How to stop a Jack Russell barking
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Do Jack Russells bark a lot? Well yes, it’s a fact JR owners know all too well, they are bred to bark to let the hunter know they have found prey.
A Jack Russell bark is part of your dog’s character and, when it’s not excessive, is completely normal behaviour. But it can be a real problem when it’s constant or appears to be aggressive.
How to train a Jack Russell not to bark
Why do Jack Russells bark so much? It might be a sign of a nervous, bored or over-excited dog. Like with many behavioural issues, the key to a happy dog is a consistent calm approach to training, enough exercise and repetitive praise for the right behaviour.
You may be thinking “My Jack Russell barks all the time!”, but do you really know what they are saying. Maybe they aren’t getting walked enough, maybe there is a change to the family dynamic that they aren’t used to, maybe they are suffering from separation anxiety.
We all want a happy, confident dog. A Jack Russell bark can mean something is not quite right, and they are letting us know.
Firstly make sure your JR is getting the right amount of exercise and playtime to stimulate their brain and avoid barking out of boredom. A Jack Russell bark could be a cry for attention, they are smart dogs from a working breed that need a lot of stimulation.
If you don’t have the time to keep your dog busy, you can find a dog walker near you here on Bark.
How do you stop a Jack Russell barking at everything?
By focusing attention on you instead of the cause the barking, you can distract your dog from the behaviour.
Completely ignore attention seeking barking, and only reward them with a reaction for calm behaviour. You can also use soft phrases like “sit” and “calm” repeatedly until the barking stops, at which time good behaviour should be rewarded with affection or a treat.
Mistakes with a Jack Russell bark
The number one mistake people make is to shout at the dog encouraging the scared, angry or protective behaviour.
Stay calm, teach your dog how to deal with situations by example and reward them when they act in the right way.
What’s the easiest way to stop a Jack Russell barking?
Every dog is barking for different reasons at different times but the most common is when someone is at the door or walks past the window.
This is purely protective and generally unnecessary barking. Use an “interrupter”. This is something like a small spray of water or a tea-towel thrown over the head to interrupt the unacceptable behaviour.
Don’t use treats as it can seem like a reward for barking and encourage them to repeat it in the future.
The Jack Russell bark and other dogs
Is your Jack Russell barking at other dogs? This is quite common with smaller breeds, what they lack in size they make up for in volume!
It’s often fear that comes across as aggression, you need to let them know there is nothing to be afraid of.
It can be as simple as remaining calm (not shouting at your dog), talking to the other dog walker, and continuing on thereby ignoring the aggressive behaviour.
A great exercise is to stop, (out of the path of the other dog walker) make them focus on you with a sit command. Then you can treat them, teaching that the other dog is not important and can be ignored.
Never reward over excited behaviour by letting your pup go over to the other dog, only when they are calm are they ready to play with other pups.
Socialising a Jack Russell is extremely important, the more they learn how other dogs behave the less likely they are to be afraid.
Going to dog training classes is an excellent way of doing this. Always keep control of your dog on a short lead, and use a muzzle if necessary.
Should you buy a bark collar for a Jack Russell?
Jack Russell bark collars either spray the dog with citronella, or emit a high-frequency noise whenever it senses barking. They can be immediately effective but can also have a negative effect on your dogs mood.
They aren’t as effective as positive reinforcement training as other noises can also set off the bark collars. This can understandably confuse the dog as they are being punished for doing nothing.
Positive reinforcement works for dogs.
Huff Post
MRI studies have shown that a dogs brain is better wired to associate positive rewards with behaviour that should be repeated.
Ask yourself has shouting at your dog actually ever worked?
All it does is lead to your dog fearing you and to associate you with negativity.
Why is my Jack Russell whining?
Whining constantly for attention can be a trait learned as a puppy. The only way to stop a Jack Russell whining is to completely ignore them and offer no attention or reinforcement.
You can also use an “interrupter” as explained above.
If the whining is completely new and unusual for your dog it could be something more serious like joint pain and a vet should be consulted as soon as possible.
Why does my Jack Russell growl at me?
It’s so important for a dog to have its own private space. A bed or cage in the corner where they won’t be disturbed by anyone (including children).
Like us dogs sometimes just need alone time. Unlike us they rely almost entirely on body language for social cues.
Read more about how your body language might be affecting your dog here.
Owning a dog is a like any relationship, it takes a lot of patience and understanding. A dog that it often scolded is bound to become aggressive, learn more about training a Jack Russell with positive reinforcement here.
How food can affect a Jack Russells barking
Wondering what to feed your JR? Nutrition can play a huge roll in mood, behaviour and general well-being. Read more about feeding a Jack Russell here and what food we choose for our own pups.
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