I have a Jack Russell, and sometimes she goes really hyper........?

Question

....in the park and she runs away for a while and completly ignores our calls when she sees a squirrel e.c.t, does this happen to anyone else?

Answer 1

Jack russells are hyperactive terriers and they hunt. When they see something they want to chase then they stop thinking and just react.
You can get a harness and a long leash which winds into the handle. I'm guessing that after the squirrel disappears she calms down and will come back?
Unless you're angry with her, in which case she might decide that its not a good idea.
You can retrain her, but it takes patience and you must do the same thing every time. And with JR's its never a 100% certainty!
The first thing is to never, ever punish her for running off. She'll see it as punishment for being caught.
When you call her and she comes back, even if its taken her 10 minutes, you must reward her for coming back.
If you use the harness and long leash it will give you control, so even if she goes for a squirrel she can't escape. Just wait until she calms down, call her and reward her.
The next thing is to try to teach her a stop command. You need to be able to predict when she is about to rush off, you'd say "stop" and the theory is that she'll stand still. You need a lot of practice when there are no squirrels around, so try it out when you're walking to the park. When she gets to the kerb, you say "stop" and stop dead and stop her walking forwards. Praise her, but don't let her walk any further until you say "ok" or "heel" or whatever and walk on. You might get on better if you go to dog training classes.
You need to practice this over and over for at least two weeks on your way to and from the park with her always on the lead. Practice it in the house, in the garden, on the pavement but nowhere near squirrels.
Eventually she will stop out of habit when you say "stop". But that doesn't mean she'll have enough self control to do it if she see's a squirrel. Practice in the park, but don't test her. Reward her if she does it and ignore her behaviour if she doesn't, just stop her moving forwards.
The real test will come if you can catch her about to rush off and get her to stop; in that case reward her as if she'd picked the winning lottery numbers then go and look for the squirrel together but don't wind her up, stay calm. If she thinks you are depriving her of squirrel hunting she'll be off first chance she gets, but you're just trying to get the message through to her that she must come back when she's called, not take away her fun.
And don't wind her up over cats because you'll have the same problem, but in your back garden.

Answer 2

I have a pure Jack Russell and three of her pups, they are typically hyper - last year the pure russell disappeared whilst out walking, she was gone overnight. When we found her we realised she had been fighting with something - she had won - and presumed that she was protecting the rest of our woofers and us which is why she saw off the threat.
She was really badly scratched and had lost some teeth but she's a pretty strong old girl !!
Jack Russells can be very disobedient when in "hunt" mode, we have never had a problem until that one time.
If you are going to areas where your dog may run after something then you need to be extra observant and see things before she does so that you can call her to you and prevent her running off - get her attention on you not the squirrel !
You should also work, at home, on her "come" command - keep her on a short lead and call her to you, reward her "come" with a treat. Gradually make the distance further so that she still "comes" to you when you call her. So long as she gets a treat and praise she should always come back.
Once she has responded to at home training get in the habit of calling her back once she goes past a certain distance when you are out, this will get her used to being called back - still for a treat - so that she will, hopefully, rather come back for her praise and a treat than chase that squirrel next time.
Alternatively use an extendable lead so that you control how far she goes.
Jack russells are pretty smart dogs and are normally quite eager to please so she should respond well to the praise and treats !!

Answer 3

Jack Russell Terriers are bred to be courageous, active dogs. They are superb ratters and will think nothing of disappearing down a hole to take on a fox or a badger.

Despite their popularity as pet dogs, they are still used as working terriers and still have their strong instinct to hunt.

Of course she is going to chase squirrels - what do you expect her to do?

The reason she ignores you is because when a dog is engaged in such a basic activity as hunting they are so focused on what they are doing and are having such an adrenalin rush that they just do not hear or see anything but their prey.

If you know she does this you should attempt to recall her before she gets into a run. Easier said than done - it takes really good timing on the handlers part and you need to have very good basic obedience to start with.

I presume when you say 'hyper' you mean hyperactive? Hyperactivity is activity in excess of the accepted norm. A Jack Russell is an extremely active dog and I doubt very much that she is suffering from the correct definition of 'hyperactivity'.

And, yes, of course it happens to other people.

Particularly those who don't understand that they have a wolf at the end of the leash.

Answer 4

You're lucky she comes back at all! Terriers can rarely be trained to come back when there is something interesting to chase. Many are lost or killed by cars. Keep her in a fenced area or let her drag a 100 foot long leash.

Read some really good books:
Don't Shoot the Dog - Pryor
Training Your Dog: The Step by Step Method - Volhard
What All Good Dogs Should Know - Volhard
Good Owners, Great Dogs - Brian Kilcommins
Dog Problems - Benjamin
Cesar's Way - Cesar Millan

Also, watch the Dog Whisperer on the National Geographic Channel. Cesar Millan is the best trainer I've ever seen on tv.

Answer 5

typical HYPER jack russell. Definitely keep her on a leash, a LONG one. Jack Russell's were breed for hunting "tunneling" animals, rabbits, etc....
"Jack Russell Terriers are considered an intelligent, high-energy breed. Their compact size, friendly and inquisitive nature, and intelligence make them popular as pets. Built for speed and strength, they will always be ready to play. *********However, they require consistent training and a good deal of attention and exercise to maintain their temperament and to occupy their minds. Jack Russells who are not trained on a consistent basis, or are not exercised regularly, may occasionally exhibit aggressive or unmanageable behaviour, including excessive barking, escaping from the yard, or digging in unwanted places inside and outside the house.********* In America, several Jack Russell rescue networks have to work constantly to find temporary and permanent homes for JRTs whose owners could not meet these requirements for keeping JRTs as house pets.

The old terriermen wanted terriers that would bark incessently at their prey. The dog could then be located underground, and dug out if necessary. As a result, JRTs are most definitely vocal dogs. They lack the nervousness that makes so many small dogs "yappy". JRTs rarely bark without good reason.

Most JRTs easily mingle with children, though they don't tolerate even unintentional abuse. Most are outgoing, and very friendly towards other dogs, but a good number show same-sex aggression issues. JRT's do tend to exhibit a "Napoleon Complex" regarding larger canines that can get them into dangerous situations. Their fearlessness can scare off a larger animal, but their apparent unawareness of their small size can lead to a lopsided fight if not kept in check."

Answer 6

Jack Russell are hyper by nature. I would not let her off-leash at a public park until she could learn the command "come" -- this is unsafe for her and others. Take her to another training class or practice more at home using the proper techniques.

Answer 7

When she sees a squirrel may be a pertinant phrase. JTR's are one of those breeds with such an inborn desire to hunt that if they see somehing in the "quarry" catogory the brain goes "off" & they have room for only ONE thing in it - the hunt. Bet she doesn't even hear you. My advice would be the same as for a retired track greyhound - never off leash except in a secure safe fenced area.
Been there done this, have the T-shirt. Our JTR spent 16 hr a day hunting rats on a farm & would be stopped by nothing to get one.

Answer 8

hoy loy I know that feeling!! I live on a farm though so it ok for her to run free! She has hyper hours in the house though, so i have to put the china away!! Anyway, it's normal, all my neighbors also have Jack russels, on a count of the fact that they are fast runners to catch rabbits and foxes. They have trouble with hyper times too. Jack russels are fast learners, teach it to come and to stay!

Answer 9

I have a Patterdale terrier, a bit like a smaller Jack Russell, she is also hyper, & although she understands commands, she chooses to ignore them when we are out. I had too many incidences of her running away towards busy roads etc. I now walk her with a tracking lead, it's 20m long, I got mine on ebay, it means she can run as fast as she likes to quite distance away, but is never out of my grip. I find this works really well for both of us as I'm no longer anxious when we are out....good luck!!!

Answer 10

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