Gromming of Jack Russell terrier - what is the aim and why should we not shave them

Many owners wonder what grooming a Jack Russell Terrier involves and whether it is necessary. Please read the post below.

How often should I trim my Jack Russell terrier?

Jack Russell Terriers with a broken or rough coat require regular grooming. Rough-coated Jack Russells should be groomed every 8–12 weeks, whilst those with a broken coat, depending on the coat’s texture, should be groomed approximately every 3 months. It is also worth noting at the outset that not all rough coats are the same: there are rough-coated Jack Russells with thick beards, overgrown beards and a ‘curtain’ under the belly, and others with sparse coats – it’s all down to genetics.

Does trimming hurt?

As a general rule, trimming involves plucking (using your fingers or a special blunt knife) overgrown hair – that is, hair that would have fallen out naturally anyway. In the past, Jack Russell terriers used to run through the woods and pull their hair out in the bushes; they didn’t get tangled up in them, but the hair remained on the bushes, and that is how a terrier’s coat should be. Loose, non-tangling, matt to the touch, lying close to the body when fresh, and standing out when overgrown.

Can Jack Russell be shaved?

No. A Jack Russell Terrier’s coat should not be clipped with clippers or trimmed with scissors. The whole dog should be groomed, and – when done by an experienced groomer – this is not a painful process. The exception is the belly and genital area – these can be shaved if the hair becomes too long.

However, even the most experienced groomer cannot be expected to ensure that a dog looks great after 4–6 months without trimming. This is practically impossible (unless the dog has EXCEPTIONAL coat quality, but that doesn’t happen often). Trimming also does not involve pulling out the entire stray hair! This is a very common mistake made by novice groomers. A wire-haired Jack Russell Terrier should have a beautiful beard, the hair on its paws should be left in columns, and its bottom and tail should be fully trimmed! These are the first steps to making a Jack Russell look like a Jack Russell!

Below are our dogs, groomed by our friend Kasia – a specialist in Jack Russell Terriers for show purposes – as well as a couple of dogs groomed by me for everyday use.