Jack Russell Terrier vs English Water Spaniel - Breed Comparison

Both English Water Spaniel and Jack Russell Terrier are originated from United Kingdom. English Water Spaniel may grow 13 cm / 6 inches higher than Jack Russell Terrier. English Water Spaniel may weigh 12 kg / 27 pounds more than Jack Russell Terrier. Both English Water Spaniel and Jack Russell Terrier has almost same life span. Both English Water Spaniel and Jack Russell Terrier has same litter size. Both English Water Spaniel and Jack Russell Terrier requires Low Maintenance.

Basic Information

Group:
Sporting dog
Terrier dog
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United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Height Male:
49 - 51 cm
19 - 21 inches
25 - 38 cm
9 - 15 inches
Height Female:
45 - 47 cm
17 - 19 inches
25 - 38 cm
9 - 15 inches
Weight Male:
16 - 20 kg
35 - 45 pounds
6 - 8 kg
13 - 18 pounds
Weight Female:
14 - 18 kg
30 - 40 pounds
6 - 8 kg
13 - 18 pounds
Life Span:
10 - 14 Years
12 - 16 Years
Litter Size:
4 - 8
4 - 8
Size:
Medium
Small
Other Names:
Water Dog, Water Rug
JRT, Jack
Colors Available:
liver and white
black, White with orange or fawn colored patches - tri-color - white, tan
Coat:
dense, waterproof, doublecoated
Short and smooth or longer and rough
Shedding:
Moderate
Moderate
Temperament:
Affectionate, Independent, Intelligent, Loving, Loyal, Stubborn, Territorial
Affectionate, Aggressive, Alert, Cheerful, Courageous, Curious, Energetic, Friendly, Independent, Intelligent, Lively, Loving, Loyal, Outgoing, Playful, Protective, Responsive, Social, Stubborn, Territorial
Grooming:
Low Maintenance
Low Maintenance
Trainability:
Moderate
Easy
Hypoallergenic:
No
No
Kids Friendly:
Yes
Yes
New Owners Friendly:
Yes
Yes

History

The English Water Spaniel breed is extinct and has been since the early 1900’s. It was last seen in the 1930s. The breed was a hunting breed, diving for duck and hunting other waterfowl. Legend has it that Shakespeare was referring to this breed of dog in Macbeth when he refers to the “water rug”. Again, in Two Gentlemen of Verona one of the character states about another that “She hath more qualities than a water-spaniel.’

The English Water Spaniel came along before the Irish Water Spaniel and had a part in the development the Curly Coated Retriever, the American Water Spaniel and the Field Spaniel. The English Water Spaniel looks somewhat like a Poodle/Springer Spaniel cross or a Collie. It is not known whether the English Water Spaniel was part of the development of the Irish Water Spaniel.

When the English Water Spaniel was first developed the UKC had a “Water Spaniels other than Irish” and the English Water Spaniel had no standard written and accepted for it yet. But by 1967 the breed was extinct. Still the American Water Spaniel and the Flat Coated Retriever are believed to be descendants of the English Water Spaniel.

jack russell terrierThe popular Jack Russell Terrier was developed in Devonshire in the south of England in the late 1800's so as to hunt foxes.

Often believed to be the Parson Russell Terrier, the Jack Russell Terrier was developed by Parson John Russell. This is where the dog gets his breed name from. Some people get the Jack Russell Terrier a little bit mixed up with the Parson Russell terrier, when it fact its actually a different breed, but sharing a common ancestry.

The Jack Russell Terrier is smaller than the Parson and bigger than the Russell Terrier. The breed became known in the U.S. by the 1930s and the Jack Russell Terrier Association of America wanted recognition by the American Kennel Club, which was granted in 2000.

Description

Resembling the Springer Spaniel, poodle, collie and setter the English Water Spaniel has very little in common with the Irish Water Spaniel in respect to looks. The English has a narrow and somewhat longer head their than other spaniels and they have long furry ears. Their body is stout, and they are shaped like a barrel – more like a Clumber. With long legs and large feet, it is ready to take to the hunt. There coat was waterproof, and their toes were webbed.

jack russell terrier puppy - descriptionThe Jack Russell Terrier is a small dog that weighs between 6 and 8kg and stands at between 25 – 38cm. The body length of the dog should be in proportion to the height.

He is essentially a white dog with orange or fawn colored patches. The coat is mostly smooth and short, but the coat can also be longer and rough or it can be broken which is a combination of rough and smooth. Regardless of coat type, they are dense, double coats which will require brushing at least twice a week to remove loose hairs. He may also be tri-colored such as being white with black and tan patches.

He has alert, bright dark brown eyes and ears which are somewhat erect and which flop over at the tips. The tail has always been traditionally docked, giving him an attractive, compact look about him but unfortunately the tail is often left long on the dog these days.

Temperament:

Your Jack Russell Terrier is a lively, tenacious, bold, fearless, feisty, cheeky, confident, independent, intelligent and full of life dog. He is super energetic and exuberant, spirited and full of personality.

There are some dog owners who are exhausted by him and would prefer a more quieter dog breed as their companion. Nonetheless he has some excellent characteristics such as being a totally devoted and loving dog.

It is why it is a good idea to have him trained and socialized as it calms him down and makes him more obedient. He is very intelligent and training him will be easy.

Characteristics

The English Water Spaniel was aloof with strangers but loyal with his hunter. He was a little stubborn and an excellent water dog. They loved being in the water and could enter it without making any noise so as not to frighten his prey. He was highly intelligent and trainable. He also was very affectionate with his people.

jack russell terrier dog - characteristicsWith loads of vibrant personality, the energetic Jack Russell Terrier has got so many wonderful characteristics to his name – devotion, intelligence, charming, lively, playful and he is an entertainer – you’ll always be laughing a him.

You do need to pay him attention – you can’t just plonk him in your backyard and forget about him. He wants your love and attention and ignoring him can lead to problem behavior such as obsessive barking.

Give your Jack Russell Terrier all the love and care he needs, and you’ll have an exceptional pet and friend.

Health Problems

The English Water Spaniel is a fairly healthy breed given to some fairly common disorders such as:

Hip Dysplasia

Can lead to lameness and arthritis

Cardiac abnormalities

Arterial fib and flutter and other problems that could lead to death.

Degenerative Myelopathy

This is a disease seem in several “Dwarf” breeds such as Corgis, as well as in many spaniels. This is the canine version of Lou Gehrig’s Disease or ALS and it is fatal.

jack russell terrier puppies - health problemsThis particular dog breed has a reputation for being healthy and living to a good age such as 16 or 17 years of age. Of course he needs to be given proper care to reach such a good age.

Some common dog disorders you might want to be aware of are -

Eye disorders:

Lens luxation is actually a common hereditary disorder in these dogs, but even so, with good care, your dog isn’t likely to battle with it. What happens is that the lens in the eye becomes displaced. There are two types, with Posterior luxation being the lesser severe one.Treatment is available.

Musculoskeletal conditions:

Patellar luxation is an hereditary disorder affecting the knees of the dog. The kneecap slips off the groove where it sits and you may notice your dog running while holding his hind leg in the air. It can sometimes slip back in place and then you see your dog running in his usual way. It becomes more serious when it affects both legs.

Caring The Pet

Feeding

The English Water Spaniel is not an overly energetic dog and has a tendency to over eat. Feed him 1 to 1.5 cups of high quality dry dog food over two meals each day.

Health issues

In addition to the health issues mentioned earlier, the English Water Spaniel is also prone to:

Baldness

Pattern baldness – is genetic and occurs on the neck and back of the hind legs.

Cataracts

English Water Spaniels can have these in old age like most other breeds.

Retinal Dysplasia

Clumps form in the retinal tissue and can lead to blindness

Exercise and games

The English Water Spaniel was a worker and an outdoor athlete at a time before organized canine games and activities such as agility and flyball. They loved to swim, and they loved to hunt. Without a job to do they could become barky and destructive.

Exercise:

jack russell terrier dogs - caringThe Jack Russell Terrier isn’t just a small dog that can be left to his own devices. He will need proper training and socialization early in life to make him obedient and better to get on with.

He may be a small dog, but he certainly won’t do in the city where he is cooped up in a place with a handkerchief of a garden. He needs lots of space to run and play. He wants his human family to join in with walks, hikes, ball games and swimming.

Diet:

You can buy excellent commercially manufactured dog food which caters for energetic small dog breeds like the Jack Russell Terrier.

Once you have selected the best one for your pet, with dry kibble being better in terms of dental health - you can also add in some brown rice, vegetables and cooked chicken. This is highly beneficial to all dog breeds. A little bit of raw meat can sometimes be added in too.

The bottom line is to to prevent your pet from eating foods high in preservatives, additives and fillers. Never leave your pet without a constant supply of fresh, cool water.

Comparison with other breeds

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  30. Jack Russell Terrier vs West Highland White Terrier - Breed Comparison
  31. Jack Russell Terrier vs French Bulldog - Breed Comparison
  32. Jack Russell Terrier vs Beagle - Breed Comparison
  33. Jack Russell Terrier vs Yorkshire Terrier - Breed Comparison
  34. Jack Russell Terrier vs Poodle - Breed Comparison
  35. Jack Russell Terrier vs Rottweiler - Breed Comparison
  36. Jack Russell Terrier vs Boxer - Breed Comparison
  37. Jack Russell Terrier vs English Pointer - Breed Comparison
  38. Jack Russell Terrier vs Siberian Husky - Breed Comparison
  39. Jack Russell Terrier vs Doberman Pinscher - Breed Comparison
  40. Jack Russell Terrier vs American Bully - Breed Comparison
  41. Jack Russell Terrier vs Abruzzenhund - Breed Comparison
  42. Jack Russell Terrier vs Affenpinscher - Breed Comparison
  43. Jack Russell Terrier vs Afghan Hound - Breed Comparison
  44. Jack Russell Terrier vs Aidi - Breed Comparison
  45. Jack Russell Terrier vs Airedale Terrier - Breed Comparison
  46. Jack Russell Terrier vs Akbash Dog - Breed Comparison
  47. Jack Russell Terrier vs Akita - Breed Comparison
  48. Jack Russell Terrier vs Africanis - Breed Comparison
  49. Jack Russell Terrier vs Askal - Breed Comparison
  50. Jack Russell Terrier vs Atlas Terrier - Breed Comparison