Ensuring your Jack Russell is clean and well-groomed is essential to keep them happy and healthy. Today, we’re going to explain the needs and requirements of the Jack Russell Terrier and share our top tips for looking after this breed.
The most important thing to think about when it comes to grooming your Jack Russell is the type of coat that it has. A “smooth-coated” Jack Russell does not require haircuts, whereas a “rough-coated” Jack Russell may need some trimming to remove any unruly hair.
Jack Russells don’t require full trimming since their fur sheds naturally throughout the year. Brushing away this dead hair regularly is one of the best things you can do to keep your dog looking great.
In general, a Jack Russell Terrier is a dog that can be groomed at home without much trouble. However, if you want to use more complicated grooming methods, such as fur stripping, it’s important to know exactly what you’re doing first. It’s usually best to take your pet to a professional for this particular grooming process.
Jack Russells shed quite a lot of hair and never really requires a proper haircut. As we said above, brushing away any excess fur is an easy way to stay on top of maintenance.
If you have a rough-coated Jack Russell Terrier, their fur should typically be hand-stripped twice a year. The stripping process involves running a tool, known as a stripping knife, through the dog’s coat to thin it out and remove any loose hair.
Since Jack Russell’s generally do not require haircuts, there aren’t really any styles to speak of. With that said, the longer hair around this breed’s face can be styled somewhat, but most owners tend to keep this short and close to the face.
The Jack Russell Terrier coat is the type of coat that is easy to maintain and can be groomed from the comfort of your own home.
Assuming that you’re confident enough to attempt stripping, let’s take a closer look at the process. The first thing you need to do is acquire a good stripping knife. This tool isn’t a knife as such since it isn’t actually cutting the dog’s hair.
Hold the stripping knife securely and grasp some fur between the knife and your thumb. Pull away from the dog to gently strip the fur. It’s important to do this at the right angle to not cause your pet any pain as the hair is pulled.
Repeat this process across your Jack Russell’s body. If your pet starts to get restless, then you may need to leave it and come back for a second session later on.
Bathing a rough or smooth-coated Jack Russell is just like any other dog. The most important thing is to make sure you have specific dog shampoo before you start. Human shampoo will dry out a dog’s skin and cause irritation.
Soak your Jack Russell and massage the shampoo into the coat. After rinsing this layer off, you can reapply the shampoo again. Once you are satisfied with the cleanliness, use a towel to hand dry your pet.
While their coat might be easy to manage, there are a few additional requirements that need owners to pay attention to.
If your Jack Rusell doesn’t wear out their nails naturally, then you need to be trimming them regularly.
Wait until your dog is relaxed, and then take their paw into your hand. Start clipping the nails a small amount at a time. Ideally, you want to be clipping the nails as close as possible to the blood supply without going too far. If your dog has pale-coloured nails, then you should be able to see where the blood supply stops.
After trimming, use a nail file to smooth off any sharp edges.
Most Jack Russells need their nails clipped every 4-6 weeks. Some dogs may wear down their nails naturally, but even then, it’s a good idea to look at them regularly to check they’re short and smooth.
Your Jack Russell’s ears may pick up some dirt, especially if they love to play outside. Keeping your dog’s ears clean will ensure that they are at their most comfortable.
We always recommend picking up a dedicated dog ear-cleaning solution for this process. You can simply soak this into a cotton ball and gently wipe the inside of the ears. Be very careful not to push any debris further down into the ear canal.
The general rule is that you should clean your dog’s ears once a month. You probably won’t need to do it this often, but there’s no harm in keeping on top of it.
One thing many Jack Russell owners don’t think about is the health of their pet’s teeth. Luckily, there are plenty of products on the market that make dental care very straightforward.
A dog toothbrush is definitely the tool for this job. You should also use dog toothpaste since this can be safely swallowed after cleaning. Apply toothpaste to the brush and gently clean your Jack Russell’s teeth. It may take a few sessions before your dog gets fully used to the sensation.
You should clean your dog’s teeth every few months to remove any plaque buildup. Vets also recommend professional cleaning at least once a year.
Trimming your Jack Russell isn’t really necessary unless the hair around the dog’s face starts to get too long. This won’t usually happen when your Jack Russell is a puppy, so it may be a while before they need any sort of trimming.
If you want to treat your dog to professional grooming, you can do this whenever you see fit. You might want to do this if your dog is getting dirty regularly and you’re struggling to keep them clean via bathing.
Typically, you’ll only need to bathe your Jack Russell once a month. Of course, this depends on how much time your dog spends outside in wet and muddy conditions.
Jack Russells only need a quick wash in the bath, so there’s no need to scrub at them for hours. With most dogs, short and frequent bathing is better than long sessions.
Since Jack Russells shed excess hair naturally, they don’t need regular professional grooming. Owners can usually get away with frequent brushing and the occasional trim of the longer hair around their Jack Russell’s face.
If you notice your Jack Russell’s hair getting a little messy, then taking it to a professional groomer for a smarten-up could be a good idea. This is especially true if you’re not confident enough to trim excess hair yourself.
Shaving a Jack Russell is not a good idea. This breed naturally thins out its coat via shedding, and shaving would interrupt this process. Besides, the rough coat of a Jack Russell would be very difficult to shave anyway.
Overall, a Jack Russell is a dog with relatively few maintenance needs. As long as you stay on top of nail clipping and ear cleaning, your pet should be healthy and happy.
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