Being one of the most popular dog breeds in the world, the Jack Russell Terrier has repeatedly been used as a basis for numerous characters, whether it is in television, film and literature. One of the most recognizable Jack Russells in pop culture is Wishbone, from the children’s television show of the same name. The half-hour sitcom aired on PBS Kids from 1995 to 1998. Wishbone is a Jack Russell Terrier who lives in the fictitious town of Oakdale with his owner, Joe Talbot. Known as a small dog with a huge imagination, Wishbone usually daydreams of portraying the main character of different classic literature stories. The other characters in the show visualize Wishbone as the character that he is playing at that moment. The show’s prominence led to a plethora of honors including a Peabody Award and four Daytime Emmy Awards. Apart from the awards it collected, Wishbone also inspired a number of book series that were published long after the show ended.

Another familiar Jack Russell Terrier on television is Eddie, owned by Martin Crane, the father of the titular character in the popular sitcom Frasier. The show was a huge success during its time, with Eddie being one of the highlights of the show due to his expressionless antics. In fact, Eddie easily became a fan favorite and received the most number of fan mails compared to any other character on the show.

In the United Kingdom, celebrity chef Rick Stein owned a Jack Russell Terrier named Chalky who was as popular as his owner. Chalky was extremely beloved by the British people and even had his own merchandise line and two real ales named after him.

Other than television shows, Jack Russell Terriers are also a usual choice for literary characters. Sally and Darrel Odgers published a children’s book series called Jack Russell: Dog Detective. The book features the story of Jack Russell, a Jack Russell Terrier who goes on detective adventures with his dog friends. Another example is the now-defunct comic strip called Mutts, which focused on the escapades of Earl, a Jack Russell Terrier, and Mooch, a cat. Earl, who lives with his owner Ozzie, have a close bond and enjoy taking walks together. However, when Ozzie is away from home, Earl finds himself lonely and mostly spends his free time with Mooch.

There is no doubt that Jack Russell Terriers are some of the most liked dog breeds, whether in fiction or in real life. These characters have served as inspiration for owners when trying to come up with a name for their beloved Jack Russells.