Hello,

Let me first say I love dogs and all animals. So if these seems harsh you have to understand IT IS JUST THAT BAD.

Ok, my husband and I adopted our Jack Russel Terrier from the humans society last May. He has been with us for a little over a year now and he has only gotten worse from day one.

At first he just simply had an out door problem. We fixed it soon after but he still has accidents. Honestly I think the dog is doing it on purpose when he does. But whatever.

Over the past 6 months he has just developed about 20 bad habits and he just keeps getting worse. I will list them.

-He opens the fridge and eats EVERYTHING
-he gets into the garbage and spreads it all through out the house. (TMI WARNING he would eat my pads)
-He pees in our bedroom only
-he gets on the table
-he climbs on things when we aren't home and pushes breakables onto the floor.
- he climbs the entertainment center so he can see out side
-he will bite us if we try to move him out of our bed
-he trys and has bitten my husband when he is getting ready for work. the other day he leaned in to kiss me and Max bit his chin.
-when someone leaves, touches their keys or coat he barks at them and jumps 4 feet in the air nipping at them
- he pulls when we take him for a walk to the point of making himself blue in the face sometimes passing out. ( harness doesn't work he wont even move if you put on on him)
-have i mentioned he has escaped from crates. He bent the metal bars on one crate. Opened the doors on another and ripped his pet carrier in half. I mean he took of the top half.
-if a stranger trys to pet him he bites them
-he bites other dogs and barks at everything that walks past the house
-when we try to leave he runs out between our legs to go with us


I can go on for hours. Pretty much he has anxiety, can not be alone, and is a TERROR. We have tried training him. Crates obviously do not work. Rewarding does not work. Repetition does not work. I am at the end of my rope here. I am 7 months pregnant and have been trying so hard to get him trained before the baby is here. I fear he will harm the baby because he is so jealous. honestly I want to take him back, I have argued with my husband to just take him back, but he feels we have a responsibility to him. I don't. I think there is something mentally unstable with this dog. I fear him. He turns on us for NO REASON. I don't know what else to do. Should we take him back to the shelter? I can not afford thousand of dollars of dog training. I feel the shelter did not tell us the truth and I am angered and will never get a dog again after this. I think he was abused even though they insisted that he was not. I don't know what to do here. HELP!?!

[lulusmom]

With your inability to train the dog by now, I have a concern for the baby who will be making his or her grand entrance into the world in less than 60 days. I absolutely adore dogs; however, dogs that are out of control, especially ones that bite cannot be trusted around babies. I admire your husand greatly for owning up to his responsibility as a pet owner; however, at this late date, you are running of time. I think your only options are seeking help from a professional trainer or doing everything in your power to find the dog a home with someone that knows the breed and can deal with his issues. I would hope that there is a JRT rescue within driving distance and I would certainly contact them as opposed to returning the dog to the humane society which could be a death sentence for him. Some breed specific rescues are also willing to coordinate travel arrangements across state lines to save a dog. I've driven rescued dogs from California to Arizona to get them to a safe haven in other states as far away as New York.

Good luck and congratulations on your new bundle of joy.

Well, that's what happens if you get a dog from a rescue or pound, they may have behavior problems. Now, all you can do is hire a trainer. Put the money on your credit card. Please don't take the dog back to the shelter to be killed. Your husband is right, you have a responsibility toward him now. Still, you need to get him under control so he doesn't hurt the baby.

Also, the dog sounds rambunctious, yes, but that is the personality that terriers have. You should have been prepared for that when choosing a terrier.

Hello Ashley,
I agree with wouldbedogowner that you should hire a dog trainer. You may still try to get some dog training guide and maybe something will work, but I guess hiring a trainer will be the best thing.

[lil mutt]

looks like you need some serious training for your dog....

I would have to agree with lulusmom. If you have tried everything as you say and he is still showing these behaviors then breed rescue would be the best thing with a new baby on the way. Not only for the babys safety, but for your peace of mind as well. I too had a dog that would destroy any crate he was put in, but thankfully that was his only problem, so I know how frustrating that can be. To me it sounds like some of his behaviors are from boredom, the only problem with that is, that with a new baby you will have even less time for the dog. I applaude you and your husband for putting up with as much as you have for as long as you have. But sometimes you just have to say this isnt working and maybe a new owner and situation would be better for everyone. You husband needs to understand that with the problems you are having with the dog, the dog cant be very happy either in that situation, and let breed rescue find him a home where he may do better. Its not anything you have or havent done, its just the situation and dog. Not all dogs are going to be good for all situations. My best of luck with whatever you decide to do.

Well if it's just a pup you could try baby gates about the peeing problem you should try training pads if that dosen't work I don't know what will I have a dog named oreo she's the same way I think she's untrainable but don't give up on it keep trying it'll be fine