It derives from dogs bred and used for fox-hunting in North Devon in the early nineteenth century by a country parson, Jack Russell – for whom the breed is named – and has similar origins to the modern Fox Terrier.

Jack Russells have appeared many times in film, television, and print – with several historical dogs of note.

[5] Difficulty in differentiating the dog from the creature it was pursuing brought about the need for a mostly white dog,[6] and so in 1819 during his last year of university at Exeter College, Oxford,[7] he purchased a small white and tan terrier female named Trump from a local milkman[8] in the nearby small hamlet of Elsfield[9] or Marston.

[5] Her colouring was described as "...white, with just a patch of dark tan over each eye and ear; whilst a similar dot, not larger than a penny piece, marks the root of the tail.

[7] She was the basis for a breeding program to develop a terrier with high stamina for the hunt as well as the courage and formation to chase out foxes that had gone to ground.

[14] An important attribute in this dog was a tempered aggressiveness that would provide the necessary drive to pursue and bolt the fox, without resulting in physical harm to the quarry and effectively ending the chase, which was considered unsporting.

[15] Following Russell's death, the only people who made serious efforts to continue those strains were two men, one in Chislehurst with the surname of East, and another in Cornwall named Archer.

[6][7] Following World War II, the requirement for hunting dogs drastically declined, and with it the numbers of Jack Russell terriers.

Registration for the club is made at adulthood for Jack Russells, rather than at birth, to ensure the breed's qualities remain, given the open registry.

The JRTCGB promoted the range of sizes that remain in its standards today, whereas the SEJRTC set a minimum height for dogs at 33 cm (13 in).

[citation needed] This move was opposed by the Jack Russell Terrier Club of America as they did not want the breed to lose its essential working characteristics.

[citation needed] The Jack Russell Terrier Breeders Association formed and petitioned the AKC; the breed's admission was granted in 2001.

Predominantly white in colouration (more than 51%) with black and/or brown and/or tan markings,[29] they exhibit either a smooth, rough or a combination of both which is known as a broken coat.

The tail is set high and in the past was docked to approximately 10 cm (5 in) in order to provide a sufficient hand-hold for gripping the terrier.

[38] The Fédération Cynologique Internationale standard for the Jack Russell terrier has this smaller size listed as a requirement.

[42] The working Jack Russell terrier is required to locate quarry in the earth, and then either bolt it or hold it in place until they are dug to.

Because the preservation of this working ability is of highest importance to most registered JRTCA/JRTCGB breeders, Jack Russells tend to be extremely intelligent, athletic, fearless, and vocal dogs.

[43] Obedience classes are also recommended to potential owners,[42] as Jack Russells can be stubborn at times and aggressive towards other animals and humans if not properly socialized.

[citation needed] Due to their use in hunting, in the US the Jack Russell is prone to contracting skunk toxic shock syndrome.

[48] A type of ichthyosis that can be distinguished both clinically and histopathologically has been identified in separate Jack Russell Terrier families.

Legg–Calvé–Perthes syndrome, also called Avascular Necrosis of the Femoral Head, is where the ball section of the femur in the hip joint deteriorates following interruption of the blood flow and is the same condition as in humans.

[59][60] This feat is unlikely to be repeated, as all dogs have been banned from Antarctica by the Antarctic Treaty nations since 1994, due to fears that they could transmit diseases to the native seal population.

[61] Ranulph Fiennes and Charles Burton actually made the trip to the north pole by powered sledges before signalling to the base camp that they had arrived.

[62] On 29 April 2007, a Jack Russell named George saved five children at a carnival in New Zealand from an attack by two pit bulls.

[64] In 2019, Boris Johnson and his partner Carrie Symonds took a Jack Russell cross from an animal rescue charity in Wales.

[68] In the UK, one of the more recognisable canine stars was restaurateur and chef Rick Stein's irrepressible terrier Chalky,[citation needed] who frequently upstaged his owner on his various cookery series.

[76] In the same year, based on interest following The Artist, the "Consider Uggie" campaign was launched, which attempted to gain the dog a nomination for an Academy Award.

He was best known in the UK for his appearance as "Harvey" in Thinkbox's three television commercials, and, under his real name in five seasons of Midsomer Murders.

Slider is a Jack Russell who is a main character in the Animal Crossing video game series developed by Nintendo.

Max, the main protagonist in Illumination's The Secret Life of Pets franchise is a Jack Russell Terrier living with his adopted brother Duke, a large Newfoundland mix, and owners Katie, Chuck, and Liam.