I'm writing this today because I'm at my wits' end. My Jack Russell is 6 years old and he's making my life a living hell. This has been going on for about 4 years now.
When he was a puppy, he was really lovely, well-behaved and cuddly... He didn't get into as much mischief as some other Jack Russells I know. We had a very close bond; he was my little ray of sunshine (and he still is!).
Four years ago, I had some health problems that lasted for 3 years. At the start of those issues, my dog's behaviour hadn't changed, so I don't really know if it's linked or not.
It started with a growl one evening when I touched his food bowl; he didn't like it and was quite threatening. I told him off, but that was just the beginning. Bit by bit, it got worse until he started attacking me (very often). He would chase me to bite me, and I'd have to lock myself in a room to "escape" him. I know it sounds ridiculous when you say it like that, but he must have sensed my fear. I've been bitten many times; I have scars on my legs and I even had my finger sliced open, which needed stitches.
I've done everything to try and understand him; I've taken him to several vets and seen a behaviourist, but nothing helped and it's just got worse.
Despite everything, I've always been patient and I've NEVER thought about getting rid of him, even though my family and friends told me he was dangerous and that I needed to (and still need to) let him go, for my own sake but also for his. My relationship is very strained; my partner didn't want the dog anymore after he bit me right in front of him.
Our old neighbours complained about his howling; we got a note when we first moved in and then nothing. I thought it had passed, that it was just a phase at the start. In the end, the residents' association received complaints. So, I made the decision to move rather than leave my dog, because we could have stayed in that building, but only without him. To be honest, I even thought the neighbours were exaggerating because I'd never heard my Jack make noises like that.
So, we moved into a new flat, and my dog seemed more content and, above all, more relaxed. No barking, no complaints. We've been in this flat for 3 months and I finally realised this weekend that he was howling his head off whenever we weren't there. Just to be sure, I'd even closed the windows—we're on the top floor. I could hear him howling even when I was outside the building. I've felt sick about it ever since; I don't dare go out for fear of him disturbing the neighbours. I go to work with a knot in my stomach. We're happy here, the neighbours are very quiet and I'm so scared of bothering them since we're new.
(I'll post the rest in the comments)
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It’s perfectly normal for him to regress if you’ve stopped going over things and working on his commands, even the ones he already knows. Training is never truly "finished"; you need to set aside a few minutes every day for a quick obedience session. Go over everything he already knows and teach him a new command every now and then—even if it’s just a "useless" trick. It’s the same with recall; just because a dog comes back perfectly ten times doesn't mean he definitely will the eleventh. You have to keep reinforcing that obedience by working on it daily.
Never get into a power struggle with him. If he growls, it’s not the end of the world; he’s perfectly entitled to let you know he’s fed up. There are plenty of grumpy dogs out there who are otherwise lovely and well-behaved. You need to let it wash over you, because it's a way for him to have power over you—making you react and winding you up.
I simply think he’s a very high-energy dog who isn’t getting enough stimulation, both physical and mental.
When you’re at home with him, try to organise a game or two at least once a day. Scent games, snuffle mats, puzzle toys, etc.
I know I’m probably not handling this the right way, but he’s really scaring me... The worst part is that apart from this, he’s a total sweetheart. Regarding his food bowl, I’m trying to do what you suggested. Yesterday, for example, I told him to "leave it" and even though it was hard for him, he managed. He growled, but he listened. It’s the same when I tell him to go to his bed; he’ll go, but he "grumbles" (he growls, not out of aggression, but more out of stubbornness). He knows "sit", "down", and "go to your bed", as well as phrases like "time for a wee" and "let’s go for a walk". "Come here" has the opposite effect, though. On the other hand, this summer he didn’t want to drink, and I had to force him by saying "drink your water" and pointing at the bowl, and he’d do it. He still follows commands, but not as well as he used to. When he was a puppy, I’d started teaching him how to walk off-lead. I feel like he’s regressing. Anyway, thanks for your reply.
With the food bowl, you need to keep at it—don’t back down. Only give him permission to eat once he’s no longer obsessed with the food and has calmed down, even if that takes an hour or more; it’s up to you to be patient. He needs to understand that you are the one in control of the food and that he has no power over it. On your end, stay calm and patient no matter what he does. Take the bowl away after about ten minutes, even if he hasn't finished.
Before every walk, wait for him to be calm again. Don’t stroke him when he’s demanding attention; you should be the one making the decisions. It’s the same for playtime, walks, and food—he shouldn't be the one demanding things. So, every time he asks for something, don't give in. Wait until he stops, and only then can you give him what he wants.
Perhaps you could make your outings a bit more stimulating by regularly changing the location and the route. Also, ideally, instead of doing four 40-minute walks, could you do two long 90-minute ones and several short 5 to 10-minute ones throughout the day just for him to do his business?
Whenever you can, like at the weekend or on a day off, take him out to the woods or the fields for a whole afternoon so he can get some fresh air, run to his heart's content, sniff whatever he likes, and roll in the mud if he wants to.
You’ve seen a behaviourist, but did they actually come to your home to observe you?
I didn’t get that impression from reading your post, but maybe I misunderstood.
It’s essential that the behaviourist comes to see your interactions "in the flesh". Without that, it’s a waste of time because they’ll only have your interpretation and won’t see the dog’s actual behaviour.
To have reached this point, you must have made some major blunders, like ignoring the signals the dog was showing you, etc. I’m not saying this to make you feel guilty, but facts are facts.
I also consulted a behaviourist for my dog, but it was a session at a vet practice. She didn't see any of my dog’s real behaviour, so it was completely useless...
I get the feeling that these situations happen much more frequently with small dogs. Do you think there’s a connection?
With a small dog, people tend to act differently—picking them up, moving them around, basically using physical restraint. Whereas when a dog weighs 110 lbs (nearly 8 stone), you don’t pick them up or force them; you have to make sure they cooperate.
I really feel like the way we train small vs large dogs is different, and we end up creating little tyrants!
I might be wrong, of course, but you hear less about big dogs becoming total monsters. Mind you, maybe the owners just aren't around to tell the tale anymore! 😅
My dog weighs over 145 lbs (more than 10 stone), so just imagine if he behaved like yours... Maybe it does happen, but the owners don’t have any hands left to type the messages...
Hi there,
From what I gather, you’ve been regularly attacked by your dog for years and it’s been a complete nightmare.
To me, something just doesn't add up... Either there’s a massive breakdown in communication on your part, or your dog has a genuine health issue. Either way, I find it mind-boggling that you still haven’t seen a professional who can carry out a proper assessment and give you a diagnosis.
Vets who are truly clued-up on canine behaviour are few and far between; you should look for a top-tier behaviourist with a solid reputation and plenty of experience instead. After all these years, you really need someone to tell you exactly what’s going on!
To be honest, nothing you’ve mentioned explains why your dog is savagely attacking you and shitting on your walls...
Well, he’s only developed this behaviour since he was 2, and there weren't any issues before then, so I don't think his past as a puppy has much of an influence (provided the vets have ruled out any diagnosis for a potential mental or psychological condition...).
He needs more stimulation and some gentle redirection—consistency and firmness are key.
Regarding the barking when you’re out... how did you go about training him to be home alone?
There are quite a few issues to sort out here and some clear re-training is needed. Have a look at a few different dog trainers before choosing one who’ll be able to help you.
Now he’s growling out of habit; he thinks he’s going to get told off, so he’s getting in there first. It’ll take a while to get him out of that habit. 30–40 mins for each walk? That’s good. Maybe try taking him for a run? Or running alongside a bike? Jacks are like little power stations on legs—without their exercise fix, they’ll explode. As they say, a tired dog is a happy dog! ^^
He still follows commands, but not as much as he used to. When he was a pup, I’d started teaching him to walk off-lead. I feel like he’s regressing. Anyway, thanks for your reply.
Right then, you need to go back to basics, just as if you had a brand-new puppy.
Get your ski suit ready when you feed him.
If he growls when you approach the bowl while he's eating:
– You can approach him with some high-value treats and add them in.
– If he growls, stop what you're doing and try again once he stops, and so on, to build a positive association with you approaching his bowl. :)
Oh yes, definitely go for it with the water sessions – it's brilliant. My White Swiss Shepherd really thrived in that environment; being around other dogs and experts can only be a good thing :)
That really reassures me that he might enjoy it then. I’ll look into it properly and then why not give it a go? :)
Oh yes, swimming would be brilliant! Especially if you throw a ball in the water to get him going ^^ Did the behaviourist give you any advice for when you're out?
That would be amazing! Though he’d actually have to go and fetch the ball first 😝 He’s such a nutcase that even on dry land he just zooms right past it and ends up picking up something else entirely ^^
No, the behaviourist didn't say anything about that. I can deal with the house training—it's annoying, but at least it’s in my own home and doesn't bother the neighbours—but the howling is another story... Since I’ve already moved house once just so I could keep him, I really want to get this problem sorted.
Now he’s just growling out of habit; he expects to get told off, so he’s getting his retaliation in first. It’ll take a while to break that habit. 30 to 40 minutes per walk? That’s good. How about jogging? Or running alongside a bike? Jack Russells are absolute dynamos—if they don't get enough exercise, they’re like ticking time bombs. As they say, a tired dog is a happy dog! ^^
I didn't mention it, but he has issues with his kneecaps. He’s not in pain, but he struggles to run fast. So unfortunately, I can’t take him out with the bike :( though I’d have loved to. I have seen that there are doggy swimming sessions (I’m not sure what the proper term is ^^—hydrotherapy, maybe?) near me. That might be quite good, both for his knees and for him in general. Just a matter of whether he’d enjoy it or not.
Evening, Analine. I think your dog has started making his own rules because you back away when he tries to bite you. You really shouldn't do that anymore. If necessary, wear some protective gear when you're feeding him. Take the bowl, ask him to sit (by the way, does he know his basic commands?). If he sits, put the bowl down. If he goes for it without permission, pick the bowl back up—keep it out of reach, hold it up high if you have to. Keep doing this until he understands he has to wait for your "go". I think some refresher training is needed here, every single day, to get your Jack back on track. What commands does he know? Does he still follow them?
Evening.
I know my reaction isn't the right way to handle it at all, but he really does frighten me... The worst part is that, aside from this, he’s a real sweetheart.
Regarding the food bowl, that’s what I’m trying to do. For example, yesterday I told him to leave it, and even though it was hard for him, he managed it. He growled, but he listened. It’s the same when I tell him to go to his bed; he’ll go, but he "grumbles" the whole way (he's growling, but it's not out of malice, more like he’s just being a bit of a grouch).
He knows "sit", "down", "go to your bed", as well as phrases like "go for a wee" or "go for a walk". "Come here" has the opposite effect, though! Mind you, this summer he didn't want to drink, and I was making him by saying "drink up" while pointing at his water bowl, and he actually did it.
He still follows commands, but not as well as he used to. When he was a puppy, I’d started teaching him to walk off-lead. I feel like he’s regressing.
Anyway, thanks for your reply.
