Thread: Jack Russell attitude problem

Hi Guys

I generally only read threads on this forum but I am in desperate need of some advice.

I have a 2 year old Jack Russell bitch (speyed). She is a shocker when it comes to other dogs, her whole life she has growled and snapped at other dogs. She grew up around 3-4 big dogs who tended to ignore her, and because we were in the country it was never a problem. However we are now in town for a few months and it has gotten pretty embarrassing. Last week she attacked a pitty/mastiff looking thing and today it was a poodle/spaniel. No hello or bum sniffing first, just straight into them.

I have an idea how to fix her but am keen for advice.

My idea has two parts. Part 1 I will muzzle her and take her to as many doggie places as possible, praise her for no reaction and growl her for negative reactions.

Part 2 involves an e collar.

All advice considered, please help.

Thanks

Allan

Citronella spray may work. Have seen it used to kerb prey drive .

Hi Holyman,

While I don't have the answers to your main problem, can I suggest you stay away from part 2? Trying to fix an agressive dog with the collar is a recipe for disaster. When you shock a dog while it is attacking another dog often they associate the shock with the other dog, further enhancing your problem - a quick way to make any agressive dog downright nuts.

Your first suggestion of improving your management is better - muzzle her so she doesn't get put down then work on your dog management and building your rapport with her so she sees you as the leader. @Ruff deals with agressive dogs - ask him

Originally Posted by Pointer

Hi Holyman,

While I don't have the answers to your main problem, can I suggest you stay away from part 2? Trying to fix an agressive dog with the collar is a recipe for disaster. When you shock a dog while it is attacking another dog often they associate the shock with the other dog, further enhancing your problem - a quick way to make any agressive dog downright nuts.

Your first suggestion of improving your management is better - muzzle her so she doesn't get put down then work on your dog management and building your rapport with her so she sees you as the leader. @Ruff deals with agressive dogs - ask him

Pointer is correct, and I am not trying to pee people off, but most everything else in this thread is wrong.

This is very hard to address on a forum... if i could see your interaction in the situation it would give me a better starting point.

I am not in a position to write the book you need to read right now, but I can give you some slip notes to maybe start to work on it.
Your dog's behavior is not a fault in the dog, but a fault in your relationship with your dog. No dogs fight for #2 or #3, they only fight for #1... so if your dog is fighting for it... you ain't it and you need to change, not the dog. If your dog is making a dick of itself, and your commands will not over-ride that... your training is at fault... not the dog.

Now, my experience on forums has taught me many do not accept such blatant honesty well. So at this point we need to establish if what I am saying is making you think I am a wanker or not. If it is... we'll just stop now and save one of those dumb-arse internet argument things... but if you think I might be right i can add a lot more... Balls in your court.

Perfectly happy to accept my share of the blame and I know what you mean about dumb-arse internet things. Obviously I didn't get it right when she was a pup however at this stage I just want to move forward. What interests me is that she does not have a problem with cats or people. She gets into possums but I can call her off. However when it comes to dogs she just bristles up and is into them and I can't call her off. Generally we don't let her off the lead but now that we are in town there are dogs everywhere. At this stage we are focussing on letting her see dogs at a distance and trying to get back to basics.

Keen to hear what you have to say, Ruff (and others). Cheers

Lock it in a cage with a female pittbull for an hour or so

a dog lead is a good start....she cant go attacking another dog she cant get to.....
sounds like youve been lucky so far she hasnt gotten herself eaten.
keeping her away from others/safe is not a fix but will keep her alive and away from vets.

Cheers guys. Point taken about the e collar Pointer. That part of it is more to do with her turning her ears off when other dogs are around. She is quite obedient but once she sees a dog she hears nothing.
As a rule she is on a lead when we are out but the house we are staying in has a grass reserve next door, she considers everything within about 200 meters to be hers.

just a normal JR

Originally Posted by Gapped axe

just a normal JR

JR size on the outside, mastiff on the inside?

I'm no dog expert, but a lot of what you say appears in this FAQ https://www.therealjackrussell.com/a...aggression.php

Originally Posted by Gapped axe

just a normal JR

Ha I was going to say that but extend it to typical terrier, they really do believe they are 10 feet tall and bullet proof, we have a smooth fox terrier speyed bitch and a bitch she is !!!. The most loving sweet natured girl around people and absolutely loves the grand kids and most other animals, and for the most part great around the labs, unless there is some excitement happening chasing a rabbit etc, then she just dives in and grabs the nearest Labrador going past, while it is a youngster she grabs there are no problems however occasionally she will grab the top bitch then all hell breaks loose and being a terrier they DO NOT back down, they could be breathing their last breath and still want to scrap, So now she goes to work with Hubby where she spend all day chasing rabbits. I will never have another one as they just upset the whole household, having said that, the breeder whom I got her off also breeds Jacks and she said the difference in temperament between the the Jacks and the Smooths is quite different, Jacks are far more more easy going. Have you thought of enrolling her in an obedience course, where she will have to deal with other dogs in a controlled environment.

Mate, J R's are BORN with an attitude problem - little blokes, ya know? If you're not alfa, they are

​I went the other way with a young foxy cross that would run at visitors barking and throw herself against the window in the car when another dog came into view.
The temptation is to talk firmly or harshly to the dog because of ones own lack of confidence about an outcome,, you know the outcome and try to keep the dog on track by becoming overly firm with it. Your stress levels are rising and the dog picks this up immediately.

In my view this only serves to reinforce the undesired behavior in that it signals your dog the visitor or new dog is a threat both to you and itself. It may see itself as protecting you, because you appear to be animated and nervous.

First thing for me in such a situation is to remain calm and reassuring.

I talk and stroke.. not after the dog is already worked up, that would only reinforce the behavior we are trying to extinguish , , rather, when I see it coming the dog is calmed and under control as the person comes into sight, and now the dog which sits in my office all morning and greets loads of new people every day , is also calm and pays them attention only in a calm friendly manner.

The barking at other dogs thing out of the car , and running at them in a wish to dominate manner, has also improved and is now manageable.​





Sorry to hear about the Mrs Ruff. These things can be very painfull.

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Muzzle in public immediatly to start with and your dog should not be off leash. I dont personally believe that you can socialise tempermant out of dog, you only have obedience to control their tendancies.

The e-collar is great for recall and keeping dog in at heel but not for shocking the dog into submission while it is fighting with another dog or in a state of high arousal trying to get to another dog.



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sounds like a pita to me hope you can sort it sooner or later its not going to end well