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Working Jack Russell Terriers 




Being in the field of veterinary medicine, it is my job to educate people.  It is something I do all day... every day... Working directly with patients, it is heart wrenching to watch them go through some of the diseases they present with.  Knowing that there are some conditions which can be prevented and eventually eradicated from our breed is VERY appealing to me. 


You will notice when cruising around our site that there are abbreviations and some of the dogs have various acronyms listed under their name and info.  Here is a brief explanation of what some of those mean:


JRTCA - Jack Russell Terrier Club of America.  Founded in 1976, it is the largest Jack Russell club and registry in the world.  This is the parent club we belong to.  The JRTCA is NOT affiliated in any way with the American Kennel Club.  We do not promote any "all breed" club and will not allow cross registry of our terriers with ANY all breed registry.  Our goal is to preserve the working ability of our beloved terriers. 


PLL - Primary Lens Luxation - The lens of the eye is held in place by small fibers called zonules.  In affected dogs, the zonules pull away from where they are attached to the lens. The lens may eventually completely detach and luxate, or fall into the anterior chamber (front of the eye that is filled with fluid).  This is often a very painful condition and needs to be treated by a veterinarian.  In some cases the eye or eyes will need to be removed.  This is another reason for the CERF/CAER test (see below).  Sometimes during the CERF/CAER examination, clinical signs of this disease can be observed and early treatment can be helpful. 


SCA - Spinocerebellar Ataxia is an early onset, inherited neurologic disease.  Affected dogs generally present with incoordination and loss of balance (ataxia).  The onset of this disease is generally between 2 and 6 months.  The disease is progressive and affected dogs develop a very hypermetric (spastic) gait. 


DM - Degenerative Myelopathy is a progressive disease caused by the degeneration of the white matter in the spinal cord.  It is usually found in dogs between the ages of 8 and 14.  Affected dogs begin with a loss of coordination and falling down.  They will wobble and knuckle over.  They get weaker and eventually will be unable to walk.  This is a very devastating disease.   


CERF/CAER - Originally called Canine Eye Registry Foundation, it is now called the OFA Eye Certification Registry.  A CERF/CAER test is performed annually on all of our breeding stock. This test is performed by a board certified veterinary ophthalmologist.  The eyes are dilated allowing the doctor to get the best possible view inside the eye .  This test is performed to assist breeders in making the best choices possible when breeding their dogs.  Dogs are generally deemed normal or abnormal. 


BAER - Brainstem Auditory Evoked Response is a test that is usually performed by a veterinarian.  All of our puppies are BAER tested prior to leaving for their new home.  Three leads are attached to the dog's head and an ear bud is inserted into the ear that is being tested.  A machine then reads the electrical activity in the cochlea (inner ear) and auditory pathways in the brain, measuring the brain wave activity that occurs in response to sound.  It is my understanding that a similar test is performed on newborn human babies! 


NBD -  This is a term that represents "Normal By Descent".  This indicates that both of a dogs parents were tested for a particular disease and are clear, therefore unable to pass down the disease to their offspring.  In some cases, NBD dogs' parents are also NBD which is fine as long as at some point both a sire and dam have been tested to provide clear results. 


For more information on these diseases or to access the Jack Russell Terrier Health Registry database click here


NHC - This term means that a dog has earned a Natural Hunting Certificate below ground. The NHC is the highest certificate awarded by the JRTCA.  This certificate is awarded by a working judge when a terrier and owner have worked together in the field to bolt quarry or the terrier has kept the quarry at bay until being dug to.  Acceptable quarry consist of Groundhog, Red Fox, Grey Fox, Raccoon, Opossum, and Badger.  Yikes!


Line Breeding/Inbreeding - Line breeding is defined a the selective breeding of animals for a desired feature(s) by mating them with a closely related relative.  The JRTCA has a strict inbreeding coefficient policy that states that "The maximum inbreeding coefficient allowed is 16%; this precludes father/daughter, mother/son, or bother/sister matings which can lead to many serious health problems.  Close inbreeding may proliferate genetic health problems; the JRTCA's inbreeding policy is designed to keep the breed healthy in body and mind."


Bracket's Formula - This is a type of line breeding.  For some great articles and a description of exactly what a Bracket's Formula is, click here.  ​







**Disclaimer:  The above verbiage and any other language posted on this website is intended to provide INFORMATION ONLY.  Latest Addition Working Jack Russell Terriers takes absolutely NO responsibility for your interpretation of this information.  Health-related topics described here should NOT be used for diagnostic purposes or be substituted for medical advice or legal advice.  It is your responsibility to research the accuracy, completeness, and usefulness of all opinions, services, and other information provided. 

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