h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hi. I have recently got a Jack Russell puppy. At the moment, any hair I have left is GREY!! Can someone please give me some tips on how I can stop my puppy biting my poor kids ankles!!

Thanks

Ha! Yes, I'd get used to grey hair from now on, if I were you.

OK. What your puppy is doing is testing his boundaries with the rest of what he sees as his 'pack'. It's the kind of rough-and-tumble behaviour you see from wild dogs, and isn't meant to be viscious.

Broadly speaking, there are two ways to break a behaviour pattern in a dog. One is to completely ignore it: after all, pretty much everything a dog does is to gain your attention. I doubt that this will be practical in this instance.

The other way is to 'surprise' the dog. For example, as soon as he starts the biting, make a loud noise (maybe get a referees' whistle or something similar) and say 'No' sternly. Some owners will also tap the nose of the puppy. This will work. However, you must remember to be consistant with discipline with a Jack Russell, as they are extremely willful.

A third method (which I didn't find very helpful with my own Jack) is to hold his jaws together when he is misbehaving: in the wild, a mother dog will bite the muzzle of a troublesome pup, and this replicates that behaviour.

If all else fails, don't be afraid to get a trainer in for a couple of sessions. We did this, and it turned a small hairy monster into a much loved family pet.

Above all, do persevere. They really are special little dogs once they get out of 'childhood', and I guarantee that any work you put in now will be rewarded hundredfold!

Thank you very much. Will persevere and let you know how I get on.