How smart is a Boston Terrier/Jack Russell mix?

Question

I mean so far, she knows sit, stay, no...and "I am going to ignore you because I see people that I want to say hi to"...

She is 5 months old. Has a TON of energy (which I love) and beats up on my cat (they really actually play well together)

I am going to send to to obediance class probably starting in May....

She seems smart...She is really good at ignoring me when she has her mind set on something...she is soooooo friendly!!

How can I go about training her til I can get her into class? (besides shoving her full of treats)

Answer 1

I highly recommend downloading these e-books. Ed Frawley is an owner/breeder/trainer of German Shepherd Dogs and is VERY knowledgeable about training issues. Laying a foundation now will prevent future problems. You pup has already started training you so now it's time for you to let her know who is really in charge.

http://leerburg.com/dogtrainingebooks.htm

BTW Starting classes now will get Emma very important socialization in a controlled environment. Bad experiences now can ruin a dog for life which is why obedience classes are so convenient. I do not recommend the Petsmart/Petco classes. I've gone and they weren't great. When selecting an obedience class, call before enrolling and ask if you can sit in on a class (your dog may not be welcome at this time) to see if you like the training methods. If you like the instructor and the training, ask if you may bring your dog to meet the instructor. If your dog doesn't like him/her then things will not progress as quickly. Don't be afraid to ask questions. The most important ones in my opinion are these.

Do you allow or require treats for training? (I don't like to use treats and prefer praise but some people do prefer treats. Make sure your preference is allowed.)

What type of leash and collar are required? (I prefer a training collar and a leather leash but some places may require a flat buckle collar, halti, or even a harness. Again, let your comfort level and preference decide for you. If your instructor uses a training collar, make sure s/he knows how to use it. The SHOULD NOT choke the dog with it ever!)

What type of corrections are used? (Pretty self explanatory.)

What will we learn? (Self explanatory.)

Are shots, worming, heart worm tests, or altering required? (Self explantory.)

How long is the course and how much does it cost? (a course should be at least 8-10 weeks and your dog may not go to the first one depending on the instructor. Some prefer the first lesson just to be a get together to find out if you have questions or specific problems you need help with. The cheapest is not always the best but you do need to find one that you can afford. Expect around $100.)

Answer 2

When introducing two dogs, both should be on a leash. Get your spouse, an older child, or a friend to hold one dog's leash while you handle the new dog; that sends an unmistakable message to the other dog that the newcomer is welcome by the pack leader (you) and that he should follow your example. Every case is different. Initial introductions can prompt love at first sight or the opposite. A baby gate is a great tool for introductions. It keeps pets separated while allowing them limited interaction through the grillwork. Once you are satisfied the resident dog understands the newcomer is a part of the family (and vice versa), you can take down the gate. Usually, it's the resident dog that takes charge, but that's not always the case. There may be some hissing or growling, but unless the situation escalates to imminent attack, let the pets sort things out. Interrupting too soon may actually delay the determination of who's to be top dog, and force a replay of the display at a later date.

Answer 3

You already started with the basics such as "Sit", "Stay" and "No" which is pretty good. Just revise them over with her so she'll remember. You could try hand signals, such as holding one finger out for her to sit, it comes in handy one day and is quite impressive. Some dogs thrive on praise, some on treats, some on toys, so maybe you could try just praising her or using a clicker so that she doesn't get too fat. :)

As for the heading question, it really depends. Dogs to me are smart no matter what but their intelligence varies from dog to dog. Not species, just the dog.

Hope this helps!

P.S. Her ignoring you is not really a good thing and you shouldn't praise her for that. If you find it cute, that's okay but training demands a lot of attention on your dog's part. That's why some experts advise owners to keep lessons short so that the owners don't explode in the end because the dog isn't paying attention.

Answer 4

keep her on a leash till you have controll of her and she is paying attention to her lessons, kind firm and patients, in other words postive training , myself I don't train with treats, I use repitition and praise,

Answer 5

Be her leader...don't let her control you...read Ceasars way and watch the dog whisperer on animal planet...he's a smart guy!

Answer 6

my jrt is a stinkin genius... a wild man, but genius. i just spend time with him teaching him tricks like sit and stay. he is only 4 months old so we are waiting to get him in school too.

Answer 7

Any dog is smart: It depends on how it was raised.