How often should one give a Jack Russell terrier a bath?

Question

Does anyone know how often this breed should have a bath? My mother makes me bathe our 3 beautiful females once a week? is that too much or not enough? They are very clean and never have fleas.

Thanks for the help!

Answer 1

Personally, I would only bathe my dog when he/she is dirty. Once a week could cause dry skin. It depends on the coat type of the dog, too. I hardly ever bathed my JRTs and my Aussie has only been professionally groomed once and now we just hose her off occasionally.

Answer 2

I was told by groomers not to give a dog a bath more than once every 4-6 weeks. This is because you are washing off those important natural oils. They keep the coat and skin healthy and looking good. Those natural oils are also acting as a protective barrier keeping the dog from smelling bad. Believe it or not a dog that is bathed too many smells worse than a dog that is bathed only when needed. Those natural oils are not there to keep the smell down. I personally just do the smell test, it she smells she gets a bath, its maybe one every couple of months. I have had many people tell me that my home smells nothing like I have a dog living in it!

Answer 3

Talk to your local vet or visit a pet store and ask for a "soapless" dog shampoo. Dogs, unlike humans, take about a month for the essentail oils in their skin to rebuild. But, if you use a "soapless" shampoo, you can bathe once a week. The skin drying out can cause them to itch and have flaking skin like humans have dandruff. That in turn can lead to hair loss and sores from the scratching. The "soapless" shampoo smells great and they still are clean without the drying effect. I would actually bathe them with real shampoo as needed when there is excessive dirt and smell. Good luck

Answer 4

If your dogs are clean and flea free I wouldn't bathe them once a week you could be drying their skin up. I give my dogs a bath about every three to four weeks. In the summer you can rinse them with water to keep them cool but no soap, you will also know when to bath by their smell.

Answer 5

3 times a week is too much. A dog can get dry skin easily. I bathe our dog, once every two weeks, if he's really dirty, otherwise, once a month. He is generally a clean dog, unless he gets into something, and then he gets a bath more often, but usually, once a month.

Answer 6

That seems like way too much....especially with a jack russell....they have very sensitive skin. They are hardy, little outdoor dogs and don't need a bath so frequently. I have a jack russell and only bathe her when she absolutely needs it ...like if she was out rolling in mud. Mine is almost all white and always looks clean. The most I usually do it is like once or twice every 2 months or so.

Answer 7

once a week is far too often,i only need to bathe my westie every 2 weeks and she has the classic westie skin trouble that causes hair loss,i use prescribed shampoo from veterinarian. evry 2-4 weeks is plenty unless you live on a farm and the dogs get absolutely plastered in mud,bathing too often can do more harm than good.also found this great site you may want to make a note of. www.dogdrugs.co.uk

Answer 8

I have a Jack Russell Terrier, which by the way has been re-named by the American Kennel Association" Parson Russell Terrier"...We usually give him a bath once a week or whenever he smells, which is not often.......He always smells good and has no fleas!
We use a mild soap on him..................

Answer 9

Don't bathe them more than once a week. They need the oils in their fur to keep their skin from drying out and causing dandriff (dogs get it too). Also, don't use human shampoo, dish soap (dawn, joy, etc.) or dog shampoo is best.

Answer 10

I use a dry foam shampoo and dog wipes when my JR is muddy from a walk, but I bath him properly about once every 2 months - unless he's covered in mud.