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Draw a Jack Russell Terrier: Proportions, Ears, and Face
Learn to draw a Jack Russell terrier with square build, folded ears, and terrier facial features using measured proportions and clear checks.
Free lesson
Four exercises
Worked answers
Object Drawing Lessons
This guide teaches a repeatable method for drawing a standing Jack Russell terrier from the side, focusing on the breed's square build, small folded ears, and alert facial features. You will use a simple convention: x-height is measured from the baseline to the midline of the body, and all proportions are expressed as multiples of that x-height. Letter styles and line quality vary, so the rubric rewards correct relationships rather than a single perfect outline. Measure your own paper and tools; any numerical values below are hypothetical examples for practice, not manufacturing standards.
Practice materials: Printable downloads are not available for this lesson yet. Use the instructions and four exercises below.
Set the square build with an x-height grid
A Jack Russell terrier has a compact, square build: the body from withers to ground is roughly equal to the body length from chest to rump. Define x-height as the vertical distance from the ground line to the midline of the torso, not to the top of the head. This keeps the grid stable when the head turns.
Draw a baseline for the ground and a midline for the torso. Mark x-height on a scrap strip of paper so you can transfer it without arithmetic errors. The elbow sits at about half the x-height above the ground, and the withers sit about one x-height above the ground; the chest depth from withers to elbow is therefore about half the x-height. These are checkable relationships, not fixed centimeters.
- Draw a horizontal baseline and a parallel midline one x-height above it.
- Mark the chest front and rump back so the horizontal distance between them is about one x-height.
- Place the elbow at about half x-height above the baseline and the withers at about one x-height above the baseline; check that the withers-to-elbow chest depth is about half x-height.
- Sketch a shallow curve for the back and a deeper curve for the loin, keeping the topline level.
Place the folded ears and terrier face
Jack Russell ears are small, V-shaped, and fold forward close to the head. They sit high but not wide. Draw the ear base at about one-third of the head height from the top, then fold the tip forward so it points toward the eye. The fold line should be visible as a short crease, not a sharp triangle.
The face is wedge-shaped with a moderate stop and a strong muzzle. The eyes are dark, almond-shaped, and set fairly wide. The nose is small and black. Use the midline of the head to keep the muzzle centered. Check that the distance from the nose to the stop is about equal to the distance from the stop to the top of the skull.
- Draw a head circle and a vertical center line; mark the stop halfway down.
- Place the nose at the front of the muzzle, then set the eyes level with the stop.
- Draw each ear as a soft V from the top of the head, folding the tip forward toward the eye.
- Add a short crease at the fold and check that both ear tips point forward, not sideways.
Refine the outline and check breed features
Once the grid and face are placed, refine the outline with clean, confident lines. The neck is muscular and slightly arched, blending into the shoulders. The tail is docked in some traditions, but for drawing purposes show a short, straight tail or a natural tail according to your reference; the key is that it does not curl over the back like a generic dog base.
Compare your drawing to a generic dog base: the Jack Russell has a shorter back, deeper chest, smaller ears, and a more alert expression. Use the rubric to check relationships rather than exact line placement. Valid alternatives include different ear fold angles, slight changes in tail length, and varied line weight, as long as the square build and folded ears remain clear.
- Trace the chest, belly, and leg lines, keeping the chest depth about half x-height.
- Check that the ear fold points forward and the stop is visible.
- Compare the back length to x-height; adjust if the dog looks too long or too tall.
- Erase construction lines and strengthen the final outline.
Worked example
A student draws a side-view terrier with x-height 8 units. The chest-to-rump distance is 12 units, the ear tips point sideways, and the eyes sit above the stop. Identify the proportion error and correct it.
Worked answer
The body is too long: chest-to-rump should be within about one-quarter x-height of 8 units (roughly 6–10 units), ideally near 8, not 12. Reduce the horizontal distance to match x-height. Also redraw the ears so the tips fold forward toward the eyes, and lower the eyes to the stop level.
Four practice exercises
Exercise 1
Using x-height 10 units, calculate the expected chest depth and leg length for a Jack Russell terrier side view. Then state one check you would perform on the drawing.
Show answer and check
Chest depth is about 5 units and elbow-to-ground leg length is about 5 units. Check that the elbow sits about half x-height above the baseline and the ground contact is at the baseline.
Why: The chest depth and leg length are each about half the x-height, so 10 divided by 2 equals 5. The check confirms the vertical relationships.
Check: Measure the drawn chest depth and the elbow-to-ground distance against the marked x-height strip; both should be close to half x-height.
Exercise 2
A drawing shows a terrier with a body length of 14 units and an x-height of 10 units. Is the build square? Explain and give a correction.
Show answer and check
No—14 exceeds 10 by 4 units, beyond the one-quarter x-height tolerance of about 2.5 units. Reduce chest-to-rump to roughly 10 units (within about 2.5 units) to restore the square build.
Why: Square build means body length is roughly equal to x-height. 14 is greater than 10 by 4 units, so the dog looks long.
Check: Compare the horizontal chest-to-rump distance to the vertical x-height; they should be within about one-quarter x-height.
Exercise 3
Describe how to place the ears and eyes on a head circle with a vertical center line and a stop halfway down. Include one valid alternative.
Show answer and check
Place the eyes level with the stop and the nose at the front of the muzzle. Draw each ear as a small V from the top of the head, folding the tip forward toward the eye. A valid alternative is a slightly softer fold angle, as long as the ear remains small and points forward.
Why: The stop and center line anchor the face; the ear fold direction is the key breed feature. Alternatives are allowed if the fold remains forward.
Check: Check that both ear tips point toward the eyes and that the eyes are level with the stop.
Exercise 4
List two differences between a Jack Russell terrier outline and a generic dog base, and explain how you would verify each in your drawing.
Show answer and check
The Jack Russell has a shorter, squarer body and smaller folded ears. Verify the body by comparing chest-to-rump distance to x-height; verify the ears by checking that the tips fold forward and the ears are small.
Why: These two features distinguish the breed from a generic base. Verification uses the same proportion and shape checks as the rubric.
Check: Use the x-height strip for the body and a visual check of the ear fold direction against the eye position.
Common mistakes
- Making the body too long and low, like a generic dog base. Measure chest-to-rump against x-height; adjust until the body is roughly square.
- Drawing large, erect ears or ears that point sideways. Redraw each ear as a small V with the tip folded forward toward the eye, and add a short crease.
- Placing the eyes too high or too close together. Set the eyes level with the stop and check that the muzzle length equals the skull height above the stop.
- Using a curled tail or a fluffy coat outline. Keep the tail short and straight or natural, and use a smooth, short coat outline with no fluff.
Self-check rubric
- Square build: chest-to-rump distance is within about one-quarter x-height of the body height.
- Ear shape: small V-shaped ears with tips folded forward and a visible crease.
- Face: eyes level with the stop; muzzle length roughly equals skull height above the stop.
- Coat and tail: smooth short coat outline; tail short and straight or natural, not curled over the back.
- Line quality: construction lines removed or faint; final outline clear and consistent.
Questions and answers
Do I need to measure in centimeters?
No. Use any consistent unit, such as a strip of paper marked with x-height. The relationships matter, not the absolute numbers.
Can I draw a front view instead of a side view?
Yes, but the square build is easiest to check from the side. For a front view, check that the chest width is about half the x-height and the ears fold forward symmetrically.
What if my ear fold looks different from the example?
Valid alternatives include a softer or sharper fold, as long as the ear is small, V-shaped, and points forward. The rubric allows variation in line style.
How do I know the drawing is finished?
Use the rubric: square build, folded ears, correct eye and stop placement, and a smooth terrier coat outline. If all checks pass, the drawing is complete.