The United Kennel Club prides itself on its meticulous record-keeping services, and in providing extensive pedigrees for our registrants. We are also ever-mindful of our responsibility towards the breeds we register. United Kennel Club has the advantage of being able to be objective on matters where breeders personally involved with their breeds may have a difficult time doing so. Many times, we have been instrumental in pointing a breed, and their breed association, in a direction that would ultimately be to their benefit.

For several years, UKC has been following the progress of several groups attempting to establish separate breeds from the original fox hunting terriers used by Parson Jack Russell in 19th century England. These included the original Jack Russell Terrier, the Parson Russell Terrier and the Russell Terrier.

After much investigation and research, and with an eye to preserving the original use and types of these terriers, United Kennel Club has arrived at the following decisions, to be effective January 1, 2009.
● The breed currently known as the Parson Russell Terrier with the United Kennel Club, and the current breed standard, will remain as they currently exist. The two size varieties within this breed (10 inches to 12½ inches, and over 12½ inches to 15 inches) and their proportions will remain the same.
● The breed currently known as the Russell Terrier with the United Kennel Club will become the Jack Russell Terrier. This breed has distinctly different proportions from the Parson Russell Terrier, and these will be noted in the breed standard.