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Jack Russell Size & Weight Chart

Dr Julia Brassel
Reviewed by:
Dr. Julia Brassel
Veterinarian

The Jack Russell, also known as the Parson Russell Terrier, is a beautiful, cheeky, active breed popular worldwide with those not wanting large dog breeds. If you want to add a Jack Russell to your family, it’s important to understand how big your dog will be at different stages of its life.

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How Big Is a Jack Russell Dog?

Generally, Jack Russells are considered to be small dogs. They typically measure just 25 – 38 centimetres in height, according to the Jack Russell Terrier Club of America. The average height for a female is around 2.5 cm shorter than a male.

Despite their small size, Jack Russells are extremely strong and active. They were originally bred to help hunt foxes and used to working long days in the fields. This pedigree also makes them excellent companions for dog sports.
 

At What Age Does a Jack Russell Reach Its Full Size?

Like most small dog breeds, Jack Russells are usually fully grown by the time they are 12 months old. At this point, you can probably think about moving away from puppy food and introducing your dog to adult kibble.
 

What Is the Ideal Weight For a Jack Russell?

This depends on your individual dog, but you can expect a healthy Jack Russell to weigh between 5.9 and 7.7 kilograms. If your pet’s weight is creeping above this point, then it could start to cause some side effects.

Thankfully, keeping your Jack Russell at a healthy weight is a fairly straightforward process. Check out the next section for some tips on effectively doing this.

How to Make Sure Your Jack Russell Isn’t Overweight

The level at which your Jack Russell can stay at an ideal weight depends on a number of factors, including metabolism and genetics. With that said, you can definitely do some things to prevent your dog from putting on too many kilograms.

Control their diet

One of the biggest things you can do to stop your dog from getting overweight is to control its feeding carefully. Ensuring your pet has a healthy diet will help them stay fit and happy.

Give them plenty of exercise

The other side of healthy weight maintenance is exercise. Keeping your dog exercised brings a number of other benefits, too, such as mental stimulation. Jack Russells are a particularly active dog breed, so they may need more walks and runs than other dogs.

Avoid using too many treats

Using treats can be a great training tool for your Jack Russell puppy, but it’s important not to overuse them. The general rule of thumb is that treats should never make up more than 10% of a dog’s daily food intake.
 

Ensuring Your Jack Russell Grows Properly

For healthy growth, your Jack Russell needs to be eating the correct food. A Jack Russell is a very energetic dog and needs enough nutrition to keep them going throughout the day and develop their muscles correctly.

One of the easiest ways to guarantee your dog is eating the right food is to look for products that match their age. Puppy, adult and senior foods are all widely available.
 

FAQs

Is a Jack Russell Terrier a small or medium dog?

Jack Russell Terriers vary somewhat in size, but they are generally considered small dogs. It’s rare for this breed to reach 40 cm in height when fully grown.

How many times a day should Jack Russell Terriers eat?

When your Jack Russell is a puppy, the best approach is usually small and frequent meals. This will help your dog properly digest its food and stay active throughout the day.

When they get a little older, most Jack Russells are more than comfortable with two regular meals each day. Sticking to this schedule will help your pet maintain a healthy weight.

What is the average weight for a Jack Russell Terrier mix?

Most Jack Russell mixes retain a similar size and weight to the purebred dogs. This means you can expect your dog to weigh between 6 and 8 kilograms when fully grown. Of course, this can differ depending on the puppy’s parents.
 

Final Thoughts on Jack Russell Size & Weight

We hope this page has helped you understand how your Jack Russell will develop and how you can keep them as healthy as possible. As pet parents, giving our pets plenty of exercises and carefully monitoring their food intake are the best things we can do to help them grow healthily.

Learn more about: Jack Russell Dog Breed Information

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