Hi I Just Thought I'd Introduce Myself...

L

lAURAM

Well-Known Member
I'm Laura and I've just joined the site.
I have two Jack Russells - A 4 year-old and a 3 year-old. The older (the dad) is very well-behaved and laid-back and not really typical of the breed at all - just likes sunbathing (when given the rare chance in this country), squirrel hunting, having cuddles and sleeping) but the younger one still has a few issues I would like advice on e.g not being great with male dogs, bicycles, joggers etc and that's why I am here.
However, he is also really affectionate and very bright too and I think he'd be great at learning tricks eventually as shows great potential so I am also interested in that.
From what I have seen so far this looks a great site! :)

Best wishes

Laura
 
huntyr

huntyr

Well-Known Member
hi Laura,
I am fairly new here too and so far everyone has been SUPER nice
and helpful.
If you are anywhere in the midwest, check out our JRT club.
www.mwjrtc.org . Your older dog sounds like Huntyr. Laid back, couch potato,
until you say "rat", squirrel or mouse!! Then he is full JRT.

I came to this site to see tricks to start teaching..
be fair warned...
There are TONS of them I would have never thought of LOLOL

welcome!
 
sara

sara

Moderator
Staff member
Welcome to the DTA!

Terriers are way too much fun LOL I have a terrier x (largish), my mom has my other terrier x (medium-ish) I had a terrier x when I was a kid (small-ish) and my sister has a westie ans a cairn x... My family likes terriers LOL

Enjoy the forums!
 
MaryK

MaryK

Honored Member
Welcome:) . This place is FANTASTIC. If you search the threads, I am sure you will find answers to your problems. If you cannot find answers, then I suggest your post a new thread. You'll get answers VERY quickly.
 
L

lAURAM

Well-Known Member
huntyr said:
hi Laura,
I am fairly new here too and so far everyone has been SUPER nice
and helpful.
If you are anywhere in the midwest, check out our JRT club.
www.mwjrtc.org . Your older dog sounds like Huntyr. Laid back, couch potato,
until you say "rat", squirrel or mouse!! Then he is full JRT.

I came to this site to see tricks to start teaching..
be fair warned...
There are TONS of them I would have never thought of LOLOL

welcome!
Click to expand...
Hi!
I am really sorry I have only just seen this message.
I thought I was going to get alerts in my email if I had any messages so thought no one had replied! Now I have logged in and I have six messages!
It's weird as I was watching a video of Huntyr only a couple of days ago but I can't remember if it was on here or YouTube and what he was doing (I'm watching quite a lot of videos at the mo! ) but I thought he was really lovely. He must have been doing a trick though so not as lazy as my older one who I still can't even get to shake hands. Though you're right he does perk up considerably if there's a squirrel around!

I know what you mean re the amount of tricks. Some people have a list of about 50 that their dogs can do!!

Thanks again for your message

Laura, Toby and Sweep:)
 
L

lAURAM

Well-Known Member
Dogster said:
WELCOME!!!:D
We'd really like to help, can you tell us exactly what his problems are?? And we would LOVE to se some pics of your JRTs!!!!:)
Click to expand...
Hi!
I am really sorry for the delay I have only just seen this message.
I thought I was going to get alerts in my email if I had any messages so thought no one had replied! :confused: Now I have logged in and I have six messages! Thank you to those people who welcomed me:)

I will try and get a photo up here ASAP sorry.

Well, the main problem is the male dog thing. He is really aggressive towards all male dogs neutered and unneutered, the bigger they are the worse it is so I suspect it is fear based, although other terriers are particularly bad too.
We were living in a small village in Spain for the first 2 years of his life and he literally didn't come across any other dogs when he was off the lead at all . We have now been back in the UK for a year. He was neutered last November and it has made some difference but it's not enough. He's not actually bitten another dog but he runs after them having a good go and jumps up at them or on them. It's only a matter of time. I tried a muzzle for 4 months but have recently stopped using it as he absolutely hates, constantly rubbing his face on the floor, won't run with it on, hides and shakes when I get it out.
Basically, I manage to limit these situations to about once a week/fortnight by constantly distracting him with treats or a ball if I see another dog come along (until I can ascertain if it's female or male and put him on the lead if necessary) but I can never relax on a walk! It's also the same with joggers, cyclists and people on skateboards and kids on scooters.
The situation is completely my fault as I didn't get him socialised to these things when he was younger mainly due to where we were living and I just didn't actually realise it was a problem as we only went walking alone together in the middle of the countryside. Then, since I have been back in the UK, I have been off work really ill with chronic migraine for the last year and have had to rely on my parents to help me a lot with the dogs and not really been able to tackle the issue. Anyway, I'm starting to get better now and want to start addressing these things. I have an idea what to do about joggers, cyclists etc but could really do with some help with the male dog thing.
Sorry this has turned out to be a bit of an essay!
Any advice much appreciated!!

Laura, Toby and Sweep (the naughty one!) (but lovely too:))
 
Dogster

Dogster

Honored Member
A good thing to teach is "Look at me" or "Look at that". You can read more about this Here:
http://www.dogtrickacademy.com/members/forums/threads/barking-at-everything.5197/
http://www.dogtrickacademy.com/members/forums/threads/dog-aggressive.5233/
http://www.dogtrickacademy.com/members/forums/threads/lets-help-russell.5264/

Basically, with look at that, or LAT, the dog focuses on what makes him react, and gets a treat for not reacting. "Look at me" or "watch me" involves the dog looking at YOU instead of what makes him react, and gets treats. A clicker would help a lot with this, do you have/use one??? You can try both methods, see which one works best. Either way, you need to use A LOT of treats, so the dog will associate what makes him react with treats, praise and being CALM.

"Look at me"/"Watch me"

"Look at that"/LAT

 
L

lAURAM

Well-Known Member
That's great Shivon, thanks very much. I'll have a look at these now.
No, I don't have a clicker but have actually been thinking about getting one.
That's the other problem, since being neutered he's put on a lot of weight:( so really have to try and reduce the treats. That's why I have been thinking about the clicker because with that you don't have to treat every time do you? Luckily he will eat anything so I can treat with almost any food so make it low fat treats. Though with shop bought treats you can't tell. I wish they would put the calorie contents on so I could compare them! I think might be best with small bits of ham as that's very low fat.

Laura
 
Dogster

Dogster

Honored Member
GREAT recipe:
http://www.dogtrickacademy.com/members/forums/threads/liver-cookies.4061/ Shivon LOVES these.:)

Is your JRT in love with any food??? You can use yogurt as a treat. You can just dip your finger in and some dogs go crazy for that. Also, many, many dogs just LOVE cheese.:D You can use ham.

Keep the treats tiny. The size of a raisin for medium/large dogs, half a raisin for small dogs. Dogs don't care how big or small the treat is.;)

You have to give a treat every time you click. That's a rule of thumb. If you do decide to get a clicker, here is a GREAT thread on how to get started::D
http://www.dogtrickacademy.com/members/forums/threads/getting-started-with-a-clicker-for-newbies.5023/
Different types of clickers:
http://www.dogtrickacademy.com/members/forums/threads/differences-in-4-common-clickers-video.4964/#post-46493
http://www.dogtrickacademy.com/members/forums/threads/fun-question.4921/
 
sara

sara

Moderator
Staff member
Yes you have to reward for every click, otherwise the click loses it's meaning. That being said rewards can be anything your dog wants, toys affection, tug, treats... etc.

Cutting out treats isn't going to make alot of difference to your dogs weight. you need a lower carbohydrate, higher fiber and protein food and feed less of it. I use kibble to train tricks, that portion is removed from my dogs' daily allotment, so they dont get any extra calories.
 
MaryK

MaryK

Honored Member
Please do get a clicker it works like magic!!!!!!! My boy had a VERY bad over reaction tantrum, flash back to being attacked by another dog out of the blue, and he was really a handful at times with other dogs. He wasn't dog aggressive, but really 'fearful' and as a result went into 'tantrums' even with a dog barking INSIDE THE HOUSE as we walked past. He totally 'zoned out on me, didn't hear a word I said as he was so aroused'. Now, in a matter of a very short time (a couple of weeks maybe a bit more), using the click/treat method (not just treats as I had used in the past) the difference is hard to believe, he's not really reacting now at all when dogs bark. I work with him EVERY day though, rain, hail or shine:)


Do, as has been said in an earlier post, make sure you click/treat every time he does want you want. And don't forget to 'charge' the clicker first. It works, my dog Ra Kismet is living, walking proof!:D Get the 'eye contact' click/treat. All the videos posted are fantastic and while you chap is still over re-acting may I suggest to keep him on a lead all the time. Doesn't have to be 'formal' heel work, loose lead is fine but it will make it easier for you and more importantly give HIM support. I also found using a Halti/Gentle Leader was very helpful with Ra Kismet, again it 'takes the responsibility' off his shoulders, he feels that because he is being lead by the head, he doesn't have to 'watch out' for everything around him and can safely leave all that to Mom.

Plus a 'knock on' effect of the click/treat is that he is calmer ALL ROUND. Still 'high octane energy':D but not so reactive to the slightest noise outside. So do buy a clicker, you can get them on e-bay, it'll be the cheapest, most effective piece of equipment you've every bought:D
 
MaryK

MaryK

Honored Member
If you're worried about him getting over weight, you do use a lot of treats at first, then use his night time dinner as a treat. I do that with Ra Kismet, as it's easy to carry around when out walking, and what remains is what he has for his evening meal. If it's all gone, and this happened when we first started, I just give him a big bone LOL then he doesn't think he's been put on a diet:D

Dogsters treats are great, only met one dog, my late darling Tiger Lily, who didn't respond to cheese - but then she was too scared to even eat when outside:) Ra Kismet goes 'boss eyed' when cheese is on the menu for treats:LOL:
 
L

lAURAM

Well-Known Member
Wow, thanks so much everyone. You've all been so helpful. It's really, really appreciated.:) I've got a lot to do!
And, yes he likes any food, so yoghurt would work too. To be honest, I was giving my dogs way too many treats and of a large size too so I think cutting the size right down will definitely help a bit. Could anyone recommend a good high fibre, high protein food I could buy in the UK please.
I will have a look at all these videos and be back if I have any questions. Also going on ebay for a clicker!

Thanks again:)
 
MaryK

MaryK

Honored Member
Great:D Do let us know how you progress please:D Be careful of high fiber in dog food, it can cause problems. Haven't been home for a while, so not sure what the latest, best, dog food is in the U.K. but DO CHECK THE LABELS, most super market stuff is mostly 'fillers' which do not have any nutritional value whatsoever.

There's a forum here with very good advice on dog food.
 
sara

sara

Moderator
Staff member
I have no idea what's a good UK food, however, I know you can get Acana there, which is, imo one of the better foods out there. Stay away from Hills, (science diet, prescription diet, etc.) Pedegree, Purina, Nutro, Iams, and all their varieties. way too many grains, not enough protein.

For a dog to lose weight, you want a lower fat, lower carb, higher (quality, meat based) protein, higher fiber food. A food that has alot of bio-available protein will help your dog eat less.

you could also feed part kibble, part pureed veggie meals, to cut back on fat, but he still feels full. My Mom's dogs got fat, They were on Acana Pacifica, but were getting too much, so I cut back their kibble by half, and made that up with raw pureed broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, peas, green beans, sweet potatoes, Potatoes, etc. They lost their excess weight :) Acana makes a Light and Fit variety that is very good, though it's not grain-free, it's still very good.
 
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