Jack Russell Terrier
Jack Russell
Jack Russell Terrier: does it suit you?
11 quick questions, the same ones this page answers. After each answer you see what the breed needs, and at the end whether it fits your life.
Jack Russell Terrier: a good fit for you
Jack Russell Terrier: could work, with compromises
Jack Russell Terrier: probably not the right dog for you
Your answers match what the breed needs.
Most of your answers fit. Check the points below before you decide.
Some of your answers don't fit what the breed needs. The points below show where.
What to think about
What fits
A better match for your answers:
None of the 42 breeds on this site fits your answers better.
The Jack Russell Terrier goes back to a strain of Fox Terriers bred in 19th-century England by the Reverend John Russell, and the FCI names Australia as its country of development.[1] According to its FCI standard it is both a good working terrier, able to go to ground, and an excellent companion dog: lively, alert and active, bold and fearless, friendly but quietly confident.[1]
- Size
- Small
- Weight
- 5–6 kg
- Life expectancy
- 13–16 years
Jack Russell Terrier: origin and history
The Reverend John Russell developed his strain of Fox Terriers to run with his foxhounds and go to ground to bolt the fox and other quarry from their dens.[1] Two varieties evolved: the taller, more squarely built dog is now known as the Parson Russell Terrier, and the shorter, slightly longer one as the Jack Russell Terrier.[1]
According to the Royal Kennel Club, many small working terriers, some of them genuine Jack Russell Terriers, were exported to Australia in the 1960s and 1970s, and the Jack Russell Terrier Club of Australia was founded in 1972.[2] The FCI accepted the breed provisionally on 25 October 2000 and on a definitive basis on 1 January 2003.[3] Its standard gives England as the country of origin and Australia as the country of development, and places it in Group 3 (Terriers), Section 2 (Small-sized Terriers), with an optional working trial.[1]
Fact sheet
Character and needs
Rated on a scale from very low to very high.
- Exercise needsvery high
- Trainabilitymoderate
- Grooming needsvery low
- Sheddingmoderate
- Barkinghigh
- Good with kidsmoderate
- Good with other dogslow
- Good with catsvery low
- Apartment-friendlymoderate
- Copes with being alonelow
- Watchdog instinctmoderate
- Good for first-time ownerslow
- Affectionmoderate
Jack Russell Terrier: questions and answers
Is it a good dog for first-time owners?
Not as a first dog. It rates 2 out of 5 for first-time owners. Training takes patience and consistency (3 out of 5 for trainability). The biggest hurdle is the need for more than 2 hours of exercise a day. If it would be your first dog, plan for a puppy class and a trainer who knows the breed.
How long can it be left alone?
2 to 3 hours, once the dog is an adult and has learned to be alone step by step. These dogs are very attached to their people and often struggle on their own (2 out of 5 for coping alone). More than 6 hours at a stretch isn't fair on any dog; plan for a dog sitter or daycare. Puppies need company: start with a few minutes and build up.
How much exercise does it need?
More than 2 hours a day, spread over several walks. Walks alone are not enough: these dogs also need work for the head, such as search games, fetch or a dog sport like agility.
How long does it live?
13–16 years is the typical life expectancy. That is longer than the average of the 42 breeds on this site (12.6 years). Breed-typical health risks: luxating patella, eye disease, deafness, dental problems.
How big does it get?
25–30 cm at the withers and 5–6 kg. Size class: small.
Is it a good family dog?
Best with older children. It rates 3 out of 5 with children. With other dogs it rates 2 out of 5, with cats 1 out of 5. Never leave young children alone with any dog.
Does it shed a lot?
Moderately: 3 out of 5 for shedding. Grooming is quick: a brush once a week is enough.
Male or female?
Males are usually larger: they sit at the top of the range (up to 30 cm and 6 kg), females at the bottom (from 25 cm and 5 kg). Character differences between the sexes are smaller than between individual dogs; upbringing matters more. Unspayed females come into heat about twice a year, and unneutered males can be restless around them.
Jack Russell Terrier or Kooikerhondje?
Biggest difference: good with cats (very low vs. moderate).
| Jack Russell Terrier | Kooikerhondje | |
|---|---|---|
| Size | Small | Small–medium |
| Weight | 5–6 kg | 9–11 kg |
| Life expectancy | 13–16 years | 12–15 years |
| Coat | Short | Medium length |
| Good with cats | Very low | Moderate |
| Exercise needs | Very high | High |
| Trainability | Moderate | High |
| Grooming needs | Very low | Low |
Who it suits
A good fit if you…
- love being outdoors and have 2 hours or more a day for exercise
- want an easy-care coat
Jack Russell Terrier: the downsides
Every breed has a flip side. Before you decide, check that you can live with these:
- Needs more than 2 hours of exercise a day
- Every day, in any weather, for 13–16 years. Without enough exercise and things to do, the dog gets restless and may start chewing or barking.
- Struggles when left alone
- 2 to 3 hours at most. If you work away from home, plan for a dog sitter or daycare from the start.
- Not a first dog
- 2 out of 5 for first-time owners. The breed needs consistent training from someone who has handled dogs before.
- Barks a lot
- 4 out of 5 for barking. With thin walls that can cause trouble with neighbours; training helps but rarely makes the dog quiet.
- Chases cats
- 1 out of 5 with cats. Living with a cat works best if they grow up together, and even then not always.
- Can be difficult with other dogs
- 2 out of 5 with other dogs. Early and ongoing socialisation matters.
- Breed-typical health risks
- Luxating patella, eye disease, deafness, dental problems. Choose a breeder who screens the parents, and consider health insurance.
Jack Russell Terrier: puppy price and monthly costs
£400 – £1,500 for a puppy from a breeder in the UK (Waggel). From £69 a month in running costs in the UK (PDSA, 2024). Covers food, vet visits, insurance, other costs.
| Country | Puppy from a breeder | Running costs per month |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | £400 – £1,500 [4] | from £69 [5] |
| United States | $800 – $2,000 [6] | $116 [7] |
| Canada | no data | CA$367 [8] |
| Australia | no data | A$210 [9] |
| New Zealand | no data | NZ$100 [10] |
- Set-up costs at the start: £415 – £560 for basic equipment, first vaccinations, wormers and neutering (PDSA, 2024).
- Dog licence in Northern Ireland: £12.50 a year; England, Scotland and Wales have none (nidirect, 2026).
- Dog licence in the US: $5 – $20 a year, set by the city or county (American Kennel Club, 2021).
- Dog licence in Canada: CA$25–60 a year in Toronto, less for a neutered dog (City of Toronto, 2026).
- Dog registration with the council in Australia: A$20–200 a year, depending on the council and whether the dog is desexed (Mozo, 2026).
- Dog registration with the council in New Zealand: NZ$78–182 a year in Auckland, depending on the dog (PetMall NZ, citing Auckland Council, 2026).
- Puppies far below these prices often come without health checks or papers.
Health
Breed-typical health risks
- Luxating patella [16]
- The kneecap slips out of place, common in small breeds.
- Eye disease [2]
- Inherited conditions such as PRA or cataracts. Good breeders have the eyes tested.
- Deafness [17]
- Inherited deafness is more common. Puppies can be BAER tested.
- Dental problems [18]
- Small jaws build up tartar quickly. Regular brushing helps.
Health tests for the parent dogs
7 health tests appear in the breeding rules for the breed.
- No health test is required for breeding in the UK (The Royal Kennel Club); the table shows what is recommended.
- Needed for a CHIC number in the US (Orthopedic Foundation for Animals): kneecap check, eye exam, and hearing test (BAER).
- No health test is required for breeding in New Zealand (Dogs New Zealand); the table shows what is recommended.
| Test | United Kingdom [2] | United States [19] | New Zealand [20] |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hip X-ray (HD)Hip dysplasia | not in the rules | not in the rules | Recommended |
| Kneecap checkPatella luxation | not in the rules | Required | Recommended |
| Eye examInherited eye disease, by a certified vet ophthalmologist | Recommended | Required | Recommended |
| Hearing test (BAER)Congenital deafness | not in the rules | Required | not in the rules |
| DNA test: LOALate-onset ataxia | Recommended | not in the rules | not in the rules |
| DNA test: PLLPrimary lens luxation | Recommended | not in the rules | Recommended |
| DNA test: SCASpinocerebellar ataxia | Recommended | not in the rules | not in the rules |
● Required. ○ Recommended: advised, not required. – Not in the rules. The clubs and their rules are in the source list.
United Kingdom: the Royal Kennel Club’s Health Standard requires no test, so every test is ○ recommended.
United States: ● means the test is needed for a CHIC number from the OFA; taking part in CHIC is voluntary.
New Zealand: the kennel club lists these tests as advice and requires none, so every test is ○ recommended.
What to ask the breeder
- Certificates for both parents: kneecap check, eye exam, and hearing test (BAER). A claim that the parents are “health tested” is not enough.
- To see the puppies with their mother, at the breeder’s home.
- The pedigree papers (United Kingdom: Royal Kennel Club registration certificate; Canada: CKC certificate of registration; Australia: Dogs Australia pedigree, issued by the state body; New Zealand: Dogs NZ certificate of registration). [21] [22] [23] [24]
- 8 weeks: the youngest age at which a puppy may leave its mother in the UK, in Canada (Quebec), and in Australia (New South Wales). [25] [26] [27]
- Advice on buying a puppy: The Royal Kennel Club, The Canadian Kennel Club, Dogs Australia, and Dogs New Zealand. [28] [29] [30] [31]
Similar breeds
Sources
- FCI (Fédération Cynologique Internationale): Breed standard No. 345: Jack Russell Terrier (2012)
- The Royal Kennel Club: Jack Russell Terrier | Breeds A to Z
- FCI (Fédération Cynologique Internationale): Jack Russell Terrier (FCI nomenclature)
- Waggel (UK pet insurer): Jack Russell Breed Guide - Temperament, Training, Health Issues
- PDSA (People's Dispensary for Sick Animals, UK veterinary charity): The cost of owning a dog (2024). Covers food, vet visits, insurance, other costs.
- Spot Pet Insurance: How Much Does a Jack Russel Terrier Cost? (2026)
- ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals): Cutting Pet Care Costs (2021). Covers food, vet visits, preventive medicine, insurance, toys and treats, boarding, dog licence, grooming supplies.
- Pets Plus Us (Canadian pet insurer; figures from OVMA 2024 Cost of Care research): HOW MUCH IS THAT DOGGY? (EN-DOG_PPU_Cost-of-Care_Aug2024_v3.pdf) (2024). Covers food, vet visits, insurance, dog tax, accessories.
- Animal Medicines Australia (survey by Sweeney Research/SNR): Pets in Australia: A national survey of pets and people (Pet Ownership Study 2025) (2025). Covers food, vet visits, insurance, parasite treatment, vet medicines, supplements, grooming, training, accessories, dog walking, boarding, transport, memberships, alternative healthcare.
- Companion Animals New Zealand (NZ Companion Animal Council): Companion Animals in New Zealand 2016 (section 6.3 Dogs, Fig 50) (2016). Covers food, vet visits, dog tax, boarding, equipment, grooming, healthcare products, insurance, training, other costs.
- nidirect (official government website for Northern Ireland): Dog licensing and microchipping (2026)
- American Kennel Club: Are You Financially Prepared for a Puppy? Explore Costs of Owning a Dog (2021)
- City of Toronto: Pet Licensing Fees (2026)
- Mozo: How much does it cost to own a dog or cat in Australia? 2026 (2026)
- PetMall NZ, citing Auckland Council: Auckland Dog Registration 2026–27: Late Fees Now Apply — Full Fee Table (2026)
- Canine Genetics and Epidemiology (O'Neill D.G. et al., VetCompass): The epidemiology of patellar luxation in dogs attending primary-care veterinary practices in England (2016)
- The Veterinary Journal (Comito B., Knowles K.E., Strain G.M.): Congenital deafness in Jack Russell terriers: prevalence and association with phenotype (2012)
- Journal of Small Animal Practice (O'Neill D.G. et al., VetCompass): Epidemiology of periodontal disease in dogs in the UK primary-care veterinary setting (2021)
- Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA): CHIC Program Requirements: Russell Terrier
- Dogs New Zealand: Accredited Breeder Health Tests for the JACK RUSSELL TERRIER (former Accredited Breeders Scheme test list)
- The Royal Kennel Club: What should the breeder give me?
- The Canadian Kennel Club: By-Laws (incl. Code of Ethics (2025)
- Dogs Australia: Getting a Dog: Importance of Pedigree Papers
- Dogs New Zealand (New Zealand Kennel Club Inc.): Registration Regulations (Section 4, Reg. 24: Litter Registration Limitations (2026)
- UK Government (legislation.gov.uk): The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (England) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/486), Schedule 6 (breeding dogs) and Schedule 3 (selling animals as pets) (2018)
- Ministère de l'Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l'Alimentation du Québec (MAPAQ): Guide d'application du Règlement sur le bien-être et la sécurité des animaux domestiques de compagnie et des équidés (reproduces CQLR c. B-3.1, r. 0.1, art. 36) (2023)
- NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD), State of New South Wales (fact sheet hosted by Dogs NSW): New laws for dog breeders in NSW (fact sheet on the 2024-25 amendments to the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979 and Companion Animals Act 1998) (2025)
- The Royal Kennel Club: Questions for the breeder
- The Canadian Kennel Club: Finding an Accountable Breeder
- Dogs Australia: Getting a Dog: Choosing a Breeder
- Dogs New Zealand: How do you go about purchasing a pedigree pure bred dog?
Breeding rules, health sources and breed standards checked October 8, 2026.
Prices as published by the sources; collected October 8, 2026.
Breed traits describe typical tendencies. Every dog is an individual, shaped by genes, upbringing and training.