When you embark on the journey of adopting a Jack Russell Terrier, you will be presented with several different options.
Not only will you have options on potential mix breeds or even which local breeder to work with, but you will also have the option of which coat type you prefer with your future JRT.
The coat type of a Jack Russell is one of your options and understanding that specific coat with a JRT is imperative.
When you make the decision to adopt a Jack Russell, you will have a grooming regimen you want to stick with to provide the best care possible to your JRT.
During this short discussion, we are going to cover the ins and outs of the broken coat Jack Russell Terrier.
I will break down the essential items you need to understand such as bathing frequency, brushing schedules, and the shedding you can expect from a broken coat Jack Russell Terrier.
By the end of this discussion, we will have you educated on providing the best hygiene and care possible for the broken coat JRT.
Let’s dive into it.
The Broken Coat Jack Russell
The first thing to understand about a Jack Russell Terrier when it comes to grooming or physical appearance is that they can be bred in several different coat types.
This can include a broken coat, a smooth coat, or the broken coat JRT which is what we are focused on in today’s discussion.
Luna (my Jack Russell Terrier) is a smooth coat JRT so although I raise a different coat from our discussion today, I am still educated on the topic and have plenty of advice to offer when it comes to broken coat JRTs.
An easy way to understand the broken coat Jack Russell is that they are a combination of the smooth coat and rough coat Jack Russell Terrier.
This means that you will see some of the physical characteristics of the smooth coat and rough coat JRT with a broken coat JRT.
The broken coat JRT will have a few unique needs when it comes to grooming and hygiene which is what I want to cover after breaking down the physical appearance of this dog breed.
Sizing and Appearance of the Broken Coat Jack Russell
The overall height and weight and appearance of a broken coat JRT will not differ from any other coat options with Jack Russells.
You can still count on a dog that weighs in the ballpark of 12-20 lbs and stands about 15 inches tall at the shoulders.
The color options of the JRT will also not differ based on coat type.
This means you will still be able to adopt any color of the JRT with a broken coat or any color/combination that you desire.
As mentioned previously, the broken coat is a combination of the smooth coat and rough coat JRT.
Across the Jack Russell Terriers body, you will see the smooth coat of fur but within the smooth coat, you will find rough, longer patches of hair and fur.
That’s really the only difference you will notice.
However, you do need to understand how to care for the broken coat Jack Russell and provide their unique grooming and hygiene needs, which is what I want to cover next.
Grooming Needs of the Broken Coat Jack Russell
The broken coat Jack Russell has areas on the coat and body where you will see a combination of the smooth coat JRT and the rough coat JRT as discussed a moment ago.
Essentially the body will appear as a smooth coat JRT with patches of rough coat-looking fur.
Nonetheless, the broken coat has the same grooming process and requirements as the smooth coat and rough coat JRT.
Here is a look at them.
Brushing Will Always Be Required With A JRT
Regardless of the coat type with your JRT, brushing will always be one of the requirements.
The more brushing you can do with a JRT, the better.
Especially to eliminate some shedding around the home and keep the dog looking at its best.
Daily brushing or a built-in routine will always be your best option with a JRT.
At an absolute minimum, provide brushing for your JRT several times a week in the 3-4 times per week range.
Trimming Is A Must With Broken Coat JRTs
Trimming isn’t only required for the broken coat JRT.
Most individuals with a rough coat will always need to provide trimming as well.
To trim your broken coat JRT correctly, you will trim the loose hair near the dog’s face with a pair of dog-trimming scissors.
You can repeat this process anywhere a rough coat or longer fur is present on your broken coat JRT.
You may have to repeat this trimming process several times a year to keep your broken JRT looking its best.
Broken Coat JRTs May Require Hair Stripping
To be 100% honest, hair stripping is the one part of grooming a JRT that I have not personally completed, tried and likely never will.
This is one of the items on the grooming list that I will always leave to a professional or a grooming service to handle.
In a nutshell, stripping is the process of removing the JRTs undercoat and allows for dead hair and debris to exit the fur coat.
Essentially keeping the coat healthier and avoiding other hair or skin irritation issues.
Stripping the fur on a broken JRT not only will be tedious but can be time-consuming and not very enjoyable.
Of course, that’s only my opinion but hair stripping is a part of the process I recommend allowing a professional to help with.
Bath Time With Broken Coat JRT
Bathing is one of the other critical pieces of the equation when it comes to providing the proper grooming routines with a broken-coat Jack Russell Terrier.
If you remain consistent with your routines with the other items we have discussed, such as ensuring your JRT’s hair is brushed, stripped if necessary and longer hair is trimmed, you can spread baths out every few months.
This applies to any coat of the Jack Russell Terrier.
Assuming they didn’t dig any holes or find a way to get dirty enough to require a bath sooner.
Try not to overdo bathing just because of preference otherwise, you can cause skin irritation and do more harm than good.
4-6 baths per year will be plenty to keep your JRT clean.
The Takeaway
Overall, the broken coat Jack Russell will be almost identical to the other coat options with Jack Russell Terriers when it comes to grooming, hygiene, and overall care needed.
Regardless of the coat type you pick with a Jack Russell Terrier, you are about to potentially embark on and adopt a dog that will show loyalty, love, and energy 24 hours a day.
If you do your homework in advance and educate yourself on the breed and the coat type you plan to adopt, you will be in great shape.
Outside of some daily brushings, this dog doesn’t require much else from you as the owner except your love and attention.
Luna and I wish you the best of luck if you are planning to adopt it in the immediate future.