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Parson Russell Terrier Dogs
Breed Rating (8 Reviews)
| Appearance | |
| Friendliness | |
| Hardiness | |
| Garden |
History
The PRT was developed by Parson John Russel (known as Jack to his close friends) sometimes in the early 1800s. He was trying to breed the perfect dog for fox/badger digging. After crossing a white and tan terrier with other breeds, the PRT was born. They are fairly similar to their close cousins, the Jack Russell Terrier, though the PRT has noticeably longer legs. They are mainly white with black, tan or tricolor marking. They have a smooth or broken coat with a black nose.
Behaviour
The PRT is an energetic and amusing dog that is just full of character. They seemingly have high energy at all times and are always ready for action. They love being around people and will get on fine with families and respectful children. They will bark when someone is at the door, though they will welcome strangers into the home and are almost never aggressive towards humans. They are Terriers and have a natural instinct to hunt small, furry animals - so the family hamster doesn’t really stand a chance.
These terriers are fond of chasing cats and in general anything that moves. Early socialisation and training will help prevent this. Much like their counterparts, the Jack Russell Terrier, they are seemingly always up to something. They will be happy to curl up on your lap and do enjoy attention, just not excessive amounts. This is a very clever breed which will need firm and consistent training to get the best out of them. They do get bored easily, so training sessions should be short and fresh, not becoming too repetitive. Games and treat based rewards work best. Patience will be needed as it will take a fair amount of time to train this breed.
This breed has almost never ending energy and will happily play games like fetch with you for hours on end. Flyball and agility will help wear them out. Due to their high prey drive, recall can be hit or miss so it is best if they are walked in a safe area. They need plenty of walks, this is best provided with several normal walks per day. They are expert diggers and will find a way to escape from any fenced area, so be sure to keep an eye on them at all times. If digging becomes a big problem, you can think about getting a sand-pit for them.
PRTs can become aggressive towards other dogs and, in classic terrier style, will happily challenge even a much larger dog. Early socialisation will help curb any problems. They are easy to look after, their coats will only need the regular brush to remove dead hairs and keep it looking good. The broken coat variety will need stripping a few times a year.
Temperament
PRTs have a mischievous and playful temperament. They are driven by a high prey drive thanks to years of selective breeding. This unfortunately makes them unsuitable to keep with small pets and cats, more often than not they’ll simply see them as prey.
They seem to be fearless and have huge pride. They’ll never back down from a fight, so much care is needed to prevent any accidents. Early socialisation is crucial to prevent your dog from growing up to be a little bully. This breed is highly active and will need an owner who can provide this action for them.
Health Problems
Health problems that can affect this breed include Canine Hip Dysplasia, Below Dysplasia, Luxating Patella, Lens Luxation and Progressuce Retinal Atrophy.
Breed Details
- Status: Common
- Life Expectancy: 13 - 15 years
- Weight: 13 - 17 lbs
- Height: 12 - 14"
- Rare: No
- Coat: Short
- Grooming Requirements: Once a week
- Town or Country: Country
- Minimum Home Size: Small House
- Minimum Garden Size: Small to Medium Garden
- Breed Type: Pest Control Dog
- Size: Small
- Energy Level: High
- Exercise Required: Up to 1 hour
More to love
Parson Russell Terrier Pictures
Latest Reviews For Parson Russell Terrier (5 of 8)
My dog King - Paulene,
He is a loving dog everyone loves him but too stubbornly. He loves to dig all over my lawn and pee on other dogs and foot of furniture but I just loves him.
Love my boy so much!! - Dan,
Have had my PRT for 16 1/2 years now! Couldn’t ask more a more wonderful friend! Great with all our kids, never aggressive, and has been a wonderful family member!! Unfortunately, the hard times are here….. he is going blind, has canine Alzheimer’s, and his rear hips are staring to fail…. So hard to say goodbye to such a great fried, but I know the day is coming.
brilliant dog - Peter,
Holly is 5 today. Have had JRs before but she's the best by far. Barks at other dogs when on a lead which is rare but seems to strangers as a bit aggressive which is not the case.Runs free every morning rain or shine at the beach and loves playing with her best friend a black lab - they play fight, chase and enjoy a swim. VERY intelligent, knows the time of day for her 3 walks. Just wants to be with you the whole time and as pensioners that's a great thing
Great family dog - Sue,
We have a Male 2 year old Parson. He is incredibly friendly, gets on well with other dogs and loves to play. He is also great with children. He enjoys going on walks but they dont have to be long. No downside, great breed.
Happy dog - Julie,
I love my JRT Emma! She will be 10 years old in November. She has a great personality and is very cute. The only thing that bothers me is she has to bark at any and all dogs she sees!