At my wits end with my JRT (long, sorry!)

[cherrybombxo]

I have a 13mo JRT and I'm beginning to hate being around him, as horrible as that sounds. I do everything I can for him and he's trained in that he knows 'sit', 'stay', 'paw', 'leave it', etc. I know that he knows commands and he certainly understands 'no!' but it makes him angry and more hell bent on whatever he wants. He was socialised from a young age and we really tried to do everything by the book.

His latest thing is his toys. For the past few months, from the second he wakes up in the morning until he goes to sleep at night he wants to play. If I'm not at work, I'm with him and he brings me toys, drops them in front of me and growls until I throw it for him. When I say he can growl and bark at me for twenty minutes without giving up, I swear I'm not joking or exaggerating. It's constant. All day, every day. I'm exhausted and actually can't stand having him in the room with us because he doesn't let up.

I tried hiding all of his toys when he's in the living room and he becomes aggressive, ragging on the bottom of my trousers every time I stand up or chewing on my hand, snarling. He turns from angelic to hellbeast in an instant but nothing seems to cause it. He was neutered at 7mths because his testicle was wandering around in his belly and the vet said that it could twist, but even the operation hasn't calmed him down.

I've looked at training groups but there are none nearby (I don't drive) and one-on-one training is really expensive. I don't know what else to try but something has to give.

He sounds like he's probably bored and also needs to learn to entertain himself. I understand your frustration, there's nothing worse than a manic, naggy dog. First off, how much exercise does he get and how much of that is off-lead?

I would start doing lots of very short clicker training sessions with him to wear him out mentally. Have a look at Kikopup on YouTube to find some fun tricks you can teach him and hopefully the training of those will help you re-find the fun in owning such a lively, clever little dog.

That said, he does need to learn to self-soothe and entertain himself. You can help him do this by doing things like teaching him to properly 'search' for his toys, starting with one in an obvious place and working up to hiding more in more difficult places all around the house and garden.

You could also try getting some treat dispensing balls and puzzles for him to work on Google Nina Ottosson dog toys and also look at things like Green Feeders, Treat Balls and Kongs.

Google or look at the Dog Games website and look up Sprinkles too, as that can have an incredibly calming effect on hyper dogs.

Re the ragging trousers and chewing your hand - both of those are just bad manners and he needs to learn some self-control. Teaching him basic good manners and self-control, such as sitting and waiting for his dinner or to go through the door can help him develop self-control skills, as can working on 'wait' and 'stay', building up to him waiting/staying while you throw a toy for him to retrieve once you've released him.

JRT's have lively, quick little brains and tonnes of energy and it sounds like he needs to find an outlet for all his physical and mental energy.

I figured it was boredom but NOTHING seems to distract him. His normal walk shedule is a quick outing for the toilet before I go to work in the morning, a longer walk mid-afternoon when DP gets home and another in the evening. He also spends Saturday night and most of Sunday with PIL, and FIL walks him for hours on a Sunday afternoon. It's ridiculous though, the second he gets back in the house after a walk he goes for his toys to play fetch. It doesn't matter if it's a ten minute or a ninety minute walk, he still wants to play! It's absolutely draining. I'll admit though, we could be more consistent with his walks and they could be longer.

He can only get off the lead in one certain area, he has rubbish recall and when I've tried to let him off in the big park he runs away. I know it takes work and training but I get really nervous as he has run into the road before chasing a child who was running with a football. DP had to run after him and stop an oncoming car.

Don't get me wrong, he's a lovely little thing when he wants to be and can be really affectionate and cuddly but he's like Jekyll and Hyde. I'll look into the things you suggested, thank you for replying!

I think he needs a longer walk in the morning. either before work, or could you get a dog walker in?
Is he ok off lead - I do not have a terrier type, but have noticed with my dog that an hour off lead, sniffing running backwards and forwards satisfies him in a way that an hour off lead never will.

Yes be more consistent with walks, but maybe try toys that keep him interested like kongs that you can put treats in. JRT are very intelligent but can be frustrated little dogs that need stimulation, how many hours is he left alone as that maybe an issue. Unfortunately castration doesn't always calm them down.

He's alone at most 5 hours but we always leave his kong and other toys/games. I'll get up early on Monday and take him out for longer to see if that helps. I'm willing to try absolutely anything, all advice very welcome!

mrslaughan I mentioned up thread about his off-lead behaviour. I'm nervous about it and we don't have an enclosed garden but he do love being off it and running around at the back of the flats. I'd love for him to be able to run around the park but he tends to run right out of sight.

Get yourself a long-line and give him more freedom to run, sniff and do what loopy terriers want to do on walks. Lead walks aren't going to help at all, neither are walks with only a little off-lead time.

5 hours is a long time for a dog, especially a busy, young terrier to be left alone. I would also advise getting someone to come in and see him, preferably taking him for a walk halfway through his alone time.

5 hours is not too long. For off lead walks - keep going with the training as it really is very benefical, try using a very long lead with lots of recall for no reason (while on lead) gently hold his collar and give a treat (cut up hot dogs or pieces of chicken work well) then send off again, he will soon learn that when you call him back it is not the end of the walk. Will he fetch a ball while out as that will wear him out. If you feel you need more help you could try a behavourist (your vet could recommend one or may have one in-house) who may be able to give you some ideas. Keep going though, they can be adorable pets and very loyal (as I sit next to my JRT X patterdale terrier with her head on my lap )

He has a 5m lead as the vet said not to get anything longer as they can malfunction or get wrapped around things...? I can't remember exactly but she definitely said not to get longer. I'll try more off-lead time because I'd love for him to get the exercise that he wants and needs, and it sounds like he'd be happier from what everyone is saying. Thanks so much for the replies.

You need a longline not an extender lead ,but it must only be attached to a harness - not a collar . If he likes a particular ball or toy keep it for walks only and use it to help with his recall . My terrier loves balls ,he is not allowed them at home which makes them extra special / valuable when we are out .

Vets, generally, aren't qualified dog trainers or behaviourists (although there are exceptions).

They may have meant don't get a really long retractable lead, as they are dangerous, can malfunction, injure the dog's neck and cut like cheesewire when they get caught around things.

Instead use a decent longline, but only ever attach it to a harness - never a collar. I have 5, 10 and 15m longlines to use in different places at different times and buy them here as they're cheap, but very well made and soft to the touch and you can get them in lots of colours to match my sighthound collar obsession.

Great example of using a longline effectively on Sadie Brunkskill's YouTube Channel .

You don't need to constantly keep hold of the longline once you've built up a decentish recall. You can just drop the line, stay near it and if he looks like he's going to do-one, stamp on the end to stop him being able to disappear off.

If you want to work on recall seriously, I would recommend investing in an Acme whistle off Ebay or somewhere and getting hold of a copy of Total Recall.

Cross posted with Floralnomad. My eldest dog also has a tennis ball that he's not allowed at home. He can't take his eyes off it out and about - fantastic when I need to get him back quickly or distract him.

Sorry, I didn't realise they were different. How does the longline lead work then? He only has a harness so that wouldn't be a problem.

I'll take on board the point about having special toys for his walks, I can see how that would be useful. Unfortunately our local park is HUGE with loads of clumps of trees and bushes that he tries to hide in so I've been very nervous about letting him run riot there. We don't have anywhere enclosed but I want to train him off the lead.

Oops, cross post. Thank you, I'll check that out!

is it retractable or a long line? I am not sure how fast he is, but with a long one, you can leave it trailing.....makes them easier to catch.........attached to a harness?

Its funny we meet a lady on our walk today with a Jack Russell, we were in a big open field...ours was on lead as he will run off to meet other dogs, but once we get into the woods he stays close - he likes to be able to see us. Whereas hers has better recall in open spaces, but she looses him in the woods.

I realise you are limited because you don't drive, but maybe try walking him in diff environments, and you may find some areas his recall is better and he is more trustworthy?

It's retractable but I'm going to order a longline right now. I'm serious about getting him trained more, I need to for both our sanity!

I try to take him to different parks but there's not a great amount of variety here. I'm looking forward to getting him out with the new lead, I love his happy little face when he's running around outside!

sorry cross post here too

Long line is like a lunge line you use for horses......if you look on ebay - search long line (webbing).

I have friends with a Labradoodle and they use 5 x5m joined together, so 25m..trainling behind him in any open field.

Also for his recall - would a fav squeaky toy get him to come back.

Jacks are very lively sociable lite dogs. It seems as if he has lots of energy and is escalating his behaviour to get you to interact with him. You've had some great advice already but I'd add that you need to add in consistent boundaries. Ignore the undesirable behaviour. This can actually be very difficult. Even eye contact is rewarding so if you look at him when he's barking/growling/nipping he's getting a positive response. What you need to do us stand or sit still and don't even look at him. Keep you arms and legs still and donor engage. This teaches him that the undesirable behaviours do not work. Shouting at him, distracting him and even pushing him away are all preferable to him, than no attention. Have regular interactions on your terms. These could be short training session or sessions of fetch but should be instigated by you. Use a specific fetch toy or ball and put it away at the end of the session. Regular clicker training will keep him mentally occupied and exercise off lead or on long line is good to keep him mentally stimulated with sniffs and social interactions.
Also I think you mentioned he's 11 months. Many dogs hit a behavioural regression phase around this time - they're teenagers and pushing boundaries. Be consistent and keep him occupied, it will pay off.

Agree with all this, esp the ignoring. Stand up, arms crossed , and ignore. It will take a little time but he will get it.

If what he is doing is naughty, disobedient and dangerous, a short deep baah said to him, within about 20 seconds, will be what his mother would have done.

But ours needed at least a full hour a day of proper exercise, like most boys. Recall is now good. On the whole. We keep him in the lead around streets, however, because it us fox territory and we don't trust his instincts.

Just out of interest - what are you feeding him?

He gets a complete food recommended by the vet because the she said that his abundance of energy could have been caused by too much protein, as we were feeding him wet food previously. He has a very dodgy stomach so finding food is trial and error with him!