Parson Russell Terrier vs Bull and Terrier - Breed Comparison

Both Parson Russell Terrier and Bull and Terrier are originated from United Kingdom. Parson Russell Terrier may grow 14 cm / 5 inches shorter than Bull and Terrier. Parson Russell Terrier may weigh 14 kg / 30 pounds lesser than Bull and Terrier. Both Parson Russell Terrier and Bull and Terrier has almost same life span. Both Parson Russell Terrier and Bull and Terrier has almost same litter size. Parson Russell Terrier requires Moderate maintenance. But Bull and Terrier requires Low maintenance

History

parson russell terrier - historyThe Parson Russell Terrier hails from England and is a small to medium sized dog dating back to the 18th century. It is believed that Reverend John ‘Jack’ Russell was the developer of this dog. The Parson has always been involved with England’s sport of foxhunting.

They’re spritely and quick and have been able to keep up on a hunt and take on a fox in its lair. The dog was first recognized in 1990 in the United Kingdom as the Parson Jack Russell Terrier and in America in 1997.

All the top kennel clubs recognize this dog as the Parson Jack Russell Terrier.

The Bull and Terrier is a blend between a number of Old English Terriers and the Old English Bulldog. It is believed that this extinct dog was the start of breeds such as the American Pit Bull Terrier and the Staffordshire Bull Terrier.

They were excellent for hunting rats and weren’t a true breed. The dog was popular in the British Isles and in the United States in the 19th Century. They became rare as different varieties of Bull and Terrier were bred and standardized.

Most terriers have a good deal of Old English Bulldog blood in them so as to provide them with the courage to fight and hunt prey, while the English Terrier blood provided a feisty temperament and longer legs for speed.

Around 1860, the Bull and Terrier breed split into 2 categories – the pure white Bull Terrier and the ones of color. The Bull and Terrier was never recognized as a standardized breed by any of the kennel clubs.

Description

parson russell terrier puppy - descriptionThe Parson Jack Russell is essentially a white dog with black and tan or orange-fawn patches. He can be tri-colored too. The coat is either smooth, rough or broken.

He stands at between 33–36cm tall at the withers and weighs between 5 and 8kg. Unlike the Jack Russell, the Parson Russell Terrier has longer legs. He has some longer hair on the head, legs and body. The ears are floppy wit the tip pointed forward. The tail has always been docked but when left long it it held high, slightly curving over the back.

Temperament:

Feisty, brave, cheeky and alert, the Parson Russell Terrier is an energetic dog who gets on well with children as he knows that this is essentially where his games come from.

He is bold and clever and you’ll be able to have him trained and socialized without any trouble. These little dogs are full of life and they are protective of their humans and their property, making excellent watchdogs.

There isn’t too much detail and information on the Bull and Terrier but we can be sure that with the cross between the Old English Bulldog and the Old English Terrier, he would have been a small to medium sized compact, muscular dog, standing roughly between 38cm to 50cm in height and weighing anything in the region of 11 to 22kg.

He would have had a big head, and most of the dogs had a medium to long tail. His coat was of many colors such as white, fawn, tan or brindle and would have been short and smooth.

As far as temperament goes, the Bull and Terrier would certainly be courageous, feisty, independent, strong and energetic. Socialization wasn’t available in those days but with training, this intelligent breed would be affectionate with his human family.

Characteristics

parson russell terrier dog - characteristicsIn general the Parson is a friendly,loving dog, fairly small but packed full of feisty personality.

They make excellent pets for the entire family. He is an intelligent dog, but typical of most terriers he can be stubborn, but this can easily be fixed with training and socialization. With good care, he’ll make you a wonderful little pet and companion.

Nobody seems to be 100% sure when the classic Bull and Terrier dog became extinct but it is strongly assumed that it was some time between 1890 and 1920.

People believe that there are actually surviving breeds that could be considered Bull and Terriers. One thing is sure, when you consider that the Bull and Terrier is actually made up of several breeds such as the Bull Terrier, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Boston Terrier and American Pit Bull Terrier then you can imagine the character of the dog – brave, hardy, intelligent, feisty, bold, confident and fearless. He was a dog who loved his human family and would have been both friend and protector.

These dogs have been popular around the world, and have had a strong influence in the development of a number of other breeds. Even today, breeders are always looking at ways to develop new breeds based on the descendants of the Bull and Terrier.

Health Problems

parson russell terrier puppies - health problemsYour Parson Jack Russell can live to be between 12 and 15 years but nonetheless he does have some breed-related health issues to watch for.

Eye Disorders:

Eye conditions which can affect this dog include primary lens luxation,cataracts, corneal dystrophy and progressive retinal atrophy. With cataracts the lens of the eye develops a cloudy look resulting in poorer vision and sometimes blindness. Cataract surgery is available for dogs.

Obesity:

Your Parson Jack Russel should be lean and muscular and always full of energy. Avoid feeding him unhealthy treats which can lead to obesity and other health problems.

Parasites:

All kinds of parasites such as ticks, fleas and worms can invade your dog’s body. Roundworms, hookworms and tapeworms can cause havoc with their health and some of these parasites can even be transmitted to humans. It’s why it is important to get your puppy to the vet to be de-wormed and to get his first injections.

Liver Problems:

A liver disorder known as portosystemic shunt can mean that some of the blood supply doesn’t get to the liver and it doesn’t function properly. This will mean the liver can’t remove toxins from the bloodstream effectively.

The Bull and Terrier was no doubt a robust breed with few health issues. However his owners of that time would have had to be aware of eye diseases such as cataracts that could have lead to blindness.

Other health issues they would have had to contend with would have been hip and elbow dysplasia, a disease which can cause lameness in a dog accompanied with pain. Because the Bull and terrier was mixed with the English Bulldog, the dog owners would have had to be aware of respiratory health problems, as the Bull dog is a breed that is susceptible to these problems.

Caring The Pet

parson russell terrier dogs - caringThe Parson Russell Terrier has different coat types – the smooth and rough and both will require regular brushing. Rough coats will require plucking or clipping to avoid matting.

Check his eyes and ears regularly. Look inside his ears for excess wax and dirt which could lead to an ear infection. His nails should also be trimmed.

No Puppies – Spay or Neuter:

The best thing you can do for your Parson Russell Terrier if you don’t want your pet producing puppies is to have it spayed or neutered. Spaying for females or neutering for males decreases the likelihood of certain types of cancers too so it can be beneficial.

Diet:

Diet is hugely important for a Parson Russell Terrier and the food you decide for him can impact his health. Many time those ‘treats’ you feed your pet do nothing more but give him a stomach ache.

It's tempting to pop chocolates, popcorn, nuts and ice cream into your pets mouth when he is so adorable but in the long run it is shortening his life. All he basically requires and needs is a simple, consistent diet of the top commercially manufactured foods mixed with some tasty home made food from time to time.

Boiled chicken, brown rice and vegetables such as sweet potatoes, carrots and spinach will do your pet wonders. Ensure he always has fresh, cool water available to him.

Grooming:

Long ago the Bull and Terrier was developed to be a hunting dog, and because he was a blend of the English Bulldog and Terriers such as the Staffordshire Bull Terrier and English Terrier, he no doubt had a short coat that would have required being brushed down from time to time.

Diet:

The Bull and Terrier dog was bred for hunting, and he would have in all likelihood have caught some of his own food. He would therefore have got a lot of protein in. His owners would also have fed him some of their own food too which would have been eggs, home-made bread, rice, fresh vegetables and meat.

He would have had a good quota of raw meat in his diet too and this would have ensured that his coat was shiny and glossy, free of rashes. Dogs such as the Bull and Terrier wouldn’t have eaten commercially produced kibble as that was only introduced in the 1930s.

Basic Information

Group:
Terrier dog
Terrier dog
Origin:
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Height Male:
33 - 36 cm
12 - 15 inches
38 - 50 cm
14 - 20 inches
Height Female:
33 - 36 cm
12 - 15 inches
36 - 50 cm
14 - 20 inches
Weight Male:
5 - 8 kg
11 - 18 pounds
11 - 22 kg
24 - 49 pounds
Weight Female:
5 - 8 kg
11 - 18 pounds
9 - 22 kg
19 - 49 pounds
Life Span:
12 - 15 Years
10 - 14 Years
Litter Size:
4 - 8
1 - 9
Size:
Small dog
Medium dog
Other Names:
Parson, Jack Russell Terrier
Bull & Terrier, Pit Bull Terrier
Colors Available:
White, black - tri-colored, tan, fawn
White, fawn, tan or brindle
Coat:
Short and smooth, rough or broken
Short and smooth
Shedding:
Moderate
Minimal
Temperament:
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Affectionate, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Grooming:
Moderate maintenance
Low maintenance
Trainability:
Easy
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

Comparison with other breeds

  1. Schnauzer vs Bull and Terrier - Breed Comparison
  2. Fox Terrier vs Bull and Terrier - Breed Comparison
  3. Bull and Terrier vs American Pit Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  4. Bull and Terrier vs Bull Terrier - Breed Comparison
  5. Bull and Terrier vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  6. Bull and Terrier vs Bedlington Terrier - Breed Comparison
  7. Bull and Terrier vs Austrian Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  8. Bull and Terrier vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison
  9. Bull and Terrier vs Blue Paul Terrier - Breed Comparison
  10. Irish Terrier vs Bull and Terrier - Breed Comparison
  11. Fox Terrier (Smooth) vs Bull and Terrier - Breed Comparison
  12. Kerry Blue Terrier vs Bull and Terrier - Breed Comparison
  13. Lakeland Terrier vs Bull and Terrier - Breed Comparison
  14. Jagdterrier vs Bull and Terrier - Breed Comparison
  15. Indian Bull Terrier vs Bull and Terrier - Breed Comparison
  16. Irish Bull Terrier vs Bull and Terrier - Breed Comparison
  17. Japanese Terrier vs Bull and Terrier - Breed Comparison
  18. Brazilian Terrier vs Bull and Terrier - Breed Comparison
  19. Old English Terrier vs Bull and Terrier - Breed Comparison
  20. Scoland Terrier vs Bull and Terrier - Breed Comparison
  21. Skye Terrier vs Bull and Terrier - Breed Comparison
  22. Irish Staffordshire Bull Terrier vs Bull and Terrier - Breed Comparison
  23. Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier vs Bull and Terrier - Breed Comparison
  24. Staffordshire Bull Terrier vs Bull and Terrier - Breed Comparison
  25. Welsh Terrier vs Bull and Terrier - Breed Comparison
  26. Rat Terrier vs Parson Russell Terrier - Breed Comparison
  27. Scottish Terrier vs Parson Russell Terrier - Breed Comparison
  28. Patterdale Terrier vs Parson Russell Terrier - Breed Comparison
  29. Parson Russell Terrier vs Boston Terrier - Breed Comparison
  30. Parson Russell Terrier vs Jack Russell Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Parson Russell Terrier vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  32. Parson Russell Terrier vs Miniature Schnauzer - Breed Comparison
  33. Parson Russell Terrier vs Cairn Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Parson Russell Terrier vs Border Terrier - Breed Comparison
  35. Parson Russell Terrier vs Australian Terrier - Breed Comparison
  36. Parson Russell Terrier vs American Hairless Terrier - Breed Comparison
  37. Parson Russell Terrier vs Bull Terrier Miniature - Breed Comparison
  38. Parson Russell Terrier vs Norwich Terrier - Breed Comparison
  39. Parson Russell Terrier vs Norfolk Terrier - Breed Comparison
  40. Parson Russell Terrier vs English White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  41. Parson Russell Terrier vs Feist - Breed Comparison
  42. Parson Russell Terrier vs Manchester Terrier - Breed Comparison
  43. Parson Russell Terrier vs Dandie Dinmont Terrier - Breed Comparison
  44. Parson Russell Terrier vs Miniature Fox Terrier - Breed Comparison
  45. Parson Russell Terrier vs Cesky Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Parson Russell Terrier vs Glen of Imaal Terrier - Breed Comparison
  47. Parson Russell Terrier vs Chilean Fox Terrier - Breed Comparison
  48. Parson Russell Terrier vs Black and Tan Terrier - Breed Comparison
  49. Parson Russell Terrier vs Cairland Terrier - Breed Comparison
  50. Parson Russell Terrier vs Fell Terrier - Breed Comparison

View/Compare Breeds

Popular Dog Breeds