Jack Russell Terriers are small, energetic, loyal canine breeds every family yearns for. Dealing with your Jack’s molting is just a small fee you have to pay for having such a wonderful pet. Another advantage of this canine breed is they are low maintenance when it comes to grooming. A weekly brush is all they need on a typical day, whereas during the seasonal shedding, you will have to brush them daily to keep their fur healthy and control the amount of fur that falls inside your house. Let us discuss what you can expect from Jack Russell’s shedding if you plan to adopt this loving canine breed
Do Jack Russell Terriers shed? Yes, they do, and it can be more during the blowing coat season. Shedding is always bad news, primarily for allergy sufferers, because more dander means higher chances of causing allergic reactions. However, their shedding should not be an issue because you can learn to manage it. You can apply several guidelines and approaches to minimize the shedding of your Jack Russell, like feeding him a high-quality diet and maintaining a grooming routine.
We all love the company and joy dogs bring into our homes and lives, for example, cuddling with you, exercising, and loving you unconditionally. So, if you have a Jack Russell in your home, you must have realized that they are always everywhere and often leave behind their hair. I know how shedding can sometimes be annoying, but you have to learn to minimize it lest you end up with a house full of dog fur everywhere. You will comfortably live with them and gladly enjoy their company once you know how to manage and reduce your furry friend’s shedding. This article will teach you everything you need to know about Jack Russell Terries’ shedding and tips to help you manage it.
How Much Do Jack Russell Terriers Shed?
Jack Russel Terriers are moderate to high shedders. Just because they have short hair doesn’t mean they shed less. The shorter the hair, the shorter the growth cycle, thus more shedding. Jack Russell Terries are double-coated and will shed more during the seasonal shedding in fall and spring. How much your Jack sheds will also depend on their diet and grooming. If you feed your pup a low-quality diet and don’t maintain a proper grooming routine, you will notice more fur in your house.
Why Do Jack Russell Terriers Shed?
Molting is a natural process that all dog breeds undergo to maintain healthy fur. They will shed to replace their dead, old hairs with new ones. They will also shed more in spring and fall to adjust to the seasonal changes and maintain their body temperatures. While this process is all-natural and hereditary, your Jack Russel Terrier could also be shedding due to unnatural causes. Things like lack of proper grooming, a poor diet, skin infections, and allergies can trigger unhealthy shedding. You don’t have to worry about your Jack’s shedding unless you notice more hairs than usual. You have to learn to differentiate unhealthy from normal shedding. You can take your Jack for regular check-ups to your vet if you notice him shedding more.
Shedding Seasons and Frequency
When do Jack Russell Terriers shed? Most dogs, especially double-coated ones, will shed more during certain times of the year. They will shed more particularly in spring and fall, a process known as blowing coats. They will shed their light summer coat during cold weather and develop a thick heavy winter coat to keep them warm. On the other hand, they will shed their dense undercoat during hot weather to stay cool. There are many furs to lose during this season so expect to find fur on your furniture, floors, clothes, and everywhere else the dog visits. You will have to maintain high levels of grooming during these times and feed your Jack a healthy diet to manage their shedding.
Unhealthy Shedding
You have to learn to differentiate unhealthy shedding from normal shedding. Even during the blowing coat season, your Jack should not be shedding in clumps. So, do Jack Russell Terriers shed abnormally? Yes, they can; and it usually results from an underlying health issue, hormonal imbalance, infections, or parasites. Unhealthy shedding in your dog is not suitable for them and should be resolved quickly. You can always visit your vet to check out what could be causing the excess shedding.
What Type of Coat Does Jack Russell Terriers have?
The Jack Russell Terrier’s fur is either smooth, broken, or rough, and they are all short-haired and easy to groom. They are also a double-coated breed, and that’s why they shed much during the seasonal molting. They have inner fur that keeps them warm during cold weather conditions and outer fur that guards them against environmental factors. The outer layer is also used to deter water and protect the pup from debris. Most Jack Russell pet parents claim that the smooth-coated Russell sheds more than the broken and rough-coated ones. Though, when it comes to grooming, the smooth-coated JRT is more manageable to groom than the rough and broken coated ones because hair gets trapped in the coats.
How To Manage and Reduce Jack Russell Terriers Shedding
Once you understand the question, do Jack Russell Terries shed, you can now dive into the remedies for their shedding. You do not want to end up with a house full of dogs’ hair and not be able to do something about it. Luckily, there are some practices you can implement to manage and reduce your dog’s shedding. They mainly involve proper grooming and providing the right diet.
Jack Russell Terriers Grooming
Grooming is the best way to keep your dog’s hair out of your house and under control. You will have to brush them regularly. This will help trap loose and dead hairs before they get a chance to fall out during shedding. Additionally, as you brush your pup, you massage their bodies and spread the natural oils all over their coat, thus encouraging healthy fur growth and less shedding. If you want the best results in a short time, consider using the Furminator; it reaches deeper inside the coat and removes dead hair faster. It is advisable to brush your Jack outside to keep your house hair-free. This is more important to allergy sufferers who don’t want dander lingering around their house.
Jack Russell Terriers Diet
Poor nutrition and lack of vitamins are some of the causes of excessive shedding in dogs. Like human beings, even your dog needs a well-balanced diet to be healthy. Your Russell’s diet will either affect their shedding positively or negatively. Therefore, feed them high-quality food rich in proteins and carbohydrates to keep their fur healthier and minimize excessive molting. You can also ask for recommendations from your vet for foods that will help maintain the health of your dog’s fur.
Baths, Supplements…
Another solution for minimizing your Jack’s shedding is bathing them. Bathing can help remove loose fur and dander from your pup’s body before it falls out and spreads all over the house. It also eliminates allergens, dust, debris, and pollen your Jack’s fur may have picked up while playing outdoor. However, over bathing your pup is not good because it strips off their natural oils, leaving their skin dry. Remember, dry and irritated skin is one of the leading causes of excess shedding. Over bathing, especially with the wrong shampoo, can also lead to scratching and itching, which is another cause for excessive shedding.
In addition, if you want to boost the well-being of your canine’s coat and reduce shedding, consider adding supplements like fish oil to the dog’s diet. The fish oil tablets will improve your dog’s fur, making it healthier and more robust. Other supplements like Omega 3 and 6 fatty acids also enhance the health of the fur.
Are Jack Russell Terriers Hypoallergenic?
A dog’s shedding tendencies are linked to whether they are hypoallergenic. So, when people look for answers to do Jack Russell Terries shed, they also want to know whether they cause allergic reactions. The higher the shedding level, the more dander is released into the environment, thus high chances of a dog breed causing allergies. As I mentioned earlier, Jack Russell is a moderate to high shedders, meaning they have high dander levels that can cause allergies to people with allergic reactions. Therefore, the Jack Russell Terrier does not claim the title hypoallergenic. If you suffer from severe dog allergies, it’s best to adopt another canine breed like the Poodle, classified as hypoallergenic.
However, if you already have a Jack Russell in your home and have mild dog allergies, here are a few ways you can control your allergic reactions from flaring up:
Vacuuming is among the best defense mechanism for controlling dander and allergens in your home. You can always use a powerful vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter to help remove the airborne allergens.
Your bedroom should be out of bounds for your pet. This will avoid or reduce the number of allergens inside the room, thus allowing you to sleep comfortably at night without sneezing and coughing. Additionally, keep him off your furniture to help minimize dander and allergens in your house.
Regularly brush your pup to help capture fur and dander before it falls off and becomes airborne. Be sure to wear gloves while brushing your Jack to prevent coming in contact with the allergens. Or, you can have someone else do the grooming outdoors.
Make it your routine to rinse your hands thoroughly after petting your pup. It will help you avoid accidents like rubbing your eyes with allergens and causing your allergies to flare up.
You can also visit your doctor to recommend medicines to help with your allergies. There is an array of medications that you can find over the counter to help manage your allergic reactions.