Leg Length to Depth of Chest Ratio

Incorrect for a Russell. Legs too short for body depth.

Note: "Brisket should be located mid-way between the ground and the withers." Meaning the chest should not drop below the elbow.

Correct 50% Leg to 50% Chest

IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS :

• The overall dog is longer than high. 
  

• The depth of the body from the withers to the brisket should equal the length of foreleg from elbows to the ground.
  

• The girth behind the elbows should be about 40 to 43 cm.
  

Chest : Chest deep rather than wide, with good clearance from the ground, enabling the brisket to be located at the height mid-way between the ground and the withers. 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 cm to 43 cm.

Sternum : Point of sternum clearly in front of the point of shoulder

Quoted from page 7 of the Australian Extended Standard for the ANKC Jack Russell Terrier:

Remember  “Marginally longer than tall” and “short in loin”. For marginally, read slightly, as in the next sentence. These words are open to interpretation. However, the Jack Russell Terrier is NOT a square dog as is the Parson Jack Russell, Neither is it a long dog like a Skye Terrier or Dachshund.

Measure or gauge the distance from withers to root of tail and keep in mind leg length is half the overall height. In other words, the legs are equal in length to the depth of the body. Therefore the front legs are NOT short, they are in proportion the size of the dog.

The Australian Terrier is a “low set dog” and may well be described as short legged.  Carins are described as having a moderate length of leg.

Fox Terriers are “neither too leggy nor too short” which implies 50/50 proportions. The Cesky, Dandie Dinmont, Glen of Imaal, Norfolk, Norwich, Sealyham, Scottish, Skye and West Highland White Terrier all have forelegs described as being short, but NOT the Jack Russell.

Nor is a Jack Russell simply a Parson Russell Terrier with shorter legs. The Parson is a square dog (height equals withers to root of tail) the Jack Russell is described as marginally longer. Although it is not written into the Parson standard, it is generally accepted that its proportions of leg length to body depth as 50:50 the same as a Jack Russell. Legs are only described as short when the proportions are about 60:40.

The Jack Russell Terrier is a small, well balanced dog but it is not a short legged dog.