Re: Aggression: What kind of training works best?

In Reply to: Aggression: What kind of training works best?
Posted by:  Josette PArisi
Posted on:  August 28, 2001 at 13:03:10

: Here's my situation. My 1 year old Jack Russellused to live in Virginia with myself and my ex. We had an acre of land and a large house. I now live in NY with just me and my dog, Merlin in a one bedroom apartment with 3/4 of an acre. When i lived in VA, we brought Merlin for puppy training, and basic training. So with treat in hand, he can now sit, down, stay and leave. That's only with treat in hand. Merlin likes to take things (lipsticks, underwear, cigarettes, anything he could get his mouth on). In VA when my ex would deal with him, Merlin would drop what he took and roll on his back. For me, he would growl. Now that i have him by myself, the growling is getting worse and now today he bit me. I called numerous training places to try and train Merlin and myself, but they all seem to have different views. What is the best route of training for Jack Russells? I am starting to debate wheter or not to find
: someone who can handle him better than myself, because some of these training routes are over $1000. I really don't want tot get rid of my dog, but am in dire need of some advice.
: Thank you,
: Josette

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Hi Josette,

First of all I am willing to bet if this lifestyle change and move you have done is fairly recent this could be part of the problem with Merlin.

If Merlin is not neutered, get him neutered as soon as possible. This can help lessen any aggressive tendencies he may have and will be a step in the right direction.

A decent obedience class that you and Merlin can enroll in really shouldn't run more than $150-200 tops if you are in the NYC area and should be less outside of the city. I don't know who quoted you $1000 but I am venturing to guess it might have been where Merlin would board at the trainer? If that is the case you don't want that kind of training anyway because all Merlin will learn is to obey the trainer and not you.

You don't mention how much exercise Merlin is getting these days but I would increase it. As far as him getting into things, it is your responsibility to keep those things out of his reach and to spend time teaching him what is acceptable for him to have and what isn't.

If Merlin is as well trained as you say the minute he goes for a lipstick or whatever is the time you give him the leave it command and he should do exactly that.

Keep working Merlins commands and start slowly back off the treat giving and just praise him. Many training places will start you giving treats but you should always strive to get him to do his commands just for praise. Give a command and when he does it give him a treat. Give him the command again and this time praise him instead. Alternate and eventually he should be able to obey without treats.

You want a class that deals with positive reinforcement for Merlin. This breed responds very well to that type of training and training that punishes is not the way to go with this breed at all. The results will be disasterous.

Remember too, if you are nervous or apprehensive around him he will sense it and feed off of it.

A nice small class with no more than 10 dogs and less than 10 is even better, but I would not do private lessons as it is good to get him around other people and dogs for socialization.

Get him neutered, exercise him more, work those commands he knows, get the stuff out of his reach, and find an obedience school for you and him to go to. Run him through basic again, sounds like he could use it.