Does Your Jack Russell Terrier Bite?

 

How Should I Deal With Jack Russell Biting Issues?

Jack Russell biting dates back to their ancestral hunting days. It was specifically bred to chase (and catch) anything that ran away from it, making biting an innate part of his nature. It can also be a sign of aggression and dominance - if your dog thinks that he's the leader of the pack he'll assert his dominance when he feels that his position is being threatened, sometimes resulting in biting.

Common Biting Problems

Keep in mind that not all Jack Russell biting is an act of aggression. After all, being snappy is in his nature, and here are a few types of biting behaviour that you might come across:

Biting For Attention?

Puppies typically use their mouths to initiate play and gain your notice. They'll mouth at your hand much like they'd pull the tails and ears of their parents and siblings, and they often get over-excited when playing and forget that you're not one of them.

Biting As Part Of A Chase

Jack Russells are hard-wired to chase, and when they've caught their prey they inevitably bite it. This is pure instinct, but obviously if they're chasing people then they need to know that biting isn't acceptable.

Aggressive Biting

Clearly biting can also be an act of aggression. This is certainly the must unusual cause of biting, but obviously demands immediate attention.

How To Stop Your Jack Russell Biting

The amount of effort it will require to correct your dog's biting issues will vary depend on how serious his problem tends to be. The earlier you begin this training, the more likely you are to rectify these issues. Fortunatelly, there are steps you can take.

The first thing will be to stop any over-zealous playing. Don't allow any kind of games that will stir up his aggression or need to dominate, such as wrestling games or games where he can bite and tug excessively. Put your dog on timeout whenever he becomes over-zealous with his play and quickly he'll learn that he has to play nicely in order to keep playing.

You will want to make sure that your Jack doesn't endeavour to use his mouth and teeth as a communication method. If he tries to mouth you, pull away your hand, offer a firm 'no', and put your hand over his snout if he doesn't get the message. Likewise, heap lots of love and praise on him when he doesn't nip, and even more when he begins to chew on his chewing toys.

The biting tendencies associated with chasing are a bit harder to deal with. Putting up a fence will not only prevent your dog from chasing pedestrians, but also obstruct your dog's vision, which will further reduce temptation.

And what about biting in order to dominate? The best thing to do is demonstrate your own dominance before your dog can. If he's on furniture, remove him; if he wants attention, only give it when he's done something praiseworthy. If such solutions fail to work, seek professional assistance before his condition worsens.

While biting is a natural instinct of the Jack Russell, early training can solve this common problem. Begin the training process early, seek professional help when needed, and before long you will have a well behaved dog who knows and appreciates his place in your home.