Fox Terrier and Jack Russell Terrier: similarities and differences of breeds

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Many confuse Fox Terriers and Jack Russell Terriers, but these are completely different breeds. How are they similar and how do they differ?

In the photo you can compare the wire-haired and the smooth-haired Fox Terriers and the Jack Russell Terrier.

Features of the appearance of the Fox Terriers and Jack Russell Terriers

Probably worth starting with external signs.

Wire-haired and smooth-haired fox-terriers are dogs of approximately the same size and differ primarily in the type of coat.

Hard coat protects the dog very well when hunting. My wire-haired fox-terrier does not get wet, even having bathed in the lake. The advantage of the wire-haired fox terrier is that it does not fade, and if trimming is done on time (at least 2-3 times a year), there is no wool at all in the house. You cannot cut these dogs - a haircut spoils the quality of the coat.

The smooth-haired fox-terrier is more elegant and thin, but, of course, the coat streaks. They frankly freeze in the winter. While running, they feel good, but at each stop the dog freezes. Although hunters somehow hunt with them in the winter.

Smooth Fox Terrier Rebecca, photo from the personal archive of Olga Krasovskaya

Jack Russell Terrier - a dog of a completely different size, she is much smaller. These dogs within the same breed can be both wire-haired and smooth-haired. If smooth-haired and wire-haired fox-terriers are fundamentally different breeds that do not fit together, then smooth-haired and wire-haired Jack Russell Terrier is yet another breed and may well interbreed.

If the Fox Terrier is a square-format dog with a short body and long legs, then the Jack Russell Terrier is more squat with more voluminous ribs and shorter legs.

The fox terrier has a long nose, there is no transition from the forehead to the muzzle. In Jack Russell Terrier, the transition from forehead to face should be well expressed.

The origin of the Fox Terriers and Jack Russell Terriers

The Fox Terrier is a very ancient breed, it is a dog of English gentlemen, while Jack Russell is an offshoot of the same breed, but FCI recognized them very recently. Jack Russell Terrier - an American farmer's dog, who everywhere accompanied his master and established himself as a wonderful rat-catcher.

Since Jack Russell Terrier is a young breed, it cannot be called mature. Now there are more dogs of the same type, but in general we can see many completely different types within the same breed, up to the fact that in a particular dog it can be difficult to identify the Jack Russell Terrier.

From Jack Russell Terriers Parson Russell branches, which can even be born in Jack Russell litter, and then they just change the pedigree. Parson Russels differ from Jack Russels in the format: they are longer-legged and square.

Jack Russell Terrier Greta at a performance at the Children's Rehabilitation Center

Character Fox Terriers and Jack Russell Terriers

By nature, all these breeds differ from each other.

Fox Terriers, smooth and wire-haired, do not look alike.

Wire-haired fox-terrier is an excellent user-friendly dog, though not for a beginner (like all terriers), but for any active family. They get along well with children, are comfortable in maintenance, softer and more flexible than smooth-haired fox-terriers, they do not have the sharpness that is inherent in smooth-haired foxes. Males are more aggressive and pugnacious, this must be correctly and timely corrected, of course, without jerking with a leash or other violent measures. But, in principle, they are easily controllable, obedient, not prone to escaping and quite adequate, calm dogs. My wire-haired fox-terrier goes to events for children with special needs, to orphanages, etc. Everyone can stroke her, and I don’t worry at all that she will show aggression - she cannot do this, I am 100% sure of this.

Olga Krasovskaya and wire-haired fox-terrier of Homs in the children's rehabilitation center

I don’t know how it happened, possibly due to the fact that smooth-haired Fox Terriers in England were kept by gentlemen specifically for hunting foxes, badgers and wild boars, but, be that as it may, these dogs are very tough, sharp, impulsive uncompromising. Even a bitch, if you do not give her sufficient physical and intellectual stress, can show aggression to other animals. True, I have never observed aggression towards people, they are quite friendly. My smooth-haired fox terrier is not looking for fights, but if she is offered, she won’t count to three.

In my house, a smooth-fox terrier is at the forefront, and according to the theory of dominance, it should have eaten me for a long time. 🙂 And in any pack she is a leader, even if there are dogs much larger. But the leader is not the one who offends, but the one who cares and protects, and she fully performs these functions always and everywhere.

With all my love for the smooth-haired fox terriers (and this is my favorite breed), I have never tied my dog for the very reason that I have no idea who could become a good owner for puppies. There are very few people who are really suitable for this breed. If improperly raised, these dogs can become aggressive and even dangerous. They do not forgive mistakes.

As for Jack Russell Terriers, I didn’t have them, but as a dog handler I talked to them quite a lot, so I can tell about them from my own experience.

Unfortunately, today the breed has become very popular, and popularity always brings huge harm to the breed. And here is a breed of poorly established, not formed. And, in my opinion, the result was disastrous.

There are lines and kennels that offer quite good, mentally stable jack russell terriers, but they also have an appropriate price. Unfortunately, Jack Russell Terriers are often seen with a very unbalanced psyche of a sort of decorative dog, who is afraid of everything, panics, tightens his tail.

This does not mean that all jack russell bad. Some of them remained quite fierce fighting and tough Pied Piper Terriers and there are very good dogs that could suit any family. But in this case, it seems to me, choosing a puppy, it is difficult to predict whether this dog will be a "crazy" terrier or a normal user dog. Therefore, when choosing a Jack Russell Terrier, it is fundamentally important to contact well-known nurseries with an impeccable reputation.

Probably the best option of these three breeds for the home, for the family is still a wire-haired fox-terrier.

But in this case, it is better not to take the puppy from the hunters, but rather to choose an experienced, competent show breeder. These dogs have not yet turned into poodles, but they can no longer be called "terriers-terriers." The wire-haired fox-terrier will not be as complaisant as the Golden Retriever, but it is more energetic and has more drive.

But none of these three breeds is suitable for older people. Recently, a fashion has appeared to give grandmothers jack russell - do not do this.

And keep in mind that all three breeds are prone to prolonged and active barking, the correction of which must be given attention from the first days a puppy appears in the house.

My opinion: it is good that Fox Terriers (both smooth and wire-haired) did not become popular. Due to this, only fans of the breed breed them and use really good dogs as producers, and breeding here is an investment of money, not earning. This is probably the main difference between the Fox Terriers and Jack Russell.