Boyfriend adopted Jack Russell - Advice needed

Being physically tough on a Jack Russell is not usually a good idea.  They were bred for many generations to fight and kill their quarry undergound and any sort of aggression whether from an animal or a human can result in a very aggresive reaction.  This doesn't mean you can't discipline just don't try and manhandle the dog into submission.  Of course, I think this is good advice for many dogs for many reasons.  But JRTs can be really challenging.  I spent a lot of time around other JRT's and even kept one for a friend for a few months before I decided to get one.  These dogs just don't like to back down from a challenge.  I know you will get tons of great advice on this forum and I will let the others take it from here.  Feel free to PM me if you want.  Gook luck to you and your BF.  If he (BF) is motivated he can have the greatest little dog in the world. 

JRT's are typically snotty with other dogs. Once he is obedience trained expecting him to be in control on lead around other dogs is doable but asking him to allow strange dogs esp MALE dogs into his space without incident might be pushing it. Not a JRT trait.

 Luckily I think we have some JRT folks on this forum so hopefully they'll be along to help. I think that patience...lots of walking and activity...lots or praise and treats are the way to go. I'd leave other dog interactions til you have a better handle on his overall behavior...and he's more settled.

jojo the pogo

Suggestions on house training beyond crate training, which he already does.

Here is a post on housetraining a puppy.  You would, of course, have to make some modification for an adult dog.

jojo the pogo

He grew up with a rottie and wants to train this jack like his dad trained their rottie - the old fashion rubbing the nose in the messes and when the dog won't come...yell at it.  He says it worked for their old rottie, but I know very well that it won't work for a Jack.

I'm surprised it worked for a rottie to be honest... and slightly surprised he still has a face!

Not sure of the time frame you're on, but if you only just got him, my advice is: Let him be.  Just ignore him, pretty much.  The bonding won't happen overnight.  Let him get used to you both and his new environment and his new routine. 

Get Brian to handfeed all his meals though.  Don't do any NILIF just yet, re-teach all the basics from scratch as if he were an unknowing puppy (including house training and sit)  He has learnt them before, so he will pick them up fast, but keep your expectations low and take small steps. 

When he has one or two cues down pat, (eg sit) THEN introduce some NILIF - ie, get the dog to sit for the things he wants in life, so that listening to you becomes a habit and one that is frequently reinforced with good stuff.

Terriers are tough by nature.  They won't be ruled by yelling and stuff.  Years back, when that training was the norm, these dogs were rarely trained at all.  They were bred and encouraged to hunt and kill vermin.  People thought they COULDN'T be trained, because that kind of stuff just didn't work.   

Thank you...my dad was also one of those "old fashion" all correction - no reward trainers, so I understand why Brian thinks the way he does.  Actually, Joey was a monster before I discovered i-dog and was informed of the right way to train a terrier.  I've been a member on and off for 3 years.  My first post was about Joey trying to bite me after I scolded and spanked him for getting in the garbage.  Ya-all set me straight.  Never happened again.  

Please keep your suggestions going. 

JRT's have a ton of energy - and they need an 'energy outlet'. They need something to keep them busy - or they WILL find things to keep themselves busy with. I would enroll in a positive training class - asap. That will help the bonding, I advise all who adopt from the shelter I work at to go to some sort of training class, even if they do is already trained.

I would ignore the dog, when he's being reactive. I would not introduce your dog to the situation for a few weeks, at least. Let him bond with your BF first, then take the two dogs on a walk together. You have to remember that this is now the Jacks home, and it will take some time until he is ready to except a new dog to the home. JRT's can be territorial, so he may never be comfortable with a new dog in the home.

Handfeeding meals is a great way to gain a dogs trust. When hand feeding, work in a few basic training things - like sit, lay dog, etc. Nothing too complex, but simple, slow steps. Kongs are great for terriers - as it gives them something to do. Does the dog like fetch? Maybe find a nice field, attach a long leash and let him run.

Don't push for too much too soon - you will only create a monster. Let the dog come around in his own time - it sometimes takes weeks to a month for a dog to feel comfy in his new home. Crate training is a great option, it gives the dog someplace safe to be. When the dog is in his crate -- let him be.

erica1989

JRT's can be territorial, so he may never be comfortable with a new dog in the home.

Many terriers are dog aggressive so he may never be comfortable with other dogs, end of.  I wonder, with him needing to be an "only dog" if this is already an issue that has raised its head... and I am also wondering, now I think on it, if you and your boyfriend ever plan to live together...

If you rubbed Emma's nose in something gross, and you were not a person she was totally bonded with (none of us would do it LOL), she'd bite the living snot out of you. This type of dog is *not* something you can push around. Emma is very obedient, and responds to a lot of commands, but the *first* time you do something she perceives as pushy or forceful, she stops working. She totally shuts down. If you persist, she'll bite you. No questions asked.

Emma is not an unstable dog. She has a very stable, normal, terrier temperament. You've gotta find what motivates them, and USE it! Pick up those tennis balls, and put them in a cabinet. When you take him outside, take the ball in your pocket. When he poops on the grass, throw a party, then throw the ball.   

   You have to out think terriers to get anywhere with them.  Yelling doesn't work.  Muscle doesn't work.  Terriers are independent thinkers, something that is needed when they are underground in a burrow, and you are above ground.  If at all possible try training where they are given a choice between two things, much as you would do with a kid.  It seems when they are muscled around they will ignore you, when given a choice they do build a lot of trust, and training is easier from there.

  By being given a choice, it is not a choice of what they want to do vs what you want them to do.  It is more of do you want to play with the ball or the bone sort of choices.  I agree with hand feeding, I do that from the beginning, as they get older the second meal of the day is usually a hand fed nilif sort of thing. 

Brian is doing very well with "V" - the jack.  I'm really surprised. Yesterday he came home from work, let the little guy out and as soon as he came in, he peed and poohed on the floor.  Brian proptly called me to tell me "this isn't going to work.  I'm going to take him back this weekend."  I came over to find him playing ball in a fenced in feild down the street with V.  They were getting along great. 

 Brian was following my directions on NILIF and not throwing the ball until V sits. 

 One thing though...that I'm sure most of you will blast me on...the foster mom recommended a static collar.  Now before you respond let me tell you that Brian tried it on him self before he put it on V.  He tried all the settings and decided that he cannot go any higher than 4 - even though it can go to eight.  It's PetSafe for small dogs.

Apparently, this is the way the foster trained V. V was used for hunting.  V will stay around Brian as long as Brian has the remote and the only time Brian had to use it is when V saw a robin and took off.  It stopped him and he turned around like "oh, yah...comming Dad."  He didn't seemed hurt at all.   Brian played ball with him till he was exhausted.  He was very well behaved in the house last night.  We've also learned that V is so obsessed with tennis balls that they have to be put away inside.

With the collar on he is very well behaved in the house.  Brian didn't use it last night and  V quickly bonded to Brian...follows him all over the play...lays all over him on the couch.  No pottying.

 He rarely uses it.  I think because V is accustome to being trained with a static collar he is more comfortable with that kind of training.  Brian has proved that he's alpha simply by holding the remote.  It's like any kind of training...it won't work if the dog is confused and V understands the static collar.

 As far as my dog and V...they didn't get in a fight. Joey learned to simply ignore V. They were great on walks together. Joey just can't sniff V and Joey doesn't seem to care and neither does V.  I think they will be okay. But we are planning to reintroduce them at a dog park some time later.  V lived with 4 other dogs at the foster home and she said he was good with other dogs.

 Great! I'm glad it works. I've considered using a remote collar for Emma, at times, but I decided that she's too soft. She doesn't take much correction well, but I hear the harder terriers respond well to a static collar, if it's used properly (it sounds like the boyfriend is being very careful, and V is used to wearing it). I think there's definitely a time and place for correction. Emma wears a toggle choke, so you won't be getting blasted from me.

I love the name! I call Emma "M", and my Crested puppy, Ena, "E". I got to groom a BC the other day called "Q" and it was a cool moment, LOL.