4 mth ol AGGRESSIVE JRT

Question
Hello,

I have 2 dogs myself and live at home with my parents where there is a 3rd dog. We have 2 miniature daschunds and 1 Jack Russell Terrier who is just about 4 months old. My JRT has a BAD behavior problem, and so does my daschund. My daschund (Precious) has a problem with barking constantly at anything and everything. Once she starts barking then she won't stop. Her other problem is when people come up to her to pet her she lunges at them to bite. She almost bit a little girl one time and I am scared she will have to be put if I don't do something QUICK!
My JRT (Miko) is like Precious on one hand but not as bad. He will bark at other dogs and does show lots of aggression towards other dogs except his sisters. However when it comes to strangers he is normally very tame. However, he gets very vicious with my boyfriend and I. If you play with him or even just pick him up when you come home he goes from licking you to biting you in the snap of a finger.
Please help me I do not want to loose my babies!

Answer
Hi Fawna,

Your Dachshund is a dominate dog, which is why she pretty much does as she pleases, attacks people and doesn't stop barking. This dog does not really see you as her true leader. I'm sure the dog loves you, she does not respect you.
Although your Jack Russel isn't as bad, that's because he's the more submissive of the two, but it doesn't sound as though you have much control of him either.

If reading about how to fix these problems was the answer, you no doubt would have solved this by now. The aggression problem is only going to get worse as your dogs get older, if you don't take real steps to gain control.

So the solution to your dogs aggression problem starts with changing this pack leader issue. Obedience training is the first step. The process of normal obedience training is sometimes (not always) enough to establish rank and leadership within the family pack.
You need to contact a dog trainer/behaviorist who can evaluate your dogs behavior, and also see how you deal with them. The behaviorist will show you what you're doing wrong, and how to fix it. Ask your veterinarian for a referral, or use your yellow pages. Aggressive dogs can be retrained under the right circumstances.

If either of your dogs can't be trusted around children or strangers, they should not be off the leash, and they should wear a muzzle. A basket style muzzle is very humane muzzle style.

You can read more about how to deal with an aggressive dog here:

http://www.sniksnak.com/doghealth/aggression.html

Best of luck,

Patti