Secrets To Training A Jack Russell Terrier

Is Jack Russell Training Necessary?



Some people don’t like to train their pets. They want a dog that’s easy to get along with and obedient from the get-go, and if that’s the case then this particular breed probably isn’t for you – you really do need know how to train a Jack Russell correctly. Jacks are such boisterous and active animals that training is absolutely essential for peaceful living; luckily, this process can be surprisingly simple.



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Jack Training Tips – How To Begin



It’s never too early to begin training your Jack Russell, even if it’s their first day in their new home. Jacks are incredibly smart and can respond to training very quickly, so early exposure to training will provide early results. Give their lives structure, setting specific times for eating, sleeping, and playing, and then later focus on other elements of obedience. Successful training requires a blend of observation, consistent praise, and reinforcing very basic commands.



Teach Your Puppy Words



Teach your puppy words starting with "no" and "good". Tell your dog "no" directly after he does something undesirable, if you wait too long afterwards he won’t be able to make the connection. You need respect from them, so it’s also important to assert your dominance in order to train your Jack effectively.



Socialize Your Pet



It’s a good idea to get your new puppy socialised from an early age and this is an important concept when considering how to train a Jack Russell. These dogs can have a tendency to be aggressive and are incredibly protective of their owners, often disliking other dogs that they perceive to be a threat, but if you get them used to other dogs when they’re young it shouldn’t be such an issue. Make sure your dog has regular interaction with other dogs by taking him to obedience classes, parks, and on frequent walks.



Hold Their Focus



Even though Jacks are incredibly intelligent, they have trouble focusing for long periods of time. Once a Jack is bored or distracted, there’s almost nothing you can do to regain his focus, so do your best to keep these training sessions stimulating enough to maintain your dog’s focus. A simple way to do this is to keep your sessions short with lots of treats and praise, showing them time after time that good behavior will always end in some kind of reward.



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Show Your Jack Who Is In Charge



As pack animals, Jacks need an Alpha Dog to look up to and will appoint themselves Alpha in the absence of another. Naturally you can’t let your Jack Russell be so disillusioned, so take the time to illustrate you authority over everything that happens with the home. Make sure they aren’t allowed to beg for scraps, stand on your chest when they play, sleep anywhere apart from their bed or demand instant attention, and always discipline them firmly without resorting to praise straight after. Jacks want to know who is in charge, so let them know—you are.



So what are the secrets to Jack Russell training? Start young, get into a routine, command respect, keep them interested and react appropriately. Training a Jack Russell can be an enjoyable experience and the results will be well worth it, and because they’re so intelligent they pick things up incredibly quickly. As long as you’re prepared to be a little patient while turning your wild Jack into a perfect little canine prince, you’ll soon have the companion of your dreams.



I really hope you enjoyed this article. We also have lots of other great Jack Russell tips and solution advice to many other known problematic areas of Jack Russells:  Jack Russell Terrier Personality.