Jack Russell Terrier Grooming

Overall, Jack Russell Terriers won't need too much grooming. These dogs have three coat types (Smooth, Broken, and Rough), and each type has slightly different grooming needs. Regardless of coat type, JRTs will need weekly brushing, occasional baths, and the broken- and rough-coated dogs will need their coats hand-stripped every few months.

See below for more details on brushing, bathing, stripping, and more--and find out exactly why shaving a Jack Russell Terrier is not a good idea.

Jack Russell Terrier grooming normally doesn't take a great deal of time--but much of the work will be spent maintaining the JRT's coat. Here's a closer look at the three coat types, and the care needed for each.

Smooth: Short, smooth, close-lying hair. Brushing will need to happen once or twice per week, and baths are only necessary every couple of months.
Broken: A bit longer, often with a few wiry furnishings on the face and legs. Wire-haired Jack Russell Terrier grooming needs are about the same as for Smooths: brushing every few days, and baths every 6-8 weeks.
Rough: The longest of all, with a wiry texture all over. Long-haired Jack Russell grooming takes about the same amount of time: brushing 1-2 times per week, and baths every two months or so.

All three coat varieties are double-layered, which means they'll shed lightly to moderately most of the time, and more heavily in the spring (and depending on the climate, in the fall as well). Brushing will be required more often during the shedding periods, and a bath in the midst of shedding season (to wash away some of the dead hair) is a good idea.

Haircuts aren't required for these dogs. Rough-coated JRTs, and often broken-coated ones too, will need their coats hand-stripped every few months. While some owners learn how to strip the coats themselves, many leave the time-consuming process to a professional groomer. In any case--and regardless of your JRT's coat type--it's good to visit a pro at least once. The groomer can give the dog a nice coat treatment (including hand-stripping it if necessary), and provide various tips on how to groom a Jack Russell Terrier in general.

JRTs, regardless of coat variety, will need to be brushed once or twice a week (and more often, even daily, during shedding season).The best brush for Jack Russell Terrier dogs depends on the coat: for a smooth-coated Jack Russell, brushes like a bristle brush or a grooming glove will work; with a broken- or rough-coated Jack Russell, brush with a slicker brush. A greyhound comb will be good to have on hand as well.

How to brush a Jack Russell Terrier: before you begin, wet the coat slightly with mist from a spray bottle. Then starting at the shoulders, brush the entire coat section by section, moving in the direction of hair growth. JRT coats aren't prone to mats or tangles--but if you do encounter one, first try separating it with your fingers, then continue working it out with the end teeth of the comb. Also use the comb to go through the furnishings on the face, legs, and tail of broken- and rough-coated JRTs.

Jack Russell Terrier coats--especially those with the short-haired Smooth variety--don't really tangle or mat very much. During shedding season, though, the dead hairs from the undercoat can get trapped beneath the outer coat and cause "burr"-like tangles, especially with broken- or rough-coated JRTs.

A solution many owners use--particularly during shedding season--is a de-shedding tool like a Furminator. Jack Russell Terrier coats end up much smoother and tangle-free when these tools are applied weekly during the shedding period. On your Jack Russell, a Furminator is used just like a brush, and the specially designed teeth do a great job removing dead hairs from th undercoat--which also minimizes the likelihood of tangles.

Stripping the Jack Russell Terrier coat, like that of any dog, isn't difficult--but it takes a good bit of time and patience. Fortunately, the stripping is only necessary every few months! Some people who do the Jack Russell stripping themselves like to use a tool called a stripping knife; while this tool is effective and saves time, it removes some of the fresh hairs along with the dead ones, which can leave the coat looking uneven and messy. For better or worse, hand-stripping is the best method.

The 411 on hand-stripping your JRT: first give the dog a thorough brushing. Then, starting on the dog's back, peel back a small section of the coat with one hand; with the other hand, use your thumb and forefinger to gently pull on a few hairs. If hairs are dead, they'll come out easily. Discard the dead hairs in a bag, then move to the next small section.

Go through the entire coat in this manner. As you can imagine, the process will take a while (up to an hour)--but your Jack Russell's coat will look fresh, healthy, and beautiful!

Do Jack Russells smell? They're not really known for a "doggy odor"--but they can stink if they get particularly dirty, or if they roll in something foul-smelling. "How often should I bathe my Jack Russell?" some people ask. For general maintenance, most owners bathe their JRTs every 6-8 weeks, on average.

When bathing your JRT, be sure to use canine shampoo, as the kind made for humans can irritate a dog's skin. And most owners prefer not to use conditioner on their Jack Russells' coats, as doing so will make the coat lose its classic stiff texture. Also: anyone planning to hand-strip their JRTs should do the stripping before a bath. The soap and water will soften the hair and make the stripping difficult.

How to bathe a Jack Russell Terrier: give the dog a good brushing prior to the bath. Your JRT might be small enough to bathe in the kitchen sink; otherwise, do it in a bathtub or in an outdoor kiddie pool using a garden hose. First wet the coat thoroughly, then apply a small amount of shampoo to the dog's back. Lather well, working downward and outward as you go. (Don't forget the legs, underbelly, and tail!) Use a washcloth to clean the face, head and ears, then rinse the coat completely.

Dry the coat with a towel. Groomers say leaving the towel on the dog after drying (if your JRT will stand for it!) will help the hair lay flat as it finishes drying. Using a hair dryer is not recommended, as this will make the hair fluffy and curly.

Finish by giving the JRT's coat another quick brush-through to make it look clean and neat.

Though Jack Russell Terrier haircuts aren't required, some owners (especially those with JRTs that have Broken and Rough coats) like to trim the longer furnishings from time to time to keep them looking neat. As noted in the Plucking & Stripping section above, broken- and rough-coated JRTs will need their coats stripped every few months--but stripping isn't the same as an actual Jack Russell haircut. In any case, it's a good idea to consult a professional groomer for more info on JRT hairstyles.

Can you shave a Jack Russell Terrier? You can, of course, but doing so is not recommended. Regardless of its coat type, shaving a Jack Russell will actually do more harm than good. Shaving any double-coated dog will cause the coat to lose its insulating ability (which naturally regulates the dog's body temperature); while some people also think shaving the dog will make the coat shed less, that's not the case. It's the dog's undercoat that sheds hair, so unless the dog is shaved bald--which is never a good idea!--the coat will still shed. And when the shaved coat grows back, it'll be softer and uneven. A shaved Jack Russell is more susceptible to sunburn as well.

In short: your Jack Russell's coat is that length and texture for a reason. So keep those clippers put away!

Besides their coats, JRTs need regular maintenance in these areas:

• Teeth: Just like a human's, Jack Russell teeth need regular brushing to minimize plaque and tartar, and to help avoid that Jack Russell bad breath! Brush Jack Russell Terrier teeth 2-3 times per week with a regular toothbrush--but be sure to use canine toothpaste, as the kind made for humans can make dogs sick if they swallow it.
• Nails: If your JRT's nails "click" when the dog walk or runs on hard surfaces, it's time for a trim. Using standard nail clippers, cut the dog's nails as close to the toe as possible. Be careful not to cut into the nail's "quick" (the blood vessel running through the nail), as doing so can make it bleed and be painful. Be mindful also of the hair between the toes, which can collect dirt and debris (and even get infected) if it gets too long; trim it with a small pair of scissors if needed.
• Paw Pads: Dogs' paw pads can become dry and cracked, especially if the dog walks or runs a lot on hot asphalt or ice and snow. Use paw pad moisturizer, available at pet stores, once per week to keep the dog's pads soft and moist.