The Jack Russell Terrier is a super popular dog breed all over the world. If you’re considering bringing a Jack Russell into your family, it’s important to know that this breed sheds throughout the year.
Let’s take a closer look at the Jack Russell dog to understand how much shedding you can expect and what you can do to minimise it.
Jack Russell Terriers are considered to be moderate to high-shedding dogs. One of the reasons behind this is that the breed has a thick double coat. The outer protective layer is the one that sheds and is replaced constantly.
Unlike some other breeds, certain colours of Jack Russell Terriers don’t shed more than others. This is likely because there are only three common Jack Russell colours: white, black and white, and white and tan.
Yes, Jack Russells have a very defined shedding season when they lose more fur than at other times of the year. This is generally in the Spring when the dog prepares for the warmer Summer.
Since these dogs were originally bred in England, they have adapted to that area’s clearly-defined seasons. A Jack Russell Terrier didn’t develop a year-round coat since there wasn’t a single coat suitable for each season.
In general, Jack Russell shedding does not change too much throughout a dog’s life. As a puppy, your Jack Russell will follow the typical shedding seasons and continue to lose fur year-round, just like a fully grown adult.
One thing to understand about Jack Russells is that there are two main varieties of the breed, each with a different coat type. These are the “rough-coat” Jack Russell and the “smooth-coat variety”.
Rough-coat types shed fur at a slower rate than smooth-coated Jack Russells. Jack Russell owners should be aware of their dog’s coat type if they want to be able to reduce shedding effectively.
There are a few simple things you can do to minimise your Jack Russell’s shedding.
Brushing your Jack Russell regularly is absolutely the best thing you can do to keep fur loss to a minimum. When you brush your Jack Russell, you move skin oil across the body, helping hairs stay in place and not shed. Brushing will also allow you to remove loose hair in one go before it can be deposited all over the house.
If you think your dog is shedding more hair than it should be, it might be worth taking them to the vet. Mineral and nutritional deficiencies can cause excessive shedding, so it’s important to get these checked out.
Another explanation for too much loose fur could be that your Jack Russell has a skin condition. A vet can spot this quickly and recommend a treatment to fix the issue and reduce shedding.
Overbathing a Jack Russell is a trap that many owners fall into when trying to minimise shedding. Regular washes will strip your dog of natural skin oils, allowing hairs to be lost more easily. Regarding hygiene, frequent brushing and grooming is a better approach.
Another option to keep shedding to a minimum is to use a shedding blade. This tool allows you to gently “strip” your Jack Russell’s coat to prevent excess shedding in the future.
No, Jack Russells are not considered one of the hypoallergenic dog breeds. As you know, Jack Russell Terriers shed a relatively high amount of fur throughout the year, and these hairs carry a high concentration of allergens. Even hypoallergenic dog breeds tend to shed throughout the year.
To summarise, the Jack Russell breed is moderate to high-shedding, losing more fur during the Spring. This process helps the dog maintain a healthy coat, and you can’t stop a Jack Russell from shedding completely. However, there are a few steps you can take to minimise it.
If you suffer from allergies, bringing a Jack Russell into your home might not be the best idea.
Welcome to Pets Online, a team of pet parents, animal lovers and veterinarians devoted to providing you with everything you need to know about pets.