Jack Russell Acting Out on Toddler

Can you muzzle the dog while training him and continue to say "NO" when he growls at the baby? I would also get a cage and everytime the dog is mean to the baby say "NO" and put him in the cage. I would hope that eventually he will be trained. Or, you can take him to a pet store and have him professionally trained. That is scary, do not leave the baby alone.

I say get rid of the Jack BEFORE something worse happens. Boxers are excellent with kids, as it would be if a puppy was raised with him.

My grandmother had the same problem with her dog (poodle)and her two great-grandsons (one of them mine). The dog started getting really aggressive especially towards my son (who was actually very gentle and really didn't bother the dog). He bit my son and broke skin. Just like a child, the dog started going on 'time out' if he acted inappropriately towards the toddlers. He was scolded then put in a room and ignored. We also worked with the toddlers and the dog, teaching them to play nicely. Fast forward four years, the boys are really nice to the poodle and the poodle hasn't even so much as barked at the boys. I am saying this so you know that just because a dog has a few issues doesn't mean that it can't be trained to behave. That said, if you think no matter what you your JRT just won't play nicely with the baby and poses a threat, find a good family that will love the dog as much as you do.

Hi A.,

I have a 13 year old JRT (he acts like he's 3, they all do) and 2 kids - 3 and 1. We have worked with both our kids on how to be gentle with the dog, and that Billy's growls are his "talking" and they need to get away from him. Even though Billy is my "first child" I would not hesitate to get rid of him if there was any inkling of a threat of my kids getting hurt. So, we've taken as many measures as we can with the dog and kids to prevent that from happening: I NEVER leave the dog and the kids alone in a room together, I always have the dog with me. I also make sure Billy gets 1-2 walks a day (I take him before my husband leaves for the day and we all walk after dinner, if possible) to keep him tired out. A tired jack is a happy jack. Billy also has 2 places that are his places he can go without being bothered by the kids - they know these are his "rooms" - one is our bedroom, where his bed is - and I occasionally put a baby gate in the door to keep him in and the kids out, the other is his crate in the dining room - door always left open.

I think the two main things that really worked were the exercise every morning and keeping the dog with me at all times.

Good Luck!
N.

I recently went through the same issues with my dogs. They are reacting in fear to your toddler because he is uncertain on his feet right now. Your Pup has not built trust with your Son yet. In our case, we hired 2 different dog behavior specialists who specifically work with infant to dog behavior issues. This did the trick for us. The trainers taught us A LOT about our dog's behavior, and our child's behavior and how to build the trust and keep your house safe.

I am thrilled to say that we were able to work through our issues and dogs and baby are happy together now.

Don't rush to get rid of your dog as others have suggested. My advice right now is to hire a trainer to come into your house, evaluate the situation, talk to you, and train you how to resolve things. These trainers will also be honest with you about whether or not they feel that your dog will be able to overcome this. In the meantime, separation of dog and baby is a good thing. Structured playtime and integration of the two will be part of your rehabilitation...but keeping them separate until you have a trainer come talk with you is VERY important right now. Your dog needs to have a safe zone that is baby free, and your baby needs a safe zone that is dog free.

I would be happy to email with you about this furhter if you are interested, and if you are in the Raleigh, NC area, I would be more than happy to recommend who we used as trainers.

Your pup is your family too...of coure, your baby comes first, but your pup deserves a chance at rehabilitiation. It is your job to provide the training and environment that builds trust between them. It isn't your dogs fault that you turned his world upside down!

Good Luck to you! I send hugs and wishes for a happy cohabilitation!

I'm sorry dog vs child, child wins every time in my opinion. Dogs can get very territorial and it's natural for them to assert their alpha dog instincts but you would never forgive yourself if something more serious than a nip happened to your son. We had a dog as a child and he bit through my brothers bottom lip, he was gone the next day because my parents couldn't trust that it wouldn't happen again.

I know it's a hard call, but I would be nervous all the time.

Hi A.. I second the advice given to you by several others to find a good trainer, preferably one with breed experience, to evaluate the situation in person and provide you with guidance before you consider re-homing the dog. In the meantime, however, it would be a good idea to make sure your son and the dog are both closely supervised when they are in the same room and to never leave your son alone with the dog. We took a class on "introducing your dog to your baby" before our daughter was born, and that was the number one piece of advice the trainer gave us - no matter how well you think you know your dog and how sweet, friendly, and well-behaved your dog is, don't leave your child alone with the dog, as things can happen in an instant.

The class also had a lot of good advice on how to treat your dog with respect once a new child enters the picture and how to understand and deal with natural feelings of jealousy (after all, the dog was your first baby!) A lot of these centered around making sure the dog has a safe space to go, where he knows the baby is not allowed, and really respecting these boundaries, as well as respecting the dog's personal items (like food). We also learned a lot about how to approach dogs "politely" (i.e., from the side or below, never looming from above or coming at a dog straight on), which we plan to teach our daughter when she's a little older.

If you're in the Raleigh/Durham/CH area and would like the contact info for an excellent trainer we've used and also of the person who taught the class (I believe she published a book as well), just message me privately, and I'd be happy to dig those out and send them to you. I can sympathize with your situation - when my daughter became mobile, the more high-strung of my 2 dogs also did not react terribly well, although fortunately we haven't had to deal with a biting incident! Oh, and just to weigh in on the "boxer debate," I come down firmly on the side of boxers being amazing family dogs! Our boxer was 8 when the baby was born and had never been around kids before - but knowing that boxers have a reputation as being terrific family dogs, we weren't at all surprised that she loves our toddler and lies quietly while my daughter hugs, kisses, and generally climbs all over her!

A.,
It's time your JRT learned that the baby has seniority, like an alpha male. You should research how this can be done effectively. She thinks she's in charge. It has to stop before she does some serious damage. Good luck!

While reading about dogs' behavior recently I came across info saying that they regard infants and very young children as being just another animal, and it isn't till a child get older, understands dogs and can act thoughtfully and responsibly around them that the dogs begin to recognize them as persons. Therefore, it sounds like your Jack Russel is reacting aggressively to your baby just as she would to an animal posing a threat to her.
J.R's are known to be temperamental, sensitive, high strung, very energetic and, yes, even aggressive dogs, and therefore these qualities don't make them such a good pet for a household with very young kids.
If I were you, most especially since she has already bitten your baby, I would make every effort to keep him and the dog apart ... or certainly keep a very watchful eye on both if they are near each other; this is easier said than done, but since you love the dog and doubtlessly would like to keep her, this is probably the best way ... perhaps you can even designate a room or two in your home as being "dog friendly" and keep her there. Another thought: Could be, too, since your son is cruising around now, that the dog regards him as a threat to "her territory".
Finally, you might talk to your vet or a reputable animal society re finding a dog trainer with the know-how to work with your dog to eliminate her aggressive behavior (no doubt you'll have to attend "classes" along with her).
If all else fails to improve the dog's behavior, however, and putting your child's safety foremost, you just may have to find another home for her; if this is the only alternative, as an animal lover I urge you to be very careful about where she goes, and to be sure she's placed in a loving, responsible home. Anyway, best of luck with this very stressful problem.

.

Hi A.,
I am so sorry you are dealing with this situation. It is tough because your dog is a part of the family also. From what I understand from our dog trainer, since your dog and child are at the same level (height wise), your dog thinks your child is just another dog and possibly views him as a threat. It would be heart breaking to have to get rid of your dog - can you possibly keep them separated until your child gets older and understands better and can remove himself from a harmful situation?
Best of luck to you. I really hope you find a solution that works.
Cyndi

HI A.,

I don't think you need anyone to tell you your dog is jealous. Unfortunately, most of the blame is on this breed of dog. My previous next door neighbor had one - previous to her 3 children- and the dog was a terror! He would knock the kids over and steal their food and would nip at them all the time. When she would leave on vacation and I would watch the dog, he would relieve himself all over their house because he was mad. He would jump the electric fence, roam the neighborhood, and return to the door and bark to be let in. This breed demands lots of attention and adding a second one for company will only make it worse because they will act as a pack, with your aggressive dog leading the way. The incessant yipping drove me crazy. I don't know how she could stand it. My current neighbor has a JRT, too and has the same problems. I would consult a JRT breeder or trained to see if there is anything you can do, but this breed is not friendly to small children. I am a little biased. Every tiem I've encountered this breed they were yippy and jumpy and very aggressive. i wish you luck, but I think you know your first priority is to protect your child and other children when he starts having playdates. Good Luck! L.

I know you love your dog but in my opinion the child comes first. If the dog is biting him and growling etc. you do not know what the dog will do next. Your child is learning to be mobile and that is just the way it is. If the dog is a threat, I would not have to think twice if he came down to the dog or my son. I would find the dog a good home and enjoy my child being little and learning.

Professional dog trainers can work wonders- explaining to you how your dog thinks and how you should behave towards both the dog and the baby. I also agree that keeping them separated for now is a good idea, and that things might improve once your son is walking and not too wobbly on his feet. My dog is a terrier mix and a lot older, so she isn't real thrilled with the new baby either but she mostly just avoids him. I'd hate to see you part with the dog too early, and you can maybe nip it in the bud with some minor changes.

Crates are great, but make sure your son isnt allowed to box the dog into it. Mine tried that at the crawling stage and my dog would get really upset. We also got one of these baby gates that has a smaller door set into it that the dog can go through. It looks like a regular white metal gate, but has a small doggie door in it. You can use this to gate off a specific room you dont mind the dog being in, like an office or your bedroom, and the dog can go to "his space" and your son can't follow. We have our dog set up in our bedroom with his crate and all. I got ours at Target in the pet section, not the baby gate section. It is not really a safety gate for babies, just a barrier. You can also get them at pet stores or online pet supply places. It was specifically marketed towards keeping big dogs out of places that cats were allowed, but our terrier fits through the hole just fine.

Good luck!

Maybe the baby did something to the JRT that you didn't see that traumatized her somewhat and now she's 'on the defensive' (where it looks as if she's 'on the offensive'). I'm not much of one for house dogs, but it may be necessary to 'crate' her while the baby's 'on the loose'. I think with patience and understanding this can be resolved, though. Look at it from the dog's perspective, and JRT's are notoriously nervous, jittery, antsy and flighty anyway, right? It's a great opportunity for learning experiences on ALL your parts!

Good luck (and good for you putting your baby first. Some folks don't, I'm afraid).

I have not read the other responses and don't claim to give 'all-inclusive' advice, but I think you need to be careful disciplining your son for approaching the dog. In the dog's mind, the dominant pack member (you) is repremanding a weaker member (son) for messing with him. This just reinforces your JRT's status in the family as being higher than your son.

Keep your son safe, but I would try doing things to show the dog you are #1 and JRT is at the BOTTOM of the pecking order. You might have to be a little mean. Hug and hold your son close to the dog, but snub the dog, even scold him for coming to you for attention while this is going on. Always feed your son BEFORE you feed the dog. You may have to set up some situations where you show your JRT that Jr. is above him. When you cannot be close, I would consider quarentining the dog to another area of the house.

Good luck. I am sure others gave you some good advise, too!

Our JRT bit our daughter when she started crawling as well. We simply kept them separated at all times. I'm a big believer in crates. That poor dog spent lots of time in a crate for a while and was no longer allowed on furniture. Once our daughter started walking things became easier and they are okay together. We always figured she became dominate when she started towering over the dog. Anyway, they play well now although I'll never fully trust the JRT again. I supervise them and she is still crated when there is food on the table or cooking going on.

You can keep the dog but it'll take some extra work to keep your son safe. It is worth it. Dogs that bite don't often get adopted into new families.

get rid of it and wait until child is older to get dog. boxers are not good with kids either.

I hate to say this but it sounds like it might be time to get rid of your dog. I know that some dogs are more territorial than others. If your son isn't bothering him but just 'moving aorund', what will happen if/when he does start to chase the dog? He will for sure get hurt and you don't want that. I would recommend keeping the dog away from your son (in another room, blocked off in the kitchen, basement, outside) or get rid of him. No reason your son should grow up fearing the animal in his house. Or worse - you finding out one day that you dog has biten your child because it was scared and left a huge scar on his face. Not any easy solution by any means...good luck!

I thin k you need to act quickly. MAYBE you can still train the dog, maybe you need to let go of the dog.

http://dogsandstorks.com/ has some excellent information on it for anybody with pets. Ideally that process gets started during pregnancy, before the new child arrives in the home, but with a little bit if luck you may still be bale to change the dynamics.

However, I would not give it too much time if things don't improve quickly.

Best of luck!

I am an animal lover. All pets can be trained to love and also easy to break bad habits if approached correctly. Jrt's are small in size. Your toddler is at the stage of pulling /swatting at objects. Are we talking people too? When the baby swats or pulls on pets~ (i think you were saying alot of "no's"..you can catch his hand in the swatting motion and stop it gently and then say no. As far as the jrt she is only protecting herself! She stands on all 4 legs (lol) that only leaves her mouth- so she bites. You can try the newspaper cause it rattles and scares them ~ or you can try keeping a spray bottle handy of warm water and squirt her each time she gets defensive. Good luck.

I would seriously consider relinquishing him to a local shelter. I would recommend Richardson Rescue in York. They can place your dog in a home without children. They could also help you choose a dog which better suits your circumstance.

www.richardsonrescue.org

Terriers are generally not good with toddlers or children for that matter (unless raised with them as puppies). My mom's terrier bit my son in the face for absolutely no reason one day, so I can relate a little to how you are feeling. Sounds like the dog is dominant aggressive regarding your son, and needs to learn that your son is actually the dominant one. Terriers are also extremely stubborn which makes curbing the behavior difficult. I would try laying the dog on it's back (submissive state) while having your son nearby. Keep tension on his head/neck until the dog until he relaxes- he will try to get up numerous times. Show your son how to pet the dog nicely. This worked for my grandmother's older dog (which we took in recently after she died). Our dog knows that if he even looks at my son (or our cat) the wrong way, he will get my wrath (aka flyswatter). Now, our dog tolerates him quite well and there have been no incidents. Rarely, my son will try and "hug" or "wrestle" with the dog, but unless he is petting nicely, he has to sit in timeout for such an offense. We just try to keep the respect mutual.
The only other thing is to leave the dog outside until your son goes to bed or naps. Then turn him in. I can't say with terriers that it will ever get better, but you never know. You just may have to keep them separated until your son is a little older.