Do Jack Russell Terriers shed a lot
“My Jack Russell is shedding like crazy”. I have heard lots of Jack Russell owners say exactly this. They complain about the fur everywhere from all over the home to all over their clothes.
Jack Russells do shed a lot more than you think. You can not completely stop a Jack Russell shedding. It is an important process to manage their body temperature and maintain a healthy coat.
However, you can reduce shedding with some simple steps.
Jack Russell Coat Types
The Jack Russell Terrier comes in three different coat types. They are a smooth coat, a broken coat, and a rough coat. All three coat types do shed quite a lot. It can sometimes be difficult to tell the difference between these three coat types.
Smooth Coat – The smooth coat Jack Russell is a double coat (an outer guard coat and softer undercoat). However, it is short and smooth all over. Smooth coat Jack Russells do not have trace hair on the head, face, legs or body.
Broken Coat – The broken coat Jack Russell is very similar to a smooth coat but has trace hair on the head, face, legs or body.
Rough Coat – The rough coat Jack Russell that has excess trace hair on the head, face, legs or body. The hair is longer than on a smooth or broken coat. A rough coat should not be soft or wooly – it should be harsh to provide protection from the elements.
How to minimize Jack Russell shedding
You will never be able to completely stop a Jack Russell Terrier, or any double-coated dog shedding. However, the amount of coat that they leave around the home or on your clothes can be reduced. These are some tips to help reduce the amount of coat your Jack Russell dog sheds.
Regularly brush your Jack Russell
The main thing you can do to reduce shedding is regularly brushing your dog. Brushing helps to remove excess and loose fur. It also redistributes your dog’s skin oil into the fur helping it to stay in place. Ideally, you should brush your Jack Russell daily during times they are doing a heavy moult. For other times, twice a week will suffice.
Best shedding brush for a Jack Russell
There is quite a range of different deshedding brushes available. This can be confusing. These are our recommendations for the best deshedding brush for a Jack Russell for each coat type.
Best brush for smooth coat and broken coat Jack Russell
Shedding Blade
The shedding blade is my personal favorite for doing a quick regular de-shedding of a smooth coat Jack Russell. It can be held in one-handed or the handle splits in two so you can use two-handed. Also great for dragging excess water off your dog after the bath.
It is best not to overdo it. Six to eight strokes in one area are sufficient. Overuse in the same area can irritate your dog’s skin and even cause brush burn. By using a tool like this a few times a week for five or ten minutes will go a long way to reducing how much fur your Jack Russell drops around the home.
View Shedding Blades here on Amazon
The Zoom Groom
The Zoom Groom removes loose hair like a magnet, and it stimulates capillaries and natural oil production for healthy skin and a healthy coat. It is like giving your dog a massage at the same time.
Can be also used in the bath on a wet coat. There are imitations of The Zoom Groom available but I have found that they don’t work as well as the Zoom Groom is made of a special type of rubber that attracts the loose fur well.
View the Zoom Groom on Amazon
Best brush for rough coat Jack Russell
Long Tooth Undercoat Rake
An undercoat rake works very well removing undercoat and tangles and is gentle and comfortable for the dog. They are also very inexpensive making them the best budget choice for deshedding tools.
View Long Tooth Undercoat Rake on Amazon
Mars Coat King
The Mars Coat King is my number one pick for removing undercoat and dead coat from your Jack Russell. Works really well even on very thick and bulky areas. It leaves a nice shine and finish on the coat as well.
View Mars Coat King undercoat Rake on Amazon
Regular bathing of your Jack Russell
Regularly bathing will also help to loosen dead undercoat. Refer to How to bathe a dog for more information on how to bath. I recommend using a soap-free shampoo as you don’t want to dry out your dog’s skin and strip out the natural oils in your dog’s coat.
A lot of the fur will come out in the bath instead of on your furniture. Towel dry your dog with firm but gentle rubbing which will also help remove dead fur. Finally, blow-dry your dog using a low heat setting.
You can give your dog a good brush once dry and you will find it is easier to brush a clean coat than a dirty one. If you don’t have the time, energy or facilities to bathe and brush your dog regularly use a grooming service.
Also, keep up to date with flea treatment for your dog as constant scratching will also make coat come out.
Best shedding reduction shampoo
FURminator deShedding Ultra Premium Dog Shampoo
It contains Omega 3 and six fatty acids, papaya Leafs, and calendula extracts work to reduce shedding of your dog’s fur and maintain the health of its skin. The shampoo is also compatible with the FURminator conditioner to achieve the best results.
Provide a high-quality diet
The third thing you can do is to ensure your dog’s coat remains healthy and they shed less is through a high-quality diet. These may cost a little more in the short-term but will improve your dog’s overall health and save on vet bills in the long-term.
Dogs with food allergies or sensitivities are particularly prone to diet-related shedding. You may need to experiment with a few different foods before you find one that’s right for your dog.
In addition, you can add Salmon oil, olive oil or flaxseed oil to your dog’s food. One teaspoon (5 mL) per 10 pounds (4.5 kg) of body weight is a good place to start. These oils contain omega-3 fatty acids that help calm inflamed skin, decrease dandruff, and improve overall coat texture.
You can also increase your dog’s omega-3 fatty acid intake by feeding it salmon, tuna, or other fish rich in these fatty acids. Finally, remember to ensure your dog has access to fresh water at all times. Dehydration can lead to dry skin, which can cause excessive shedding and even illness. Make sure your dog always has access to as much clean, fresh water as it wants.
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