Re: distruction

In Reply to: distruction
Posted by:  laci gray
Posted on:  May 24, 2001 at 12:01:20

: We have a 4 month old Jack russel terrior and she keeps biting everything we are trying to sell our house but cant get anything done with out her taring up something right behind us. She keeps digging and chewing up our carpet and we dont know how to get her to stop we just got her a pin for her to stay in during the day while we are at work and she sleeps with someone at night but it seems like we are always yelling at her to stop biting and chewing what can we do?

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Hi, Lacy,

Here's a little known fact that I only learned when I started studying dog behavior: dogs who are yelled at become more destructive. I went to my trainer about my seriously destructive German Shepherd about 11 years ago, and he let me in on this little gem of wisdom. A dog who is destructive is a) not getting enough exercise (usually the main reason for this kind of behavior) or b) just plain doesn't understand that they shouldn't do what they're doing.

Consider for a moment if you were raised completely without discipline all your life, and you were suddenly put in a house with a whole bunch of angry people who yelled a lot. Chances are you'd be confused, and a little bit scared. Yelling doesn't mean anything to a dog other than "this human is high strung!" FIRST you must teach a dog what no means, and be consistant about it (don't allow it one minute and forbit it the next) and then you have to keep those emotions to a low.

Your puppy is only a baby right now, and it's going to take several months before she can compltely comprehend the messages you want to give her. You really need to be patient with her, as I learned to be with my unruly German Shepherd all those years ago.

And make SURE she's getting oodles of exercise because a well exercised Jack Russell is a well behaved Jack Russell! She's also beginning to teeth, so make sure she has lots of toys that she IS allowed to play with and chew on. It will take some trial and error to find something she really loves, but it will be worth it to find that special item or items!

Good luck!