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| After much thought and research I have decided to take the plunge into the Hunt Terrier breed(aka black and tan jack russell). They are beautiful dogs with fun and playful temperaments very similar to that of my English Jack Russell Terriers and are in fact ancestors of the modern day Shorty. I'm very excited to be adding two females from Hobbit Hill both will be sired by Tommy and have begun my search for a male to cross with them. I'm so excited to be getting in on the ground floor of preserving the Hunt Terrier breed and hope to have many years with these intriguing little dogs. There are only a handful of breeders in the US and Canada dedicated to the preservation of these beautiful dogs and we are proud to be among them. Although these dogs have been around for many years very few people have worked to preserve them or to breed to any type of standard. So we as breeders are preserving the old bloodlines but also creating a new breed with an interpreted standard as close to what the dogs were originally bred to be as we can gather. As in any breed just starting out there is much room for improvement and my main goals for my Hunt Terrier program are similar to those of my Jack Russell program with a few slight differences. Goal number one is always to breed the healthiest dogs I possibly can. With a breed this new it is hard to know what health issues may pop up and I hope to work VERY closely with other breeders and puppy buyers to make sure we are always aware when a problem is discovered so that we may breed accordingly. Goal number two is to add some of my most correct Jack Russell blood in hopes of producing a more conformationally correct Hunt Terrier line, with straight legs, proportionally correct body length to height ratio and beautiful heads. Due to the limited gene pool of the Hunt Terriers I hope to include as much Jack Russell blood as allowed while still producing solid colored puppies in order to increase the gene pool and decrease the chances of genetic diseases. All solid colored Hunt Terriers produced by Kountry Thyme at this time will be sold with full registration. All piebald puppies will be sold pre-sterilized or on a spay/neuter contract. I also look forward to the challenge of achieving some of the more rare colors within the Hunt Terrier breed such as solid black, red, and golden puppies. These color and conformation ambitions are long term goals that I do not plan to achieve in the first generation of my program but am looking at it for the long haul and am very excited at what the future holds for this breed. For more information regarding the American Hunt Terrier visit www.AHTCA.org We will be having a litter of Hunt Terrier puppies available later this year, please contact if you are interested in placing a reservation for a Hunt Terrier puppy. |
AHTCA Breed Standard:
General Appearance: Well balanced, small, yet strong agile terrier a little longer than tall. Chest is deeper
than wide, legs are well muscled and half the terrier’s height. The head has a moderately broad, flat skull with
button drop ears.
Skin is thick with a dense coat. The coat can be rough, smooth or broken. Tail is normally docked and held high.
Personality/Temperament: Bold and notoriously fearless, loyal, friendly, active and alert. His swift and
intelligent movements match his intelligent expression.
This is a high energy breed, happiest in an environment where there is lots of regular activity.
Height/Weight: The mature terriers range in height from 8 to 12 inches, measured at the withers with the dog
standing fully erect, 10 to 12 inches being “ideal”. The mature terrier would weigh approximately 1 to 3 pounds
more than its height.
Head/Skull: The head is proportionate to the size of the body. The skull is flat and moderately broad tapering
towards the muzzle. The skull and muzzle are parallel.
Muzzle and Teeth: Strong and powerful. There is a minimum of falling away under the eye giving a moderate
chiseled look. Nose is black and fully pigmented. A complete set of teeth are comparatively large, evenly spaced
meeting at a scissors bite. The lips are tight and fully pigmented black.
Eyes: Deep-set, dark, and almond shaped. Eyelids are tight and fully pigmented black.
Ears: V-Shaped button drop ears of great mobility. Ear leather is soft and fine. Ears may be erect but not
desired.
Neck: The neck is strong and muscular allowing the head to be carried with poise. Gradually widens from the
nape and blends smoothly into the shoulders. Length is sufficient enough to enable the terrier’s mouth to
extend beyond the forepaws when working underground.
Body: A properly proportioned Hunt Terrier is slightly longer than tall. The length of back from withers to set-on
of tail is slightly longer than the height, measured from withers to ground. The Hunt Terrier is perfectly designed
to go to ground. This requires a chest of sufficient depth to give good heart and lung room, but without so much
depth and width that the dog is encumbered underground. The well-sprung ribs extend well back, but must be
capable of being spanned behind the shoulder by an average man's hand. The chest must be capable of being
compressed so that the dog is unhindered when working underground. The back is of moderate length, and
level, blending into a muscular, slightly arched loin with slight to moderate tuck up. Skin is thick.
Forequarters: Shoulders are long, sloping, smoothly muscled, and well laid back. The upper arm is sufficiently
long to ensure that the elbows are set well under the body, and forms an apparent 90-degree angle with the
shoulder blade. The forelegs are strong, straight, and moderately well boned. The elbows are set close to the
body, but able to move freely in action. The pasterns are short, powerful, straight, and flexible. When viewed in
profile, the pasterns are nearly erect.
Hindquarters: The hindquarters are strong and muscular. The bone, angulations, and musculature of the
hindquarters are in balance with the forequarters. The stifles are well bent, and the hocks are well let down.
When the dog is standing, the short, strong rear pasterns are perpendicular to the ground, and viewed from the
rear, parallel to one another.
Feet: The feet are fairly rounded, moderately small, well arched, and tight. Pads are hard, tough, and well
cushioned. Dewclaws may be removed.
Tail: The tail is set on high and customarily docked to a length so that the tip of the tail is level with the top of
the ears. When moving or alert, the tail may be straight or with a slight curve forward and carried erect or gaily.
When the dog is at rest, the tail may drop.
Gait: The Hunt Terrier moves with a jaunty, confident attitude, conveying the character of the breed. When
trotting, the gait is effortless, smooth, powerful, and well coordinated, showing good, but not exaggerated, reach
in front and drive behind. The back line remains level with only a slight flexing to indicate suppleness. Viewed
from any position, legs turn neither in nor out, nor do feet cross or interfere with each other. As speed
increases, feet tend to converge toward centerline of balance.
Coat: The Hunt Terrier comes in three coat types. All are dense, hard, and weather resistant covering the
entire dog, including the belly and underside of the thighs.
ROUGH: A double coat consisting of a short, dense undercoat and very dense, wiry outer coat. Hair over the
eyes and on the muzzle will form eyebrows and a beard. The outer coat should not be so long as to obscure the
outline of the dog.
BROKEN: The broken coat lies closer to the body than a rough coat and has longer guard hairs than a smooth
coat. A broken-coated dog may or may not have face furnishings. Rough- and broken-coated dogs may be
stripped to preserve the quality of the coat.
SMOOTH: A short, flat dense coat.
Color: Solid red, Solid tan (from a chocolate brown to a light lemon tan), solid black, or black with tan or red
points are acceptable colors for a Hunt Terrier. Solid white or predominantly white is not allowed. Legs and belly
must not be white. A small amount of white on the chest or feet is acceptable.
Faults: Any departure from the Hunt Terrier Breed Standard should be considered a fault. The following list
should be penalized: 1.) Lack of True Characteristics; nervousness, cowardice, overly-aggressive. 2.) Lack of
balance, any over exaggeration of any points. 3.) Sluggish or unsound movements. 4.) Faulty mouth, week bite,
minor physical deformities.
Disqualifications: Extreme viciousness, shyness or major physical deformities.
(These are considered such serious traits that terriers having them are not to be used for breeding.)
Undershot or overbites. Luxating patellas. More than 10% white.
General Appearance: Well balanced, small, yet strong agile terrier a little longer than tall. Chest is deeper
than wide, legs are well muscled and half the terrier’s height. The head has a moderately broad, flat skull with
button drop ears.
Skin is thick with a dense coat. The coat can be rough, smooth or broken. Tail is normally docked and held high.
Personality/Temperament: Bold and notoriously fearless, loyal, friendly, active and alert. His swift and
intelligent movements match his intelligent expression.
This is a high energy breed, happiest in an environment where there is lots of regular activity.
Height/Weight: The mature terriers range in height from 8 to 12 inches, measured at the withers with the dog
standing fully erect, 10 to 12 inches being “ideal”. The mature terrier would weigh approximately 1 to 3 pounds
more than its height.
Head/Skull: The head is proportionate to the size of the body. The skull is flat and moderately broad tapering
towards the muzzle. The skull and muzzle are parallel.
Muzzle and Teeth: Strong and powerful. There is a minimum of falling away under the eye giving a moderate
chiseled look. Nose is black and fully pigmented. A complete set of teeth are comparatively large, evenly spaced
meeting at a scissors bite. The lips are tight and fully pigmented black.
Eyes: Deep-set, dark, and almond shaped. Eyelids are tight and fully pigmented black.
Ears: V-Shaped button drop ears of great mobility. Ear leather is soft and fine. Ears may be erect but not
desired.
Neck: The neck is strong and muscular allowing the head to be carried with poise. Gradually widens from the
nape and blends smoothly into the shoulders. Length is sufficient enough to enable the terrier’s mouth to
extend beyond the forepaws when working underground.
Body: A properly proportioned Hunt Terrier is slightly longer than tall. The length of back from withers to set-on
of tail is slightly longer than the height, measured from withers to ground. The Hunt Terrier is perfectly designed
to go to ground. This requires a chest of sufficient depth to give good heart and lung room, but without so much
depth and width that the dog is encumbered underground. The well-sprung ribs extend well back, but must be
capable of being spanned behind the shoulder by an average man's hand. The chest must be capable of being
compressed so that the dog is unhindered when working underground. The back is of moderate length, and
level, blending into a muscular, slightly arched loin with slight to moderate tuck up. Skin is thick.
Forequarters: Shoulders are long, sloping, smoothly muscled, and well laid back. The upper arm is sufficiently
long to ensure that the elbows are set well under the body, and forms an apparent 90-degree angle with the
shoulder blade. The forelegs are strong, straight, and moderately well boned. The elbows are set close to the
body, but able to move freely in action. The pasterns are short, powerful, straight, and flexible. When viewed in
profile, the pasterns are nearly erect.
Hindquarters: The hindquarters are strong and muscular. The bone, angulations, and musculature of the
hindquarters are in balance with the forequarters. The stifles are well bent, and the hocks are well let down.
When the dog is standing, the short, strong rear pasterns are perpendicular to the ground, and viewed from the
rear, parallel to one another.
Feet: The feet are fairly rounded, moderately small, well arched, and tight. Pads are hard, tough, and well
cushioned. Dewclaws may be removed.
Tail: The tail is set on high and customarily docked to a length so that the tip of the tail is level with the top of
the ears. When moving or alert, the tail may be straight or with a slight curve forward and carried erect or gaily.
When the dog is at rest, the tail may drop.
Gait: The Hunt Terrier moves with a jaunty, confident attitude, conveying the character of the breed. When
trotting, the gait is effortless, smooth, powerful, and well coordinated, showing good, but not exaggerated, reach
in front and drive behind. The back line remains level with only a slight flexing to indicate suppleness. Viewed
from any position, legs turn neither in nor out, nor do feet cross or interfere with each other. As speed
increases, feet tend to converge toward centerline of balance.
Coat: The Hunt Terrier comes in three coat types. All are dense, hard, and weather resistant covering the
entire dog, including the belly and underside of the thighs.
ROUGH: A double coat consisting of a short, dense undercoat and very dense, wiry outer coat. Hair over the
eyes and on the muzzle will form eyebrows and a beard. The outer coat should not be so long as to obscure the
outline of the dog.
BROKEN: The broken coat lies closer to the body than a rough coat and has longer guard hairs than a smooth
coat. A broken-coated dog may or may not have face furnishings. Rough- and broken-coated dogs may be
stripped to preserve the quality of the coat.
SMOOTH: A short, flat dense coat.
Color: Solid red, Solid tan (from a chocolate brown to a light lemon tan), solid black, or black with tan or red
points are acceptable colors for a Hunt Terrier. Solid white or predominantly white is not allowed. Legs and belly
must not be white. A small amount of white on the chest or feet is acceptable.
Faults: Any departure from the Hunt Terrier Breed Standard should be considered a fault. The following list
should be penalized: 1.) Lack of True Characteristics; nervousness, cowardice, overly-aggressive. 2.) Lack of
balance, any over exaggeration of any points. 3.) Sluggish or unsound movements. 4.) Faulty mouth, week bite,
minor physical deformities.
Disqualifications: Extreme viciousness, shyness or major physical deformities.
(These are considered such serious traits that terriers having them are not to be used for breeding.)
Undershot or overbites. Luxating patellas. More than 10% white.
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