Jack Russells are loveable, energetic little dogs that are hugely popular for those wanting a quirky, fun companion. They aren’t necessarily the best choice for families with allergies, though, as Jack Russells do shed, more so than low-shedding breeds like Maltese, Poodles, or Shih Tzus.
According to the Jack Russell Club of America, typically, the shorter your Jack Russell Terrier’s hair is, the more it will shed. This may seem counterintuitive, but if you want to limit shedding as much as possible, you’re best to steer clear of short hair styles and opt for a longer fur length when grooming your Jack Russell.
In this guide, we cover why Jack Russells shed, what this can mean for you, and things you can do to help manage and limit shedding, both at home and with professional help from your vet and your groomer.
How Much Do Jack Russell Terriers Shed?
Jack Russell Terriers shed, regardless of their coat type or fur length. However, the amount they shed, can be dependent on several factors:
- Coat type: Jack Russell Terriers are actually two different dog breeds; Russell terriers, and the larger Parson Russell terrier. Russell terriers can have rough, broken, or smooth coats, with rough coats shedding the least of the three varieties, as loose hair gets trapped in the wiry undercoat. Parson Russell terriers have a smooth double coat, and tend to shed more heavily, especially when the temperature changes in spring and autumn.
- Seasonality: Shedding can increase during the spring and autumn, as your Jack Russell Terrier’s coat adjusts for the changing seasons.
- Grooming choices: Regularly brushing your Jack Russell, opting to avoid a super short hair cut, and feeding a balanced diet can support overall wellbeing, which may play a role in coat condition and shedding.
What Can I Do To Control Shedding?
Regular grooming and careful coat management can help you keep your Jack Russell’s shedding to a minimum. Invest in a dog grooming brush or mit to help loosen the hair and remove any dead or loose hair. This can help maintain your dog’s coat and reduce visible loose hair, while limiting the dead hair that can land on your sofa.
Try not to bathe your Jack Russell too often; this can actually make the shedding worse while drying out their skin and coat.
Taking your dog for a professional grooming session every 6-8 weeks will also help maintain their coat, manage shedding, and support the appearance and condition of your dog’s coat. A professional groomer may perform techniques like hand-stripping to support coat upkeep.
Additional Tips to manage Jack Russell shedding at home:
- Bathe your Jack Russell with a deshedding dog shampoo: When you bathe your Jack Russell, which should typically be about once a month, consider using a dog-safe deshedding shampoo, which may help loosen and remove excess hair. Keep in mind that the hair will collect where you wash your dog, so consider bathing them outside if possible rather than in the main bathroom.
- Feed a high-quality food: Diet plays a role in overall wellbeing, which may influence the condition of your dog’s skin and coat. Feeding a high-quality, balanced diet can help support normal shedding.
- Teach good behavior: If you train your Jack Russell to stay off the furniture, and teach room boundaries, you can keep them out of bedrooms and off of chairs and sofas, limiting human contact with shed hair and dander.
- Make reasonable adjustments: While it isn’t always possible to do things like swap carpeted flooring for tiles in the name of dog hair and dander management, small adjustments to your environment can help make shedding more manageable, such as putting throws over sofas that are washable to easily remove dog hair, avoiding fluffy rugs that can catch and trap dander, and limiting the amount of cushions and soft toys left laying around that your dog has access to – all places where Jack Russell hair can often collect.
Jack Russell Terriers are not considered hypoallergenic, and may produce dander and hair that can affect sensitive individuals. Depending on the type of Russell Terrier you bring home, shedding may be more or less, but will still likely be an issue that doesn’t go away over time. However, for those who are not overly sensitive to dog hair, and who have the time and attention to give to these energetic and sociable little dogs, Jack Russells make incredibly loving and entertaining companions you’re sure to love and treasure.
