How long does a Parson Russell Terrier live?

The listed lifespan for a Parson Russell Terrier is 13–15 years.

How tall is a Parson Russell Terrier?

The listed height for a Parson Russell Terrier is 14 in (male), 13 in (female).

Is a Parson Russell Terrier good with children?

The AKC good-with-children score for a Parson Russell Terrier is 3 out of 5.

When is a Parson Russell Terrier full grown?

The growth size band for a Parson Russell Terrier is 8–12 months.

Terrier Group

Parson Russell Terrier

Parson Russell Terrier is a small dog in the Terrier Group. Adult weight is 13–17 lb, height is 14 in (male), 13 in (female), and the listed lifespan is 13–15 years. AKC describes the temperament as Friendly, Clever, Athletic.

Last reviewed November 1, 2026.

Parson Russell Terrier dog — Photo: Timo Clemens · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Lifespan13–15 years

Weight13–17 lb

SizeSmall GroupTerrier Group

Height

14 in (male), 13 in (female)

Energy

5 / 5

Shedding

2 / 5

Grooming

2 / 5

Trainability

4 / 5

Good with kids

3 / 5

The breed record

Across 45 single-size small breeds, a lifespan midpoint of 14 years is about 0.4 years longer than the 13.6-year average. A midpoint adult weight of 15 lb is about the same as the 16 lb average for those small breeds.

The listed origin is England. The coat is described as double, smooth, short. The AKC energy score is 5 out of 5, 1.4 points above the group average of 3.6 for the Terrier Group. Shedding scores 2 out of 5, so loose hair is limited. Grooming scores 2 out of 5, so home brushing covers most weeks. Trainability scores 4 out of 5, which is a biddable score. Good with children scores 3 out of 5. Good with other dogs scores 5 out of 5. AKC ranked this breed number 121 in 2025.

Adult size is usually reached in 8–12 months (size-band statement (Salt et al. 2017): very small dogs reach maturity at 8-12 months). AKC parent-club recommended health screenings: Patella Evaluation, Ophthalmologist Evaluation, and BAER Testing. These are screening tests, not a list of diseases the breed is guaranteed to develop.

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