Do Terriers Need Haircuts?

Yes, Terriers need haircuts. Getting a haircut for your terrier isn’t solely about maintaining cleanliness or aesthetic appearance upkeep, there is a lot more to giving your pup a haircut that helps their physical health as well!

Getting a haircut for your terrier not only helps remove the dead hair, dirt, and dandruff that have accumulated in their fur, but it also allows time to inspect your pup for anything that might be a bit abnormal such as fleas, dry patches, or any issues with nails, eyes, teeth or ears.

Related: Do Terriers Bark A Lot?

Getting a terrier’s hair cut also illuminates you to any infections- allowing you to get something corrected before it develops into a more serious issue. Knowing you’re keeping your pup healthy keeps both you and your dog happy.

Should I Cut my Terriers Hair Myself?

If you have the time and patience to groom your pup, you definitely can if that’s your preference, but introducing your pup at a young age to a professional groomer may have more benefits in the long run.

Bringing your pup to a groomer will give you a ton of peace of mind. They are professionals, so they have the tools necessary for cutting and bathing, so you can put down the scissor shears and human shampoo you were looking to use on your terrier.

Just think how long it’s taken for you to find the right products for your hair texture, any skin allergens you might have, and what irritates your skin, and realize that your pup is going to need to go through the process of seeing what’s best for them as well. Groomers are equipped with shampoos for skin allergies and irritants and know how to properly detect and deal with fleas or ticks. 

At What Age Should I Start Getting My Pup’s Haircut?

As a standard, puppies should be no more than 16 weeks old when going to their first grooming appointment or having their haircut.

In my opinion, 16 weeks is the perfect time to bring your terrier pup to a professional to get a haircut. I believe 16 weeks is a great age to bring your terrier to a groomer for a haircut for two reasons:

1. They must have had all of their shots before being taken into a professional groomer.
2. Before 4 months old, they are not entirely still in the puppy mindset because they cannot absorb lessons or training. At 16 weeks, they will be a bit more mature and be more receptive to the grooming familiarization process. 

What Other Benefits Does Getting a Haircut at a Young Age Help My Pup?

Familiarizing your pup with a grooming process is very helpful because training them to be patient, to be familiarized with water, brush, scissors, having their nails cut or ears messed with, is going to make them less aggressive and less resistant as they get older.

Since terriers have hair that will need to be cut semi-often depending on the coat, seating familiarization from a young age will provide a pleasant experience to the grooming world instead of something your pup dreads.

The benefit of getting them groomed is not only familiarizing them with the grooming process (they will learn that the tools and gear are not scary), but this translates well to appointments at the vet throughout their life or any appointment they may need to go to, and establishes a positive feeling and familiarity around it.

They may be more resistant, fearful, and stressed about new changes or appointments at an older age had they not been to them previously, and you don’t want to put your dog under stressful conditions. That’s not good for either of you.

How Often Should I Groom My Terrier?

For a short-haired dog, you’re going to have to groom them less often than a long-haired dog. For a shorter-haired pet, you’re probably safe with taking them to get a haircut or groomed every season or four times a year. A long-haired dog is completely different. With more than an inch of fur, a long-haired dog should get groomed every four to six weeks.

Here are some terriers with short hair:

• American Staffordshire Terrier
• Border Terrier
• Boston Terrier
• Bull Terrier
• Glen of Imaal Terrier
• Irish Terrier
• Kerry Blue Terrier
• Lakeland Terrier
• Manchester Terrier
• Miniature Bull Terrier
• Norfolk Terrier
• Parson Russel Terrier
• Rat Terrier
• Russell Terrier
• Staffordshire Bull Terrier
• Toy Fox Terrier
• Wire Fox Terrier

Here are some examples of terriers with longer hair that might need to be groomed more often:

• Black Russian Terrier
• Cairn Terrier
• Sealyham Terrier
• Silky Terrier
• Skye Terrier
• Tibetan Terrier
• Welsh Terrier
• Yorkshire Terrier

Do Terriers Shed A Lot?

The terrier is a class of small dogs that shed very minimally, aside from the Bull Terrier, Miniature Bull Terrier, and Jack Russell Terrier.

Typically for a Terrier, you wouldn’t expect to shed but for the 3 terriers listed above. These terriers shed small hairs that are almost like little needles, and during the shedding season, the short rough hairs will stick into everything.

Even being that these 3 breeds shed when you compare to a long-haired dog such as a Labrador or Golden Retriever, they are comparatively not shedding much at all. You’d have much more dog hair everywhere if you chose a longer-haired dog over a terrier of any kind!

Below you’ll find some of the lowest shedding Terrier breeds

• Wire Fox Terrier
• Dandie Dinmont Terrier
• Cairn Terrier
• Australian Terrier
• Border Terrier
• Bedlington Terrier
• Sealyham Terrier
• Silky Terrier
• Welsh Terrier

Here is a list of terriers that are hypoallergenic. This means that these terriers do not shed. With dog allergies on the rise, no wonder people are looking for a pup that keeps its hair to itself.

These Terriers are also easier to clean up after because they don’t spread hair all over the floor and your clothes. The problem with these terrier breeds is that so many people want them, which causes the price to increase to thousands of dollars. People are willing to pay the price too!

• Tibetan Terrier
• Maltese Terrier
• Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier
• West Highland White Terrier
• Kerry Blue Terrier
• Scottish Terrier
• Cairn Terrier
• Border Terrier
• Yorkshire Terrier
• Australian Silky Terrier

Conclusion

Yes, Terriers need haircuts!

Though the frequency of the haircut will change depending on your beloved breed, there are just so many benefits to the process!

If you have a short-haired dog, they are getting more of the benefit of familiarization, preventing any behavioral issues or fears that might be associated with introducing vet appointments at a later age. They also get the added benefits of inspection preventing infections or irritants, teeth brushing, and their long nails being filed so they’re not getting stuck on everything they try to walk on. Your couch will thank you.

If you have a long-haired dog, they get all of the above benefits plus feeling lighter and cooler!

Overall, regular haircuts and grooming lead to a happier healthier pup, and doesn’t the saying go happy pup, happy life? … Something like that 😉