Is It Common For Jack Russell's To Have Large Ears?

by Jen
(Manchester, UK)

Reader Question: Do Jack Russell's Have Ears That Point Down?

My JRT has very large prick up ears. He is 14 months...I always thought that JRT have pointed down ears the fold...could it be that my dog is not a purebred?

Veterinarian Answers Reader Question Regarding Dog's Breed

Hi,

The Jack Russell Terrier Club of America’s breed standard for is for “small "V"- shaped drop ears.” Sometimes, it takes a while for a puppy’s ears to fall into this position, but at 14 months, I don’t expect your dog’s confirmation to change much. So, yes, your dog might be a mixed-breed, or he might just have ears that don’t conform to the breed standard. As long as you’re not planning on showing or breeding, his distinctive ears shouldn’t affect his future.

Regards,

Jennifer Coates, DVM