Really fed up with JRT owners and their dogs!

Burmilla

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My GSD died in March aged 13. She was lovely and I had owned her from eight weeks until she died. She was very well trained and socialised. We continued training all her life with other dogs and on her own. Her recall was excellent, as was wait, down, leave etc. she was consistently attacked by JRTs and their crosses. They would launch themseves at her barking hysterically for no apparent reason. Owners appeared to have no control whatsoever. In the end, resocialisation stopped working and she started attacking them first. It made walks a misery I had to walk her on a harness, muzzled, in public spaces..
After she went, a few months later, I was asked to take on a rescue whippet x greyhound, 9 years old, who had a neglectful pillar to post sort of life. Quiet and initially fearful of everything. Lots of traing and socialising, Wx gets much more outgoing, good recall, wait, down, leave etc. having a good time whirling round the woods and fields. Then gets chased and attacked by two JRTs - owners no control - Wx runs blindly off towards road half mile away, pursued by JRTs. Thankfully returns unhurt. Owners say - oh they only want to play - no harm done.
Three days later, different place, different JRTs same scenario Dog bolts again, this time there is a railway line in the distance. She eventually returns to the whistle..
Now I have an anxious yappy Wx who is unsettled in open spaces and can't be let off lead in case a terrier appears and she bolts.
Ive never been a fan of terriers because of their apparent aggression and yapping. I know they are bred for a job - but why do owners fail to be able to control them? Is it because they are small, so they see them as harmless and cute?
So, a nice calm playful dog is now an anxious animal who is frightened of other dogs and runs away when she sees them. I am so fed up.
 
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I don't blame the dogs but there are useless owners who assume that as JRT are small, they are automatically safe and bombproof. Look at how surprised the press was when the dog that killed the week old baby turned out to be a JRT. They are terriers, working intelligent dogs that need a job and exercise. Very sorry your dog has been so terrorised..if my terriers ( staffords ) did that there would be an outcry...
 
I have a sealiham cross so small fluffy terrier type and I'm struggling to socialize him with other dogs that don't attack him as I don't want a yappy growly dog. He is a yard dog so has to come to competitions with me but after being flattened when approaching in nervy puppy mode he now hides behind me and woofs until he is sure he won't get flattened. Its hard as I've met some horrible terriers so making an effort to make mine a nice boy, luckily he runs around our own land so he doesn't really meet strangers much unless prearranged.
 
I generally hate the generalisations of breeds (like GSDs as 'naturally aggressive' and 'slopey-backed cripples' :p) and TBH I meet as many big arsey dogs as small ones, but the big dog owners seem to be more aware/apologetic - bad behaviour in small dogs seems to be excused more often - see the owner of the Bichon who laughs when her dog runs up to mine barking and biting his back legs - wouldn't be funny the other way around - which is daft, because the dogs don't think of themselves as small, they think of themselves as dogs, wish their owners would too sometimes!!
 
My whole neighbourhood think my dog is vicious. I like to keep it that way! And it couldnt be further from the truth. I am shocked at the amount of unruly dog their are. Owners always have an exscuse. My dog is obedient obviously she goes deaf when shes with her friends! And I have been socareful to keep her socialised and friendly it worries me that it only has to take one dog to spoil that :(
 
What an utterly ridiculous generalization!

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My JRT is one of the most obedient dogs I know!

Well socialized, and brought up properly (to be a dog)!

He doesn't yap or snap. He has brilliant recall, walks to heal off lead and comes out hacking with my horse.

He has been attacked several times, by others, but has never been the aggressor himself.

He can be grumbly on lead, but think that is because he is restricted, so I never let him meet other dogs whilst on the lead (not that he has ever done anything more than a grumble, when on lead an stood over by a bigger dog).
 
Stupid generalisation. Understand the sentiment but I have two JRTs and have met a significantly lager number of people who can't recall their dogs from my Jacks who will be at my heel than the other way round.
 
I am really fed up with disobedient dogs and their owners!!!

I think to pick on jrt is unfair, I have a jrt x and he is very well trained and very well socialised and generally show little interest in other dogs other than the polite sniff. Yes it winds me up when people can't control theirs dogs. I put hours of training into my dog as a puppy and continue to do so now, has even caused arguments with my friends when their excuse is "i can't help it he's just like that" as his jrt does as it likes.

But i find it with as many other breeds too, my dog has been attacked by what must have been a pig x staffy whilst useless owner waddled across from the other side of the park pointlessly yelling for truffles to come here. He was very young at the time and i had just watched the same dog attack a colly so i picked mine up and the staffy pig was trying to jump up. The staffy pigs owner was mortified that i kicked out at her dog who was jumping at me but was told in no uncertain terms i would do it again if she didn't control her dog. Bwt i like staffies in general.
I also have had problems with a mentally unstable lurcher that my dog normally gets on with fine, a colly dog that has no sense of obedience or self preservation ( causes problems with dog and horses) but i think the best one was a young gsd who came flying across the field and tried to leap on my dog who turned round and growled and chased it for maybe 2 steps and it ran away. The owner was confused as his dog just wanted to play and his favourite game is chasing littledogs. How is that acceptable?

So I'm sorry you have had bad experiences with jrt but surely it should be stupid dog owners that are the problem.

Sorry for the rant but I put a lot of effort into making my jrt x well behaved and he's. Not perfect but almost ;) and I'll continue to work on it
 
My mums JRT is a saint! She won't allow dogs in her space, bed etc but never attacks, normally the filthy look and a grumble and other dog moves! ( though of course it's another story if she requires there bed!)
Sorry about your dogs but please blame the careless owner not the dog!
 
As a JRT owner I think this sweeping generalisation you have made is rather silly... I also have a lurcher, and while I would never say they are perfectly behaved they have never ever attacked another dog, and I would never leave them in a situation where this was at all possible. Your problem is not with JRT's, it is with bad training/bad owners. As you were previously a GSD owner, a breed of dog I know many people unnecessarily cross the road to avoid... I would have thought you wouldn't have these stereotypical attitudes...
 
Ok - so I am royally fed up with stupid, irresponsible dog owners who haven't the interest, skill or will to train their dogs and so have caused my dog trauma, and me to think I was going to lose my second dog this year.So maybe some jrt owners are responsible enough to train and manage their dogs responsibly, as I do and have done for ever. Including my GSDs However the abusive and condescending language used by some posters is unhelpful. If you disagree with something, what does it do when you call a stranger stupid, silly,utterly ridiculous. As far as I'm concerned, I shall not bother to post anything than factual replies if there is any post I can helpfully and positively assist.
When the dog you initially did not want, but have provided with a loving and responsible home for the last eight months is running blindly towards trucks and trains twice in three days, chased by a particular breed each time, you may not be so measured in any post you make about it.
 
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I don't see anything abusive in anyone's reply, and that seems like a little bit of an over reaction... I was offended by the generalisation you made about JRT owners... And made a point of saying so.

I agree with your statement as far as I cannot abide owners who don't understand basic training, or more importantly understand when they need to at least attemp to control their dog. But a breed generalisation isn't something I agree with at all, its like saying all staffi's are dangerous etc etc. it's simply not true. I'd suggest finding a local dog club with some sensible JRT owners (there are plenty of us out there) to socialise your dog to get some positive experience...
 
You cant blame any responsible owner of Jrs reacting to your post, I happen to think because they are popular like Staffies they are the breed of choice for a lot of numpties(not the posters on here).

I think with a lot of small dogs the owners have made absolute fools of them, they probabley wouldnt allow a large dog to act the way they do but assume because they are small they cant do much harm and some even find it funny. We have a few of these in my village little yappers who are always punching above their weight. The owners think its funny that they want to fight my Dobes but my dogs if they reacted would kill them and when I tell the owners they always eat what they kill they beat a hasty retreat. This is why I always walk on our own private farmland because there are too many idiots out there.
 
I hate that small dog owning public assume your big dog is viscous and their little being is an angel when often the small dogs are allowed to get away with a lot more and often are poorly trained! We've had issues with a paddle with a jrt cross chi and its a vile little thing trying to chomp on nanooks face while he just stands there looking confused then had the fall to ask us to put our dog on the lead as he was upsetting hers even though hers ran to us!
 
There's no such thing as a bad dog - just a bad owner !

As the owner of 3 JRT's I could easily be offended by your generalisation of the breed as you're clearly offended by peoples replies by the tone of your second post.

For the record the only dogs that have chased my dogs are Alsations. Guess what - I'm over it............ Maybe your attitude to JRT owners is giving off a bad vibe to your dog.


I'm now off to start a thread about bad GSD / Alsation owners....... Pffft :mad:
 
However the abusive and condescending language used by some posters is unhelpful. If you disagree with something, what does it do when you call a stranger stupid, silly,utterly ridiculous.

Where exactly has anyone called you any of those things? There is a wide difference between saying that the generalisations made in your opening post are untrue/silly etc., and making personal insults.

Not all terriers (and I'd say a very small minority actually) are 'aggressive' and 'yappy', plenty are well socialised, obedient little dugs.
 
Just a lurker on this board, as I no longer have dogs (although I miss them) but it seems to me that it's often a bit like Shetlands and Shires. There seems to be a perception that Shetlands are evil monsters and Shires are gentle giants.

I have observed over the years that it can often be the case that people get Shetlands because they think they're small and cute and they laugh when they're naughty, but those who have Shires know that you have to have a certain level of horsemanship to be able to handle something that big at all safely. But in reality, although they have certain 'traits', they are all just equines.

Guess it can be the same with owners of large and small dogs...
 
Ok so as the owner of a lovely and tiny jrt x will you please not allow your great big dogs bound up Willy nilly to my little un and proceed to let it chase mine jumping on him and causing him to react and defend himself as loudly and snappily as possible so your stupid bounding beast understands the tiny thing is not its squeaky toy to play with!!
My jrt is the sweetest dog around who is now terrified of large dogs due to inconsiderate owners!!
I would NEVER allow my dogs to approach strange dogs without first checking with the owner, a rule which is ignored by 90% of owners of 'friendly' dogs. Well actually its rough and not appropriate to be 'playing' with my little one, making me look like the hysterical owner of a 'precious baby' but actually its the brutish large breeds who are out of control!
rant over haha!
 
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I've got a Rottweiler & a JR x YR.

Big girl is more accepting of other dogs than their owners.
Tiny girl is on her back fawning & waggling over every single dog we see!
I was reluctant about having a 'littley' because people said they were aggressive & yappy/nippy, but she's the kindest little thing I've ever known, never ONCE been nasty..

If I'd read this before we had her I wouldn't have offered her a home.
 
Think we all have had or know of dogs who have had bad doggy experiences with other dogs. My middle Stafford boy hates large black dogs with a passion but as he nearly lost an eye ( and the tear duct is Permanantly damaged) from an attack as a small pup, I can understand. Given time and an understanding owner, he will put up with them..

I have had more bad experiences with JRT's than good ones, but safely say that I fully blame the laziness of their owners. The well behaved ones are where the owners have put time into them...same as you should for any dog.

And actually, OP may well have a point, sort of...that being small, these dogs attract the kind of people who won't make an effort, same as staffords attract a lot of prats who think they make them look tough and again, invest no effort into an intelligent and energetic dog. I " speak" as a die hard Stafford fan...
 
I hd a gordon setter, he was left entire as we eneted him into shows and he did rather well :)

He was very placid UNTIL any small dogs came into his vicinity, he would stick to my leg and I could feel the growls running through him although he didnt do anything overt just guarded and stood.

Now he was never like this until he was set upon by a pack of mixed westie and JRTs, there were two jrts and a westie and they came running up to him (he was leaded due to it not being an open space) and pretty much after a sniff went for him and poor Ben didnt know what the hell to do hed never been attacked, he had the westie hanging off his chops and the two JRTs ging for his underneath and the owner was as useful as a chocolate teapot standing shrieking their names. How helpful!! :mad: The westie went for me to which I kicked it and it fair let go of him rather quickly and then Ben turned on the two JRTs who had drawn blood by this point and I have to say I let him, he got a hold of one and the other took off chased by me. The owner was hysterical as I had kicked her dog but the neighbours had come out by this point and were going nuts as this wasnt the first time these dogs had went for a bigger dog.

I ended up with a dog who was fine until any small dogs were involved and my god was that hell at shows especially when he was in his crate, he looked deranged if anyone passed with one :(

Ive got friends with JRTs who are well behaved but it just goes to show what ignorance of a breed will do when folk buy them coz they are cute :( :mad:
 
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It's just the owners..we have a JRT who isnt massively keen on playing with other dogs ,especially now shes older,so we make sure her recall is fab and if there are too many dogs in the villages main field,go somewhere else ,or keep her on her lead.
Sadly not everyone realises ,a dog is a dog,and they all need to be treated as such,regardless of size or fluffiness;)
 
Took my pure jack Russell for a walk today, was thinking about this thread, my boy is 2years old, a very timid and nervous dog, but friendly when approached appropriatly!!
Walking across the 'local dog walking area' and saw a loose dog running around, a large family were walking it, I put my boy on the lead, because although his recall is great, he will run away from other dogs!
This whippity thing came bounding up, growling at my boy, who was scared out his fur!! I had a shout from across the field, its okay. He's only playing..
Doesn't matter if HE was only playing, my boy was scared to death!!! And didn't want to play! No attempt was made.by them to call the dog back. But they just laughed!!!!
 
He's only playing..
Doesn't matter if HE was only playing, my boy was scared to death!!! And didn't want to play! No attempt was made.by them to call the dog back. But they just laughed!!!!

If approached by an out of control Fido I can usually second guess it's intentions from its body language and general demeanour; if I think it's going to be non-aggressive and 'just' a PITA I shout out 'Ooooo.....my guys got sarcoptic mange.....I hope yours doesn't get it, the vet bills are horrendous'.

Amazing how the owner then redoubles their efforts to retrieve Fido PDQ. :D
 
Doesn't matter if HE was only playing, my boy was scared to death!!! And didn't want to play! No attempt was made.by them to call the dog back. But they just laughed!!!!

Yeah thats really annoying. On many occassion have big bouncy dogs leapt on my JRT,whilst shes on the lead ,and the owner either cba or is unable to call their dog back. Apparently its fine for their dog to leap on top of and squish mine but the moment the JRT growls or whatever ,they're looking at us like we're savages ,walking a wolf.
Unbelieveable ;)
 
I never find small breeds should have an excuse to behave in this way. No matter how big the dog is, all those suddenly bolt out would really makes doggies be sensitive ( reasonable. Imagine there is a rat just cross in front of you. Would you scram?) So please to all dog owners, do walk with your doggies on leash unless you are highly confidence with your doggies obey your commands with no fails.
 
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