In days gone by, the typical Jack Russell puppy was destined to fill a special role whenever his master or mistress donned a bright red coat, breeches and knee-high boots as they rode off in search of foxes. Known today as Parson Russell Terriers, renamed to honor the man who created this small but tenacious breed, these feisty terriers were usually carried on horseback and put on the ground when the fox hunt neared its climax.
At about a foot tall, the Parson Russell Terrier was the right size for following the fox into its den.
Fox hunting has fallen out of favor today, but a Jack Russell puppy still can aspire to play a significant role in the household of his human companion. Like most terriers, the Parson Russell will simply make it so.
Every Jack Russell puppy born these days traces his lineage back to one dog: Trump, the foundation sire and faithful fox hunting companion of Parson John Russell. A minister in Devonshire, England, Parson Russell bred a small, insistent and fearless dog to help out when the fox went to ground. Over the years, a sturdy little dog evolved, one that today is at home in an urban apartment or a rural horse farm. Some are even on TV.
Rev. Russell most likely would be pleased 
with every Jack Russell puppy born these days. They perpetuate not just his memory, but also his appreciation of the breed, which has become increasingly popular, even with people who have never ridden a horse in a fox hunt.
Just 13-14 inches at the shoulder and weighing 13-17 pounds, Parson Russell Terriers have the heart and attitude of dogs three or four times their size. After all, they are Terriers; being submissive, or overly aggressive, are violations of breed standards.
Today, to put their fox hunting skills to the test, a Jack Russell puppy must go to competitions called terrier trials to do what they used to at the side of Parson Russell back in 19th century Devonshire. Terrier trials consist of a series of competitive events designed to test many aspects of these surprisingly athletic dogs.
There are conformation and obedience classes. But, what makes terrier trials special are the events that reconnect the dogs to their past. They race in a straight line course, sort of drag racing for dogs. A Jack Russell puppy or adult dog can also compete in "go to ground". The dogs enter a course that has been dug into the ground and covered, often with bales of hay to simulate a fox den. They are then timed as they make their way through the tunnel.
Growing in popularity at terrier trials is the agility course. This is an ideal sport for these compact dogs that are of either the smooth or broken (rough) coated varieties. Parson Russell Terriers are prized for their flexibility, speed, cleverness and what the breed standard calls their "tireless, ground-covering trot".
While Parson Russell's foundation sire, Trump, may be the most important Jack Russell puppy ever born, it was Eddie who led the breed into modern prominence. Portrayed by a Parson Russell named Moose, he was Kelsey Grammer's nemesis in the NBC hit sitcom "Frasier".
