Coat Types - Care and Maintenance
The Jack Russell should always resemble it's original function, that of a hunting dog. For that reason there are many different colour combinations, and coat types. To say that an earth dog needs very little maintenance is a severe understatement.
White is the dominant colour of choice. Originally, this colour made it easy for the hunter to distinguish between the dog and the fox, when the two would bolt from the den. A white coat is indeed very pretty to look at, but be forewarned, it can also be a monumental task to keep clean and tidy.
The JRT's coat can come in three types, smooth, wire, and broken. All three coat types are acceptable and functional for their purposes, and all need proper care and maintenance.
Smooth coated Jacks may, at first glance, seem to be the easiest to care for, but this is not always the case. In the field the smooth coat easily sheds water and dirt, and collects far less burrs than it's rougher counterparts, but in the house, the smooth coat can be notorious for shedding hair. If not kept up, the smooth coat will soon fill the house with thousands of short white hairs.
Shedding occurs all year round, but is most heavy in the fall and spring when the weather is changing. The terriers that alternate in and out of doors in the winter tend to shed more heavily, the steady change in temperature being a constant adjustment for their systems. Those lucky terriers that are taken hunting on a regular basis seem to shed far less in the home because the dead hairs are naturally stripped away from hours of running through the underbrush and briers.
The smooth coat will easily shed water and dirt, but will still need a good wash from time to time. The Jack Russell's coat, like other dogs, produces it's own protective oils, which keeps the dog clean and warm. Over shampooing will strip away these protective oils and dry out the dog's skin, causing dandruff and excess shedding. Hyper sensitivity to touch can also result from over shampooing. When shampooing, always use a dog shampoo where possible, being certain to avoid medicated formulas unless specifically directed by your vet. In the interim, spot wash or surface clean only with a damp cloth or baby wipe, wiping in the direction of the fur. When spot washing, be very careful to only wash the fur and not the skin. Of course with earth dogs there is always the problem of going to ground. Earth dogs love to dig and enter underground dens, or roll in things better left undisturbed. Rarely upon egress are they as clean as they were when they entered.
Wire coated Jacks also shed, but not as much as the smooth coat. Idealy wire coats are hard and bristly, though some are quite soft and huggable. A wire coat will also grow quite long unless the dog is engaged in field work on a daily basis. Wire coats may shed less in the house, but if not kept short, will attract a lot of dirt and debris out doors. To keep a wire coat short a good stripping comb should be employed.
Stripping the coat will keep it short, clean and tough. This is a process that can, and should, be mastered by the dog's owner. Stripping combs can be bought at most good pet supply stores. Stripping is a process that takes a bit of getting used to, not only for the handler but also by the dog. Start with very short sessions and keep the experience a happy one. Soon the dog will not find the job so tedious.
A good professional groomer will know how to strip the coat, though many prefer to use electric clippers. Some breeders and handlers find that clipping the coat leads to a "soft" coat which does not provide adequate protection for the dog in the field. Nor does it remove the dead hairs from the undercoat which will instead be shed on the couch.
Broken coated Jacks are a challenge all their own. Simply speaking, a broken coat is when the coat is partly smooth and partly rough. This type of coat gives the fortunate dog a very unique look, while still maintaing the benefits and challenges of both the smooth and wire coats.
All content, including pictures, copyrighted © by Prairie Jacks - 2008.
