Trouble with Our Terrier (Jack Russell)

I have a 1 1/2 yr old JR/Sheltie Mix. He could go 24/7. Recently I started biking with him every morning for10 minutes (dog whisperer). He LOVES it!! It is a little scary at first, but we go where there is little traffic/distractions. After that he is mellow all day until the kids get home and then they have to walk and play with him. We also crate him when no one is home and at night. He is happy in there, but if we are gone long he will chew up his bedding. Good Luck, try to hang in there.

I am not a trainer but I have a pushy dog who tries to dominate me and have worked with trainers for years for him. He is much better but it has taken a lot of work. I also have a client who has a dog that sounds like yours and what I did and what I am telling you a trainer told her to do with her dog.

I would start implementing training without a trainer (get a book, video, internet, etc). By beginning training you will be showing him that you are in charge. By taking the leader role it in theory, that makes you the pack leader. Small things like this may help eliminate some of the problems.
Some ideas:
1. Get a crate. When you are not home, people come over, or you just can't monitor him, put him in it. Lock it with a lock if he figures how to get out as he may.
2. Make him sit before he eats, before he goes outside, and you need to be the one to release him
3. When you start to have him out around people and he starts grabbing their pant leg do one of the following: shake a pop can with coins in it, take a baggie of coins/chains/something to make a loud noise, and toss it close to him (do NOT hit him) but just to startle him. Then get in charge of the situation by training him to go to a place to rest such as a bed or the crate.
4. You can train your dog to go to a resting place very easily and this can be used in many situations when you are not in control of the situation.
5. You can also set him up and use that as part of the training (ie: ring doorbell)

Jack Russell's are smart and need a lot of interaction to keep them from getting bored. Introducing the training may help to give him something to think about.

Good luck. If you have any further questions please message me.

I also have a very high energy dog, who started pooping in the house...everywhere! We could let him in from outside and he's poop right in front of us. We started taking him on walks every day and he stopped. Jack Russells are one of the most high energy dogs. They need a ton of stimulation to feel fulfilled. Having a yard, is not enough for their breed. Dogs need to be outdoors on walks seeing the world, experiencing different stimulation, etc. This is really a requirement for Jack Russells. In addition to exercise, Jack Russells need lots of mental stimulation. I would have my niece (as well as my husband and I) teach our dog tricks. You can start basic and even move up to advanced tricks. They are incredibly intelligent. He loved it!! You can find simple instructions for basic tricks on youtube.com. They are very stimulated by new tricks.

I totally understand!! I am a veteran Jack Russell owner and know all too well their dual nature. They are simultaneously the most endearing and infuriating little tyrants :). He is bored and lonely and yes they are vindictive. They are extremely high energy a d just running in the back yard won't do it for excercise. He needs to go on at least one walk/jog a day to get the energy leveled. You might consider doggy day care as well 2 or 3 times a week. They are Houdini dogs mine used to unlatch their kennels and get out, I had to put a clip onto the latch. As busy as you are you or maybe you could recruit another family member to help or pay a neighborhood teenager to take him out and wear him down. If you or someone else can take him for a RUN that would be better :).

Hi,
I know that Jack Russells are a very high energy dog, it sounds like he needs to get more exercise to get some of the energy out of his system. I have a high energy small breed too, a corgi who is 1. Vet and breeder suggested he get 1/2 hr minimum walk early each day and afternoon play or exercise too for 1/2 hr. It helps a great deal so you may want to try it. Our dog is crated when we are not home and he stays in his crate for up to 5 hrs and is fine. You can often find dog crates at yard sales inexpensively. As for the barking and biting pant leg here is something that works for us. Take a spray bottle and fill it with tap water, when the dog barks randomly for no reason we say "No Bark" firmly in a deep voice, but not yelling. If the barking continues he gets a squirt on the rear with the water bottle, we never squirt him in the face. After a few days of this bottle all I have to say is "No bark" and it stops. I have done this when guests come over and it has worked for his jumping on visitors too, so you may want to get 2 and keep one near the front door. We are big animal lovers and giving our family pet away would be the last resort. Hope these ideas help

Hav e you had him to the pediatrician oops vet? Has anything changed
in your home i.e. new baby, you working full time. Is he getting enough
exercise? That would make me crazy too. I have a Jack Russell/
Snauzer mix who is the sweetest little guy. He has the energy of a
JR but I think the mix has prevented any issues. I do not know what to
tell you. Seperation anxiety? The have meds for that. Good luck.
Hopefully you won't have to give him up.

I think training would be a big plus for both of you. Jack Russels need a lot of exercise. It sounds like he may not be getting it. Take him for a good long walk every day--maybe 45 minutes to an hour and I bet you will see lots of improvements. If you are not able to give him the exercise he needs, is there a doggie day care near you? If so, then maybe you could afford to drop him off for a few hours so he can play with all the other dogs and get a lot of exercise in. If he gets worn out you could push it to every other day.
Also, if he isn't neuterd, it would be best to get it done asap.

I was a supervisor an an animal clinic for over 10 years before becoming a SAHM.

Watch episodes of "It's Me or the Dog." There are lots of epidsodes with dogs with the same problems you have been describing. Her training tips are great and things you can actually do yourself without a trainer. There's also episodes of "Good Dog U" that are good too. As people have posted, Jack Russells are high energy dogs so exercise is very important. Have your dog chase balls and go for walks with running sprints. Always keep your dog on a leash. You can even get a long lead or a tie out and use that as a leash to allow the dog to chase balls.

For the jumping/tug-o-war with your guests or excessive barking: Just take a clean empty soda can and put a few coins in it. Say "ssh, quiet" and shake the can once when the dog barks. Repeat until the dog stops barking. As for the guests, take the dog into another room for a little then bring the dog back. If the dog starts pulling on their pants, take the dog into another room again until the pant pulling stops.

Talk to vet he migth be sick could he be a danger to people somethings up

Walk your dog.....seriously? would YOU want to stay in the same place, day, after day, after day, after day.......WHY DONT PEOPLE WALK THEIR DOGS!?! It flabbergasts me!!! The sad thing is, I DONT HAVE A DOG!!!! I know that, as a human being, if you confined me to a space...I would be annoyed too. It doesnt take any money to tie a piece of rope to his collar and walk him. Watch Cesar Millan on National Geographic....exercise is the FIRST item to tackle. WALK THE DOG!!!!! Its simple....

First of all get a crate. Crate are NOT cruel. Most dogs love their crate if given one as a puppy. Dogs in the wild have little dens that make them feel safe and crates are they place to feel safe. Jack is being spiteful for whatever reason, known only to him. He has to be confined or controlled whenever he is inside the house to break his habit. Since you have a doggy door I assume you have a fenced in yard and you need to put him outside for several minutes several times a day. Not just LET him decide its time to go out, but YOU decide for him. In the house he is either in the crate or on a leash, outside he is free to run and do whatever he wants. Make sure he gets plenty of exercise and stimulation outside. Chasing a ball, jumping over walls etc.
Basically YOU need to regain control and not let him do anything unless YOU give him permission. Right now he thinks he is the boss and it will take a little while for him to figure out he isnt.

Sounds like he's acting out and behaving this way because he is mad at you. Our puppy the other day pooped and peed on our couches when we wouldn't let her sit on them. I called the vet and she confirmed she was mad at us.

As far as the dog "marking" it's territory in the house, this is not uncommon for males to do. I would suggest getting him a crate to be put in when you are not home. He'll have a few accident in the crate, but after a while, he won't like laying in them and it will stop.

Good luck.

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I would take him to the vet for a check up... could be something as simple as a bladder infection or something bothering him. Good luck!! :0)