Re: Gaining Dominence over my Jack Russell

In Reply to: Gaining Dominence over my Jack Russell
Posted by:  Bridget Kinnaird
Posted on:  July 31, 2001 at 04:08:55

: My 18 month Jack Russell thinks he is the leader of our family. When we are eating he sits there and growls as if demanding to be feed. He also runs away often when we take him for walks if he sees a cat or another dog he is off after them no matter what we do he wont listen. He also urinates inside.

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Hi Bridget,

It sounds like to me that you have not taken the leadership role in raising your dog and now you are reaping the fruits of letting him decide that he is the leader.

Dogs generally do not want to take the leadership role, and by your inactions he is forced to do this.

If your dog is sitting there while you are eating and growling, put him in his crate or a different room while you are eating. You must let him know this is unacceptable behavior, otherwise he will think it is. Just yelling at him is not going to work. You must actually remove him from the area.

Always leash your dog when you take him for walks. You are playing with danger letting your dog be unleashed. Never, ever let your dog unleashed if you don't have total recall. Even trainers that I know with wonderfully trained dogs in certain instances will not unleash their dogs. Get that dog on a leash today.

You're dog doesn't listen to you because you have made him think that he is the leader and not you.

If this dog is not neutered, get him neutered. If he is going inside the house I have to assume he is marking. If he is actually relieving himself in the house you need to go back to square one and start housebreaking again and this time the right way.

I can't be more emphatic when I say to get you and your dog into a good obedience school.

The JRT is the type of breed that will take advantage of situations where the owner will not or cannot take the leadership position. This breed needs a firm but loving hand.

Your dog is still old enough to change his habits as long as you are willing to make the commitment. You will need to work with the dog. This is an extremely smart breed and he will learn.