How to Teach a Jack Russell Puppy Not to Bite

The Jack Russell terrier is a beloved family pet but it has a strong independent spirit. This spirit endears them to their masters and is ideal in a best friend. Unfortunately, the Jack Russell is not a small dog and its size makes its bite a serious concern. Whether it is a result of rough play or its naturally competitive nature, a Jack Russell biter can be a risk to its master. You can stomp out this activity while it is young and ensure that it makes for an ideal pet as its grows up.

Instructions

    • 1

      Establish dominance early. Jack Russell terriers are notoriously independent dogs. They struggle for dominance in a relationship. It is important to set the framework of your relationship early. This begins with getting them used to sleeping in a kennel. Avoid letting the dog run around without a fence or without a leash.

    • 2

      Separate discipline from praise. Jack Russell puppies are difficult to discipline because they are naturally protective of their owners. Harsh discipline can do serious damage to your relationship and you should never strike or physically punish your dog. Use a stern, abrupt word in combination with a dominant stance, then immediately break social contact with your puppy for a time. Jack Russell puppies will pick up on your tone and demeanor and understand when they have crossed a line. The natural tendency of a terrier will teach it to avoid such an action in the future. Avoid disciplining your puppy, then returning to immediate praise. This establishes the dog as the dominant member of your pack.

    • 3

      Avoid rough play. Jack Russell dogs are not fragile and love to roughhouse with their masters. The problem is that they do not know how to shut off this mind-set. They are prone to biting as a form of play as they learned from other Jack Russell puppies. This is not out of anger or a sign of a troubled dog. They just have trouble calming down after you work them up into frenzy.

    • 4

      Encourage constructive play rather than competitive play. Avoid game competition where you pit yourself against your Jack Russell. They have a strong competitive spirit and engage in these games if you let them. Tug of war and wrestling games encourage the dog to defeat you. Arousing this spirit in your Jack Russell can be frustrating to it and biting becomes a natural part of such competition. Teach it to play fetch with you instead. This stimulates its active nature while participating with you instead of against you.