~ Gonetoground ~
Parson Russell Terriers return to the "City of Dreaming Spires".
This History of The Breed
History
The young John Russell, while a student at Exeter Hall Oxford, was taking a walk across the University Parks towards Marston when he came across a milkman with a terrier "the like of which he had never encountered before", this terrier, Trump, was to become the first of his foundation stock which produced the type of foxing terrier that we know today as the Parson Russell.
Characteristics
Longer
on the leg, to run with hounds, and predominently white for better visibility
in dense vegetation they should be narrow enough to fold up and disappear
into rabbit holes and fox earths in persuit of their quarry.
They should not be so "hard" that they attack, but should be bold enough to hold their quarry and "bay" so that they and their quarry may be located. The skin should be thick and loose to allow them to work and turn underground and the coat hard (with a dense undercoat) to keep off the weather.
Standing around 13-14 inches at the wither they are compact enough to be portable but not so small as to get underfoot. These attributes are still today essential characteristics of the breed. You may like to read The Breed Standard.
And no, they are not "yappy and snappy" but fantastic loyal companions with the "heart of a lion" who will certainly let you know if there are "visitors" about - come and see for yourself.
