Zealous Kennels - Breed Information

THE BREED STANDARD

BREED STANDARD
PARSON RUSSELL TERRIER

Breed Standards Information Click here!

GENERAL APPEARANCE

Workmanlike, active and agile; built for speed and endurance. Overall picture of balance and flexibility. Honorable scars permissible.

CHARACTERISTICS

Essentially a working terrier with ability and conformation to go to ground and run with the hounds.

TEMPERAMENT

Bold and friendly

HEAD AND SKULL

Flat, moderately broad, gradually narrowing to the eyes. Shallow stop. Length from nose to stop slightly shorter than from stop to occiput. Nose black.

EYES

Almond-shaped, fairly deep-set, dark, keen expression.

EARS

Small, V-shaped, dropping forward, carried close to head, tip of ear to reach corner of eye, fold not to appear above top of skull. Leather of moderate thickness.

MOUTH

Jaws strong, muscular. Teeth with a perfect, regular and compete scissor bite, i.e. upper teeth closely overlapping lower teeth and set square to the jaw.

NECK

Clean, muscular, of good length, gradually widening to shoulders.

FOREQUARTERS

Shoulders long and sloping, well laid back, cleanly cut at withers. Legs strong must be straight with joints turning neither in nor out. Elbows close to body, working free of the sides.

BODY

Ribs not over-sprung. Chest of moderate depth, not to come below point of elbow, capable of being spanned behind the shoulders by average size hands. Back strong and straight. Loin slightly arched. Well balanced. Overall length slightly longer than height from withers to ground.

HINDQUARTERS

Strong, muscular with good angulation and bend of stifle. Hocks set low and rear pasterns parallel giving plenty of drive.

FEET

Compact with firm pads, turning neither in nor out.

TAIL

Customarily docked.
Docked: Length complimenting the body while providing a good handhold. Strong, straight moderately high set, carried well up on the move

Undocked: Of moderate length and as straight as possible, giving a general balance to the dog, thick at the root and tapering towards the end. Moderately high set, carried well up on the move.

GAIT/MOVEMENT

Free-striding, well co-ordinated; straight action front and behind.

COAT

Naturally harsh, close and dense, whether rough or smooth. Belly and undersides coated. Skin must be think and loose.

Colour

Entirely white or predominantly white with tan, lemon or black markings, or any combination of these colors, preferably confined to the head and/or root of tail.

SIZE

Ideal height: at withers: Dogs: 36 cms (14 ins); Bitches: 33 cms (13 ins). 2.5 cms (l in) above or below is acceptable.

FAULTS

Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be in exact proportion to its degree and its effect upon the health and welfare of the dog.

GENERAL APPEARANCE

Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum.

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Bev Embley