How does the Jack Russell differ from the Fox Terrier?
Function has always been foremost in the breeding of Jack Russell type terriers, with concern for correct conformation as it related to working ability, regardless of color, markings, type, etc. A Jack Russell Terrier can perhaps best be described as a type, or a broad strain, of working terrier rather than a pure breed, with a broad standard that encompasses a variety of sizes, coats, types and colors-variety that is necessary for the Jack Russell to meet the varying needs of working terriermen. It is said that the Jack Russell is the original working terrier from which today’s Fox Terrier was derived; in effect, it is the working counterpart of the modern-day Fox Terrier. The Jack Russell has remained virtually unchanged for more than a century because it has stayed in the hands of the working terrier enthusiasts, while its counterpart, the recognized Fox Terrier, has undergone dramatic change, evolving into the deep-chested, narrow-jawed, straight-shouldered show breed of today.
