Apparantly its crossbreeding. And mis-selling so they can get more money because they're "rare" Totts is meant to be a full JRT Her sister looks like a full JRT, but they cant be full JRT lines. Thats the info ive been given from JRT breeders and JRT forums L x
Am sorry don't know but a young one was in rescue recently n if was in better circumstance would have gone to see:-( Am sure (hope has been rehomed now)
I would have thought perhaps Lancashire Heelers - and there is the most gorgeous little black and tan bitch up the road who is now in pup!!!! Can't wait to cuddle them.
I seem to remember an old man who had one telling me that that was one of the original colours but I dont know how much truth there was in it?
If you used a blue border on a JRT you often get the black and tan markings, wouldnt be difficult to keep that going, especially if you introduced black and tan fells etc..
There have been black and tan, smooth coated and rough coated terrier-types around for generations. My guess is that since so many non-pedigree small, smooth-coated terriers are refered to as 'Jack Russels' it is inevitable that you will get black and tans cropping up. Many non-KC reg terriers are a real blend of all sorts - either initially to produce a specific sort of working terrier, or just to make nice puppies (hmmm - no comment!) I've heard of a few people trying to pass black and tan smooth coated terriers off as 'rare' or even 'Irish' Jack Russels! Re the heelers, I can see how locally some terriers would have had some heeler blood way back (or even more recently) but outside the North West, I don't think heelers are anywhere near as common and even then they tend to be the KC ones that perhaps people have paid a little more for and may be less likely to have crossbred litters - deliberate or accidental. I know a farmer up in Lancs who deliberately bred a litter of border terrier x short legged jack russel (on the advice of his vet who said he's find the pups easier to sell and more healthy than going for purebred borders - again - no comment!!!) and most of that litter were black and tan - with a few white bits and some could easily grow up smooth.
Various less heaviliy coloured fox terrier/hound types from way back when? some English White terrier that no longer exists also rings bells as does Cornish whites (?). Google throws up reams. Bloke was aiming for a fox hunter that was easily distinguished from the prey (hence the mostly white). Fitting down a fox hole was also in the criteria - so whatever suitable shaped, predom white, hunter that fit the bill at a guess. For the "Rare black and tan" brigade I'm guessing bit more Datchound, Patterdale etc in the mix. Went a bit more Datchoundy anyway early 20th cent when Badger hunting was the thing. Iirc. Farmer prob ended up with some great little terriers. Sucker for random terriers. Terriers rule. Disclaimer: I know nothing. End Ramble. Edit: An plus 1 - various JRT type dogs floating around in paintings that well predate Jack Russell.
