I don't want the dog anymore

[B52s]

Sigh. Have been in tears this morning.

Does it get better? 9 month old Jack Russell Terrier. He poos in the house (occasionally), eats the kids food off the table, barks when he goes outside, barks in the night, DS1 (4) is scared of him, he eats toys, I put him on a lead when visitors come over as he jumps up and licks and knocks other people's children over. I can't go away with the kids as I'm not taking him with me and I can't leave him at home.

I don't love him or even like him. DH and DS2 (1.9) think he's great though. I told DH this morning I want to get rid of him, DH said he won't stop me. He has called a behaviour specialist though.

I don't want to fail this dog but something needs to be done. Any ideas?

Have you been training him up until now. All of these behaviours should be able to be modified with good training. You just need to spend the time on it.

A dog won't magically behave as you want them too, you need to put a lot of hard work in initially to end up with a problem free, pleasant to be around dog.

All of the problems you mention can be solved with training. I would attend a trainig class as well as getting a behaviourist out as training needs to be ongoing. The behaviourist may run classes or they may suggest a good one. Make sure the behaviourist is a good one, anyone who mentions pack theory or dominance or being pack leader is not a good one.

Jack russels can be noisy, but surely you knew this when you got him?

Yes, I know, I know.

We knew about JRTs before we got him.
I took him to training when he was 3 months and we carried it on, sitting, heeling, leaving, coming, etc etc etc. Now I just find myself yelling 'no! at him all the time and I don't like myself for it.

I know half the problem is not the dog, it's me, but I feel so spread at the moment between work, DS1 and DS2 and can't think straight. He is being a teenager and is very cheeky at times but some days it all gets on top of me.

I used to cry every day when my Springer was a puppy, but I would never have thought of getting rid of him.

He is not being a teenager, he is still very young, you have the teenage years to come. (sorry). I am sure with proper training he will improve. But if you really do not love him then maybe a new home where he would be loved would be much better for him.

Thankyou. Am feeling better. Will get him trained to within an inch of his life. Maybe the soft spot I occasionally have for him will blossom.

JRT's are really a breed for experienced owners but to give you hope..

We have a rescue JRT he's 8 now and hes wonderful really is my baby he has NO intrest in children whatsoever he will greet them and be around them but hes just not bothered by them. He won't come into the room when we eat and yes he does jump up at people and try to lick them to death but stops when hes told to go to his cushion. Hes done his buisness in the house a couple of times but only when we've really overslept and hes been desperate then hes done it on the kitchen floor where it can be cleaned easily.

As I type this hes sound asleep on my bed under the duvet while my DD is sat on the floor with her Zhu Zhu pet he even ignores that. Hes very very loving and incredibly well behaved. Hes defintly my dog as he prefers women to men and will follow me anywhere I go.

Please don't give up your dog. JRTs are really clever and loving little dogs it will get better with some training as for one thing he won't be bored. They're very active as they are hunting dogs they're also very clever. Keep him on, train him well and you'll get back a million of what you put in and a very loyal dog too.

People often don't realise, but training is something that has to be kept up for the whole of the dog's life. OK, not as rigorously as in the first months, but think of it this way - how much algebra do you remember from school, unless you happen to use it in your daily life?

If you're willing to commit to sorting his issues (and they ARE all sortable) then you'll find he will improve. If not, then unfortunately it might be best to think about rehoming. I'm certainly not advocating rehoming willy-nilly - but if the alternative is keeping him and hating every minute until he dies, then rehoming is the lesser of two evils.

Only you know how much effort you're willing and able to realistically commit to.

Thanks BAG! - just looked at the DogsBlog. I do despair of people - the collie left in the house for 3 months as the owners had split up and both left the home. And Variena - what a sweetie.

Damn - Looked at the Springers Those Dogue are lovely. Never knew what they were called before. Interesting that a few of the springers have problems with dominance over other dogs. Mine has spells of being like that, and people often say "Oh, I've never met an aggressive springer before!" as though it is my fault (which obviously it is, but you know what I mean). Presume that is why people have got rid of them.

So many dogs in need of a loving home.

I had a lovely JRT also. She was a pain in the arse as a puppy, but grew into a lovely little dog.

She did need a lot of exercise though. Luckily (or not depending upon what you want a dog for) mine was slightly dim as far as JRTs go, so she did not need mental tasks to do a lot. A few short training sessions throughout the day kept her mind busy enough.

My JRT was so bad we had to do one to one training with a police dog handler - I was at my wits end with her (still loved her to bits though). She was good in the house but a nightmare on walks - chasing joggers, cyclists and barking at everything.
She is now so much better (she'll be 3 in May). She will do mostly as I tell her now - she now knows who's boss but sometimes she just can't help being a JRT .

We excercise her a lot! Ball playing is great for JRT's.

I think you just need one to one training, time and lots of excercise - good luck!

Can anyone say how terriers calm down with age? Ours has had thousands of pounds worth of training, and will be three in a few months. Please tell me age is a slowing down factor. Obv we will carry on with training.

We have a JRT cross the same age as yours, and though I've had dogs all my life, she's been the hardest work of any dog I've had, without a doubt. We go to training classes weekly - and we really need it. I say we deliberately because the minute we slip as a family and stop using all the training we've been taught (constant rewarding, treats, encouragement, reinforcing) her behaviour slips again. Also, we go as a whole family whenever possible because she will spot inconsistencies a mile off!

She needs lots of stimulation. When we walk her, we try to take her to as many different places as possible. We find that if we do the same old route, she gets bored more easily. A change of scene tires her out much better and gives her something to think about. I will also take her out in the car as often as I can - if I am just going to the station to pick up DD, for instance, or if I am popping to a shop and there is a family member who can be bribed to stay in the car with her. I find this tires her out quite nicely even though it isn't excercise as it gives her something extra to think about.

My eldest DD has taught her lots of tricks for fun, which she loves. The trainer said in a rather onimous tone, "she's a smart one!" (I'm sounding a bit PFB here!) and we have to put that brain to use. Otherwise our JRTx will put her brain to use herself - and we're never so keen on the uses she thinks up!

I think she will always be harder work than our older dog and I have, and do still, have days when I feel quite ready to be taken away to somewhere white and restful! However, she's such a character, and so lovely that I think I am also closer to her than any dog I've ever had.

Keep at it! Even the calmest breeds are still very much puppies at this age, and whilst he may never be the calmest dog on the planet, he will definitely improve with age and training, and I'm sure the rewards will be worth it.

I think there are few people with dogs who haven't had moments of despair! If you can put the time in though, you will have a wonderful companion. But as others have said, you need to be honest with yourself about the about of time you can realistically put in. Terriers are intelligent working dogs and need stimulation. You might enjoy - a terrier (clicker-trained I would think) working in the home and having a great time.

Please dont do what my neighbours do with they JRT. they are out at work all day from 7-7 and there daughter is at college from 8-5.

They take the dog out for 5 mins first thing in the morning thne leave it locked indoors all day. We live on a main road and it just spends all day standing in the window barking at passing traffic.

Then they moan when the dog wee's inside or destroys stuff. Its just not fair on the dog or the neighbours having to put up with it all day long.

Update - we have more than doubled his walks and spend 10 minutes intensively training him every night. He is a different dog and I can see light at the end of it all. He still destroys things on a daily basis but will listen to our commands more. I had a very black day with him when he ate through the TV lead and caused a powercut, but now he has vastly improved. All in about a month. Toilet training is coming on again too and we're all more happy and relaxed.

Great news!!

Oh well done! It's so good to hear that things are improving for you all.

That's such a sod op, I'm glad things have turned for you all

All you the dog needed was a little training

lol at glad things have turned for you, that's not what I wanted to write. I'm glad things have turned out well for you!

Thankyou all. Training (still seeing a personal trainer) and exercise was apparently all he needed.
He's still a little sod though