Although the Parson Russell terrier and the Jack Russell terrier look very much alike, they are two different dog breeds. From their physical traits to their personalities, read on to know more about what makes them unique from each other.
Quick History
Both of the breeds were named after Reverend John ‘Jack’ Russel. He was a parson who resided in Devonshire, England, in the 1800s. Reverend John is quite a fan of fox hunting. He bred a working dog that was active, gutsy, and courageous enough to hunt down foxes. Thus, in time, he was able to breed one, which is now known as the Jack Russell terrier. Reverend John had a white female terrier named Trump. She is believed to be the very foundation for the Reverend’s new breed of terriers.
After the death of Reverend John, a new breed of terrier was ‘created.’ These were made possible by hunters who lived in steep lands. They needed dogs with longer legs, which can easily navigate the harsh terrains and be on track with his human companions. This breed was called the Parson Jack Terrier.
Differences in Personality
There is not much difference between the two breeds’ personalities. They are brilliant pooches that have great abilities when it comes to problem-solving. Both of them are highly energetic, jolly, and playful. However, the Jack Russell terrier was observed to be more lively and gregarious compared to the Parson Jack Russell terrier.
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Differences in Size
The Parson Russell terrier is marginally taller and bigger compared to the Jack Russell terrier. A male Parson can grow to 36 cm tall at the withers, whilst a female Parson can reach around 33 cm tall. Moreover, they weigh between 5 to 8 kg.
On the other hand, the Jack Russell terrier can grow up to 30 cm in height at the withers for both male and female. This pooch has an average weight of 6.4 to 8 kg.
Differences in Build
One trait that distinguishes a Parson Russell terrier from a Jack Russell terrier is the length of its legs. The Parson typically has longer legs, which are proportionate to the length of its body.
Since the Parson Russell terrier has a large head paired with its long frame, it is bigger in size. Its body is also often described as a square in shape, whilst Jack Russell’s body has a rectangular shape. Additionally, the Parson Russell terrier has a wider chest compared to the Jack Russell terrier.
Differences in Coat and Colour
A Parson Russell Terrier’s coat is flat and thick. It has two coat types, which are broken and smooth. Both of these types are grainy; however, the broken coat type tends to be slightly longer compared to the smooth type. A Parson terrier with a broken coat usually has a more pronounced beard and eyebrows. This dog breed also has various combinations of coat markings, which include pure white, lemon and white, tan and white, and white and black.
As for the Jack Russell terrier, this dog breed has three types of coats: smooth, broken, and rough. It has almost the same colouration as the Parson terrier, but with fewer variations. The breed’s coat colours primarily come in white with markings of black, tan, or a combination of both.
