The Parson Russell Terrier is named for the Reverend John Russell, a nineteenth-century hunting parson in Devon, England, who wanted a mostly white terrier with legs long enough to keep up with foxhounds and a chest small enough to follow a fox underground. Today it is the longer-legged, square-built show relative of the Jack Russell, standing about 13 to 14 inches tall with a smooth or broken coat that is predominantly white with black or tan markings.
Many Parsons are bold, friendly, clever and overwhelmingly affectionate at home, with energy that seems to have no off switch. They tend to dig, chase, bark and invent their own fun when bored, and some are scrappy with other dogs. The best matches are active, patient adopters who enjoy training and can provide daily exercise, secure fencing and plenty of mental challenges.