Jack Russell Terrier Trimming and Grooming

Regardless of the type of coat, all jack Russell terriers need regular hair treatment because they are subject to constant and seasonal shedding. Such procedures are somewhat different, but have a common task - to maintain the health of the animal and its beautiful appearance.

Animals of this breed differ not only in color, but also in type of coat.

Dog breeders divide them into three main types.

• Smooth Terriers have hair tight to the skin, and a thick undercoat. According to the standard, it is not allowed if the lower layer of wool is soft and thin. Since this type of dog is intended for normal hunting, its hairline should protect the pet in different weather conditions.

• In long-haired dogs the hair is stiff, but only visually. To the touch they are not at all rude and quite soft. Such animals look shaggy, and they are also called coarse-haired, proceeding more from their appearance.

• Brocken - A terrier with an intermediate type of hair, very long and broken, however, it also fits to the body and does not stick out to the sides. This dog in most cases lacks eyebrows and a characteristic beard.

Based on the structure of the coat of different terriers, the breed requires full grooming, trimming and haircuts, in accordance with the characteristics of each type.

Jack Russell Terrier trimming is a procedure of artificial molting, which is important for wire-haired representatives of the breed.Unlike smooth-haired individuals, in which hair periodically falls out, in “stiffs” and brokens, dead hair rods remain on the body. This can create a ton of problems. If in natural conditions animals with no shedding can get rid of necrotic hairs on their own, then people should help pedigree animals with this.

The need for this is determined by the following arguments:

• for an elite dog with a pedigree, the quality of the coat and neat appearance are compliance with the requirements of the standard and a “visiting card” when participating in exhibitions;
• the inanimate hair remaining on the body makes the hair of the hunting dog heavier, which should be active, light and energetic;
• Excess hairs interfere with the growth of young hair and pose a threat to the health of the animal, as it impedes the flow of air to the epidermis - because of this, dermatological diseases and allergies can occur.

For the owner of the Jack Russell Terrier, it is important to know all the events that make up the grooming.

• This is trimming - A procedure involving plucking old wool with a special comb (trimmer). It is enough to trim the animals not participating in the shows once every 5-6 months, for show dogs it is carried out much more often, as the cover of the pet loses its well-groomed appearance. Dates in any case are individual for each terrier and depend on the rate of growth of wool.

• Washing is carried out every 3 months, since the dog is extremely clean and can rarely get dirty on a walk, except for the cases when its hunting instinct is triggered. Terrier shampoos must be designed for dogs, but care should also be taken to suit the pet. You can choose from emollients, hypoallergenic and nutritional products. For frequent use, it is better to buy dry shampoos.

• When bathing, it’s important not to dry the coat and skin of the animal, therefore, special balms are used, which additionally contribute to easy combing and do not need to be washed off after application.

• Blow dryer carried out at medium temperature, after part of the moisture is absorbed when wrapping the terrier with a towel.

• The next stage is combing with a furminator and rubber brushes. By the way, the first tool can be used daily, but you need to buy it specifically for small dogs with long or short hair.

• At the end, a Jack Russell Terrier haircut is usually done: hair is removed near the genitals, scratches on the neck and limbs, a brush on the tail. What can not be done is to cut the animal with an ordinary machine, which can disrupt the structure of the hair, as a result of which the natural appearance of the hair can be lost forever.

Also, when grooming, claws are cut, and procedures such as brushing your ears and teeth should be done every 2 weeks.

Jack Russell with smooth wool does not cause much trouble for its owners, especially if they live in a country house, because they molt 2 times a year, unlike terriers living in the apartment, they molt constantly.

For smooth-haired representatives of the breed is more suitable stripping. This is a gentle procedure that allows update wool with a furminator - combs that copes with the removal of dead hairs.

A puppy at 4 months old can be trimmed with his own hands, during the first treatment it is not necessary to bathe him to avoid stress.If washing is included in the plans, it is better to dry the puppy with a towel without using a hairdryer.

For work, you will need a table and knife for stripping and thinning, as well as rounded scissors. Plucking begins with the head in this order: the occipital part and neck, then the withers, back, tail and limbs. On the legs, the hair is removed to the hock. In the end, excess hairs are removed with thinning scissors.

During the haircut, special attention should be paid to:

• neck - from its lower part the regrown, dangling wool is removed;
• tail - a brush and regrowth are cut off from it;
• groin - the wool is carefully cut with scissors with blunt tips.

Long-haired Jack Russell Terriers have a harder coat, however, they often fade. Therefore, the only way to treat hair is trimming. To train a dog for this procedure from 3-4 months and experienced dog breeders are advised to conduct the first haircut with a professional groomer. The event is repeated every 3 months, but at the same time, the dog's coat is regularly combed out.

Trimming Features:

• pulling hair out in the direction of its growth in order to avoid damage to the animal’s body - for this, hold the skin with one hand;
• always begin to trim from the back of the head, moving along the body of the dog;
• do not grab too large strands;
• attention should be paid to uniformity and smooth transitions from short to long hair;
• an important point is the formation of a mustache, beard and general appearance of the muzzle.

See how the grooming and trimming of the Jack Russell Terrier occurs.