Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hello everyone.
I am new to this forum and this is my first post. I have two Jack Russells, Dexter and Molly. Dexter is 1 year and 7 months, Molly is 8 months old. However, I'm posting this concerning my best friend who also has a Jack Russell. I'm concerned by his training methods. I have noticed on few occasions that when his JRT, "Jeremy" gets aggressive he will hold him to his face and growl sometimes biting his ear. About a week ago he did this and Jeremy bit him on the face!!! I wasn't surprised but he was shocked. I feel he has raised his chances of the dog becoming vicious and possibly leading to a lawsuit down the road. I love Jeremy almost as much as my own dogs and I want to know if anyone has ever heard of this training method. Also, once your own dog has bitten you, what is the next step? Where do you go from there?

I knew a guy that tried this with his new rottweiler. She was only 40lbs when he got her and really young. He kept doing this and she slowly got more aggressive, even as I was telling him he was making things worse.. Finally when she realized she was big enough and strong enough (95lbs) she mauled him.. he was hospitalized and she was euthanized. I know there's a huge size difference between a rott and a JRT, but the result is the same...

My dog was pretty aggressive toward anyone when I got him 8 weeks ago.

What we did is whenever he bit, we very *calmly and sternly* told him no and proceeded with what we were trying to do (normally remove something he shouldn't have from his mouth or get him off the couch). If he tried to bite or growl again we used a plant mister to spray him once with water. That distracted him long enough to get ahold of his collar and snap his leash on without getting bitten. Then we put him through obedience exercises for a few minutes, always giving treats and praising like crazy when he did what was asked of him.

If the dog has gotten used to biting though that could be dangerous because if he's on his leash he can still get to you. I would talk to a vet or find a behaviourist. My dog was only 9 months old when we got him (we think, don't know for sure) and the vet, who is a behaviourist, said that if he had been allowed to continue that behaviour another couple of months he probably never would have been safe to be around. Time and age are the keys to aggression, so I've learned.

In any case, try to convince your friend that this tactic is probably making things worse and that he and the dog really need to seek professional help. I made the mistake at first of thinking I could handle my dog's aggression on my own and I was dead wrong, professional guidance is the only way this will get better.

When he starts biting his owner, it's time for a major change in tactics..

>>Hello everyone.
>>I am new to this forum and this is my first post. I have two Jack Russells, Dexter and Molly. Dexter is 1 year and 7 months, Molly is 8 months old. However, I'm posting this concerning my best friend who also has a Jack Russell. I'm concerned by his training methods. I have noticed on few occasions that when his JRT, "Jeremy" gets aggressive he will hold him to his face and growl sometimes biting his ear. About a week ago he did this and Jeremy bit him on the face!!! I wasn't surprised but he was shocked. I feel he has raised his chances of the dog becoming vicious and possibly leading to a lawsuit down the road. I love Jeremy almost as much as my own dogs and I want to know if anyone has ever heard of this training method. Also, once your own dog has bitten you, what is the next step? Where do you go from there?

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

That is not a training method, that is an foolish person with a mistreated dog. The next step is to get to the vet and get a referral to a veterinary behavior specialist who can assess the damage that has been done to the dog's temperament and get the person straightened out on how to handle a dog.
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series at www.veterinaryforum.com

UPDATE:

Thank you guys for your valued advice. I had a talk with my friend yesterday and he decided to get some help in this matter. To help him stick with this, we have decided to do this together. Afterall, I could always use a little help with Molly & Dexter as well. With the effort of both of us along with proffessional attention, Jeremy will get the training and love he deserves. Thank you all again!

that's good to hear

I'm new to this board, but I've gotta say, if someone grabbed me and growled in MY face, I would bite them, too!!! JRT's are very quirky dogs, I've found, and they can be difficult (to say the least). My little boy is living proof, however, that with patience and love a Jack can be a loving, sweet dog, just like any other breed.

I'm so glad that your friend is getting the help that both he and his baby deserve...
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I love my Roscoe boy!!! Let's put a stop to Jack Russell Terrier homelessness-think before you buy!

heh, heh, if I were the dog I would have bit him too. This is a bite where the human is to blame, not the dog. Glad help has been found.