BREED STANDARD
Jack Russell Terrier Club of Australia Breed Standard
(as finalised at the AGM 1983)
The Breed Standard of the Jack Russell Terrier Club of Australia is an ideal of what a consolidated Jack Russell Terrier should be like.
The Breed Standard is a guide to good breeding, an aim to breed towards, and should be used as the standard to judge by.
1) GENERAL APPEARANCE
A Strong, active slimly built working Terrier of great character with a flexible body of medium length and very strong jaws.
A smart mover with keen expression. Tail may be natural length and the coat may be rough, broken or smooth.
Temperament shall be bold, fearless or quietly confident, but with no trace of aggression or shyness.
The Terrier should present a lively active and alert appearance.
2) HEAD
Skull should be flat and of moderate width gradually decreasing in width to the eyes and tapering to a wide muzzle. There should be a defined stop but not over pronounced. The length from the stop to the nose should be slightly shorter than the stop to the occiput and cheek muscles should be well developed.
NOT to be penalised due to battle scars or injuries.
3) NOSE
Black.
4) EYES
Small and dark with keen expression. Must not be prominent and eyelids should fit closely. The eyelids should be pigmented black and the eye should be almond shaped.
5) EARS
Button or Dropped of good texture and great mobility.
6) JAWS AND TEETH
Deep, wide and powerful jaws. Big teeth closing to a scissor bite. Tight fitting pigmented lips.
7) NECK
Strong with head carried with poise.
8) SHOULDERS
Well sloped back and not heavily loaded with muscles.
9) FORELEGS
When viewed from the front, should be straight in bone from the point of the shoulder to the toes. When viewed from the side there should be sufficient length of upper arm to ensure the forelegs are set underneath the withers. Elbows should be set under the body with prosternum clearly in front of the shoulder blades.
10) CHEST
Deep rather than wide with good clearance and the brisket located at the height midway between the ground and the withers.
11) BODY PROPORTION
The body should be proportioned marginally longer than tall, measuring slightly longer from the withers to the root of the tail, than from the withers to the ground. Back should be strong, straight and level.
RIBS
Well sprung from the spine the flattening on sides so that the girth, just behind the elbows, can be spanned by two hands - 40cm to 43cm.
LOIN
Short, strong, wide and deeply muscled when viewed from above. Topline slightly arched over loin.
HINDQUARTERS
Strong and muscular, balanced in proportion to the shoulder; hind legs parallel when viewed from behind while in freestanding position. Stifles well angulated and hocks low set.
12) FEET
Round, hard padded, not large, toes moderately arched turned neither in nor out.
13) MOVEMENT
True, free and springy.
14) SKIN
Should be tight fitting but elastic and pliable, pigmented where exposed to the sunlight.
15) COLOUR
White must predominate with black and/or tan and / or brown markings. Tics of colour are acceptable.
16) COAT
May be smooth, broken or rough. Smooth should be straight, flat hard, dense and abundant. Broken - hard, wiry, having a broken experience, free of softness or silkiness. Rough, long and hard wiry topcoat with an undercoat.
ALL types of coat must be weatherproof.
Must be shown in Natural coat - No trimming, clipping, stripping, plucking or other alterations allowed.
17) TAIL
Tail undocked as at April 1, 2004.
18) WEIGHT AND SIZE
For conformation purposes the ideal height is 25.5cm to 30.5cm (10 to 12 inches). For working purposes, the height may range from 23cm to 34cm ( 9 to 13 1/2 inches). The weight should be equivalent of approximately 1kg to each 5cm in height (1 lb to 1 inch).
Thus a 25.5cm (10 inch) dog should weigh approx 5kg ( 11lb ), and a 30.5cm 9 (12 inch ) approx 6kg (13lb ).
19) MALE DOGS
Male dogs should have two apparently normal testicles descended into the scrotum.
20) FAULTS
Any departure from the above Standard is a fault, but the following should be particularly penalised
( a ) Lack of true characteristics
( b ) Lack of balance: ie, over exaggeration of any points.
( c ) Sluggish or unsound movement.
( d ) Faulty mouth.
( e ) Aggression.