Jack Russell Trouble

[wildoak]

We have an 8 year old female JRT and her 5 year old son. They have always chased cats, etc but have recently gotten vicious about it and killed one of our cats a couple of weeks ago. They have turned on both of the other dogs now, a sweet cocker who is old and weak, and a border collie who usually plays with them. They would have killed the border collie tonight if there hadn't been 3 of us there to pull them off. I had one in my arms and he reached out, grabbed the collie's tail and wouldn't let go! They will chase the horses, but only once have they actually attacked one - they got a weanling filly in a corner a couple of years ago and she fell, fortunately again there was someone there to get them away. The younger dog does mind pretty well by himself, but they can't be trusted together. I hate having to put her down, she's very affectionate with people and has never been aggressive to anyone. She's a spayed female, very pretty and would make a good pet where she was the only one. Just hate this - I've been keeping her locked up most of the time, just letting her out at night when the cats and the cocker are locked up, but it's a matter of time before she slips out. I just won't let her kill the rest of my animals. Very frustrating.

Jan

 

[Sun Runner Stables]

JRT's...Football shaped for a reason....

Sorry couldn't resist... This is a breed Bred for hunting down and Killing things... Have you thought about a really nasty shock collar? May be a thought, though, if she went after my other dogs I would try to re-home her, or put her down personally. I woulsn't be able to sleep at night if "something" happened, just me though...

 

[rabbitsfizz]

A collar will not teach her, only stop her. She will become more cunning. If there is any chance of re homing her, do it now. If not, well, you will have to wait a little longer, probably until she completely loses her mind and attacks a child (which she will do if the child has picked up her cat to defend it) before you make the final decision.

 

[Robin1]

look for a new home for her. Just make sure they know she isn't good with other animals. Keeping her locked up is only going to make her more aggressive and hard to handle.

Robin

 

[ChrystalPaths]

I love the JRTs but Jane is correct, she needs a new home. JRT singular is a loving silly delightful pet, JRT plural is a hunting pack be it 2 or 20. They are bred to the bone ratters and have no fear of "anything". Shock collars won't cut it I'm afraid. Re-home her and enjoy your boy.

 

[AppyLover2]

I feel for you Jan. I have a similar thread going right now about my German Shepard, although my problem is not as bad as yours right now. I, personally, couldn't keep a dog who killed another of my pets. Good luck with whatever you decide to do. I know this is really difficult.

 

[Becky]

I have one of the shorty Jacks. She is 3 1/2 years old and I guarantee she would kill any small animal she could. She has attacked our chihuahua 3 times each when there has been someone there to break it up. If not, the chihuahua would be dead. She's not an aggressive dog towards people in any way and absolutely loves people, but I will not let her out around my horses at all as she wants is to chase them. I kept her and the chihuahua seperated a long time after the last incident, but they have been back together for awhile. It mostly escalates if the Jack gets jealous or if she sees me making the chihuahua 'do' something that she perceives as me attacking! Then she wants to help. My cats have learned not to come in the yard and woe be any squirrel that doesn't run fast enough!

I have a large fenced yard so she has plenty of room to run. Jacks need that.

 

[lyn_j]

[SIZE=14pt]I had to place a JRT shorty girl a few years back for leaving bite marks on my horses! She went to live with one of the nurses that was on my team. They had a little boy that adored her and it was perfect for her. She was our only one at the time.... we had a pair previously and they didnt seem to mind the horses or our barn cats. Had to place a corgi for the same reason. She went to a home where she had another corgi to play with and no other animals to harrass.[/SIZE]

Lyn

 

[Sunny]

I can relate to your frustration, Jan. We have two JRT's, mother and daughter (who are both very preggers and due on Christmas Day, btw!) and the daughter went through a "phase" this summer where she was attacking and killing baby ducks and nearly killed a kitten one day. I was ready to send her to a new home on the toe of my boot but, fortunately for all concerned, that phased has passed and everyone lives in harmony again.

Locking up a JRT is like a tempest in a teapot, and just can't be good for her. I hope you can find a new loving home for your girl. Good luck!

 

[runamuk]

Well we had a little mixed breed pup a number of years ago......I am assuming that she was part jrt now that I have met quite a few.....she escalated from chasing to killing one of our cats...then moved on to bigger game she attacked my mini and my arab mare...and then she was put down....there is no way I was going to try and rehome a dog like that it was an awful heartwrenching decision.......

There is a difference between dogs who chase and dogs who go for the kill........

 

[Field-of-Dreams]

Jane's (my friend) JRT likes to chase my 16HH TWH mare!

She tried to not let him get started and is pretty good about it, but someday he's gonna get splatted if he keeps it up- Amber doesn't like him and kicks. She won't miss one day...

Lucy

 

[capall beag]

I have 4 JRT's now thanks to a lady giving my daughter a puppy on Saturday!

She told me she sells them for $1,200.00 they are imported from Ireland. After an hour of my daughter begging me, with no success, the lady said well you can just have him! My daughter was thrilled!

I was there to buy a pony

Anyway, I love my shorties but one is very 'gamey' and I think would like to eat my cats if he got a chance. I do notice though as Dimimore said in a pack they really can become aggressive towards animals they see as hunt material. I no longer let all 3 of mine out together because 2 of them pick on one but only when there is 3 of them together. All of mine are very docile with kids and other dogs.

I would definately rehome your girl, she sounds ideal for an older couple looking for a little conpanion.

 

[Laura]

My JRT is a sweet, loving, neurotic, aggressive lil Sh*t. He will NOT stop trying to tear up my LGD (many years younger), who lets him because he has lots of hair and can usually ignore him

Orbit, the JRT, knows I'll boot him to the moon if he tries it on a horse. He got too aggressive ONCE with one of the studs and ended up having a seizure and later a concussion from the kick in the head he got from the stallion (and deserved).

He had it explained when Mia was a baby (after years of HIM being the "baby") that he would find a new home if he EVER was aggessive towards her. Now that she's older and should know better, he's started giving warning nips when she just goes WAY over the line. Usually way after I've said "Orbit, just BITE her!" He does chase the cats, but my cats will also clean his clock if he goes over the line.

I love Orbit, but I'm sold on Aussies from now on. So is Steve. He got one of my Nikki's full siblings for his birthday and he is in LOVE with the Aussie mentality. Both dogs were bred & raised for 3-4 months by Dana Bryan (Dreamweaver Farms).

 

[runamuk]

My JRT is a sweet, loving, neurotic, aggressive lil Sh*t.  He will NOT stop trying to tear up my LGD (many years younger), who lets him because he has lots of hair and can usually ignore him 

 
Orbit, the JRT, knows I'll boot him to the moon if he tries it on a horse.  He got too aggressive ONCE with one of the studs and ended up having a seizure and later a concussion for the kick in the head he got (and deserved).

He had it explained whn Mia was a baby (after years of HIM being the "baby") that he would find a new home if he EVER was aggessive towards her.  Now that she's older and should know better, he's started giving warning nips when she just goes WAY over the line.  Usually way after I've said "Orbit, just BITE her!"  He does chase the cats, but my cats will also clean his clock if he goes over the line.

I love Orbit, but I'm sold on Aussies from now on.  So is Steve.  He got one of my Nikki's full siblings for his birthday and he is LOVE with the Aussie mentality.  Both dogs were bred & raised for 3-4 months by Dana Bryan (Dreamweaver Farms).

521371[/snapback]

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Not to hijack this.......Laura we just got our first aussie and it will not be our last....I am so thrilled with this dog.......he is such a sweety and a clown and has a work ethic....

 

[tagalong]

She told me she sells them for $1,200.00 they are imported from Ireland. After an hour of my daughter begging me, with no success, the lady said well you can just have him! My daughter was thrilled!

Uh huh. Bolding mine...

Anyway... one thing with Jacks - or Parson Russells - as with all dogs that have become popular - is that everyone decides to breed them - often without regard to temperament - and thus you often get bad and overly aggressive traits emphasized. Just like Labs - JRTs are "in" and trendy... which is not necessarily a good thing for any breed...

Anyway - my two terriers (Smooth Fox & Border) occasionally gang up on one of the cats - mainly because she runs and triggers the pack mentality... while the barn cats sit there and go "ho hum"... and get ignored. Fortunately - the barking is LOUD and I know where they are and what they are doing - and can sort them out. But the most they have ever done (if they catch her) is lean on her and wrestle and maybe pluck out a few hairs. Still unacceptable....

None of this happens when one or the other is on their own... so breaking up the pack might be an idea...

 

[Leeana]

I just got a 12wk old JackRussell/Blue Heeler cross last saturday. I have not had a dog since i was 7years old so im pretty happy. I figured that if it grew up with the horses it would be fine. Well so far i think the dog is learning which horses to stay away from ...smart dog. I love Jack Russells. Not my faverit breed when it comes to looks, im more of a golden retreiver girl ..but really nice dogs i think.

My brother and sister has Jack Russels and they are well behavied and smart. I dont worry about them with the animals ..only the cats which dont matter to me. I hate them cats. They see a cat and that dog looses all common sense!

Leeana

 

[Laura]

My JRT is a sweet, loving, neurotic, aggressive lil Sh*t.  He will NOT stop trying to tear up my LGD (many years younger), who lets him because he has lots of hair and can usually ignore him 

  
Orbit, the JRT, knows I'll boot him to the moon if he tries it on a horse.  He got too aggressive ONCE with one of the studs and ended up having a seizure and later a concussion for the kick in the head he got (and deserved).

He had it explained whn Mia was a baby (after years of HIM being the "baby") that he would find a new home if he EVER was aggessive towards her.  Now that she's older and should know better, he's started giving warning nips when she just goes WAY over the line.  Usually way after I've said "Orbit, just BITE her!"  He does chase the cats, but my cats will also clean his clock if he goes over the line.

I love Orbit, but I'm sold on Aussies from now on.  So is Steve.  He got one of my Nikki's full siblings for his birthday and he is LOVE with the Aussie mentality.  Both dogs were bred & raised for 3-4 months by Dana Bryan (Dreamweaver Farms).

521371[/snapback]

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Not to hijack this.......Laura we just got our first aussie and it will not be our last....I am so thrilled with this dog.......he is such a sweety and a clown and has a work ethic....

521387[/snapback]

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I resisted for YEARS Dana's suggestion to try an Aussie. I just didn't want a "herding" breed around my horses. Boy was I wrong. Nikki was selected for us (by Dana) for her personality and temperament. She is one of the best dogs I've ever known. Rosco, Steve's B-day present, is a little higher drive, but is also more protective and more clownish. He also is GLUED to Mia's side whenever we visit Steve at the new farm. Mia may not belong to Rosco full time, but when she's there, she is HIS to protect!

 

[sedeh]

My beloved JRT went over the Rainbow Bridge this year at age 15. She was a wonderful companion but I always had to watch her. She got teased by kids on bikes when she was small and had an intense hatred of children on bikes. Even with a fenced yard she managed to get out once and bite a child. I was horrified, though luckily it was a superficial wound. Still, when my husband wanted to get me another Jack I said no, I'd like a different breed. I now have a Cairn terrier(still love the terrier personality) and I love her to death!

 

[wildoak]

I've had computer issues and haven't been able to post anything for days.

Thanks for your replies, still sorting out what to do about her. Separating the "pack" definitely goes a long way to solving the problem, one reason it's been such an issue since we have moved is that we don't have all the fences up to keep them separated. Have just been making do - one in the house, one out, one locked in a stall..... The problem though is that sooner or later someone forgets to close a door, and they only have to be together a minute to get in trouble.

I've loved the JR's - they are personable, fun and energetic - but my next dog will be big, sweet and slobbery LOL.

Jan

 

[capall beag]

I hope you can work this out.

It sounds like they have become a little team of attackers?

This is never good as they get eachother riled up.

I have to say in defense of Jacks, they are typical terriers but I love the breed. Mine are great little dogs and partly because they know their place! My older dogs, the labs would demo the jacks if they stepped out of line.

Mine are feisty, on occasion but never mean, my kids are all over them and they are so tolerant.

I have always owned jacks and I have never had a mean one.

Unfortunately, your duo are perhaps now a bad combination.

I had a wonderful lab mother and daughter here but I had to place the daughter with my friend because together the dogs were awful, they would break out and raid the neighbours chicken coup.

The mother had never done anything like this before. As soon as I seperated them the behaviour ended and my dog, the Momma, never leaves the property anymore.

The pack mentality can make a good dog behave very badly but once removed from that they can make great pets.

Good Luck with your decision, I know it is a hard one.