unpredictable Jack Russell

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katia

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Hiya, just looking for tips/advise/reassurance really. My 3yr old Jack russell Charlie is a rescue dog whom we have had for just under 12 mnths. He is generally a very loveable well behaved dog, however on walks I am never quite sure as to how he is going to react to other dogs.
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Whilst he has never done anything too nughty or nasty I just don't trust him 100%! For e.g, I took him as usuall for a walk down to school to pick up my daughter, we met a black lab' whom he totally ingnored, 2 collies who he pulled towards but only for a sec or two, we walked half way home with my daughters friend, her mum and their Jack Russell who he was fine with and even had a run off the lead with accross the fields...then whenhe was back on the lead being led by my daughter there was another jack russell, Charlie stalked it like a cat...my daughter was on another planet as I told her to shorten the lead and to make it worse the woman picked up her dog cue Charlie jumping up and nipping at the poor things bum!
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She apologised to me??? followedby me apologising to her!!

Anyway, sorry to ramblebut I am going out with my friend and her 3 dogs tomorrow...Charlie is fine with them but after todays events I feel like I would beirresponsible to let him off his lead which would be a shame 'cus they usually has a grat time together.
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Sooo, any tips, should I try and socialise him more? He only gets contact with other dogs once a month or so? Training classes? I have even thought muzzle but is that a bit OTT and extreme?? What would you do?

Thanks for listening,
Kat.xx
 
You can try socialising him more but in all honesty at his age I think you'll struggle to change him. I have 3 JRTs and my oldest isn't reliable, she's 7 now and will never change - it's the way she is. She is now exercised in a muzzle unless she's at the stables with me.
 
Thanks for te reply echodomino. Can you recommend a muzzle? I guess I would feel be more relaxed letting him off with one on. It just seemed a little drastic as he is such a loveable chap and I suppose when I thought of muzzles I thought of big vicious dogs!

Thanks again.xx
 
I prefer the plastic "basket" muzzles but unfortunately Millie got it off in seconds however tight we made the strap. I use a Miki fabric muzzle, she can pant, drink and still eat cow sh!t - so she's happy LOL
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Okey cokey, thanks!

I have taken him out today with my friends 3 and he was brill on and off the lead! He met a number of dogs and was an angel! I think it might help to socialise him more but in the mean time for when we are out alone I shall get him one and see how he goes!

Thanks for your replies.xx

Kate.
 
My JRT can be a bit funny with some dogs when he is on a lead, but is perfect when off. So just be more vigilant when he is on a lead especially.
 
Thanks Christmassparkle, my friend only commented today that she thought he was much better off the lead! and yeahi will be!:)
 
Agree with PBS, be vigilant and be firm with him, tell him what for and check him when he appears to be aggressive with certain dogs, re the lifting up and nipping...it's actually pretty common for dog to jump up and sometimes have a nip when a dog is swiftly collected up into someones arms....have some one on one time with him and reward his good behaviour, a good half check will help to give him a swift check and a NO! when he does attempt to go for a dog esp when on his lead.
 
Hello,
Dogs will only display unpredictable behaviour or behaviour charactarised to their breed if they do not know who is their leader. The leader of a pack is the only one to display this behaviour to a unknown dog, therefore you dog probaly thinks he is the leader and you and your family is his pack, so he is defending them. You need to make sure he knows you are the leader and not him. If he shows signs off unease or aggression pin him down like his mother would do to the ground by his scruff this will tell him you are in control and he must submit to you.
 
Hi folks so sorry to hear about some of the other posters unreliable JRT's ...my three bitches aged 12 yrs , 4 yrs and 14mths grandmother mother and daughter all are bombproof with everything and everyone ...but then they have to be as they are working farm dogs used to livestock of all sorts. We have a litter of 7 pups here ... a bitch of which will be retained to keep the line going as Tot the gran is not as agile as she used to be bless her ,although still as game as anything she WILL not be left out of anything you just try and leave her at home
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So hopefully the new pup will fall in line with all our mob Max and Jess two working sheepdogs and Flash our Lurcher bitch...with me as Top dog
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...will keep you all posted.
And good luck showing your dogs whose pack leader as the other poster said it really is the only way - Kind but Firm!!
 
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