Re: aggression/biting

In Reply to: aggression/biting
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Posted by:  Rochelle Cvitanich
Posted on:  April 30, 2002 at 12:14:19

: I have a 2 1/2 year old Male Jack Russell. I recently got a female Jack Russell. Ever since I brought her home, my older male has been more aggressive towards me and my husband, mostly at night where he sleeps in our bed. Last night I tried to move him a little and he bit me! I was shocked, and am unsure of what to do. Do you have any suggestions?? He is also aggressive towards some other dogs and small children. Is there any hope that we will be able to have guests with children and not worry about our older dog biting?? The female is 4 months old, and is seemingly more friendly towards guests. Any suggesstions will help as we are at our wits end.

Response:

Hi Rochelle,

If your male isn't neutered I strongly suggest neutering him. Having an intact male in a house with an intact female not only can lead to an unwanted breeding but can also make your male a bit "edgier".

You need to get this dog out of your bed. Any dog that bites you in YOUR bed needs to learn his pack order status, and that is not the alpha position.

You need to get this dog enrolled in obedience school where he can learn to interact with other dogs and people. Many people make the BIG mistake of isolating a dog that's aggressive. This usually just solidifies the dog's belief that indeed he needs to be aggressive.

Discuss your dog's problem with the trainer beforehand and see if they have no problem having your dog in a class. They may even have a special class for more aggressive dogs.

Trust me when I say if you don't get this dog turned around, the female may end up acting the same way. A 4 month old puppy will normally be friendly to all, if she sees the male acting the way he does it wouldn't be at all surprising for her to follow his lead as she matures.

This is a breed that needs a firm, consistent hand, absolutely needs obedience work, and heavy socialization is a must.

Regards,
Marie