Boston Terrier vs. Jack Russell : 4 Main Differences Explained

First, the similarities between the Jack Russell and the Boston terriers. They are energetic, long-lived, intelligent, and devoted to their humans. But there are some differences between these two pooches, and here are some main differences. Which dog is best for you?

One of the Main Differences: Origins

One of the main differences between the Boston and the Jack Russell terriers is their origins. The Boston terrier, as its name implies, was developed in Boston, Massachusetts. This makes it one of the few breeds of dog whose origins lie within the United States. Interestingly, this dog descended from the Olde Boston Bulldogge, which used to be featured in dogfights. Indeed, Boston terriers used to be grouped as heavyweight, middleweight, and lightweight until the breed was standardized in the 1900s. Indeed, there are some who don’t believe that the Boston terrier is a terrier at all because of its origins as a pit fighter.

The Jack Russell terrier’s origins are in England, and it was named for the Reverend John Russell. This little dog accompanied fox hunts. Its legs were long enough to run with the foxhounds, but it was small enough to follow a fox into its den and force it out. This ability to go to ground makes the Jack Russell a true terrier. There are two breeds of Jack Russell terriers. There is the Jack Russell and Parson Russell, and they differ when it comes to bodily conformation and even lifespan. The Jack Russell lives a bit longer than the Parson Russell.

Another of the Main Differences: Looks

The Jack Russell and the Boston terrier couldn’t be mistaken for each other by a person who knows their dogs.

The Jack Russell terrier stands between 8 and 15 inches at the shoulder and weighs between 11 and 18 pounds. Its coat is mostly white, with a brown, black or tan head, often with a blaze down the muzzle, which is long and a bit foxy. The coat is smooth, broken, or rough. A rough coat has a wiry texture, but a broken coat has areas where the coat is wiry and areas where it’s smooth, and the hairs are shorter than they are in a rough coat. The Jack Russell has a strong neck, small, folded ears, and a tail set high on the body.

On the other hand, the adjective many people use to describe the Boston terrier is “square.” It has a square head and a square body, and is one of those dogs with the squashed in face. The Boston’s small ears are erect, its pop eyes are round and cheerful, and it has powerful legs in a wide stance. It has a broad chest and a low slung tail that can be straight or corkscrewed and tapers at the end. The Boston’s coat is fine and short, and acceptable colors are black and white, seal, or white and brindled. The Boston terrier is also larger and heavier than the Jack Russell. It stands between 15 and 17 inches high at the shoulder and weighs between 10 and 25 pounds.

Temperament

Both dogs make excellent pets, and are small enough for apartment life. The Jack Russell is known for its cheerfulness, bravery and its fierce devotion to its family. It is a good dog to have around children, but its hunting instincts may cause it to chase smaller animals and even get into fights. This little dog also likes to dig and explore. Potential Jack Russell parents should know that it’s not only a good climber but a good jumper of fences. The Boston terrier is prized for its intelligence and the affection it shows toward its humans. It’s also good with children, senior citizens, and even strangers.

Main Differences: Health

Because of the size of its head, Boston terrier puppies may need to be delivered by Caesarean. The usual litter size is about three to four puppies. Whelping isn’t so much of a problem with the Jack Russell, whose females usually deliver four to eight puppies.

Since these dogs have relatively short coats, grooming them is easy. However, you’ll need to clean the Boston terrier’s face and eyes daily, and make sure to remove foreign objects in its eyes and ears. If you’re going to show your Jack Russell, you’ll need to strip its coat beforehand. That just means you pull out the dead hairs in the coat manually as opposed to using a brush.

The Boston’s squashed in face also makes it prone to snoring, drooling, and breathing problems, especially when it over-exerts itself in cold or hot weather. Because the Boston’s eyes charmingly bug out, its eyes are subject to a host of problems, including cherry eye, cataracts, corneal ulcers, and dry eyes. The Jack Russell tends to be a hardier dog, though it is more at risk for dislocated patellas and Legg Perthes disease. This is a disease where the ball of the dog’s hip doesn’t get enough blood. This can cause the ball to collapse, which can lead to arthritis.

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