Imagine owning a dog that is fun, cuddly, smart, and always wants to be with it's owner, whether he or she is watching television on the couch, or running around outside. This is a dog that has boundless energy, a dog that loves to curl up in bed, understands what one is saying and thinking, a finally, a dog that is a faithful companion and a true buddy. This report is on a breed of dog known as the Jack Russell Terrier.
             The Jack Russell Terrier was originally named Parson Russell Terrier. A man named John Russell, who lived in England in the early 1800's, bred the original Parson Russell Terrier. Mr. Russell was nicknamed "Jack", which is where the name "Jack" Russell came from. Mr. Russell was a parson or clergyman, which is where the name "Parson" Russell came from. The Parson Russell Terrier is slightly longer-legged and a slightly different stature, bone, and structure than the present day Jack Russell Terrier (M. Strom, The Ultimate Jack Russell Terrier)
             The shorter-legged Jack Russell Terrier is thought to be a cross of the original Parson Russell Terrier with possibly the Welsh corgi or Staffordshire Terrier. These types of terriers have short legs. No one is sure how or when the shorter-legged dog came about. John Russell's breed of dog probably originated with the Fox Terrier similar to the Jack and Parson Russell Terrier (C. Foster, Dog World).
             The original Parson Russell Terrier was bred to be a working dog. John Russell was a frequent hunter and bred his dogs to cover great distances with great speed. He needed them to have a lot of stamina to keep up with the hunt all day, and keen intelligence to race through the woods after the fox. They needed to keep track of the rest of the pack and their master. Hunting was and still is very demanding on the dog. This breed is still used to hunt fox. Parson and Jack Russell Terriers are also great diggers. They have ...