Dog breed

Jack Russell Terrier

The Jack Russell Terrier is a small, tough terrier with a white coat and black or tan patches, bred to work fox dens. It stands 25–30 cm at the shoulder and weighs 5–6 kg. It has boundless energy, the courage of a big dog and a strong prey drive, so it does best with an active owner who provides daily exercise, things to do and consistent training.

FCI Group III · Terriers · standard no. 345

Weight: 5–6 kg
Height: 25–30 cm
Lifespan: 12–14 years
Origin: United Kingdom (developed in Australia)

How much food for this breed?Compare with another breed

Photo: Radosław Drożdżewski (Zwiadowca21), CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Temperament

The Jack Russell is cheerful, bold and always ready for action. The FCI standard describes it as lively, alert and confident. The AKC, where the breed is registered as the Russell Terrier, gives it top ratings for energy, playfulness and affection for family, but only 3 for trainability. That's accurate: a Jack learns fast but doesn't always see why it should obey when something just rustled in the bushes. Its prey drive is very strong, so hamsters, guinea pigs and pet birds are at risk, and living with a cat usually works only if the dog met it as a puppy. It can be scrappy with other dogs and won't back down from bigger ones. It is open with people but loudly announces every visitor. It likes children as long as they don't treat it like a stuffed toy.

Energy: calmvery energetic
Affection: independentvelcro pet
With children: not idealgreat
With other pets: difficultgreat
Trainability: stubborneager to learn
For first-time owners: for experienced ownersyes
With strangers: waryoutgoing
Playfulness: dignifiedeternal puppy
Shedding: minimalheavy
Grooming: easydemanding
Being left alone: strugglescopes well
Apartment living: needs a house and yardgreat in a flat
Barking: quietvocal
With other dogs: difficultgreat
Protectiveness: lowhigh
Drooling: hardly anya lot
Cold tolerance: feels the coldexcellent
Heat tolerance: strugglescopes well

Scores of 1–5 compare the breed with other breeds of the same species, based on the sources at the bottom of the page. Every animal is different. How we score traits

Who is the Jack Russell Terrier for?

The Jack Russell suits an active person or a family with older children who enjoy long walks, cycling and dog sports and have patience for a stubborn character. It can live in an apartment if it's truly tired out. We don't recommend it for people looking for a calm couch dog, homes with rodents or birds, or owners without time for training.

Pros

small but very hardy
cheerful and playful for life
long-lived
easy coat care

Challenges

strong prey drive
can be stubborn to train
barks and digs when bored
doesn't tolerate other small animals well

Size and looks

Size and looks: Jack Russell Terrier
Height at the withers	males 25–30 cm, females 25–30 cm
Weight	males 5–6 kg, females 5–6 kg
Lifespan	12–14 years
Coat	short
Colors	white with black markings, white with tan markings, white with black and tan markings
Country of origin	United Kingdom (developed in Australia)
Classification	Group III: Terriers
Also known as	Jack Russell, JRT, Russell Terrier

Care and exercise

60–90minof exercise a day

2/5grooming needs

3/5shedding

A Jack Russell needs exercise and work for its nose. An hour of walking a day is the minimum, but quality counts: running with other dogs, finding hidden toys, fetch, flyball or agility. Without that, it will quickly find its own entertainment by digging in the yard, barking or destroying things. On woodland walks, keep it on a long line until its recall is reliable, because a scent trail can switch off its hearing. The yard needs a secure fence that's dug into the ground. Base training on short, fun sessions and rewards. The coat can be smooth, broken or rough. A smooth coat just needs a once-a-week going-over with a grooming mitt, while broken and rough coats should be stripped of dead hair every few days, though the standard forbids trimming that would fake a different coat type. Despite its short hair, a Jack sheds noticeably. Watch portions, since extra weight strains its joints.

How much should the Jack Russell Terrier eat?The calculator starts from this breed’s typical weight: calories and grams a day.

Health and breed-related conditions

The Jack Russell is a long-lived breed. In the British McMillan et al. (2024) study, which covered more than 19,000 dogs of the breed, the median lifespan was 13.3 years, and the AKC gives 12–14 years for the Russell Terrier. Breeders should screen for luxating patella, deafness and eye diseases. Primary lens luxation is known in terriers of this type, and in the related Parson Russell Terrier the AKC also lists cerebellar ataxias, for which DNA tests exist. For dogs with a lot of white in the coat, ask about BAER hearing tests for the puppies.

luxating patellaThe AKC lists it as one of the main conditions breeding dogs are screened for.
congenital deafnessLinked to extensive white in the coat; a BAER test checks puppies' hearing.
primary lens luxation (PLL)An inherited terrier eye disease that can lead to glaucoma; parents can be DNA-tested.
cerebellar ataxiasProgressive loss of coordination described in closely related Russell terriers; DNA tests are available.

Health tests to ask the breeder about

patella exam
BAER hearing test
eye exam (ECVO)
PLL DNA test
ataxia DNA test (SCA/LOA)

This is general breed information, not a diagnosis. If something worries you, talk to your veterinarian.

Breed history

The breed traces back to the terriers of Parson John Russell, a 19th-century English clergyman and keen hunter. His dogs had to keep up with the foxhounds during the hunt, then go to ground and bolt the fox. The taller Parson Russell Terrier came from the same line. Many small working terriers went with emigrants to Australia, where a breed club was founded in 1972 and Jacks were first shown in the ring. That's why the FCI names the United Kingdom as the country of origin and Australia as the country of development. The FCI gave the breed final recognition in 2003, and the UK Kennel Club only in 2016.

Fun facts

The FCI standard sets weight in proportion to height: 1 kg for every 5 cm, so a 30 cm dog should weigh about 6 kg.
A Jack's chest should be spannable behind the elbows by two hands, which let it fit into a fox den.
The AKC registers the breed as the Russell Terrier, and its taller cousin as the Parson Russell Terrier.
In Poland and across the FCI, the Jack Russell comes in three coat types: smooth, broken and rough.

Frequently asked questions

Do Jack Russells shed?

Yes. Despite the short coat, they shed noticeably, and white hairs show up clearly on dark clothes. Regularly brushing out dead hair, especially in spring and fall, greatly reduces the amount of hair in the house. The AKC rates the breed's shedding 3 on a 1–5 scale.

Can a Jack Russell live in an apartment?

Yes, as long as it gets at least an hour of real exercise and mental work every day. An under-exercised Jack barks, destroys things and can be a nuisance to the neighbors. The size of the apartment matters less than the time its owner gives it.

How long do Jack Russell Terriers live?

Usually 12–14 years, and many live even longer. In a large 2024 British study, the breed's median lifespan was 13.3 years, which places it among the long-lived dogs.

Do Jack Russells get along with cats?

They can, if the dog met the cat as a puppy and was taught to stay calm around it. An adult dog with a strong prey drive often treats cats as quarry. With rodents and birds in the house, it's better not to take the risk.

How much does a Jack Russell Terrier weigh?

Adult dogs of this breed usually weigh: males 5–6 kg, females 5–6 kg. Height at the withers: 25–30 cm. That range is for healthy adults in good condition.