Jack Russell Dog Training-How Important Is It?

22 August, 2008

You probably think any sort of training will interrupt the wonderful relationship you share with your Jack Russell Terrier.  Sure it does bark rather annoyingly when you take it out for a  walk, and you do have to lock it up during dinner parties as it tries to beg for food, but that’s all ok, because that’s what dogs do right? No…not really. Sorry to burst your bubble but in spite of not being a human being your dog too is expected to be polite. Sure his antics might seem adorable to you, you might think it’s cute when he jumps up on visitors and scratches at doors, but your dog’s victims surely wouldn’t agree with you.

You might think you do not want to exercise the sort of authority required to tell him to behave any better, and that’s all quite all right really. Being the owner of a Jack Russell dog doesn’t require you to suddenly transform into a whip swinging ring master.

Where you are wrong, however, is in your basic understanding of dog training. You need to realize that training your dog is not about proving how much better you are than it, you are not trying to teach it ‘human rules’ and thereby attempting to make it more ‘human’, training is not a method of ‘humanizing’ a dog. What it is, in fact, is a way of improving the relationship you share with your pet, and of course a means of making it more sociable.

‘What’s the point of that?’ you might ask. Well, here is the thing. Most of us spend the larger fraction of our daily lives toiling in office, drinking our instant coffee, reading those balance sheets. The little time we get with our family and pets we try to merge with some sort of socializing. We go to the park for a stroll on a lovely evening after work, or to a friend’s house to watch a movie. If our dogs are unfriendly then on all these occasions we keep it back home, alone, such that in no time it’s in no way a part of our life at all.

Now, like human beings your Jack Russell too gets lonely, it gets lonely and depressed and awfully sad especially when it’s left all alone in a dark house where there isn’t anyone to pat his tired little head.

So you see ultimately due to your aversion towards training you keep your Jack Russell from enjoying the sort of company and activities it would like to.

Jack Russell obedience training is a means of letting your dog cope better with its immediate environment. It grants every dog an easier life and makes them easier to live with. Training your Jack Russell dog will give you more opportunity to spend more time with your beloved pet, no matter where you are going and who you are going with.

So get in there and give your dog a nice pat and get started on his training. A few magic words like ‘heel’, ‘down’, ‘stay’, ‘come’ and ‘sit’, will change your relationship with your favorite companion forever. Good luck.


Handy Jack Russell Terrier Dog Training Tips

16 August, 2008

Despite what it seems to be from a distance, Jack Russell dog training doesn’t need you to be a fearless Hercules, all it asks of you is to keep a few basics in mind. First, establish who the boss is, remind your dog again and again that you are the one on two feet while he is still on all fours, and thus what you say is Gospel and what he barks is not. Second, speak in a tone which oozes superiority, something along the lines of your first grade math teacher. Third, routine is everything so keep your training tactics consistent. Once you master these three techniques you will be the master of every single dog around!

Your heart might melt into a mush every time your cute little Jack Russell Terrier pup cocks his head, but don’t let that get in the way of your establishing who the master is. Go gooey eyed too frequently and you are likely to pay with your carpets and sandals, which it will most merrily chew through. Treat your Jack Russell pup the way you would treat a little kid, setting it strict boundaries and letting it know what goes and what most definitely doesn’t. Establish gestures like pointing etc. which will give the dog a cue to act in a certain way.

You might not think it possible but dogs, like your kids, can tell when you mean business, slacken up a bit with them and they’ll know you can be taken for a ride. Interestingly enough they also have this instinct for intonation; be strict when you want him to stay put at the yard, but be enthusiastic when you are asking him if he would like to go for a walk. It’s funny how you’ll see your own mood reflected in his responses. This is the primary step for you to establish the kind of communication with your Jack Russell dog which will allow you to calm him or set him up for work with a single word.

One of the main methods of training your dog is to keep a certain consistency in your approach towards him. Keep your intonations, gestures and words for expressing dissatisfaction the same every time, so that he gets used to the idea easily. A young Jack Russell Terrier Pup who grows up with a certain set of commands will respond to them more promptly than one who is frequently confused by conflicting orders. The more consistent your commands are, the better trained your Jack Russell dog is, the better trained your dog is the greater your confidence in him regarding his obedience to you. A few other ways of establishing consistency are to use the same door when taking your doggie out for a walk, give him the same kind of pat every night before retiring for the day, so that he knows exactly what time it is.

Little things like these will help you predict your Jack Russell Terrier dog’s behavior more accurately.

Most importantly, however, remember to shower your love and affection on your Jack Russell puppy, continue your training through little games which he might enjoy, and remember to treat him every time he does a task well, after all like a child it too needs to be appreciated and given its bit of fun.


Jack Russell Terriers are Great for your Health

12 August, 2008

Studies have shown that having a pet is good for your health! Patting a dog can actually lower your blood pressure. Being the easy-natured animal that a Jack Russell Terrier is, he is often a popular therapy dog for visiting nursing homes and hospitals.

A Jack Russell Terrier loves meeting people and enjoys being patted. Teaching and training your Jack Russell to perform tricks like “Shake Hands and Retrieve” make him/her a real Show Stopper. Jack Russell Obedience can teach you and your dog how to do tricks and have proper manners in public

Having a Jack Russell Dog forces you to be more active, therefore improving your health by getting more exercise! Jack Russell Terrier’s are very social animals and need to be around people and other dogs often. When possible, I take my Jack Russell Terrier, Shortie, to my son’s Football games. Because he is a small dog, the children aren’t afraid of him and often ask if they can pat him or take him for a short stroll (I only allow this if I know the children well and if their parents don’t mind). This is a win-win situation for everyone. My dog gets more exercise and meets new people. The children look forward to Shortie’s appearance at every game. If I don’t bring him along, the children are really disappointed (and so is Shortie!). Our Jack Russell is part of our family, he is well trained and obedient, therefore we take him everywhere with us.