Origins of the breed

While at Oxford he acquired a dog called Trump from a local milkman, a dog "that Russell had only seen in his dreams". Russell's biographer wrote about Trump at the start of the 20th century:

"In the first place the colour is white with just a patch of dark tan over each eye and ear, while a similar dot, not larger than a penny piece, marks the root of the tail. The coat, which is thick, close and a trifle wiry, is well calculated to protect the body from wet and cold, but has no affinity with the long, rough jacket of a Scotch Terrier. The legs are straight as arrows, the feet perfect; the loins and conformation of the whole frame indicative of hardihood and endurance; while the size and height of the animal may be compared to that of a full-grown vixen fox."

John Russell used Trump to breed with his own fox terriers. Over several generations he was able to combine the feistiness of the fox terrier, a whippet for speed and a little beagle for good measure. So was created a breed that was to be named after him, the Jack Russell.

Shortly after his marriage in 1826 the Reverend Russell took up the curacy of his father's parish at Iddelseigh in North Devon. In 1832 he moved to Swimbridge and Landkey. He died at Black Torrington, his final Rectorship, on the 28th April 1883.

The modern Jack Russell breed exists thanks to a man of the cloth. John Russell was born in Dartmouth, South Devon on December 12th 1795. His family were keen fox hunters, and he in turn developed a passion for hunting. Whilst studying at Oxford, he rode with the Beaufort, Bicester and the Old Berkshire hunts whenever he could afford to. He recognised the need for a hunting dog that was small and brave enough to go into a fox’s den, but would not kill the fox outright.