Parson Russell Terrier puppies

About the Parson Russell Terrier

The Parson Russell Terrier was bred in the west of England by a hunting parson who wanted a mainly white terrier tall and narrow enough to run with hounds and then go to ground after fox. They stand 33 to 36 cm and weigh 5.9 to 7.7 kg, with a smooth or broken coat, white with tan or black markings. They are bold, relentlessly cheerful and physically fearless, a working terrier that has never really been converted into a sedentary pet.

Energy is very high. A Parson wants a long walk with things to investigate, plus games and training, and they will not accept being left alone in a corner for hours. Grooming is light, brushing for a smooth coat and plucking or clipping for a broken one, with a monthly bath and nails trimmed monthly. Keep them on lead outside a fence, because the prey drive is not negotiable. Ratings with children are moderate, so supervise and socialise. Digging and barking are what owners most often fail to anticipate.

What to expect at eight weeks

At eight weeks a Parson Russell Terrier puppy is sleeping around 18 to 20 hours a day, is not house trained, and cannot hold on for more than an hour or two at a stretch. A small breed puppy at eight weeks is light enough to carry everywhere, which is exactly how you get them socialised before the vaccination course finishes. They will still need four meals a day. This is a very high energy breed. The mistake owners make is trying to tire them out physically. Training, scentwork and puzzles will do more than distance ever will. Grooming needs are moderate, so build the brushing habit now while the coat is still short and easy. The socialisation window is open and closing: everything they meet calmly now, from vacuum cleaners to men in hats, is easier for the rest of their life.

Health worth knowing about

Conditions this breed is reported to be predisposed to. Predisposed does not mean inevitable, it means ask about it.

• Primary lens luxation, detectable by DNA test
• Congenital deafness, detectable by BAER hearing testing
• Late onset ataxia and spinocerebellar ataxia, both detectable by DNA test
• Patellar luxation, graded on veterinary orthopaedic examination
• Inherited eye disease, screened by an ophthalmologist examination

Your Parson Russell Terrier puppy's first six months

• Vaccination schedule, dated for your country.
• Worming and parasite schedule.
• Feeding calculator. Set expected adult size to Small for a Parson Russell Terrier.
• Adult size predictor, to check growth against the 5.9 to 7.7 kg adult range.
• Puppy names and the first week checklist.

Kit sizes: crate 24 inch (24 x 18 x 20 in, 61 x 46 x 51 cm) for an adult of up to 7.7 kg; chew toys made for small breeds. Worked out the same way as the crate size calculator. PetMD bases a crate on the dog's own measurements, not weight or breed alone, so measure once the puppy is home.

Buying guides for this

• Best crate for a puppy: wire, plastic or soft, and how to size one with a divider

Other small breeds

More on the Parson Russell Terrier

Previous: Papillon · Next: Patterdale Terrier

Sources

• akc.org for adult weight and height, life expectancy, energy, grooming, shedding and the temperament ratings, coat type and health notes
• fci.be for country of origin
• Health notes from Parson Russell Terrier breed information at https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/parson-russell-terrier/. Discuss any of these with your own vet.

Photo: Rabensteiner, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons, cropped. All photographers are listed on the photo credits page.