nosmo@pyuxqq.UUCP (P Valdata) (12/19/84)
Is anyone familiar with Jack Russell terriers? They don't seem to be recognized by the AKC. I'd never heard of these dogs until I met one last night. Where do they come from? What is the breed like? All I have seen, based on one three-month old puppy, is that they are little, spunky, and very cute. Pat Valdata pyuxh!nosmo
michaelk@azure.UUCP (Michael Kersenbrock) (12/21/84)
> Is anyone familiar with Jack Russell terriers? They don't seem to be > recognized by the AKC. I'd never heard of these dogs until I met one > last night. Where do they come from? What is the breed like? > All I have seen, based on one three-month old puppy, is that they are > little, spunky, and very cute. > > Pat Valdata > pyuxh!nosmo My parents have one named "Pipper". I believe the "RCA-dog" (you know, in front of the old RCA-player) is one. The dog is British. The breed was "optimized" to be absolutely fearless. The dog would attack an elephant if the elephant was encroaching. Pipper is a VERY spunky and friendly dog to those that are friends. This dog is VERY territorial. It doesn't like *birds* in his territory, and will actively work to keep 'em out. Anyway, the dog is rather close to the ground, and is absolutely all muscle. The breed isn't recognized in Britain either (there is a problem with repeatablity of the breed in some of the details (required for an "official" breed)). Pipper is "no fun" when throwing a ball for him to get. He is so fast, he outruns the ball on the way out (not very far out at that!) and catches it. My parents got him in England where they used to live. I've got a cat myself :-) (Mehitabel the Cat).
jla@inuxd.UUCP (Joyce Andrews) (12/27/84)
I tried to reply to the Jack Russell inquiry, but my message was returned twice, so I will post this to the net, hoping it is of some interest to the rest of you. Jack Russells are very fashionable among the "hunt" set--that group who dresses in special attire and follows the fox hounds over hill and dale and, hopefully, some fences, because jumping their horses is what it's all about. As I understand the development of the breed, it has to do with small, fast, brave little fellows that can get right down into the den and drive Mr. Reynard out in the open (that was in the days when they really wanted to get rid of the fox because he was raiding the hen house). What the breeders got for their efforts is a small, fast, brave little dog that is also about as smart as you can get and still be a dog. They are affectionate, and loyal. They are also compatible with city living, and make nice house dogs. You do not have to own a horse in order to own a Jack Russell! Most of the hunt/race/jumper show magazines (Chronicle of the Horse, Middleburg, Virginia; Blood Horse; Practical Horseman; EQUUS) will have classifieds from Jack Russell breeders--and they are usually reputable. The prices are a couple hundred dollars, and the breeders who advertise in those magazines are usually reputable.