[bobt]

Hello,

My JR puppy's cured of the diarrhea/Coccidia thankfully. Never thought I'd be glad to see a nice stool. Now that my major focus has switched from taking her out before she makes lets loose to getting her some exercise. I'm having some problems in that area. Can't take her out in the front because alot of dogs go by and she doesn't have all her shots yet at only 11 weeks. When I take her out to go in the back yard on a leash, she does her business but then wants to go in the house. If I just take her out to walk in the yard she just wants to come in. If I try to either walk her in the yard or get her to go somewhere she doesn't want to go, she gets really upset and starts to growl at me and goes for my pants at the ankles. If I pick her up to bring her in or go to a different spot she growls at me and trys to bite.

This isn't my first dog but my other Jack Russel joined us nearly 20 years ago and I can't remember everything I did when she was a puppy to get control of her.

What do I need to start doing to get her some exercise and walking in the yard for now or is she too young?

Also, what do I need to do to show her I'm the pack leader? I believe she thinks she's the boss and took advantage of my kindness during her diarrhea problem.

Thanks!!

 

[BoxMeIn21]

She's not getting upset, she's trying to play with you. I wouldn't worry too much about walks right now, just some good play time out back should be sufficient. Spend your time right now teaching some basic commands and how to walk properly on a leash.

Here are some good training articles for you:

http://www.clickersolutions.com/articles/2001c/ninebehaviors.htm
http://www.clickersolutions.com/articles/2001c/puppyparent.htm
http://www.clickersolutions.com/articles/2002c/llw.htm

I would also start practicing NILIF - A gentle way to establish yourself as the leader.

http://k9deb.com/nilif.htm

Good luck!

 

[Poly]

It's actually good that you have forgotten most everything from 20 years ago because dog training has come a long way since then.

You'll read that terriers are "quick to learn". Well that's true except that they aren't always learning what we think they are.

Your JRT is never going to be an "easy pupil" so just accept that. Most terriers aren't, and your JRT is one of the hardest to train especially if you try to use the same techniques used for working or sporting dogs.

The articles in the links are a mixed bag when it comes to terriers.

The article on loose leash walking isn't so good. That approach might work with your dog and it might not. Much better for terriers is to use a Premack Principal technique. Terriers respond to that much better to that than they do to straight operant training. In Premack training, you use a behavior your dog wants to do - called high frequency - to get him to do something he doesn't want to do - called low frequency. You already know the high frequency behavior for your pup - he wants to play with you. Just start introducing the low frequency behavior - walking with a loose leash.

I'll send you links to articles/videos covering Premack Principle training if you are interested.

The first article basically covers a lot of what is called happenstance training or incidental training. This is also a very good approach to use with terriers because they prefer to do things on their own rather than have you tell them what to do or lure them with treats or whatever.

However, I would use the same happenstance approach to teach them the "check in" and not bother with the straight operant approach that the article uses.

The recall training described in the article is again not the best approach for terriers. Preferably, you would also use a Premack Principle technique to teach the recall.

Good luck. Training your JRT will be a challenge but if you can think outside the box and stay positive it will be very rewarding.

 

[BoxMeIn21]

Poly, would you mind sending me those links on the Premack Principle?? Interesting stuff.

 

[bobt]

Poly,

Check your pm. I'd like those links.

Thanks!!