I knew what I was getting into when I brought a Jack Russell home. My friend Oliver has one naughty Jack Russell who always fought with her shoes.
She hid shoes from her dog when she got tired of replacing them after every shoe fight. I didn’t want any dog to destroy my beautiful shoes, so I started training my puppy when I brought her home.
However, I didn’t think about the other dogs living around us. It didn’t take time to realize that Jack Russells could be possessive. Why is my Jack Russell so aggressive to other dogs?
Here is what you should know before you bring a Jack Russell home:
Barking
Barking is a completely natural habit for a dog, and Jack Russells tend to be a bit noisier than most breeds. But there are times when barking just aren’t appropriate, so for your own sake and the sake of your neighbors, you need to get this under control.
The first thing you need to do is determine why the dog is barking in the first place. The two biggest reasons that Jack Russell bark are because of boredom or anxiety:
Boredom can be easily fixed by giving your dog a variety of chews to entertain herself with. Try buying hollow nylon chews which you can fill up with peanut butter, which works as a great treat.
Anxiety is a little harder to deal with. If there is something in the environment that is intimidating to your dog – a neighbor’s dog, for example – you can block it from view with curtains or fencing.
If the anxiety is the result of being separated from you, the proper treatment is to gradually get your dog used to being alone. Leave it for very short periods at first, then come back with a reward. Slowly increase the amount of time that you leave the dog alone.
How to Keep Your Terrier From Jumping Up
Jumping up can be quite scary for many people, even with a small dog like a Jack Russell. Also, it’s just plain annoying. Jumping up is usually caused by overexcitement.
The solution is to make sure the dog gets its fair share of excitement throughout the day through games and exercise so it doesn’t end up releasing all its pent-up energy on unsuspecting guests.
Start going for more walks, play games that exhaust your dog like fetch, and teach the dog to sit on command.
How to Discourage a JRT’s Destructive Behavior
This habit, like barking, is usually the result of boredom or separation anxiety. If you leave a puppy alone in your bedroom all day, you shouldn’t be surprised when you come home to a pair of chewed-up shoes.
For a young dog, keep it in a puppy pen when you have to leave it alone. For older dogs, this is usually a bad habit formed in puppyhood that never got trained out.
Starting a formal training regime with a disobedient dog will help to set some boundaries. Also, deal with your dog’s boredom – up the games and physical activity, and provide some new treats and toys. Variation of toys and mental stimulation is important for an intelligent breed like Jack Russell.
How to Teach Your Dog Non-Aggressive Behavior
Aggression can be a real problem with Jack Russells, whether it’s aggression towards certain people, strangers, other dogs, or over food and toys. Often it’s a sign of a lack of socialization and is common among some rescue dogs.
However, a sudden change in behavior towards aggression in a usually friendly dog can also be a sign of injury or illness.
If the aggression has come on suddenly, contact your vet. If it is an ongoing problem, try slowly introducing the dog to environments and situations where it may act aggressively, providing treats and rewards to build up a positive association.
How to Stop Your Jack Russell From Biting
Biting is particularly a problem in puppies, but it can be an issue with older dogs too. To stop play-biting, all you need to do is hold the puppy’s mouth shut for a few seconds, say “No” firmly, and then stick a chewy treat or toy in its mouth.
This lets the dog know what it should be chewing on rather than human skin. If you have an adult dog with biting problems, this is a serious matter that will probably require the skills of a professional trainer.
How to Keep Your Jack Russell From Running Away
Jack Russells are born hunters, and they were made to dig – so dig they shall, even if it means digging under your fence. The tendency of dogs to go roaming is generally inspired by natural urges to go and find a mate. The tendency can be reduced a great deal by neutering and spaying.
There are many other health benefits to neutering your dog too. On top of that, you should escape-proof your house and back yard, using the chicken wire necessary to block your dog from digging under fences.
FAQs
Why is my Jack Russell so aggressive to other dogs?
Aggression can be a real problem with Jack Russells, whether it’s aggression towards certain people, strangers, other dogs, or over food and toys. Often it’s a sign of a lack of socialization and is common among some rescue dogs.
How do I stop my Jack Russell from snapping at other dogs?
For a Jack Russell that is very aggressive with other dogs, a technique is to squirt the terrier in the face with water whenever he growled at other dogs. No scolding or other action is required in this instance – just a surprise squirt. A Jack Russell Terrier that bites can be a big problem.
Why is my Jack Russell terrier so aggressive?
Jack Russells can be very destructive if left unattended and unemployed! Most behavioral problems are due to a lack of companionship, discipline, activity, and exercise. If you’ve only seen perfect, well-behaved JR’s, they are ones that were lucky enough to be exercised, well socialized, and trained.