JRT increasingly aggressive

[Puds]

I’ve got a 5yr old JRT, who is getting increasingly more aggressive with other dogs when out on walks.
He never used to be an issue, and while he’d always want to say hello, there’d never be any nastiness. He lives with 2 cockers who he’s fine with, aside from reminding them to keep away from his food when they get too close.

However, when out and about he’s getting incredibly aggressive with other dogs, to the point where he has to stay on the lead and we are considering a muzzle. He doesn’t actually bite fully, but he gets very snappy and noisy.

Does anybody have any experience of this, and potential suggestions? He’s a loveable little tit most of the time, but I’m not putting up with aggression.

 

[VSS]

Have you tried him with other dogs off the lead?
We have a JRT that has become increasingly aggressive towards other dogs as he's got older, and now just launches straight into attack regardless of the size of the adversary. However, he only does this when on the lead. As soon as he's let off the lead he turns into a bit of a wimp, and runs away from other dogs.

 

[Puds]

Have you tried him with other dogs off the lead?
We have a JRT that has become increasingly aggressive towards other dogs as he's got older, and now just launches straight into attack regardless of the size of the adversary. However, he only does this when on the lead. As soon as he's let off the lead he turns into a bit of a wimp, and runs away from other dogs.

Yes, he’s the same on or off-lead. He used to be like yours and become a wimp when challenged, but seems to have overcome that

 

[User00036]

If he gets worse, I would consider cutting his nuts off.

 

[Jelen]

My wife's 6 year old Westie turned like that, getting worse as the months went on. Then one day he fell over having a fit, then got up like nothing happened. A couple of weeks later he had a longer fit. Took him to the vet and he was diagnosed with a brain tumour. Might be worth checking?

 

[deerstalker.308]

If he gets worse, I would consider cutting his nuts off.

Just below the ears?

 

[ashray]

out of interest has he been attacked by another dog before this started ? i ask as my 10 year old patterdale was attacked twice by a collie dog and now will attack any thing on four legs and does not back down!! so he stays in the garden with me and is happy <as am i> so that solves my problem but probably wont help you.

 

[spanj]

If he gets worse, I would consider cutting his nuts off.

This does not work

 

[Bowland blades]

This does not work

Stops them breeding that is about it , certainly cannot extinguish what sounds like an established behaviour by taking his nuts off .
correct , re-direct and reward well timed is the answer of course the handlers tension transmits down the lead and can mess the process up .

 

[User00036]

Excessive testosterone. It may also be a breed characteristic, I cant comment on that, not familiar with breed. I have had dogs that were bad, sometimes a loyalty issue, they guard you from other dogs, or worst case people. There was no cure, only a very short lead. Fortunately I live on a very isolated farm.

 

[spanj]

Excessive testosterone. It may also be a breed characteristic, I cant comment on that, not familiar with breed. I have had dogs that were bad, sometimes a loyalty issue, they guard you from other dogs, or worst case people. There was no cure, only a very short lead. Fortunately I live on a very isolated farm.

90+ % of the time there’s a solution (not cure). It usually requires knowledge, time, effort and consistency (not a pop at you btw)

 

[Bo Diddley]

Welcome to the world of terriers.. who wants a terrier that hasn't got a bit of gumption about it? Has it ever done any meaningful work? I always find when a dog finds its role in life they calm down and become sensible. They have been bred to do a job and if they don't get to do something they vent that energy in other ways. Start it off ratting & rabbiting if you can. If it's already a worker sounds like you have a good dog.

 

[User00036]

Sorry, misread the first post here, JRT= Jack Russel, I must be getting senile! , kind of explains everything! The only dog that had me running down the road like Hussain Bolt, blood pouring out of both ankles, if I could of got hold of it I could have dealt with it, but that thing was in & out like a demonic mongoose.
Apologies.

 

[John Gryphon]

If he gets worse, I would consider cutting his nuts off.

Leave them in leccy collar is a cure all.

Just below the ears?

That made me larf like a lunatic.

This does not work

See deerstalker 308`s post....it works, really well too.

 

[countrryboy]

It will depend why its attacking?
Is it fear pr aggression or any other reason

Ready for something like this assuming vet saying no issues, u want someone who knows wot there doing to witness it and decide best course of action.

I would imagine partly will be sensing u getting tense as another dog approaches throu the lead.
So chilling out will help but be more to it than that.

I'd say an electric collar is the last thing u want to use, unless u really know why its being aggressive and how to use the collar.
If its biting out of fear or nerves then it gets a shock it might only make it worse.

Really not sort of problem u can advise on without seeing the dog.
But those dog training TV shows regularly fix problems like this

 

[John Gryphon]

If its biting out of fear or nerves then it gets a shock it might only make it worse.

I doubt that very much and then if it actually did then solution Farmer G style is up and then deerstalker 308`s next.
The correctly used collar cures 99.9% of them all even the most recalcitrant.

 

[Apthorpe]

Leave them in leccy collar is a cure all.

Not so sure. A friend's Jack Russell never associated the electric shock with the misdeed and no matter how many times it got shocked over the years, it never learned nor was the slightest deterred from misbehaving. The collar was very effective at zapping, the dog just thought they were bad luck happening randomly.

That made me larf like a lunatic.

See deerstalker 308`s post....it works, really well too.

 

[John Gryphon]

Just below the ears?

The collar was very effective at zapping, the dog just thought they were bad luck happening randomly.

In that case I would say that the use wasn't applied correctly....its akin to a dog that decides to touch the red hot exhaust on a car with his nose....he wont ever do it again.

Then next step is the first quote.

 

[Bowland blades]

Tread carefully with a hard terrier , that is all i know. Rule unto themselves when ...

 

[J.kerslake]

I’ve also got a roughly 5 year old Jack Russel here, the dog is a complete arsehole. A few years ago he had a fight with one of my patterdales through the kennel bars and basically chewed his nose and half his top jaw off so the poor patt had to be shot. In more recent years he took a dislike to one of my spaniels (a dog) and would latch on to him every time he walked past! Eventually he gave up on him and took a dislike to my bull x lurcher, luckily for this Jack Russel the lurcher is in his senior years, if this was a few years ago he’d of just picked the little tw*t up, given him a good shake and made damn sure he never did it again!!
Said Jack Russel had his nuts off about 18th this ago…made sod all difference!