Physical Appearance Of The Jack Russell
The Jack Russell terrier is has a highly diverse appearance. No two Jack Russells look alike! But there is an overall appearance that a true Jack Russell should have, according to the breed standard.
Characteristics Of Appearance
Part of the appearance of the Jack Russell includes his personality. A Jack Russell Terrier should active and show an alert countenance. He is a very lively dog, and this shows in the way they carry their bodies. When you look at a Jack Russell, he should look like a happy, fearless dog. Because it is a hunting breed, the terriers should not exhibit any signs of fear or of extreme aggression. Above all, the Jack Russell Terrier should exude confidence in his appearance.
Body Appearance
The Jack Russell usually measures between ten and fifteen inches tall at the shoulders. A Jack Russell has a trim, compact body that is in proportion length to height. The dog is not flabby, but toned and fit, ready for the hunt! He should appear ready to spring into action at any moment!
The Jack Russell carries a shallow chest, which is perfect for following quarry into underground holes. The legs are spaced fairly close together giving the dog a lean, ready to run appearance. The dog should have a strong back that is relatively level.
Characteristics Of The Head
The shape of a Jack Russell’s head is perhaps their most distinguishing feature. They sport heads that are balanced and proportional to their bodies with a flat skull. The ears are spaced nicely, not too far apart, and the muzzle to nose length is just slightly shorter than the occiput to stop length. The jaw should appear strong and sturdy.
The Jack Russell’s eyes are shaped like almond and are dark brown or black in color. The dog has ears that drop over in an attractive v-shaped pattern. This was designed to keep the dirt out of the dog’s ears when tracking prey into an underground den. The preferred bite is the scissor bite, which shows the top teeth overlapping the bottom teeth slightly, but not enough to appear as an under bite.
Color Of Coat
The Jack Russell is can be either smooth or rough coated. A smooth coated terrier still has a thick coat with a nice undercoat. The rough coated terrier should not look like it has curly or woolly fur. The overall color of the terrier is white. Markings on the terrier can be solid black, tan, or brown, but no brindle coloring. In order to meet the breed standard, the little dog must be over fifty percent white in color.
Tail Proportions
Jack Russells have a short, straight tail. They carry their tail proudly, straight up, or tipped slightly towards the back. It is approximately four inches long, although in a large dog it may be longer. The tail seldom hangs down. The happy tail is an indication of the charming personality of the Jack Russell.
