Thanks for you input Ian.
Pirate is crate trained.
He was called "T-bone" by former owner but originally named "Pirate" by breeder. I chose to go with Pirate as he his all white with a brown black patch on left side of face, like an eye patch a pirate would wear.
He does respond now to "Pirate":
Comes when called by name.
He seems to understand "no" and does listen to me when I say "No."
Knows to "wait" before exiting a doorway.
However it appears that very basic commands like "sit", "stay" , "down" have never been taught.
I think you are correct that his run of the house should be more restricted.
The breeder will take back any dog he has sold.
Since I wrote this post, Pirate and Mom relationship is improving.
She can feed him from her hand and I am having her feed him supper while I feed him his breakfast.
He will follow her around while she his preparing meals for herself or getting his meal ready and he is quite friendly to her during these times. It just seem at times that he will suddenly react to her as if she where a different person and will suddenly become fearful of her, begin to growl and then I step in between them say "it's okay Pirate" and take him to his crate. His crate is his "safe place" to him.
I have been using "It's okay Pirate" whenever he becomes fearful and he seems to trust that I know it really is okay and calms down.
We are trying to keep to a strict routine with him as far as walks, playtime, feeding and sleeping times.

No but she foes have Osteoarthritis and does walk a bit hunched over. I suspect Pirate may view that as threatening posture from her.

Thanks Samantha... We have started having my Mom feed him his supper and give him little treats (really just his bits of dry dog food) when he responds to her calling him. I think he is ready to allow her to pet him but she is hesitant to try. Can't say as I blame her. 94 year old don't heal too fast from any injuries like a dog bite. I suggested she wear a thick glove around him. Get him used to that when she feeds him. And then when he offers to be pet use the gloved hand. Don't know if that is a good idea or not but trying to keep her safe just in case. He is a very agile and quick dog.

Thanks for the advice Kelly.
I am thinking my Mom's hunched posture may scare him a bit.
I suspect that from his eye level that may look like a predator ready to leap and attack.
I have noticed that when she is ironing or folding cloths he starts to watch her intently and then will start to growl. Perhaps there is something about the clothes handling that he is reacting to. Today she was ironing a tan jacket, he watched intently then began to growl. I stepped between my Mom and Pirate and said "It's okay Pirate". My Mom and I laughed and talked in a happy way. She allowed him to sniff the jacket before she moved away from the ironing board. That seemed to defuse the situation for him. He quit growling and then actually followed her to the hall closet where she hung the jacket up.
I have never used Marker training. Will check that out on the site.

Thanks Sharon for your advice.
I think that's a great idea to make Mom equal good things.
Pirate is a very intense dog too.
He loves to go for long walks.
He also loves to hunt the critters in the back yard.
I have to keep him on a long lead when outside. When he spots a rabbit or a chipmunk his JRT varmint hunting instincts kick in and he is off and running in pursuit but with abandon.
I suspect if off a lead he would run wherever the prey ran until he caught it. I am not quite sure how to fix that as yet. I use a 50 foot orange nylon lead to keep him from running off. I really don't like the idea of not allowing him to track. Don't want him to become frustrated as that is in his genes. The 50 feet gives him his freedom but allows me to take control if necessary.
On walks, I allow him to sniff all he wants but am being his boss and not always allowing him to pursue fresh critter scents he picks up. Don't know if that is the right or wrong way to handle his hunting instincts at this point in time but I would hate to have him run off and not be able to catch up with him. He is very fast. We live in the country and there is a 60 acre pasture behind our house so he could run far if set loose.
Sharon, your dogs are just the cutest! All 3.

I totally agree Connie... Lots of great suggestions for me, Mom and Pirate to follow. Really appreciate all these responses.

Kelly, I totally agree. My elderly Mom is a bit hunched in her posture and usually walks with her hands kind of like she is going to grab something. From Pirate's point of view, lower and looking up at her that may appear threatening to him.
She is going to try walking with her hands behind her back and see if that makes a difference. She only uses a cane when walking to the mailbox but Pirate is not around her at those times.

Side note:
Yesterday I decided to clean out the garage. Left Pirate in the house with my Mom.
Mom said he looked out the patio door for a bit then went to his crate and slept. That's his safe place.
She just did her own thing and ignored him.
When I came back into the house Pirate heard me and ran from his crate, down the hallway and as I bent over to pet him he jumped up to greet me. His head hit my nose really hard and broke my nose. I guess that was the longest I had ever left him alone in the house without me.
My nose really hurt and was bleeding quite profusely. I started to cry. Then I told my Mom get some ice and I went to a mirror to see if it was as bad as it felt. Fortunately it wasn't so no ER visit necessary.
Interesting though, Pirate knew I was in distress and stayed by my side the entire time from my crying to my icing the break to us taking a break from daily routine. He was sweet and gentle and calm the rest of the day. I wondered how he would react if one of us human family members were ever injured, now I know.
I do not intend to return Pirate to the breeder.
This is now his forever home.
I am not perfect, neither is my Mom or Pirate but I suspect with time, some training and understanding we will eventually bond nicely and become the 3 Muskateers.
I had another little JRT before Pirate, a short legged broken coat. He died of old age earlier this year. He was strong willed too and had those hunter instincts. But he was also a loving sweet little dog boy. I can see that in Pirate. Time will tell but I'd bet I'm right about him too. I don't find the right dog. They somehow always find me. I didn't even know about Pirate and then I got an email from the breeder who found out from another breeder that I was looking to adopt a young neutered male JRT. Then a video of Pirate on YouTube at my request from the breeder and I just knew he was the one. I am confident he knows that too. Thanks everyone for your advice. I am going to put it into action and will report back on how things are progressing.

Hi, Sue,

No need to do a separate post for each response ... sometimes folks address a specific response in a paragraph within a post.

But that's not important. Here's something important: the dog has too much freedom right now, and he is also being supported in growling at your mother when you say soothingly "It's OK" when he does it. I'd focus on restricting him and managing him.

I'd have the dog tethered to me when he is not crated or outside. He has not been there long enough and is not familiar enough to have free rein.

Are you familiar with tethering the dog to you? (If not, we can explain.)

I'd start now teaching the recall but I think you're right about the long line outdoors.

I start the recall indoors, with no distractions, with good rewards.

I completely agree about a structured routine/schedule.



Marker training (you may have heard of it as "clicker training," but many people use a verbal marker rather than a clicker) is going to be your friend. IMO, it always is, but in the case of this breed, it could have been invented just for him!

I would get the basics of marker training down pat and start with the very simple position commands. When you can give a command, you can greatly reduce the use of "no." That is, you train for what you want rather than always correcting for what you don't want.

Would you like links to good articles by Ed and also the first of the marker videos/DVDs? (IMO, in this situation where marker training is brand new to you, I'd probably go with the Leerburg pre-Ellis DVD before the first of the Michael Ellis ones: http://leerburg.com/219.htm followed by http://leerburg.com/training-with-food.htm ... and I'd read this first: http://leerburg.com/markers.htm )

For right this minute, I'd probably learn about tethering to better manage the dog and I'd read the marker article.

I've only touched on your points, but I know you're going to get lots of replies.

All JMO!

Just wanted to add that seeking help here, and your openness and willingness to learn ... these signal a good future for this dog as a member of your family.

Pack structure and training are going to make him secure and confident.