Parson Russell Terrier

The Parson Russell Terrier was bred in England in the 1800s for the purpose of hunting foxes. These hunts were largely formalized affairs involving riders on horseback and packs of hounds pursuing an individual fox to his eventual doom. While many breeds of hounds served well in the pursuit of the fox, they were too large to actually ferret them out if they got into an underground burrow. What was needed in the mix was a very specific type of dog that was capable of running as fast as a man on horseback could gallop, yet still small and fearless enough to dig down after any foxes that were run to ground.

The breed draws its name from a well-known sportsman of the time, the Reverend John Russell, who created this swift little terrier to work in tandem with the larger dogs present in the hunt pack. Required to match wits with the wily fox, the Parson Russell Terrier, or PRT as it is abbreviated, was created to run with the pack but think independently and solve problems on its own when confronted with them.

Owning A Parson Russell Terrier: 3 Pros And 3 Cons

Types Of

The Parson Russell Terrier is one of three Russell Terrier breeds; the other two are the Jack Russell and the Russell Terrier. There are two different coat types that the Parson Russell Terrier comes in — broken and rough. The most common color is white, but they also come in the following other colors:

• Black
• Brown
• Tan
• Cream
• Tri-Color

Size And Weight

Because its ultimate purpose was to dig out creatures it has run into a burrow, the PRT is a small dog standing only about 13 to 14 inches high. Healthy specimens are found to weigh up to 13 to 17 pounds, depending on the sex of the animal.

Common Health Issues

Ataxia is the major threat to the health of a PRT. This is a type of nerve damage or disease related to inner ear imbalances or spinal cord constrictions. Ataxia takes the form of a disruption in the smooth coordination of the four limbs necessary for quadrupedal animals to move fluidly.

Patellar luxation, or slippage of the kneecap, is another ailment that occurs in many small dog breeds. The kneecap essentially dislocates and can either snap back into place on its own or may require external force to return it to its proper positioning. Needless to say, this can be quite painful both when it happens and when the kneecap goes back into place.

Deafness is another issue that Parson Russell Terriers face. There are many causes of deafness in dogs as a result of infection, infestations, or various ear ailments, but the majority of cases with a PRT occur simply due to their very long lifespan.

While Parson Russell Terriers are generally healthy, conditions such as patellar luxation, congenital deafness, and certain forms of ataxia are known to occur in the breed at a higher rate than in many other breeds.

Temperament And Behavior

If there were only one word to describe the Parson Russell Terrier, it would probably have to be busy. If nothing is happening in its life, this breed will find something to occupy its time. Given the chance, it will wander and hunt out beyond its normal domain. They live to chase things, and it doesn’t much matter what it is. Digging is also part of their normal temperament.

They have enough playfulness and energy to tire out a five-year-old. These dogs can relate well with just about anybody or anything except for very small creatures that they may not recognize as fellow pets but as something to pursue. PRTs know how to be around horses, but are hit-or-miss when it comes to cats that they didn’t grow up with.

How To Take Care Of Parson Russell Terriers

The key to caring for a Parson Russell Terrier is to keep them occupied. These are not couch potato dogs that can lie around all day doing nothing. If they are not provided opportunities for vigorous play and exercise, they will create their own. This is a dog that will play a very big part in your life.

The Best Dog Food

Somewhere between 1 ¼ and 1 ¾ cups of dry dog food is the usual maintenance ration for these dogs. This should be divided between breakfast and dinner. Adjust the quantity based on how much of an active lifestyle the particular dog is living at the time. Smaller dog breeds can become obese quickly.

Since training a PRT may well involve the provision of treats for good behavior, this should reduce their overall everyday supply of dog food. As high-energy as they are, an occasional serving of real meat can help keep them in top form.

Maintenance And Grooming

Exercise and attention are the two main things you will need to provide for dogs of this breed. Their coats are rather weatherproof and do not require more than an occasional brush out in most cases. They do not shed very much, provided they have a proper diet. If it becomes unbalanced, they will begin to shed a little bit more than usual. So long as they get proper care, they are not hypoallergenic, but can be very little trouble to look after. Their nails will need trimming. This is especially true for indoor animals that do not have any opportunity for digging.

Training

Very few people are fox hunters these days. It is necessary to provide a PRT with an alternate purpose in life. Training must take into account their need to fit into a definite role in the family without straying.

This does not equate to cruelty or punishment, but it does mean that you have to be firm and consistent in the things you teach these dogs and also in the things they cannot do. If there are any gray areas or inconsistencies, their own inquisitive personality will produce their own solution to the challenge. It may be one that you do not appreciate. Get on top of them early and keep it that way. In turn, you will have a loving, vivacious, and superb life companion. Simply put, the extra training effort you put in early will pay dividends for life.

Exercise

How much exercise is enough for one of these dogs? There might be no solid answer to that question. They can keep going and going so long as you are willing to let them run and play. This is what makes them so ideal for juvenile companions. The dogs and the kids can tire each other out and then go to bed happy. The important thing to remember about exercise, in this case, is that these dogs need exercise as much mentally as they do physically.

Puppies

There are no major differences when it comes to raising PRT puppies rather than any others. The most important requirement is to put in the time necessary to mold their character as you would like it to be. Of course, you need to provide a properly balanced diet of puppy food and make sure they get plenty of exercise. Obtaining a rescue dog, provided it was properly raised, can greatly reduce the time and effort to obtain a satisfactory canine-human balance.

Parson Russell Terriers And Children

These energetic dogs are very good companions for children. They are small, so they are not likely to accidentally hurt anybody through the application of simple mass in motion. They love to run, jump, and play. Most importantly, they do not need special instruction on how to behave around small humans. They can simply dive right in and become part of the family.

Dogs Similar To Parson Russell Terriers

There are a large number of dog breeds that share similarities with the Parson Russell Terrier.

• Jack Russell Terrier: The most obviously similar dog is the Jack Russell Terrier.
• American Foxhound: Next is one of the PRT’s big brothers on the hunt, the American Foxhound. Although more beagle-ish in appearance, the larger, longer-legged Foxhound shares many of the Parson Russell Terrier’s finest attributes. This is not surprising since they both exist for the same original purpose. The most famous breeder of the American Foxhound was George Washington.
• Rat Terrier: Conversely, the Rat Terrier is like a PRT’s little brother. It was bred for the pursuit of smaller game and vermin, as its name clearly denotes. Apart from that, however, it is a very similar dog that fits apartment living in particular as long as it gets a healthy dose of daily exercise.