Time To Puppy Train Your Jack Russell?

 

Owners dream of having well trained dogs who will dutifully follow directions and understand orders. Most Jack Russell puppies however, are highly volatile and rambunctious creatures without much interest in anything other than playing. Jack Russell puppy training is essential in teaching them the difference between right and wrong.

Jack Russell Puppy Training Made Easy

Don't worry; training your puppy is actually fairly simple. To their credit, Jacks are very smart and will pick up training rather quickly, especially if you begin at an early age. The challenge is more about when to begin and how.

Start the training as early as possible for best results. Do this as early as possible, when your puppy first arrives, as you don't want any bad habits to develop and become irreversible. Make sure you're totally on the ball and never tolerate any rough play fighting or aggressive behaviour of any kind, and make sure your new puppy knows who's in charge You are the master.

Don't forget that socialization is a critical part of the process and must be offered daily so that your dog becomes comfortable around other people and pets at an early age. For example, by taking your dog to an obedience class, you will get to receive training from a professional trainer and your dog will simultaneously be exposed to a variety of people and other dogs.

Consistency And Positive Reinforcement

Jack Russell Puppies thrive off of consistency, which is the most important part of this training process. Encouraging wild behavior through play followed by punishing his bad behaior will stunt his development as he won't know which way is the proper way to act. Decide what's acceptable and stick to it, and even if you're finding his faux aggressiveness amusing, don't encourage it.

Positive reinforcement is another important part of the process. Your job is to reward good behavior and pay no mind to the bad, until your puppy learns that he will only receive reward through being good. Remember that to a dog punishment is still attention, so other than giving him a stern “no" when he misbehaves, only offer attention for proper behavior.

The same principles apply for toilet training also. Praise him when he goes to the toilet outside but don't reprimand him if he makes a puddle indoors (unless you catch him in the act, in which case take him outside immediately to show where he's supposed to go), and if you show him what's right he'll soon get the hang of things.

Be Patient Throughout Jack Russell Puppy Training

As smart as Jack Russells are, training is a process that takes some time. By staying consistent with your training and always positively reinforcing good behavior, you will expedite the training process exponentially. Just give it a little time, being mindful that Jacks have short attention spans, so you should also keep your training sessions brief and full of encouragement.

So, if you're prepared to put the effort in, Jack Russell puppy training can be incredibly effective. Stay consistent with your approach and remain active and soon your dog's behavior will adjust. This means that you'll be left with a perfectly trained dog who will obey you to the letter, giving you a puppy that's not only enjoyable to watch but great fun to be around as well. Sounds great, doesn't it?


It may not be nice to see your Jack Russell running away from you, but the simple fact is that it's in his genes. Remember that these dogs were bred as hunting dogs who had to run far ahead of their masters in order to capture prey their masters had shot, and this impulse still remains. This predisposition, combined with his incredibly active and athletic nature, means that he'll have no qualms about running miles ahead of you, and while it's nice to give your dog the chance to exercise it isn't so good when he doesn't like to come back.

Obedience Training is Key

The best way to prevent your Jack from running away is by offering proper training. Teach your dog fundamental commands, assert your dominance, and your dog will eventually be cured of his compulsive running - this just takes time and a little bit of canine psychology.Such training is utterly essential. It's possible to do it yourself through a combination of positive reinforcement and persistence, but when it comes to Jack Russells it's often best to get the experts in. Start with puppy training courses so that your Jack doesn't standout as being particularly misbehaved, and take comfort in the company of other owners and trainers who will help you on your journey.Practice the training techniques your dog learns in class at home. Teach your dog to 'come' whenever you prompt him to by offering him treats and praise when he does so that he associates returning to you with reward. The commands 'sit', 'stay' and 'come' are the most important and you can practice them all at once by instructing him to sit, offering a treat when he does, slowly backing away telling him to 'stay' and then, after a moment, calling him to 'come'. After your dog follows these commands, immediately reward him with a treat. Soon your Jack will know that obeying your commands will result in reward, enforcing obedience and likely prevent him from running away.

Expert Tips

As training continues, be sensitive to the fact that Jack Russells do not have large attention spans. Keep your training sessions brief to prevent boredom and frustration, and if you practice these things on a regular basis you'll soon notice the difference

Furthermore, be careful not to chase your dog if your Jack Russell darts off. Chasing after him will only make him think the two of you are playing a game, reinforcing this bad habit, so be sure not to reward your dog by chasing him. In fact, you won't need to run after him if you don't let him run. Keep your dog on a leash until he's been fully trained so that you don't risk any sudden departures.It's also critically important that you don't scold your dog if he runs off. Punishing your dog upon his return makes it seem as though he's being punished because he came back, which is the last thing you want to do. Concentrate on reminding your dog that you are the Alpha and reviewing his commands until running away is no longer a problem.

Because these dogs were bred to run for so long, owners today still experience their Jack Russells running away occassionally. Even with their endless energy and tendency to chase, remember that these dogs can be trained to be responsive, obedient, and most importantly, safe.