The EJRTCA Breed Standard shall serve three purposes: 1. To set ideal, attainable goals for the breeder. 2. To guide the judge. 3.To guide buyers in finding correct or acceptable specimens of the breed. In the registration process, the terrier, if accepted by the EJRTCA Registration Committee, will be assigned to one of these categories, based on the FCI Breed Standard adopted by the Australian Nation Kennel Council Standard amended May 2001. Australian Nation Kennel Council Standard - Breeds (by group) Group 2 Terriers. Advanced - The dog meets or exceeds all EJRTCA Breed Standards and processes a three-level pedigree -OR- has progressed from the "Tentative" category based on show and/or trial performance. Tentative - The dog conforms to EJRTCA Breed Standards but does not process a three -level pedigree. Can progress to "Advanced" based on written application to the EJRTCA Registration Committee detailing accomplishments in show and/or trial performance. Pet Quality - Reserved for dogs which generally meet EJRTCA Breed Standards but are deemed not to be of breeding quality or which have been spayed or neutered. (Typically, might include dogs with severe over/un-derbite, dwarfism, exaggerated shyness/ aggressiveness, etc.) |

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| Background Picture: Copyright© All rights reserved, by Laura Alexander |
| EJRTCA Conformation Standards |
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| Attribute |
Criteria |
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A strong, active, little working Terrier of great character with flexible body of medium length. His smart movement matches his keen expression. Tail docking is optional and the coat may be smooth, rough or broken. |
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| Characteristics |
A lively, alert and active Terrier with a keen, intelligent expression. |
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| Temperament |
Bold and fearless, friendly but quietly confident |
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The height of the terrier shall be between 8 and 12 inches as measured at the withers with the dog standing fully erect, with 10 to 12 being Ideal. FCI standard: Ideal Height: 25 cms (10 ins) to 30 cms (12 ins) The weight in kg being equivalent of 1 kg to each 5 cms in height, i.e. a 25 cm high dog should weigh approximately 5 kg and a 30 cm high dog should weigh 6 kg. |
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Sturdy, balanced terrier. Body length slightly longer than length of leg. Length should not exceed function. Straight back, level, with high tail set carried erect. Chest should be spanned by two hands behind the shoulder blades. Chest deep rather than wide, with good clearance and the brisket located at the height mid-way between the ground and the withers. The rear should be well put together with strong muscle and good angulations. Well laid back shoulder. Ribs should be well sprung from the spine, flattening on the sides so that the girth behind the elbows can be spanned by two hands - about 40 cms to 43 cms. The loins should be short, strong and deeply muscled. |
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| Neck |
Well laid into shoulder. Strong and clean allowing head to be carried with poise. |
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Strong boned with powerful jaws and strong cheek muscles. Dark almond-shaped eyes, pigmented eye rims, dark black pigment on nose. Small, v-shaped ears carried close to the head. Prick, semi-prick and rose ears are acceptable but not preferred. FCI Standard: The skull should be flat and of moderate width gradually decreasing in width to the eyes and tapering to a wide muzzle with very strong jaws. There should be a well defined stop but not over pronounced. The length from the stop to the nose should be slightly shorter than from the stop to the occiput with the cheek muscles well developed. The nose should be black. |
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Small dark and with keen expression. MUST not be prominent and eyelids should fit closely. The eyelid rims should be pigmented black. Almond shape. |
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| Ears |
Button or dropped of good texture and great mobility. |
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The points of the upper incisors slightly overlapping the lower. May be missing up to four teeth. Deep wide and powerful jaws with tight-fitting pigmented lips and strong teeth closing to a scissor bite. |
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Straight as is consistent with the short legs for which we aim. FOREQUARTERS - Shoulders well sloped back and not heavily loaded with muscle. Forelegs straight in bone from the elbow to the toes whether viewed from the front or the side and with sufficient length of upper arm to ensure elbows are set under the body with sternum clearly in front of shoulder blades. HINDQUARTERS - Strong and muscular, balanced in proportion to the shoulder, hind legs parallel when viewed from behind while in free standing position. Stifles well angulated and hocks low set. |
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"Hound-Like, "Fox-Like" and "Hare-Like" are all acceptable. All three are considered sound working feet for a Jack Russell. Round, hard, padded, not large, toes moderately arched, turned neither in nor out |
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May droop at rest. When moving should be erect and if docked the tip should be on the same level as ears. |
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True, free, lively, springy, well-coordinated. |
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Smooth, rough or broken coats, without coat being wooly. Smooth should not be sparse. Belly and underside coated. Must be weatherproof, preferably unaltered. |
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Predominantly white with tan, black or brown markings. The tan markings can be from the lightest tan to the richest tan (chestnut). Ticked or mottled acceptable. Brindle not acceptable. |
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FAULTS - Any departure from the foregoing points should be considered a fault and the seriousness with which the fault should be regarded should be in exact proportion to its degree. However, the following weaknesses should be particularly penalized: (a) Lack of true Terrier characteristics - Nervousness, cowardice over-aggressiveness. (b) Lack of balance, i.e. over exaggeration of any points (c) Sluggish or unsound movement (d) Faulty mouth, week bite, minor physical deformities. |
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Extreme viciousness, shyness or major physical deformities (these are considered such serious traits that dogs having them are not to be used for breeding.) Undershot or overshot bites, rye mouth. NOTE - Male animals should have two apparently normal testicles fully descended into the scrotum. |
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| Form ej~std.htmI Issued 3/21/97 - amended 5/29/01 |
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