The Jack Russell Terrier is one of the better-known breeds of dogs. However, finding information on them can take a lot of work since you might hear them referred to by a few different names. For instance, you might hear them referred to as the Parson Russell Terrier or even the Parson Jack Russell Terrier.
This dog breed is the 117th most popular breed by the standards of the American Kennel Club, which is surprising to hear since they seem a lot more popular than that to most of us, including me. Regardless, if you’re reading this, then it is likely that you’re thinking of getting one, but you’re thinking of getting one in an exciting color, like all-black. But wait, is there such a black Jack Russell Terrier?
That’s a good question; fortunately for you, this article will help answer that question. Of course, we all know these cute little dogs come in mixes of white and brown, but how about black? And are there any other rare colors for this breed? Don’t worry. Keep reading for all your answers!
Do you have a specific question about whether or not black Jack Russell Terriers exist and how common they are? Then use the table of contents below to jump to the most relevant section. And you can always go back by clicking on the black arrow in the right bottom corner of the page. Also, please note that some of the links in this article may be affiliate links. For more details, check the Disclosure section at the bottom of the page.
Here's what we'll cover:
Can Jack Russell Terriers be black?
The Jack Russell Terrier was bred in England in the late 18th century by a man called John Russell, who was a parson and sometimes called “Parson Jack,” which says everything you need to know about the different names for this breed came about. Most of these terriers are predominantly white, with either brown and/or black patches on their heads.
But wait, since they can have a little bit of black on them, is there such a thing as an all black Jack Russell Terrier?
That’s a good question. The answer is sort of. If you ever see what seems to be a black Jack Russell, that dog probably isn’t a purebred. Black is a color you can find on purebred Jack Russell Terriers, but for it to be all-black is not recognized.
However, suppose you crossbreed a Jack Russell Terrier with another dog breed with many blacks in its coat, like a dachshund. In that case, you can get a dog that looks very similar to a Jack Russell terrier and still get an all-black coat. However, this might take quite a bit of breeding.
Of course, this isn’t to say that you can’t find a purebred black Russell Terrier. Still, they will certainly be hard to find since this doesn’t align with the breed standard of major kennel clubs around the world.
How common are all-black Jack Russell Terriers?
There’s no data on purebred black Jack Russell terriers, but if they are out there, it’s pretty easy to assume that they are extremely rare.
In fact, you might find it quite interesting to learn that these dogs are predominantly white because it was bred into them! John Russell, who we talked about earlier, wanted these dogs to be white because they were being bred for hunting. He wanted to ensure that they were very easy to tell apart from prey in the wild.
Of course, suppose you have an all black Jack Russell Terrier. In that case, it goes against the man’s vision for this breed of dog that he developed. Still, if you get one of these cute puppies, there’s very little chance that you’ll be using it to help you hunt, so that part probably doesn’t matter.
But hey, if you really want to get your hands on a dog that looks like a Jack Russell Terrier but has a gorgeous all-black coat, you just need to reach out to experienced breeders around you and see whether it is something they can do for you, especially if they realize that there aren’t any health risks from this kind of crossbreeding.
Other rare Jack Russell colors
Jack Russell Terriers come in several colors, though what you’ll find to be a common factor between all these different types of coats is that they are mostly white.
What really differentiates Jack Russells from one another is the other color they come with. In some cases, they can even have three colors! So, even though you won’t be able to get a black Russell Terrier, you can still find a relatively rare color to choose from instead and potentially get a purebred one too!
Well then, let’s talk about some of these rare colors that these cute dogs can come in.
Pure white
The pure white Jack Russell Terrier is the rarest form of purebred Jack Russell. They definitely stand out when you bring them among other people of the same breed!
The pure white Jack Russells tend to only be snow white for as long as they are young. Once they get older, some darker colors show, usually patches around their eyes, for instance.
However, these Terriers will still be incredibly white compared to most of their breed, so if you want one of these dogs that stands out quite a lot, this is the color to try and find!
White and black Jack Russell Terrier
A white and black Jack Russell Terrier isn’t super rare. Still, it is one of the more uncommon coat colors in which you’ll find these adorable little dogs.
These dogs are mostly white, but they tend to have very large patches of black on different body parts, such as their heads, shoulders, and butts!
White and lemon
Lemon? That sounds like an interesting color to find on a dog, but when you actually see a Jack Russell that is white and lemon, it’ll make sense. It’s not the screaming lemon color that we expect from the fruit, but a very light tan. It’s not too much of a stretch to call it yellow.
These dogs are absolutely adorable in this color and stick out quite well. Typically, this color is gotten from the base hair being tan or light brown and covered with white hair, which lightens it even further.
Thanks for the blog graphics: Canva.com
Thanks for the blog graphics: Canva.com
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