Jack Russell Terrier breed guide

Here’s our basic guide to the grooming process for dogs with shorter coats:

1. Prepare all the kit you might need, like brushes and treats, then set up a suitable space for dog grooming, e.g. a well-lit room with non-slip flooring. If your Jack Russell Terrier’s short coat is dirty/muddy, you could bathe them before brushing – though there should ideally be at least six weeks between baths, to limit skin irritation! Additionally, you can use the grooming session as an opportunity to check your Jack Russell Terrier for any potential signs of inflammation, hair loss, or hidden injuries before you begin.
2. First, you’ll want to remove any loose hair from your Jack Russell Terrier’s coat. Start with a soft bristle brush and sweep it across larger areas of your Jack Russell Terrier’s coat in the same direction as their hair (head to tail), avoiding their face.
3. Then, using a slicker brush, carefully work through the larger sections of your Jack Russell Terrier’s coat (back, sides, and chest) to clear any remaining loose hair and debris. If your Jack Russell Terrier is moulting, you may find that this step takes a little longer!
4. Once your Jack Russell Terrier’s coat is clean, use a grooming glove (or grooming mitt with rubber bristles) to gently massage their skin, while adding a final shine to their coat.

Don’t forget to raise your Jack Russell Terrier throughout the grooming process and reward them after every grooming session – to remind them that being groomed is a positive experience.

Check out our article of dog grooming hacks for even more handy hints to help keep your Jack Russell Terrier’s coat healthy!

It’s always worth speaking to a vet about the right type, level, and amount of exercise your Jack Russell Terrier should be enjoying on a daily basis. Alongside this, you’ll need to make sure your Jack Russell Terrier is fully vaccinated, microchipped, and healthy enough to benefit from whatever activity you’ve planned. Plus, it is a legal requirement for all dogs to have an ID tag attached to their collar and/or harness in public spaces.

Once they’re kitted out with a correctly fitted collar and/or harness, your Jack Russell Terrier is ready to exercise!

Here’s what to consider before taking your Jack Russell Terrier for a walk:

• Weather conditions – it may be unsafe for some dogs to exercise when it’s too hot, too wet, or too cold.
• Their recall skills – you should be confident that your Jack Russell Terrier will return to you when off their lead, no-matter what distractions are around.
• Your walking route – if you’re travelling somewhere new, let someone know where you’re going and consider downloading a location app, like what3words, in case you get lost.

Remember: Dogs should never be exercised straight after eating, due to the increased risk of digestive problems.

You’ll need to be mindful of the following, while walking your Jack Russell Terrier:

• Monitoring your Jack Russell Terrier for any signs of illness or injury, e.g. sudden lameness.
• If playing fetch with your Jack Russell Terrier, limiting the number of times you throw their ball/toy (to avoid over exertion and strained joints).
• Ensuring your immediate environment is safe for your Jack Russell Terrier and making sure they avoid hazards – like eating something toxic, for instance.

Don’t forget these safety checks, after you and Jack Russell Terrier return home:

• Wipe your Jack Russell Terrier’s paws (especially during icy weather) and check for any cuts or debris (like grass seeds) that might cause discomfort.
• Dry their coat thoroughly if they’ve been out and about in wet conditions, particularly if they’re sensitive to the cold.
• Try to encourage your Jack Russell Terrier to stay hydrated, by offering them a drink of fresh, cool water – even if they’ve already had a drink during their walk.

Although each dog’s exercise needs will differ, Jack Russell Terriers typically require at least an hour of activity every day. However, exercising your Jack Russell Terrier doesn’t just have to involve walking them – it could also include a range of other activities, like training, playing games, or canine sports!

Activities you could enjoy with your Jack Russell Terrier terrier:

• Hiking
• Agility
• Flyball
• Scent work
• Dog diving
• Obedience training
• Heelwork to music
• Canicross
• Working trials
• Rally

Training your Jack Russell Terrier should be an enjoyable, fulfilling experience for both of you! That’s why it’s important to find the right reward to motivate your Jack Russell Terrier, as well as using positive reinforcement (which promotes the use of praise to encourage desired behaviour).

Sometimes, however, it can be challenging to know where to begin when training your Jack Russell Terrier. Thankfully, we’ve produced a collection of training guides to assist you and your Jack Russell Terrier as you master the basics, including:

• Marker and clicker training
• Teaching your dog to sit
• Loose lead walking
• Recall training
• Teaching your dog not to jump up

Explore our dog training hub for more in these techniques. 

Here are some of our top tips to help make sure training sessions are fun for you and your Jack Russell Terrier:   

• Focus on quality over quantity – two minutes of training each day may be more beneficial for most dogs than an hour of training twice a week.
• Accept mistakes as part of the training process – and keep praising your Jack Russell Terrier for trying their best, as you both discover the best way to move forward.
• Take a break – it’s essential to take frequent breaks while training your Jack Russell Terrier, to keep training sessions fun and constructive.

Taking your Jack Russell Terrier with you on your adventures is one of the joys of pet parenting

Important: Although they’re small, your Jack Russell Terrier shouldn’t be allowed to roam the car or travel on a passenger’s lap. The Highway Code states that your Jack Russell Terrier must be suitably restrained while travelling, for the safety of your dog, the driver, and any other passengers.

Here are our top tips for safely travelling in a car with your Jack Russell Terrier terrier

Create a positive association with the car:

It’s essential that your Jack Russell Terrier feels the car is safe and comfortable, because travelling should be enjoyable for them. Taking steps to help your Jack Russell Terrier get used to the car could lessen any anxiety they might feel about travelling.

1. First, let your Jack Russell Terrier sit in the car while it’s stationary. Providing plenty of praise and rewarding them for simply sitting there supports them to associate the car as being a fun place to be!
2. When you’re confident your Jack Russell Terrier is happy to sit calmly with the car’s engine switched off, it’s time to turn the engine on. Keep praising your Jack Russell Terrier and reward them for being calm while the car’s running, yet stationary.
3. Following a few sessions of sitting in the car calmly with the engine on, go for a short drive with your Jack Russell Terrier. Continue to praise your Jack Russell Terrier throughout the journey and reward them as soon as you return home. It’s also essential to monitor your Jack Russell Terrier’s behaviour for signs of travel sickness, which could lead to anxiety while travelling in the car. If your Jack Russell Terrier suffers from travel sickness, please talk to your vet for advice on the best ways to help them feel better.

Make their travelling space as comfortable as possible:

• Ensure your car is well-ventilated at all times, since keeping the temperature cool for your Jack Russell Terrier can prevent them from overheating.
• For many dogs, travelling with their favourite toy and/or blanket can help them find comfort in an unfamiliar environment.
• Whether they’re secured via a harness with a dog-safe seatbelt, or they travel in a dog-safe car hammock, your Jack Russell Terrier should have access to a cosy bed.  
• If your Jack Russell Terrier travels in a car crate, make sure it has a padded base and that they’ve got enough space to sit, stand up, and turn around.
• Where possible, provide a non-spill water bowl for your Jack Russell Terrier throughout the car journey, to help them stay hydrated.

Plan your journey in advance:

• Don’t travel during the hottest times of the day, since that could be extremely dangerous for your Jack Russell Terrier.
• Add several stops along your chosen route, to give your Jack Russell Terrier plenty of chances to stretch their legs, relieve themselves, and eat/drink.
• Check where the nearest vet practice is located at your destination, always carry a canine travel first aid kit, and keep your Jack Russell Terrier’s microchip details up to date.

Never leave your Jack Russell Terrier alone in the car.

You can visit our guides to travelling safely with your dog for even more handy hints to help you make the most of adventures with your Jack Russell Terrier.

When your Jack Russell Terrier first joins your family, it’s essential to make sure they’re fully vaccinated and given vet-approved flea and worming treatment (appropriate to their age and size). After this, you’ll need to manage your Jack Russell Terrier’s preventative health care on an ongoing basis, including their:

• Booster vaccinations.
• Annual vet health checks.
• Flea and worming treatment.
• Grooming and nail clipping.
• Dental care.

Staying up to date with your Jack Russell Terrier’s preventative health care can be a challenge, though – especially since we all tend to have such busy schedules. Set up ‘reminders’ on your smartphone that can alert you to their upcoming health care needs, for example:

• Booster vaccination and annual health check – set a reminder in the weeks before your Jack Russell Terrier’s next vaccination/check-up is due, to allow time to book an appointment with their vet.
• Flea and worming treatment – set a reminder two weeks before your Jack Russell Terrier needs worming (to order products in advance), then again on the day their treatment is due.
• Grooming – set weekly reminders to brush your Jack Russell Terrier’s coat.
• Nail clipping – set a reminder to check your Jack Russell Terrier’s claws each week, then book an appointment with a vet nurse or professional groomer for a nail clip when needed.
• Dental care – every 6-12 months, set a reminder to book a dental check with their vet, alongside a daily reminder to spend 1-2 minutes brushing your Jack Russell Terrier’s teeth.