In Jack Russell training, or any kind of dog training for that matter, you often hear the words "pack leader.
" The term has been made popular by the TV show "The Dog Whisperer.
" Unfortunately, many people don't really understand what being the pack leader means, and that becoming the pack leader is a different process for different dog breeds.
With a breed like JRTs, who are very independent and strong-willed, you need to take a different approach to becoming the pack leader.
JRTs don't respond to forceful treatment or attempts to dominate them.
Instead, you have to make them see you as the "team captain.
" How do you become the team captain, and what does that mean? It simply means that you teach your dog to understand that doing as you say is the best thing for both of you, exactly as a sports team looks to their captain for leadership to help them all win a game.
You are teaching your dog that it's better for everyone if you make the important decisions.
So how do you do this? Well, first of all, let's talk about what you should not do.
You shouldn't use harsh and forceful punishments as a part of training.
This will just create resistance in your Jack Russell and problem behaviors will only get worse.
Instead, you need to focus on using positive methods, rewarding good behavior and correcting bad behavior without any hitting or yelling.
In order to teach good behaviors, you need to set your dog up in a situation where she can do the right thing, then reward her for it, and repeat over and over until she learns the right behavior.
You should also make sure you act the way the leader of a dog pack would act - this is an essential aspect of Jack Russell Terrier training.
This means you should always eat first.
If you have an out of control Jack with dominance issues, one of the first things you should do is make her wait until you finish eating before you feed her.
This is one of the classic signs of higher status in the dog world.
Being the team captain means being the source of everything that makes your dog happy.
This means providing all the food, games, and toys she gets.
It also means controlling walk times and sleep times.
You can't give in to her begging and whining - you have to be the one calling the shots.
Don't leave toys lying around the house - they are your toys which you allow her to play with.
This is the attitude you need to have in order to be a good team captain and build a solid base for Jack Russell training.