They are Jack Russell Terriers

	In Ireland, we tend to keep things fairly simple. The Jack Russell Terrier has been loved and cherished as a family pet for many a year in Ireland. Here in America there is great interest in Ireland and anything Irish. Which is lovely. The same is true for the Irish Jack Russell.    The Irish love a bit of story telling and I have heard some grand stories of dogs with grand Irish ancestry and claims of 'blue' blood but really that isn't what Irish 'shortie' Jacks are about. Or indeed, what Ireland is about.

	In Ireland, the 'Shortie', as you say in America, was a working man's dog.  Nothing fancy, no Royal blood, no fancy pedigrees. Their heritage is similar to that of the Lurcher. The registered Parsons and IKC Jacks  were the preserve of the nobility and commoners were not permitted to own such dogs. So the 'commoners' bred their own type of Jack. Over time, they were loved for what they were not where they came from.  This was the charm of the little Jacks.  To me, many an Irishman and woman has the same charm. Irish people are understated, much like a good Jack.   Spend 10 minutes with a good Jack Russell and they will win you over,  without a word spoken. No complication. Just a good old fashioned little dog.

	All 3 of the above mentioned terriers are considered a 'working' breed. Therefore it is expected that a well bred one would prefer to work. People often tell me how horrid certain Jacks can be, but in fairness it is more likely the dog is not suited to the quiet life that it has been given:-) However, knowing this, I prefer to stick to my little jacks, often referred to as miniature jack russells in Ireland because they are bred to be pets. Being a terrier they will still happily rid the barn of vermin but can live very contently in an Urban setting. It is this ability to be content with a quieter life that makes them so popular with an incresing number of families. I do not breed working terriers, I specifically breed for a mild mannered non working type. I prefer that the barn cats do their job in the barn and the dogs simply be my companion. Please note if you prefer a working dog, one that will excel  in the field or at flyball or in 'dirtdog' competition I do not think my dogs are a good fit. But I can certainly refer you to some excellent breeders that breed working type Jack Russells.

	The Jack Russell Terrier has a lack of uniformity both in size and overall appearance. They are normally 9-11" tall, between 10- 16 lbs. They tend to be longer than they are tall. Some are fine boned some are stocky and very muscular. Some are solid colored, some are the more recognizable bi-color or tri-color.         Oponents of the breed frown on this 'lack of uniformity' because they consider it not to be 'pure'. However, I find it rather ironic that this short legged(shorty) terrier is free from many of the genetic health issues which burden their 'purebred' cousins.

	I love this lack of uniformity and am opposed to the breed having to conform to too rigid a 'type'. My Jacks or the type of JRT I like is not used for formal work or hunting(except for a few exceptions), certainly in Ireland they were never in the showring. Instead they are most suited to being the family pet, the family barnhand keeping rodents at bay, the childrens best friend. They do make great porch mats, replacements for hot water bottles in the bed, co-pilots in the car and just delightful, comical best friends.     The Jack Russell Terrier has thrived for over 150 years 'as is'. They are remarkably healthy, athletic, low maintenance, uncomplicated little dogs. Over the years, as with all purebreds, there has been infusion of other breeds. This has led to variety in appearance, people's individual preferances allowed the breed to go in slightly different directions, since the dog was not required to work or conform to a very specific type. Each breeder has their own idea of ideal type, I follow mine and continue to try to improve my line while retaining the look that I consider correct.

	In my opinion, if the dog is conformationally sound, has a delightful temperament, is in great health with the charm of an Irishman, you can't go wrong!! Correct conformation is vitally important to ensure good health, so I always strive for this. Tempermament is critical because so many terriers have acquired a name for themselves due to poor temperament, it is important to breed dogs that are pleasant to live with. There is no better dog than a really good  Jack, once you meet one you will understand why. There are alot of different Jack Russells and then there is a MadraBeag Farm Jack.

	I personally am cautious about introduction of the Jacks into the AKC, under the name of Russell Terrier. There are benefits to the breed but I think there is much to be lost in finetuning the appearance of the Jack too much. They have done well this long left alone out of the large kennel clubs. That said some change can be good. I will continue to enjoy my type of jack but will always look to improve upon genetic faults and to take advantage of new health testing as itis introduced.