How To Groom A Rough Coat Jack Russell Terrier [2023 Tips From The Experts]

Did you know that there are three different coat textures in the Jack Russell Terrier breed?  The three coat textures are smooth, rough, and broken. Today, we are focusing on Rough Coat JRT’s. 

Rough Coat Jack Russell Terriers, as the name implies, have a rough, more coarse coat than their smooth-fur counterparts.  And the “Broken” Coat variety have a mixture of smooth and rough.

The hair of the rough coat JRT’s is usually long, wiry and coarse, which requires a bit more grooming than other Jack Russell Terriers. While grooming a Jack Russell is not entirely difficult, there are still steps to take to make sure your Jack Russell keeps a healthy coat. So, how do you groom a rough coat, Jack Russell Terrier?

Continue reading to learn the important aspects of how to groom a rough coat Jack Russell Terrier. I’ll be including information on both brushing the hair and keeping your dog clean.

Grooming your Jack Russell helps promote a good-looking and healthy coat. Jack Russells also shed more than you might think, so routine upkeep is very important. Here are the steps to make sure your Jack Russell stays well-groomed.

Brush Regularly

One of the easiest ways to make sure your Jack Russell’s coat stays healthy is by brushing it regularly. A brushed coat promotes less shedding and a cleaner look. If you notice that your Jack Russell seems to be leaving more hair around your house than usual, it might be a sign that you do not brush its coat enough.

Especially for a rough coat Jack Russell Terrier, failure to brush can result in excess shedding and matted hair. By simply brushing your Jack Russell’s hair once a week, you can better ensure that its coat looks good on the outside. As you will see, there are other ways to keep its coat healthy underneath the top layer, too.

Use A Brush Or Rubber Mitt

The type of brush Jack Russell Terrier owners use may vary. For instance, you might have a lot more success with a slicker brush to dig deeper, remove bigger mats, and rake out dirt and debris with the short, strong wires. In other cases, a pinhead brush or rubber mitt can work better to take care of the top layer. If you do other grooming steps yourself, such as stripping your Jack Russell’s layers underneath, you may get by just fine by brushing the top layer with a softer brush.

Bathe Carefully

Jack Russell terriers can benefit from a bath, but it may not always be necessary. Using the wrong type of shampoo can be detrimental for your dog’s coat while failing to bathe them at all is not healthy for them physically and doesn’t improve the way they look.

If your Jack Russell happens to go out and get all muddy one day, of course, you are going to want to clean them with shampoo, but certain brands or homemade remedies work best. Unless my Jack Russell is noticeably dirty, his baths typically consist of dry shampoo with a comb or warm water as I massage dirt and debris out.

Choose The Right Shampoo

As mentioned, the wrong shampoo can be bad for your Jack Russell Terrier’s coat. Most shampoos are bad for rough coat Jack Russell Terriers because they soften the coat. Since it is a “rough coat” Jack Russell, it makes sense that its coat is not supposed to be soft. Dry shampoo either concocted at home or bought at the store paired with a soft brush can work just fine to bathe your dog.

In extreme cases where your Jack Russell is exceedingly dirty, it can be easier to run warm water over your dog. If shampoo is necessary, make sure to buy dog shampoo directed towards dogs with a rough coat.

Prevent Excess Shedding

While baths help your Jack Russell’s coat stay clean-looking and healthy, they are also useful for preventing excess shedding. As said, rough coat Jack Russells shed more than many dogs their size or with the same length of hair. Excess shedding can be common if you do not properly groom your dog. A bath can help wash away loose or dead hairs that might clump up in your dog’s coat.

Trim Only When Needed

Jack Russells do not need haircuts often, and when they do, they do not need their entire coat cut down. The main areas to focus on are their face and genitals. If you notice that your Jack Russell’s face hairs are getting longer, it might be time for a face trim. Be careful, however, because you do not want to trim them too short.

Trim around their face without cutting their eyebrows or whiskers, making sure that the length of their coat stays even. If you have no experience with cutting a dog’s hair, you might consider taking it to a professional groomer for a task like this. Over the years, I have learned to keep a steady hand, and it makes for a much more convenient haircut than having to take my Jack Russell somewhere else.

You also might need to trim the hair around your Jack Russell’s genitals. This is one of the most important aspects of grooming as it deals with your Jack Russell’s hygiene. Long hairs in this area can trap waste, which is dirty enough itself. In addition, this could pose health problems. So, make sure your Jack Russell’s hygiene is in good shape.

Try To Stay Away From Shaving

It is not bad to shave a rough coat Jack Russell Terrier, but consider the name of the dog. If you take away its rough coat, it will look like any other Jack Russell. So, for the sake of keeping your Jack Russell’s coat true to its name, you might not want to shave it.

Of course, something serious such as fleas, might require a full shave. In this case, it is perfectly understandable. Also, if you do not feel comfortable with more precise trimming and do not want to take your Jack Russell to a professional groomer, shaving is an option.

One problem that can result from shaving is more shedding. While you might think cutting your rough coat Jack Russell’s hairs down more sharply will prevent shedding, the opposite is likely to happen. It will shed shorter hairs more easily, leaving even more of a mess around your home.

Thin More Precise Spots

In certain areas, you might need thinning scissors for more precise trimming. Particularly in awkward areas, you do not want to trim off too much hair or scrape against your Jack Russell’s skin. For places like the toes and tail, I use thinning scissors. These remove longer or excess hair without cutting too deeply or too much at a time. Particularly with the tail, thinning scissors can help shape your rough coat Jack Russell Terrier to look nicer.

Strip The Undercoat

Stripping the undercoat at least twice a year is another of the most important things you can do to keep your rough coat Jack Russell Terrier well-groomed. Stripping a dog’s coat involves removing dead hairs not taken out from prior grooming processes. After brushing your Jack Russell’s coat, you look at it closely in sections. Wipe away dead hair still lying throughout the coat.

If there are dead hairs still rooted in your Jack Russell, you should strip them. This can be done by plucking them out with your hand, but it is certainly not the most comfortable experience for your Jack Russell Terrier. I use a stripping knife to remove multiple dead hairs at once without causing any discomfort to my Jack Russell. With additional items, he is just as tame as if I were brushing him.

Get Items You Need to Groom A Rough Coat Jack Russell Terrier

This is another step that can be better accomplished by taking your Jack Russell to a professional groomer if you do not have experience. If you decide to strip your rough coat Jack Russell Terrier, you will need the following:

• Brush
• Stripping knife
• Thinning shears
• Comfortable floor

You need the brush for the initial stage of the stripping process. By brushing your Jack Russell, you remove any dead or loose are on the surface, making it easier to dig through and work on the stripping. When you begin stripping your Jack Russell’s coat, you want to make sure your dog is relaxed. Movement can cause the knife to cut through a larger area, completely botching your Jack Russell’s coat.

Most stripping knives are just combs with sharper teeth. When you have separated a section of hair on your Jack Russell’s coat, carefully and slowly comb it with the stripping knife. A stripping knife works similarly to thinning scissors, except that its job is to take away dead, loose hairs. If you notice areas on your Jack Russell’s coat that you may have missed when brushing or trimming, you can use thinning scissors before the stripping knife.

It is a good idea to put your Jack Russell somewhere they are comfortable before stripping their coat. As it takes a steady hand, you do not want them moving around due to discomfort or distraction, which could cause the knife to cut more hair than you intend.

Stay Active

It might sound odd, but making sure your rough coat Jack Russell Terrier stays active is also a part of grooming. For one, having them lounge around the house all day with you can cause their coat to become matted. In a more real sense, if Jack Russells do not get the necessary energy out that is required of their healthy lifestyle, they may become stressed or anxious. This can actually lead to excess shedding, which is bad for both you and your dog.

Do Rough Coat Jack Russell Terriers Shed?

As you have read, rough coat Jack Russell Terriers do shed. It can be a hassle dealing with such small hairs all over your house, which makes regularly grooming your Jack Russell all the more important. To review, shaving your Jack Russell is not the answer if you are trying to prevent them from shedding. The best thing to do is follow the information above.

Takeaway

Grooming your rough coat Jack Russell Terrier takes patience, consistent repetition, and a little precision (don’t worry, you’ll get it!). As is the case with most any other rough-coated dog, you must may sure to groom your rough coat Jack Russell regularly and properly, and you’ll be sure to have a healthy and happy best friend!

Sources:

https://www.petcarerx.com/article/how-to-groom-a-rough-coated-jack-russel-terrier/529

https://www.terrierowner.com/jack-russell/grooming-jack-russell-terrier/

https://www.publicbookshelf.com/nonfiction/jack-russell/grooming-jacks

https://snowcreekjackrussell.com/jack-russell-coat-types/