IrishJack

The Irish Jack Russell dog breed is a type of Jack Russell Terrier. The function of this terrier has varied, from working farms, removing vermin, protecting property, and as a companion.
Appearance
The Irishjack is an unrecognised type of Jack Russell. Irishjacks are not to be confused with Irish Jack Russells. A small pocket of recognised short legged JRT's, with a small gene pool, and are currently bred only for ideal structure with little to no reference of temperament.
Size
Most Irish Jack Russells are between 8 lbs. and 15 lbs. The smallest on record is 5 lbs and the largest 25 lbs. The most common height is 10" at the withers.
Color
Irishjacks are seen in all colors, including brindle, merle as well as all eye colors. One reason why IrishJacks are not recognized as any type of Russell Terrier (Jack Russell Terriers, Parson Russell Terrier, Puddin Jack, English Jack Russell Terrier, Irish Jack Russell Terrier, or American Jack Russell Terrier) by any of the National Kennel Clubs is due to the colors in both coat and eyes which are allowed in IrishJacks. The recognized types of Russell Terriers as described above require specific coloration on coats (merle or brindle markings are not acceptable) with dark coloration at all times in both eyes. The Jack Russell Terrier Club of America accepts dogs with white being predominate (i.e., must be more than 51% white) with tan, black, or brown markings. Brindle markings are unacceptable. Eyes should also be dark in color. The American Kennel Club accepts white, white with black or tan markings, or a combination of these, tri-color. Colors must be clear in consistency meaning not of a brindle or other pattern. As long as the terrier is predominantly white, moderate body markings are not to be faulted. Grizzle is acceptable and should not be confused with brindle. Disqualification: Brindle markings. Merle coloration is also not allowed.
Temperament
The standard for the breed is based on the physical body, color and appearance. However most importantly, these dogs are well known for calmer dispositions. The calmer temperament of these dogs are highly valued as they are more calm and level headed than American bred Jack Russell Terriers. Irish Jack Russells are selected for friendly, intelligent, loyal, courageous, and family friendly dispositions. The breed's origins as a farm dog, as opposed to a hunting dog, have given the breed a much more home and family-friendly disposition than the Parson Russell. The small size and calm disposition allows the dog to travel well.
They are known to get along with families, children, and small and large animals.
History
Origins
Irish Jack Russell Terriers originated with the working terriers. Since the days of the Parson John Russell, the breed has been split up further. You will now hear them referred to and registered as; Parson Russell Terrier & Russell Terrier (AKC); Jack Russell Terrier & Russell Terrier (UKC) English Jack Russell Terrier (EJRTC); Jack Russell Terrier (JRTCA) and even some nick names such as; Shorties; Shorty Jack, English Jack, Irish Jack & Puddin's. Jack Russell Terriers, by any name, all exhibit similar characteristics due to same or similar origin, yet may differ in height to length ratio.
The more common Jack Russell Terrier has Fox Terrier blood in them, but some older style/type Jack Russell Terriers are void of Fox Terrier influence. The Parson John Russell did not begin with two dogs, or a pack of dogs, breed them, and suddenly create a single, uniform breed.
There were times that the Parson worked and bred certain dogs and lines, only to later sell them all off. Although he preferred strains of terriers with working Fox Terrier blood, this did not come until much later in his breeding experiments. This is not the only type he ever bred. Sometimes he would not be satisfied for one reason or another and he would start all over again. Sometimes he held back his best dogs to mix with the new. Other times, he started from scratch.
Writings by his own friends describe him as an impetuous person. He bought and sold dogs all throughout his life and as time went on, he came to prefer a certain type.
As Russell's "type" of terrier became more popular, they began to spread into other lands - such as Ireland. There were Englishmen and Irishmen who preferred a more manageable terrier and they found this trait in some of the Parsons' earlier breedings. These same terrier men found that if they avoided breeding from the bloodlines with Fox Terrier influence, they could breed a more suitable dog for their situation. Many lived on working farms and could not, would not tolerate a dog that would worry livestock or show aggression.
The older lines of Jack Russell Terrier, such as the Irish, look like one would expect a Jack Russell Terrier to look like - except their height to length ratio is slightly different. Instead of being near square, they are a little longer than tall. They also have better temperaments than "standard" Jack Russell Terriers.
When a kennel club recognizes a breed, they must have a standard in place and they must have a history behind the new breed. This is why we now have people claiming the Jack Russell has one very specific history and standard. There is a lot more to the Jack Russell Terrier's rich history. Jack Russell Terriers, by any name, all exhibit similar characteristics due to same or similar origin yet may differ in height to length ratio.
Since the Australians "further developed" (changed) the breed and the American Kennel Club began registering them in 2006, some are now claiming: "No true authentic Russell Terrier can be represented as having no fox working terrier blood." - and "The English JRT is a type of small terrier... maintained by a small group of breeders in the US .. entirely an American type of small terrier with no known country of origin or development." To those better schooled, this statement is uneducated at best. Yes, the AKC did adopt a general history from the FCI which went with the newer, changed Jack Russell Terrier from Australia. However, it isn't all of the Jack Russell's history.
In the United States
Few terriers of Irish descent were imported into the US before 1900. The ones that came over, were generally brought over one by one, by private breeders of Irish descent. There were few aficionados of the breed as they were not well known. The old Irish wanted to keep them from becoming over bred so as not to lose their wonderful temperaments and family dispositions.
In the late 1990s several breeders began importing them into the country and made them available to the public.
When first introduced to the United States, there was some controversy generated by the American Parson Russell Terrier community as to whether the Irish Jack was a "true" Jack Russell. The AKC has now defined the "American" type as the Parson Russell Terrier, ending the confusion between the breeds. The American bloodlines have the more hunting drive, prey drive, and hyper type behavior with some aggression.
The Irish Jack breed does not have the strong prey drive and some would have to be taught how to hunt. They make wonderful family pets.
The AKC has recognized the smaller, longer than tall, shorty Jack Russell Terrier as the Russell Terrier. The Russell Terrier was recognized as a separate breed from the American Parson in January 2006.
Today
Currently few breeders have a true, old style Irish Jack Russell Terrier. Many American bloodlines have the aggression and hyperness of the original English hunting dog. Some are even importing crosses of Jack Russells of dubious history.
There are over 44,000 regular Jack Russell Terrier breeders world wide. There are over 3,000 American Jack Russell Terrier breeders in the United States. However, there are only a small number, less than a half dozen, breeders of the true Irish Jack Russell Terriers. True Irish Jack Russell have no influx of Fox Terrier blood from American lines. This was a common practice dating back to the frontier times in the Americas. The English first brought over the Parson Jack Russell Terrier in the early 1900s and folks saw what good hunters and badger, gopher, ground hog and rat killers they were. Since there were so few at that time many were inter bred with the Fox Terrier, Fell Terrier, Bull Terrier and other terrier breeds. That is where the aggressiveness came from that became the American Jack Russell Terrier.
People are amazed at how different and calmer these little Irish Jack Russells truly are from any known American Jack Russell Terrier.
Similar breeds
* Jack Russell Terrier
* Parson Russell Terrier
* Russell Terrier (slightly longer than tall Russell, called Jack Russell Terrier in FCI countries)
* Fox terrier
* Rat terrier
* Atlas terriers

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