naughty parsons terrier

[goggers]

I have a 5yr old parsons terrier (jack russell), at 18mths old I gave her a home because she had been mistreated, she took to me straight away and was very loving and friendly. After about 4 months she bit an elderly lady while I had her off the lead in a field! Then about 6months ago she bit the builder I had working on the house, he had been playing with her for about 3weeks and she seemed to like him, but out of the blue after he had played with her he walked away and she bit him ! Last week while I left her and my horse in the yard while my horse was eating his feed, she decided she wanted his food so bit him on the nose !! I have 3 young grandchildren what should I do !?! 98% of the time she is a lovely obedient dog and she loves me to bits ! Someone suggested she would make a better working dog than a pet, but how can I re-home her ?

 

[CorvusCorax]

Dogs that bite don't automatically make good working dogs, they might just be dogs that bite (sorry but it bugs me when people automatically refer anyone with a dog who bites to the police, etc) but you could ask your local hunt for contact with a terrier man or see if any local farmers need a ratter etc. However if she doesn't make a working dog, what might happen to her then, where would she end up?

If there are children in the mix you will have to be very careful, I would muzzle her in the meantime and get a good trainer or behaviourist out to see what the triggers for her biting might be.

 

[AmyMay]

Don't leave her unattended. Simples.

 

[goggers]

Dogs that bite don't automatically make good working dogs, they might just be dogs that bite (sorry but it bugs me when people automatically refer anyone with a dog who bites to the police, etc) but you could ask your local hunt for contact with a terrier man or see if any local farmers need a ratter etc. However if she doesn't make a working dog, what might happen to her then, where would she end up?

If there are children in the mix you will have to be very careful, I would muzzle her in the meantime and get a good trainer or behaviourist out to see what the triggers for her biting might be.

Thanks for your reply, I have already gone down the trainer/behaviourist route and she is very obedient, but because it is so random they think it may just be her !

 

[goggers]

Don't leave her unattended. Simples.

She wasn't unattended .

 

[ChesnutsRoasting]

Her biting incidences sound unpredictable. If so that is a problem. Do you reprimand her after these incidences? I don't necessarily mean a whack on the backside - I wouldn't blame youor a stern telling off and isolating her? If she were mine, she wouldn't be allowed to interact with children, strangers or any visitor unless she was on the lead. Does she give any indication that she's getting arsey prior to biting?

 

[Fools Motto]

Is she speyed?

 

[AmyMay]

She was unattended when she bit your horse, and off the lead when she bit when out for a walk. Id pop a little muzzle on her when out and about, and keep het away from the kids.

 

[Aru]

Light Basket muzzle?
If she cant be trusted not to use her teeth inappropriately then stop her using them..

Most dogs do adjust to wearing a muzzle quite easily.
(restricted breed dogs over here are ment to wear a muzzle in public places so I have come across plenty -Do i agree with muzzling due to breed?.no,but thats a different story)

Introduce the muzzle by placing something lovely and tasty at the tip of it so she gets a reward for having it on.This tends to cut down a lot of the angst and worry about putting one on.
Initially most dogs do find the sensation of something on their nose odd and it can annoy them but its generally no more than using a halti or other headcollar after the initally dramatics most adjust just fine.

I would not advise rehoming her.She bites. Stoping her biting and hurting people is the priority.Unless you think she is seriously understimulated and biting out of boredom Im not sure how a working home would help?

 

[goggers]

She was unattended when she bit your horse, and off the lead when she bit when out for a walk. Id pop a little muzzle on her when out and about, and keep het away from the kids.[/Q

I may not have explained myself very well.......but when she bit my horse I had turned my back on her and was about to walk away, when she bit the lady in the field she was off the lead, but only a few yards from me, it was very fast and I hadn't even realised she had bitten until the lady called out !

 

[Spudlet]

This will perhaps sound a tad harsh, but the reason you are getting away with this is because she is a little dog. If she was a bigger dog, I think you'd have ended up in very serious trouble by now, and would possibly have had to have her pts.

I think you need to take this seriously, muzzle her in public and not have her off the lead in public - certainly not if there is anyone else around at all. If she is biting unpredictably and without provocation, I would not allow her contact with your grandchildren and would keep her crated or in a different room to them when they are there.

 

[goggers]

Her biting incidences sound unpredictable. If so that is a problem. Do you reprimand her after these incidences? I don't necessarily mean a whack on the backside - I wouldn't blame youor a stern telling off and isolating her? If she were mine, she wouldn't be allowed to interact with children, strangers or any visitor unless she was on the lead. Does she give any indication that she's getting arsey prior to biting?

Her biting is very unpredictable, only happening 3 times in about 2yrs, but no she shows no signs she is going to do it, never growls just bits, she knows she is not allowed to growl, because if she has shown aggression towards any other dogs whilst out walking she has been told off, so at worse she will pull a silent face at other dogs, but even that is rare.
Yes there is no doubt in her mind that I am not happy with her, I don't even let her go near the horse's buckets now, even when the horse's aren't there! as I say she is on the whole a very happy little dog but crave's attention ! My big worry is if she managed to get out on her own, we live in a very very rural place but have cyclist and walkers, although no near neighbours. The trouble I have is I don't know about the first 18mths of her life and what happened to her !

 

[goggers]

Is she speyed?

No she isn't, that was something else I was thinking about , but a friend of mine had her bitch spayed and it made no difference whats so ever.

 

[goggers]

Light Basket muzzle?
If she cant be trusted not to use her teeth inappropriately then stop her using them..

Most dogs do adjust to wearing a muzzle quite easily.
(restricted breed dogs over here are ment to wear a muzzle in public places so I have come across plenty -Do i agree with muzzling due to breed?.no,but thats a different story)

Introduce the muzzle by placing something lovely and tasty at the tip of it so she gets a reward for having it on.This tends to cut down a lot of the angst and worry about putting one on.
Initially most dogs do find the sensation of something on their nose odd and it can annoy them but its generally no more than using a halti or other headcollar after the initally dramatics most adjust just fine.

I would not advise rehoming her.She bites. Stoping her biting and hurting people is the priority.Unless you think she is seriously understimulated and biting out of boredom Im not sure how a working home would help?

Thing is she has only done it 3 times in nearly two years, so I doubt its boredom .

 

[goggers]

This will perhaps sound a tad harsh, but the reason you are getting away with this is because she is a little dog. If she was a bigger dog, I think you'd have ended up in very serious trouble by now, and would possibly have had to have her pts.

I think you need to take this seriously, muzzle her in public and not have her off the lead in public - certainly not if there is anyone else around at all. If she is biting unpredictably and without provocation, I would not allow her contact with your grandchildren and would keep her crated or in a different room to them when they are there.

I think you are right, if she was a big dog I would have had her PTS, I also feel I owe her something because I choose to rescue her, which is silly I know, I can't help feel a little sorry for her, I don't know why, maybe its because I don't know her back ground, maybe they got rid of her because she bit !?!

 

[CorvusCorax]

Feeling sorry for a rescue dog = letting it do whatever it wants = disaster. Having boundaries will not cause her little world to crumble around her.
As Spudlet says, if she was a Rott or a GSD or a Staff I am sure she would have been in the big kennel in the sky a long time ago.

You say 'she knows she is not allowed to growl' - has she been admonished in the past for it? - there are many interesting articles on why this is a bad idea. A growl is a warning. The warning has been removed. That may be why it seems like she is biting 'without warning' or in an 'unpredictable' way.
Dogs do not say 'hey, I'm a bit scared and unsure of myself/I don't like you, please get out of my space' - they growl. I am not a fluffy bunny and I will not let a dog throw their weight around and think 'if I growl I get to be left alone to do what I want to do' but if a dog feels threatened for whatever reason, rather a growl as a warning than a bite with none.

 

[goggers]

Feeling sorry for a rescue dog = letting it do whatever it wants = disaster. Having boundaries will not cause her little world to crumble around her.
As Spudlet says, if she was a Rott or a GSD or a Staff I am sure she would have been in the big kennel in the sky a long time ago.

You say 'she knows she is not allowed to growl' - has she been admonished in the past for it? - there are many interesting articles on why this is a bad idea. A growl is a warning. The warning has been removed. That may be why it seems like she is biting 'without warning' or in an 'unpredictable' way.
Dogs do not say 'hey, I'm a bit scared and unsure of myself/I don't like you, please get out of my space' - they growl. I am not a fluffy bunny and I will not let a dog throw their weight around and think 'if I growl I get to be left alone to do what I want to do' but if a dog feels threatened for whatever reason, rather a growl as a warning than a bite with none.

YOU HAVE GOT TO BE BLOODY JOKING IF YOU THINK I LET HER DO WHAT EVER SHE WANTS ! i HAVE TRAINED HORSES ALL OF MY LIFE SO I KNOW WHAT BOUNDARIES ARE, AND GSD'S BEFORE HER! WHEN YOU HAVE A RESCUE DOG WHO 98% OF THE TIME IS HAPPY AND OBEDIENT AND THEN FOR NOW APPARENT REASON BIT'S YOU GET LULLED INTO A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY I GUESS ! I HAVE TAKEN HER DOG TRAINING WITH A POLICE DOG HANDLER AND HAD BEHAVIOURIST . I SEE WHERE YOUR COMING FROM WITH THE GROWLING, NOT THOUGHT OF IT THAT WAY !

 

[CorvusCorax]

Er, OK, no need to shout
You said yourself 'I can't help feel a little sorry for her' which I took to mean, meant you give her a bit more leeway than you would with a dog you would not feel sorry for.
It's a common issue (as evidenced by an hilarious segment in Cesar Milan's stage show where he plays a paramedic trying to make someone better by feeling sorry for them, meanwhile they are breathing their last )

Here's a good article first posted by Goya, I think
http://www.pawprintsthemagazine.com/?p=14492

 

[Fiagai]

G - JRTs / Parsons are fiesty and generally dominant little dogs

Even where they are perfectly well behaved towards their owner (and this is not always so) they will often try to be second top dog to anyone else they encounter

My JRT was never allowed to bit or nip as a puppy and I have been very strict with him in terms of his behaviour.


I can bring him to shows and children can feed him icecream and he is as good as gold

However any where or near his own territory with any other people / animals and he will attempt to be dominant and has tried to nip if an opportunity arises

I do use a light muzzle just to make sure there are no unwarrented incidents.
He is a very happy little dog but by his nature both fiesty and bolshie

I ensure he does not have acccess outside his own area unless he is on a lead

Does your Parsons live in with you / have his own chair / sleep on the bed?

 

[goggers]

Er, OK, no need to shout
You said yourself 'I can't help feel a little sorry for her' which I took to mean, meant you give her a bit more leeway than you would with a dog you would not feel sorry for.
It's a common issue (as evidenced by an hilarious segment in Cesar Milan's stage show where he plays a paramedic trying to make someone better by feeling sorry for them, meanwhile they are breathing their last )

Here's a good article first posted by Goya, I think
http://www.pawprintsthemagazine.com/?p=14492

........I only feel sorry for in MY HEAD I don't let her know !! She is quite neurotic so I have to keep on top of her. I will look at the link you sent me, Cheers

 

[goggers]

G - JRTs / Parsons are fiesty and generally dominant little dogs

Even where they are perfectly well behaved towards their owner (and this is not always so) they will often try to be second top dog to anyone else they encounter

My JRT was never allowed to bit or nip as a puppy and I have been very strict with him in terms of his behaviour.


I can bring him to shows and children can feed him icecream and he is as good as gold

However any where or near his own territory with any other people / animals and he will attempt to be dominant and has tried to nip if an opportunity arises

I do use a light muzzle just to make sure there are no unwarrented incidents.
He is a very happy little dog but by his nature both fiesty and bolshie

I ensure he does not have acccess outside his own area unless he is on a lead

Does your Parsons live in with you / have his own chair / sleep on the bed?

No she wasn't house trained when I rescued her, she had been born and brought up in a large stable yard. So she is kept in a very large fenced stable yard with her own bed and stable with heating, obviously this is at home, a few yards from the house.

 

[Fiagai]

No she wasn't house trained when I rescued her, she had been born and brought up in a large stable yard. So she is kept in a very large fenced stable yard with her own bed and stable with heating, obviously this is at home, a few yards from the house.

Well thats good in terms of her position within the household. Many behaviourists suggest giving breeds such as Parsons / JRT a job to do so that they use up their excess energy. This can be exercise or being trained to help in some way (obstacle racing etc or rounding up poultry -as I have seen one trained to do)
The reasoning is that they become more balanced and less likely to have dominance issues...You obviously know your own setup bettter than anyone - Any ideas on this perhaps?

 

[goggers]

Well thats good in terms of her position within the household. Many behaviourists suggest giving breeds such as Parsons / JRT a job to do so that they use up their excess energy. This can be exercise or being trained to help in some way (obstacle racing etc or rounding up poultry -as I have seen one trained to do)
The reasoning is that they become more balanced and less likely to have dominance issues...You obviously know your own setup bettter than anyone - Any ideas on this perhaps?

Well ......never really thought about a job for her (in her eyes) but in my eyes she guards the yard and enjoys barking at passers by and keeps any rodent problem at bay, I don't have any other livestock accept horses, I have tried to play ball with her but she is not a bit interested, even with a tit bit on the end of it. There is a lady along the lane who does dog agility I could ask her actually, thanks for that

 

[Dobiegirl]

I would never tell a dog off for growling, its a bit like someone getting into your space and you saying back off, if you went straight in and punched them that would be unacceptable.

Its been very interesting watching our Dobes interact with our pup, when she over steps the mark they will growl at her, that is good she has to learn, if they went straight in and bit her the consequences would be horrendous.

You may want to have a word with Vizslak on here who has 2 Parson Russel terriers although both hers dont bite people, but she may be able to offer some advice re the breed.

 

[Fiagai]

Well ......never really thought about a job for her (in her eyes) but in my eyes she guards the yard and enjoys barking at passers by and keeps any rodent problem at bay, I don't have any other livestock accept horses, I have tried to play ball with her but she is not a bit interested, even with a tit bit on the end of it. There is a lady along the lane who does dog agility I could ask her actually, thanks for that

It is interesting about the parsons not being interested in playing. I also have a Cavalier who I adopted aged approx 2.5 yrs. This dog I believe had been reared in an apartment with human interaction only. The dog did not know how to play and would spend its time longingly craving human interaction. The dog has a lovely temperament but otherwise had been reared as a substitute human imo. I believe nobody taught him to play when he was a pup so he did not know how...

The Cavalier is now a "dog" thanks in part to the JRT. He will run, play, and do his own thing. The pair are very good for each other and burn off a lot of steam chasing each other and generally doing doggy things.

My JRT loves fetch, football, tug of war etc and the Cavalier will join in with him and generally have a blast. He will also pick up doggy toys in his mouth something I dont believe he had ever done prior to being adopted.

I think the agility lady might be a good idea - it should give the little fella something to think about at least...