Читать книгу Jack Russell Terrier: An Owner’s Guide - Robert Killick - Страница 35

The Kennel Club allows non-registered dogs to participate in certain activities, such as Flyball, Obedience, Agility and Heelwork to Music. Because of their intelligence, energy and strength, Jack Russells are able to perform very well in all these disciplines.

• Both types should be capable of the work for which they were developed

• Their chests should be spannable by average-sized hands

• They should be able to run 20–30 miles a day or more with Foxhounds

• They should be brave enough to enter a fox’s earth and face an angry fox.

I do not think that just because the Kennel Club has recognized the breed the hunting instinct has been diluted. It may happen in 100 years’ time, but other Terrier breeds that have not been bred for work since World War I will still have a go if trained. It is doubtful if the genetic structure of instinct can be changed in just a few years.

The problem is that if a breeder has a really fine KC registered dog, which is winning a great deal at the championship shows, then it is unlikely that they will risk putting him to fox, so he will never have the opportunity to prove his metal in the field.

There is also a train of thought that a puppy from working stock will not be as good a pet as one from show stock. However, the Jack Russell or Parson Russell, whatever you call him, is one of the most adaptable terriers. He is highly intelligent and will adapt to all the situations in which he finds himself.