China Jack

The China Jack is a combination of a Chinese Crested and a Jack Russell Terrier. Despite the name, Chinese Crested dogs don't come from China and are believed to have come either from Africa or Mexico. There are references to the African Hairless Terrier in the 19th century but also genetic evidence of them being related to the Mexican Hairless so there is some debate. However the Chinese did use them on board ship from around the 1530s to catch rats. The breed has also been referred to as the Chinese Hairless, the Chinese Edible Dog, the Chinese Ship Dog, and the Chinese Royal Hairless. They are either hairless or powder puff which have long, soft coats. The Chinese Crested was officially recognized by the the Kennel Club in the United Kingdom in 1981 and by the American Kennel Club in 1991. Most of all Chinese Cresteds today can be traced back to Burlesque dancer Gypsy Rose Lee and her sister June Havoc who gave her a rescue dog named Fu Man Chu, prompting them to start breeding the dogs. The Jack Russell Terrier is a small terrier that was developed in England around 200 years ago to hunt foxes by Parson John Russell. He bought a small white and tan terrier female named Trump who became the basis for his breeding program to develop a terrier with high stamina for the hunt. They are still today regarded as small dogs with big attitudes. Russell wanted a terrier who would hunt with hounds, bolting foxes from their dens so the hounds could chase them. The Jack Russell was a favorite of those who hunted on horseback. In England the longer legged dogs are called Parson Jack Russell terriers and the shorter legged dogs are called Jack Russell terriers. The Jack Russell Terrier Club of America considers the Jack a hunting dog and maintains an independent registry. The American Kennel Club officially recognized the Parson Russell Terrier in 1997.