a noted fox hunter of the 19th
Century "The Sporting Parson".

In time, Kennel Club Fox Terriers and working Jack Russell Terriers
looked completely different, with fox terriers growing both larger in
the chest and also having longer heads. Today, Kennel Club fox
terriers are rarely found at work in the field.

The Kennel Club Parson Russell terriers are dogs that reside at the
top end of Jack Russell height spectrum (12-14 inches) although it
must be pointed out that taller Jack Russell types do exist as "Jack
Russell's" in working Jack Russell Terrier clubs in the United
Kingdom and the United States.

The name "Parson Russell" Terrier was chosen by the American
Kennel Club because the name "Jack Russell Terrier" had been
trademarked by those opposed to drawing this working terrier breed
into the Kennel Club.

The definitions and description of the various Russell Terriers are
still evolving, and confusing differences arise even among kennel
clubs of the same breed. For example, in the United States, Parson
Russell are limited to the standard terrier colours, white with black
or tan markings, or tricolour, but in Australia, Parson Russell may
also be entirely white, or white with lemon markings.

It is likely that there will be more changes before the various Russell
Terriers are definitively categorized.

Refer to the breed article on the Jack Russell Terrier for more on the
origin and development of the breed.