Jack Russell Obedience
Jack Russell’s were bred to hunt and as such are incredibly active, very vocal and prone to digging and chasing, and this can all occasionally lead to aggression. This means that Jack Russell obedience won’t be an instant feature, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be achieved.
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Obedience Issues You Might Contend With
Consider some of the common Jack Russell obedience issues that many owners have to contend with. Behavior problems often associated with this breed include:
Aggression Directed At Other Dogs
Jacks have a bit of a temper which can quickly escalate into aggression when they encounter other dogs that may pose a threat.
Snappy And Prone To Leaping
Jacks can get over-stimulated, causing them to leap up on you and sometimes even snap at you, trying to get you to play
Give Chase Quickly
Again, it’s hunting instincts makes the Jack Russell prone to hunt anything smaller than it, especially cats
This is a partial list, detailing only some of the common obedience issues your dog might have. However, even though these traits are part of the Jack Russell’s genetics, all of these problems can be solved through proper obedience training.
Training Makes All The Difference
Jack Russells are feisty by nature, so to have a dog that’s perfectly manageable and obedient, training is essential. You should ideally start early to get them used to the idea – Jack Russells, like most dogs, are creatures of habit and they learn through positive association and consistency. Jacks are amazingly receptive and can learn very quickly, but also suffer from short attention spans. The best training sessions only last for short pockets of time, but occur every day.
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Be The Leader Of The Pack
As pack animals, Jacks will seek out someone to be their leader or otherwise assume the role themselves. That needs to be you. In order for your training to be successful, your dog must first recognize you as a leader who must be obeyed. Establish your dominance by living on your terms, deciding what the dog can and cannot do, and controlling when meals and similar events are to take place, so that your dog knows who has the power.
Expose Them To Others
Early socialization is one of the most important steps in this training. Problems like aggression are easily solved if your dog is accustomed to being around others from an early age and knows they are not threatening him. Take your pet to puppy obedience classes to socialize and train your pet simultaneously: combine this with further training at home and results will begin to show.
Points To Remember
Learning is a process for all creatures, so don’t expect instant results. Training requires time, hard work, patience and endless love for your pet, showering him with praise each time he succeeds. And even with training, there are some parts of his personality that can still surface, such as aggression, but training will help tame it.
So, Jack Russell obedience may not instantly be apparent with your new dog, but it’s nothing that a bit of training won’t fix. They’re very intelligent creatures and will soon grasp the concept of obedience, and if you’re prepared to spend the time you’ll be left with a dog that’s social, friendly and obedient, and you need never worry about his temperament again.
I really hope you enjoyed this article. We also have lots of other great Jack Russell tips and solution advice to many other known problematic areas of Jack Russells: Best Tips And Advice On The Jack Russell Terrier.
