Yappy Jack Russell

[Eloisedublin123]

Hi guys
My first ever small dog is 11 months old. She’s a Jack Russell terrier cross. My god she barks at everything and anything. She’s well walked and loved. Help?!

That's what Jack Russell's do. They are unkindly called yap rats for this reason!
Barking is inherent to thier breed.

Ooops, posted too soon.

Try googling for Jack Russell groups that may be able to offer some kind of help. There may be a JR owners group in your area. Try FB maybe??

But you can reduce barking, I think. Could you teach a "quiet" command by calling her, holding a treat out when she is barking so that she focuses on that and stops barking for a moment. Then you say "quiet" (while she is quiet) and give the reward.

Something that doesn't work is shouting at a barking dog while the barking is going on. I think it just feels to the dog like you are joining in with the barking.

Ignoring the barking and rewarding the silence is the way forward.

Oh, another thing. Is the barking sometimes just a sign of general over-excitement, or is it always aimed at something (postman, car, whatever)?

If she barks from general over-excitement I'd suggest that you all become as boring as possible as soon as she barks. Turn away from her, get on with other stuff, be really low-key and totally ignore her until she is quiet. Then go back to being fun.

Fellow JRT x owner here. Barking is what they do - part of the make up of the breed. You'll never stop it completely.

However, what can reduce it is to work out WHY the dog is barking and then remove the trigger or stop the dog from seeing it. For instance - if the dog is barking at passers-by, shutting the curtains or putting up frosted window film will reduce it.

I had a JR for 15 years. Every single day there would be at least one episode of naughtiness. She liked nothing more that a twilight bark in the garden at nothing. We all cried buckets when she died.

Thanks so much that is v helpful!! I will come back later just got into work late :)

It is possible to train dogs to bark less (yes, I have a JRT, and yes he is trained to bark less) but it is hard work.

First decide on the situations/times when you are OK with the dog barking, e.g. someone knocks on the door. Even in these situations you can train a 'well done for barking, but this is enough now' command, using distraction, established behaviours (like sit) and treats.

Then intervene and stop the barking every other time it happens even if it's the middle of the night. This is the tough bit, you have to be very consistent. Use distraction, established behaviours that are incompatible with barking and treats. Over time associate this with a command. Eventually this command will stop the barking even before it happens, but it does take months to train this.

As she's 11mo now you can increase her walks and activity level which should help with overall excitement and energy levels.

I'm sorry to say I've never met a quiet Jack Russell!

Thanks for all the help! Don’t mind a little yapping but this has been getting out of hand! Her triggers are everything outside the house. She barks from her vantage point on top of the sofa at birds/ kids/ dogs, then races into the back garden and barks at the neighbours opening windows, bees, birds, other dogs barking locally 😅
She’s v well walked. Maybe too much. She’s v well behaved and social. It’s just the barking! Im going to start saying the quiet thing every time she barks and rewarding her when she stops. I will use her actual dry food as rewards as otherwise she will be a little piggy by the end of this! She’s the smartest dog I’ve ever had so she will learn fast. Thanks guys. Picture coming!

A sailor dog 😂

Mine can be like this. Not JRT but terrier X. I do have to follow him around saying no pointing my finger at him
I keep the curtains and blinds closed on the busier side of the house so that he can’t see every single bird that visits

She’s very cute!

Yes when you work with food rewards you need to reduce their actual food ration accordingly. There is no harm in her getting one whole ration in stages as she gets rewarded during the day. Are you using a clicker with her?

I've just watched my JRT leap out from under the duvet and bark at something he has HEARD! Might be worth bearing in mind before one goes covering up windows and doors. They do have excellent hearing. Having said that OP dog does sound like he is watching and it could be mine doesn't bark THAT MUCH because he can't see out (due to design on place not deliberate screening). Good luck, they are a very barky breed!

No! is a word you will need to use often with a JRT. Spoken in a strong no nonsense tone. They are wilful stubborn monkeys and will bark for every reason and none. Our's barks in hope of making the postman deliver mail. They need to understand that no means no!

She is cute! This is Milo

The barking is worse in the warm weather with all the windows open.

Another JRT owner here. They are yappy, it's what they do I'm afraid.

Ah that’s ok. If I can reduce the crazy barking to normal barking I’ll be fine;) we love her and she’s v v clever! Thank you again for the tips 😉

Me too. Mine can’t see out as we moved all the furniture but he barks at every single noise and is in a permanent state of excitement, waiting for something to bark at.
I try to say Quiet then Good Boy then reward every time but it’s often not possible (in shower, on loo, on phone, cooking etc etc) Hot weather with open windows is a nightmare.
Don’t ignore it. Every problem barker driving neighbours insane is being ignored. They just bark more.