Jack Russell ownership increased by 40% leading up to the coronation
Step aside Corgis, there's a new pup putting its pawprint on the UK from the kennels of Buckingham Palace - the Jack Russell Terrier.
There has been a 40 per cent increase in the number of puppy registrations of the pint-sized breed over the past year, according to The Kennel Club.
King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla are parents to two Jack Russell Terriers, Bluebell and Beth, who they rehomed from Battersea Dogs and Cats Home in 2017.
They are the latest canine residents of the palace since the monarch took the throne, and may have contributed to the breed's resurgence ahead of the coronation.
According to The Kennel Club, Jack Russell Terrier ownership increased by 14 per cent between 2021 and 2022, coinciding with King Charles coming to the throne.
Plus, in the first quarter of 2022, 85 Jack Russell Terrier puppies were registered with The Kennel Club, but in the same period this year there were 117 - an almost 40 per cent increase.
The Jack Russell Terrier is a small-sized breed of terrier that was developed in England in the 19th century by a clergyman named John Russell.
His interest in the breed began when he spotted a little dog, named 'Trump', on the back of a milk wagon, who became the mother of the breed after Russell bought her.
Trump was mostly white in colour, which Russell liked because it made her easier to spot while out hunting than brown or black dogs.
She was bred with a black and tan terrier to give the characteristic colouring of the breed.
Jack Russell Terriers were originally created to hunt foxes, which was a major problem for farmers and landowners at the time.
They had to be small enough to enter the dens, have the speed and stamina to cover long distances and be brave enough to come face-to-face with foxes.
They were bred to be fearless and agile hunters, with the ability to flush out foxes from their dens and chase them down.
In the late 1800s, Jack Russell Terriers made their way to Australia with British settlers to aid the control of vermin in rural areas, but were also used for hunting.
Their exposure to different types of work helped to further develop the breed's versatility and adaptability.
The first Jack Russell Terrier club was established in England in 1894, with the aim of promoting the breed and maintaining its working abilities.
But after World War II the need for hunting dogs declined, and so did the number of Jack Russell Terriers.
However, they became more prevalent in domestic settings as companion dogs, with owners drawn to their loyalty, intelligence and convenient size.
A study from last year found that Jack Russell Terriers have the longest life expectancy of all UK dog breeds of 12.7 years.