The Temperament & Versatility of the Russell Terrier

This article was originally published in Showsight Magazine, March 2014 issue.

The Temperament & Versatility of the Russell Terrier

I met my first Russell Terrier in 1988 and it was quite a remarkable experience. Little Judy started me off on this long journey. Through the years of knowing them, I have found their temperament and antics endearing and challenging at times. They are always thinking, always up to something. They can outsmart most people. They were bred to be an earth working terrier able to go to ground after a fox. To achieve this they had to be problem solvers and sometimes they solve problems we don’t want them to solve, like being stuck in a yard. Even then, that is from a desire of wanting to be with their owners. They develop a strong tie with their owners. They want to be with their people as part of the family. When they are bonded to you, they look at you adoringly, like you are the most wonderful thing in the world. And you are in their world. They love to run and play and always are up for adventures. They are great car riders and fun to take on vacation. We have taken ours 2 times to Lake Powell on houseboat for a week. They can be very laid back and don’t mind spending all day on the couch with you watching TV.

From years of selective breeding, they can turn into a totally different dog outside when they see a varmint and their prey drive kicks in. That sweet little dog can get it and get it good. Their hunting instinct can be very strong. You have to be careful with them because they can fit in very small spaces as their chests are small and compressible. I’ve taught new people how to correctly span them and they have been surprised at how much they can compress. They have to be one of the most versatile breeds. Most Russells love to do agility, flyball, terrier racing, earthdog, obedience and any other activity that’s fun and challenging. They have been used for so many things, from a service/therapy dog to a drug sniffing dog to a conformation champion. Most are fun to show because they love being the center of attention and have that “look at me, I am the greatest thing that ever hit the ground” attitude. They should not be quarrelsome with other dogs as they were bred to be pack dogs, but they are terriers and disagreements can occur. As far as training a Russell, I have found like most dogs, they respond better to positive reinforcement. Most are food driven and all are toy motivated. Make it fun for them and they’ll do anything you want. They do require a firm but fair hand as far as discipline but they are very smart and can learn quickly. A Russell Terrier is often described as a big dog in a little package.

They tend to be afraid of nothing. Sometimes that can get them into trouble. They need a fenced yard. They can do well with other pets if they are socialized with them early on. They do well with children, who are taught to respect animals. After all, children are always doing their 2 favorite things, eating and playing. You need a good sense of humor to own one. They are always thinking of new funny things to do that are entertaining. They do things like carry a ball to the top of stairs and drop it so they can run down and get it. I’ve seen them throw a ball up in the air and catch it themselves. They’ve also been known to outsmart the other pets they live with. I know of one who lived with another small mixed breed, whose owner used to give them treats every night. The Russell would always get his and the other dogs. The Russell would bark and start to run to the other room as soon as they both got their treats. The mixed breed would drop his treat and ran in to see what was going on; meanwhile the Russell would go and eat the other dog’s treat. The other dog never figured out what the Russell was doing. The Russell Terrier is a unique breed and truly a joy to own to those who are suited for them.