ElysianField Kennels Jack Russell Terriers

The C.K.C.

The Canadian Kennel Club has the potential of recognizing only one registering body per country. Historically that registering body has been "the kennel club of that country". For example the CKC recognizes the registry of the American Kennel Club, in the USA and in Britain, The Kennel club. Those are the two most common here in Canada.

Purebred dogs by CKC definition are only those dogs that hold papers from recognized registering bodies. Therefore if you do not have papers from those kennel clubs, or similarly recognized registering bodies you do not have a pure bred dog. The several private registries here in Canada and the USA are not recognized by the CKC. Historically registries of that type have never been adopted and used by the CKC. Nothing I have read in official documents from the CKC leads me to think that they ever will accept those private registries.

So don't be fooled into buying a non pure bred (usually for the same price as pure bred with paperwork) with promises of future paperwork. Your PRT may have the bloodlines, but somewhere in the chain of litter registrations a litter was missed and so the line was broken. Or somewhere in the past a non-registered sire or dam was used and so the line was broken. If you have an unregistered PRT, of course you still love it. But chances are very high that you will be unable to ever register it in the AKC and get a CKC Misc. Certification Number.

People that belong to the CKC must abide by a set of rules and guidelines. Breeders who are members agree to a set of principles designed to protect the public from un-ethical, and immoral people whose only interest is to make money from the selling of dogs. Serious, responsible breeders try to better the breed each and every time they breed a bitch.

If you come across someone whose sole income is the selling of dogs, my advice to you is to run the other way. Now to be fair to the retirees (of which I hope to be one) it isn't their only source of income is it?

The C.K.C./A.K.C. Kennel Club Events

For years the CKC has sanctioned Conformation Shows. These shows are held in clusters or groups. When one enters a show a breeder is paying a fee and asking the judge what he or she thinks of this pup I just bought or this pup I just bred. The entry is placed according to how well you are doing (or not) in achieving that ideal specimen described in the breed standard. Every breed in every group has a breed standard. h ttp://www.ckc.ca /

The CKC also sanctions Obedience Tests. There are several levels, with awards and titles after each level is attained. Truly, a well-trained canine companion is a sight to behold and wonderful to watch. http://www.dogpatch.org/obed/

Agility was started in Britain as a demonstration sport at the prestigious Crufts Dog Show. It has never slowed down, and is now part of the CKC, although very new still. There are two main groups in the USA. http://www.usdaa.com / http://www.nadac.com /

The CKC is also looking into having Earth Dog Tests. This is still in the planning stages, but the JRT is on the list of those allowed to take part in this activity when it becomes available. http://hometown.aol.com/digm2/VillageGreenFarm.htm

Non-Kennel Club Events

Fly ball is fast becoming a popular sport for the terrier. Run in re-lays it is an excellent way to exercise you and your dog both. http://www.flyballdogs.com/

Racing either flat, hurdle or steeplechase is also on the rise in popularity.

Many clubs offer fun days or trials, and while not official the ribbons are nice and the hardware is grand. Very often they will also offer go-to-ground and racing, as well as other amusements. Most will have some kind of food available, and most will have a raffle table. Some will let you sign up the day of the trial, others will not, so best to check ahead. If your beloved pet is not a pure bred, with the papers to prove it, these are the clubs that you can contact. If your terrier is registered pure bred you still may want to take them in to practice (show ring behavior and etiquette).

Prices

Many people have asked me why "pure bred" dogs are so expensive, when "I can get a dog from Mr. Back Yard Breeder down the road for only $50." You probably can, but ask him what his guarantees are. You will likely find he has none. Ask him what testing he does, is the dog micro-chipped? Probably not. You get what you pay for.

Responsible breeders have invested time, research, and resources in their chosen fancy. They belong to a handful or more of clubs, and have read volumes of books to make informed choices. In the beginning they mentored under another breeder so help and advice was available to them when needed. They have been on the road with their terriers under the critical eye of AKC judges, since April of 2000, and should have by now Am. Champions.

Good breeders will have a complete, comprehensive testing programmed to try to ensure the health of the pups they breed. My breeding stock has had their eyes checked-CERF and their hearing checked-BAER.

I have researched the stud dog -Sire- and have decided that this will make a good breeding to this bitch-Dam- and will better the breed. A lot of the time that means using a stud dog that belongs to someone else and he or she of course charge a fee.

The pups are born and if all goes well that is good, but sometimes the bitch needs help in having the pups and that means the services of a vet. The tails and dewclaws must be taken care of, the microchip bought and installed. That is a CKC rule and MUST be done before you take the pup off the breeder's premises. The first of the deworming and shots have to be done along with that first vet check. Again the services of a vet are required. I have also had the litter registered in the United States by their kennel club the AKC, and along with all of that, I have guarantees and responsibilities for that pup for as long as it lives. If you can't keep it I will take it back and place it in another home.

I enter AKC shows in the USA to make sure that I am breeding to the AKC standard which is very close to the British Kennel Club standard. I currently have champions, and other terriers that have taken Best of Breed on their way to their titles. http://www.akc.org/index.html

In order for you to participate in any AKC event you MUST have a litter registration form that you will send in for a permanent "RN" number. In order for you to participate in any CKC sanctioned Misc. class event you MUST have a CKC Certification number.

After all is said and done you the buyer get what you pay for. You can expect a nice family pet starting at about $500 CDN; for Canadians. Shipping and crate are extra. Each breeder is different so ask ahead and get all the particulars.

Most breeders negotiate with non-Canadians on an individual basis, due to the distances involved and the exchange rate of the dollar VS the loonie.

Sometimes they will have a special rate for an older bitch or pup. Most want to make a perfect match and an older Lady or Lad may be better for you than a young pup. Give the breeder as much information as you can about your circumstances. How many children, other pets, where you live, city or town, house or apartment What is your activity level? Why do you want a female or male? There is a lot of mis-information out there. Listen to the advice of the breeder. Any good ones won't mind how many questions you ask.

As a breeder I have a responsibility, no, a mission, to not sell to puppy mills, back yard breeders, or to any one who I think will hurt, neglect, abuse or dessert my pups. I know that most people will not do that. However, the pups I sell as pets must be spayed or neutered, unless prior arrangements have been made with ElysianField.

Just as there are different personalities among people so there are among terriers. We need information from you to select the pups to show you, that would best fit into your family.

You have taken that first important step. You are researching the breed.

Good luck!