Over protective dog....why?

Question

I have two dogs and the smallest of the two won't let the other one near me without a fight...seems he's the boss....he can get a more than nasty at times and made my other dogs nose bleed on the last attack....Whats the best way to deal with this...the boss is a Jack russel terrier and the weaker one is a labrador....I scold the terrier everytime but he still does it..

Answer 1

The Dog sees you as a vital member of your family pack and wants no harm to come to you.
What you need to do is show your dependant, in ways a dog can understand. Don't let your dog constantly rest on you, he's trying to mother you, just let him do this when you call him.
Giving them separate areas of the house may help them distinguish territory and not fight so much. Simple things like not leaving food out will make them see you as boss, what you really need to do is gain your dominance back!

Answer 2

You need to become the leader of the pack.

I'd suggest putting the terrier on a leash and hold it to one side and have the lab come up on the other side. As soon as the terrier growls or begins to act up, he should get a sharp yank on the leash and a verbal scolding.

Repeat this until the terrier manages to sit still for a few seconds without reacting to the lab, then praise and pet him.

After that, there will undoubtedly be more events, and in each one, you have to be the top dog and break it up. It may take a lot of patience on your part to break the terrier of that habit.

As always, every training session should end on a positive note, so you'll have to try to end it when the terrier is quiet for at least a few seconds. Take him away and let the lab out or remove yourself from between them, assuming they get along when you're not present.

Answer 3

Dog training is full of cliches. One of which is "SAY WHAT YOU MEAN. MEAN WHAT YOU SAY." You tell us that you scold the aggressor each time that it attacks. If you were to do it properly, and at the right time, it would not do it again! Your dog needs a short, sharp shock basically. You seem to be unable to do it by voice alone. I would not recommend this to anyone but when your dog is attacking give him a sharp slap on the rump with the end of a lead! If you can do it without him knowing where it has come from then so much the better! Accompany that action with the word "NO" and mean that too!
I advise this guardedly because I will probably get a lot of complaints from other answerers now but I can assure them that this would not be my first course of action!
Do this action correctly and really mean it, then you will not have to do it again! You have let this go on for too long!
Dog training from afar like this is difficult so get your timing right!

For shelleysowner..Mic Martin and I have e-mailed each other. We have a lot in common and our professional history is much the same!

Answer 4

Like a lot of Jack Russel's! Sounds like he thinks he's pack leader and it's his job to protect you (his alpha female!) - Has he had his nuts done? That can often calm them down if he hasn't. Otherwise I would suggest the "cold shoulder" for him. Make sure he knows that you are the boss, not him, by all the usual stuff you probably know; you go through doors first, you eat first, no greeting until you've been in the house at least five minutes, no jumping up etc etc.

Answer 5

The dog sees you as his property and when he causes chaos (just like a child), he gets your attention. Even if you are scolding him you are giving him your time. Try shutting him away from you as a punishment or give treats to the other dog to show that ONLY good behaviour will get your attention, also muzzle him every time there is an event as he could turn on anyone else who he feels threatened by. You don't say if you got both dogs at the same time. If he was first, he will see this behaviour as a totally normal pecking order. ( he knew you first)

Answer 6

He's not protecting you, he is guarding his 'female' from another male! Your right to say he's the boss, but unfortunately he sees himself as boss of you too. All your scolding is doing is re-enforcing this behaviour. The very act of talking to him, whether it's in a loud or soft voice means you are paying attention. You need help so see your Vet or go to a dog behaviourist! Seperate the dogs till you can get help before the damage to the Labrador is so bad you need a Vet's urgent attention.

Answer 7

A. training
B. time out every time he fights the lab
C. Make sure that you aren't giving the lab more attention then the terrier, think about it like the terrier is a 3 year old and the lab is the new kid in the family (having less attention than a new baby makes a kid very jealous and cranky)

Answer 8

I had this situation happen with my dogs years ago, while my dogs weren't the same breeds, I had a Rottweiller and a Sheltie and the sheltie attacked the Rottie!! Anyway the way we overcame it was to take the Sheltie outside each time he attacked the Rottie, and scold him. I never hit my dogs, just use my voice. I would then make him sit out there by himself for a few minutes, before allowing him back in doors. Eventually he gave up attacking the Rottweiller and they became good mates............. Give it a try........... good luck.

Answer 9

He feels that he is the protector and Jack Russells are very very brave and lack nothing in courage and he wants to stamp his authority down...The best thing is to seek help from a professional source to try to combat this of im afraid the terrier will have to be separated from you because its not fair on the labrador..

Answer 10

The dog has your interest in mind
he's protecting the alpha female and in turn establishing he's the boss
try a spary of water
in a cannister
every time he does something like go for the other dog spray him and shout no
affirm it when he obeys with a treat and he'll soon get the message that the other dog is safe