When you first train a Jack Russell puppy, it’s easy to make mistakes. At first, puppy care seems simple: feed the puppy on time, give him a place to sleep, and everything will be fine. Then you start to discover that things are not so simple. Little accidents start to appear on your carpet. Your puppy starts pinching your hands with those sharp little teeth. You find chewed socks and shoes all over the house. Suddenly, that cute little fluff ball starts to turn into a bit of a dread. It’s time to make sure you avoid the major mistakes involved in Jack Russell puppy training so that this time runs smoothly as possible.
Jack Russell puppy house training
When you start house training, avoid punishing your puppy for making a mistake by going to the bathroom in the wrong place. This is the number one mistake new owners make. Don’t yell at the puppy or rub his nose in his mess; this is confusing and scary for a puppy and does not teach him what you really want him to do. Instead of punishing him, you should give him regular opportunities to do the right thing; in other words, take it outside many times during the day, especially after drinking and eating, and before and after sleeping. Then when he goes to the right place, give him a reward in the form of food and some praise and hugs.
Biting and biting
The common reaction most owners have when a puppy bites, again, to punish the puppy. Again, this may cause more problems than it solves. Biting is a natural behavior for puppies: they have to learn from other members of their pack not to bite. Now your family is your puppy’s pack, so you need to teach the puppy not to bite hard. Being a good pack leader is a big part of Jack Russell puppy training. To do this, be sure to interrupt any play or play when the puppy becomes overly excited and bites. You don’t want to associate good things with biting. This way, the puppy will learn that biting leads to the end of the game, which is bad.
You can also use a technique called a mouth grip. This is where you gently hold the puppy’s jaws closed for a few seconds when he bites. This is based on the natural behavior of wild dogs. In the wild, mothers use their jaws to keep a puppy’s mouth closed and teach them when they step out of line. Just be careful not to squeeze or cover the puppy’s nostrils, it shouldn’t be unpleasant for the puppy. Training a Jack Russell puppy should be a positive growth experience for you and your puppy.
Destruction of clothing and furniture
Understand that it is completely natural for a puppy to chew and destroy things in his environment, and again, punishing the puppy by yelling or hitting him is a bad idea. Instead, you need to provide the puppy with plenty of chewy toys and treats to keep him busy. Exercise also helps alleviate boredom – the most destructive chewing occurs because the puppy is left alone for a long period of time with nothing to do.
Training a Jack Russell puppy takes time and patience, and there are many mistakes an owner can make if they don’t have the correct information up front.
