I’m a fan of the Jack Russell Terrier, but more than a little suspect of those who miss the basic fact that John Russell bought his first terrier (named Trump!) based on what it LOOKED like, not observed work.
There is no evidence that John Russell bred a line of terriers or kept pedigrees. He rather famously poked fun at the over-large flashy dogs he saw at the first Kennel Club show, and never registered his own dogs.
The point here is a simple one: the “blood” of the white working terrier precedes John Russell and it has certainly survived after him. There was nothing unique about Russell’s dogs other than the fact that he worked them a lot, and seemed to like a smaller and softer terrier than some.
From The Western Morning News of December 4, 1901:
JACK RUSSELL TERRIERS. Sir - Can any of readers kindly Inform me whether the strain of wire-haired fox terriers bread by the late "Parson Jack Russell," and known his name, is still preserved in the West? Any information concerning the breed would greatly appreciated, as it seems a great pity that such an excellent strain dog should be allowed die out, and one to that belongs to the Westcountry. I shall be very glad to hear that the blood is still to be found, and hope that any of your readers knowing its existence will so kind to communicate the fact with the view to preservation of the strain. -
JOHN MOWLEM. Swanage, Dorset, December 3rd
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