Will a Jack Russel ever turn on it's owner?

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Answer by Carole
Submitted on 8/31/2003
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That depends on what you mean by "turning on its owner". If you're asking whether or not a JRT will DEFY or CHALLENGE its owner, that depends on the dog and the owner. JRTs are very independent and confident and those qualities can be problematic in the hands of passive, inexperienced owners. Even though JRTs are small, they have strong personalities and require firm, consistent handling from owners who lovingly make it clear to the dog that the dog is NOT the leader of the pack. The leader of the pack goes through doorways first. The leader of the pack eats first. The leader of the pack does not pet or give attention to subordinates on demand from the subordinates. If an owner consistently exhibits "subordinate" behavior (the opposite behaviors of a leader), then the JRT is likely to lose respect for the owner and start challenging the owner. Challenges usually start out in very subtle ways such as refusing to obey simple commands or increasing demands for attention. Eventually, the JRT will stop listening to the owner and start dictating "commands". It will become difficult to handle (more so than usual) and a dog that does not respect its owner can be a problem. If you're asking whether or not a JRT will attack its owner without any provocation, that's a more difficult question to answer. ANY dog is prone to attacking its owner if there is an underlying neurological or other physical problem. For example, there is a theory that Cocker Spaniels have a tendency towards attacking their owners without provocation. This tendency is referred to as The Rage Syndrome and seem to affect the American Cockers. It is thought that this syndrome is caused by a neurological disorder that is genetic in origin. However, the percentage of dogs that are afflicted is very low. There is also a similar myth about Dobermans turning on their owners. The reasons for the popularity of that myth are unknown. As for a JRT attacking an owner without provocation, a JRT is more likely to challenge and defy than to try to physically hurt its owner. An owner of a dog, especially a breed that is inclined to be independent and headstrong, needs to believe that he/she is the leader of the pack and act accordingly. Dogs think differently than humans and most of the problems between people and dogs stem from this fact. Since JRTs are usually very bright, an owner of a JRT must enjoy being the leader to avoid any potential problems. That's why obedience training is so important for headstrong dogs. It gives them boundaries and structure and reinforces the leadership role in the owner. My advice to anyone who wants to own a JRT is this: if you want a dog that lives to please you, don't get a JRT.

Answer by Deanie Duck
Submitted on 10/27/2003
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I have to disagree with the comment that Jack's are born not to please their owners. Yes they can be at times demanding dogs, but their loyalty and friendly nature out weigh their sometimes constant need for attention. Like most small dogs, they require a great deal of exercise and stimulation. Jack's are very easily trained, mine fetches the paper, "sings" when the phone rings when I'm out in the garden. She can sit, beg, dance, walk on two legs, jump hurdles, and will sit with a big bone in front of her but will not touch it without permission. These tricks were all taught with love and food rewards, and she is only 8 months old. She will perform these tricks to "sneak" treats. However she gets on beautifully with my three small children, is not jealous of them or my husband, and knows better than to chase the cat. All in all, they are very like-able, trainable dogs, who will learn their place in your pack if you teach them.

Answer by pepper
Submitted on 3/5/2004
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I have a ratjack. He is so precious and makes a great companion. He has never been agreesive towards me and knows his place well. The only dog i have ever been around that got overly agressive was a pit bull. The dog could not tell the difference between playing and attacking in the " heat " of playing. As soon as you smacked him and stood up he would quit and look real sad but boy he could do some damage in the blink of an eye. He was brought up by a very sweet and loving couple and as much as I love those dogs that once incident really scared me. A lot of dogs that have agressive natures or turn come from homes that are not stable, just like kids. This is the only problem i have with getting a dog when he is not a pup. Dogs are like people, they need stable homes!

Answer by Wounded in Wisconsin
Submitted on 8/2/2005
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I have a 4 yr. old Jack and he nearly sent me to the ER one night. Me and the guys were drinking out in the yard and some wiseacre gives Earl ( my Jack ) a couple of sips of beer. Well, Earl kind of took to the beer and demanded more. Of course we all obliged. So Earl starts staggering a bit and I reach down to pick him up to take to the house, and he lit into me like it was his last meal. All I saw was teeth and his tail going and then I'm bleeding and Bobby rushed in and grabbed the bandages. Anyways, Earl finally chilled out and kinda laid in the grass for a while and slept it off. I don't know about them turning on you, but I DO know not to give them beer. They make mean drunks.

Answer by Amy
Submitted on 10/16/2005
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Concerning the Jack Russell's not wanting to please, I agree with the first respondent. I have two dogs, one's a Jack Russell and one's a Border Collie. I trained them both, and in fact trained the border collie when I was 12 (she's older). While the Jack Russell knows commands like sit, lie down, roll over, and stay, the border collie does these commands just because she wants to please me, where the Jack is a little more stubborn. She understands that I have dominance (which is displayed when she rolls over on her back when she's in trouble) however she will not always do the tricks just to please me... I sometimes have to bribe or yell. Maggie, the border collie, will sit as soon as I say so. Although Jack's are definitely trainable, there is a big difference between the amount of time you have to spend with a stubborn dog like a Jack and a friendly, always wanting to please dog like a border collie.

Answer by Meg
Submitted on 4/20/2006
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I have a 6 month old jack, she gets extremely angry and aggressive if you come near her when she is chewing on a bone. So much so that you cant even get it away from her with your shoe, I had to put on an old baseball glove to get it away from her. I held her a few minutes after I got the toy away from her and put it out of site, she was doing fine sitting in my lap then all of the sudden she turned towards me, I thought she was going to lick my face, but she bit me. She bit my face all the way from under my eye to my lip. I have teeth marks stretching the length of my cheek. And a deep cut in my lip. I am now terrified of her. I don't know what to do, she has been to obedience class. I think that getting rid of her is my only option. I will be too scared to ever handle her again. I am horribly distraught over the situation.

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Question by James
Submitted on 8/4/2003
Related FAQ: rec.pets.dogs: Jack Russell Terriers Breed-FAQ
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Will a Jack Russel ever turn on it's owner?

Answer by ggsal@fiberpipe.net
Submitted on 9/4/2003
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I have a nine month old female Jack Russell. she has been great until now. Sometimes when I reach to pet her she will jump at me and like she is going to tear me up and sounds like it. I go flying backwoard because I do not want to get bit. She has never bit me and we have never hit her. The only problem I see with us is that my Husband gives her and lets her do anything whe want to do. Please tell me is a trate for a Jack Russell to bite people and should I be scared to have her around other people. She has been great around our great grandchildren who can roll all over her. Thank You. ggsal@fiberpipe.net

Answer by ggsal@fiberpipe.net
Submitted on 9/4/2003
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I would like to know how close you can breed your dog's (like sister-brother) (father-daughter) and so on. Thank you Sally ggsal@fiberpipe.net)

Answer by Laurie in CT
Submitted on 9/27/2003
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I agree with Carol. Take your Jack to an obedience class. Teach your Jack simple tricks and commands where YOU are in control. Also keep in mind I have owned two Jacks with very different lineage. One was a Parson type and the other a shortie. Both love to "growl and play". Someone not familiar with Russells may think they are being aggressive but they may be playing. Try this test. Play with a small toy they are fond of and if they start to growl and act aggressive, drop they toy and stop immediately. If they stop and then bring the toy back to you as if they want to continue to play they are not being aggressive they are just aggressively playing.

Answer by Ang
Submitted on 10/10/2003
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I feel any dog no matter what breed can turn on it's owner. I have a pit bull and have had him since he was 6 weeks old. He is a big baby but I would never risk abusing or making the dog uncomfortable because whether it is a pit bull or a poodle it can turn if it feels threatened.

Answer by Ginny
Submitted on 12/31/2003
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My JRT has been attacking me without provocation. At first he would attack my feet if he was sleeping with me on the couch and I moved them. I thought he was just startled. But yesterday I had a coughing fit and he attacked me in the kitchen. I grabbed a pillow and managed to lock him out of the house. I'm afraid to keep him and can't understand it because I've taken him to obedience training and walk with him in the woods every day. Perhaps he has that rage thing? He's really vicious when it happens - like Mr. Hyde. Can anyone advise on this??

Answer by Tricia T.
Submitted on 1/14/2004
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I have the same problem as you Ginny. On 11-13-04 I had to bring my cousin to the ER because he attacked her foot and ended up with 15 Stitches. Right before it happened I was holding him, giving him love and attention and my cousin was also. Then out of no where while we went to get a cup of coffee he went crazy. I really don't know what to do AND IF ANYONE has advise please HELP!

Answer by dogtrainer
Submitted on 1/28/2004
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Get ride of the dog. Any dog that attacks it's MASTER, and that is what you have to remember is that you are the MASTER, should not be kept around the house. My father has a farm and we have had many dogs over time and anytime one of them suddently showed signs of attacking one of his kids he would get ride of it. After all, a dog is not worth the suffering of a human being.

Answer by joe
Submitted on 2/6/2004
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i have a 4 month old jack russel and has a brilliant nature he does not bite but when u play with a toy with him he really goes wild ,he bit my finger while we were playing but that was not his fault he would not bite me on purpose

Answer by sammy
Submitted on 2/13/2004
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i have a rotwiler cross jack jussel and i was giveing him hes dinner and he eat hes and he wanted more and tryed to nick my other dogs dinner my boyfreind tryed to pull the the rotwiler away from my other dog and he whent mental and grabed my boyfreinds arm and wouldent let go i will never have a rotwiler agian!! they r not the sort to have when u have kids 1 min hes nice and the next hes gos mental

Answer by DeLaine
Submitted on 4/9/2004
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I have a 2 Y/O JRT and he is very energetic, he has always been a vigorous player. He is very shy of people that he is not familiar with. While walking he will pull aggressively on the leash to try to get to another dog larger than him. Skipper loves to stay busy playing ball (his obsession). He will sit, lay, beg, stand, but the only thing I can get him to fetch is the ball. He is stubborn though, and will do everything to try and get his way. JRTs are also very possive of their things, and MASTERS. Hang in there, they are worth it!

Answer by Jessica
Submitted on 4/22/2004
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i have a one year old Jack Russel Terrier with a two year old. They love each other to death. I hate it when people say they are not good with kids. They love little kids. i mean sometimes My JR Eddie will play rough but he is a sweet as a doll. He sleeps with me through the night and he walks great on a leash. My JRT is not possesive, my 2 year old and him share there toys. When the JR is eating my two year old can pet him w/ out my dog getting mad. JRT are great with kids. Or maybe just mine. ;)

Answer by kay
Submitted on 5/20/2004
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yes any dog could turn on it's onwer if you hurt it by mistake?

Answer by scooter
Submitted on 10/29/2004
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Yes, a JRT will turn on you--his back that is--when he runs to catch and play with his tennis ball. OR, to catch a rabbit, cat, squirrel, crows and other pests not welcome in "his" yard. They always get away. The smartest and nicest dogs ever made. They will only love you to death.

Answer by Stacy
Submitted on 2/15/2005
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We have a two year old JRT. She is sweet and does aim to please. Not to say she isn't headstrong. But from early on..she learned who the alpha dog was. She looks to my husband more then me as head of household. But she still minds and listens to me. We have a 4 month old baby...she likes to lick him on her own time...but if you force him around her, she gets a little nervous. We are not sure what this will bring once he begins to crawl. She has growled at him before, and then ran away. Hopefully that is as far as it goes. We would hate to get rid of her, she's apart of our family. We will just have to wait and see.

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Answer by macca
Submitted on 4/26/2005
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yes i reckon any dog should leave its owner only under the circumstances that its been treated poorly but if you love your dog and care for it which I'm sure if you go on this site you should love dogs.

Answer by bling to da bling
Submitted on 8/31/2005
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i have a female jack russel which is two and she has bit me a few times so they can turn on there owners

Answer by Raybees
Submitted on 10/20/2005
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I put my Jack Russel Sammy to sleep yesterday after 14 years... My heart is broken! Sammy was the sweetest dog you can imagine. Great with babies and children. Of course he chased a cat once in a while, but stopped if the cat didn't move and walked around him. He never ever bit someone, I always kissed him on the nose. He died of cancer. Terrible! We will miss him dearly....

Answer by JC
Submitted on 7/11/2006
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I have a 5 month old JR. When he is eating trash or sraps on the street or floor and you approach him he starts to growl.

Answer by Erica
Submitted on 8/22/2006
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I have a 4 year old jack russell that was given away to us. I love the dog to death but I can't get in my own bed without him growling at me and then if you try to move him he pees. well this morning he tried to attack my leg, he never got to bite me because I screamed and I guess it scared him. What do I do, I said I would never have a dog that was mean...

Answer by Peanut
Submitted on 11/1/2006
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I have 3 Jacks.. All are good with kids.. if the kids are good to them

Answer by sassy
Submitted on 11/19/2006
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you cant get rid of a dog just because it is aggressive its not fair on the dog you do not know what has happened to it to turn it aggressive and how can a dog turn aggressive unless its been mistreated or overly spoilt

Answer by UnhappyOwner
Submitted on 1/24/2007
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Any dogs turning on its owner ought to be put to sleep.

Answer by majestakayq
Submitted on 3/13/2007
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i have a jack russel who loves girls. he is quite the stud! he is a great boy. i also have a pit bull jack russell cross. she is absolutely beautiful! has anyone ever seen such a thing? the dad is my jack russel and the mom is my pit bull. some of the pups look like pit bulls, totally, and some look like giant, skinny jack russells.