I'm a little concerned about the "It's ok Pirate" when he goes off on your mom. That "reassurance" could very well be interpreted by Pirate as reward for doing a good thing. I would be more apt to use a negative such as a "no" command since you commented that he understands this. .

 Quote: Bob Scott

I'm a little concerned about the "It's ok Pirate" when he goes off on your mom. That "reassurance" could very well be interpreted by Pirate as reward for doing a good thing. I would be more apt to use a negative such as a "no" command since you commented that he understands this. .

I agree 100% with Bob.

And, I wouldn't have your mother hold her arms behind her back, she most likely holds her arms that way for balance purposes, lets keep Mum upright. Pirate will adjust with training.

 Quote: Tammy Moore

 Quote: Bob Scott

I'm a little concerned about the "It's ok Pirate" when he goes off on your mom. That "reassurance" could very well be interpreted by Pirate as reward for doing a good thing. I would be more apt to use a negative such as a "no" command since you commented that he understands this. .

I agree 100% with Bob.

And, I wouldn't have your mother hold her arms behind her back, she most likely holds her arms that way for balance purposes, lets keep Mum upright. Pirate will adjust with training.

Me too.

 Quote: Connie Sutherland

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.

Both of you said it much more clearly.



Tammy, that's a great point about keeping Mom upright. Pirate will adjust, and I'm thinking that it will all go smoother when he is not given free run of the house yet.

Edited by Connie Sutherland (08/05/2013 10:16 PM)
Edit reason: delete duplicate

Tammy, do you tether newly acquired adults to you at first?

This has worked out very well for me.

Connie, I missed your post, the echo was for added support.

I do tether all newly acquired dogs. I have senior parent's too, and frequent nursing & rehab homes, It doesn't take much for a fall or bruised skin. Tethering would work well, I wouldn't allow free run of the house at this stage.

along those same lines of the " it's ok " , i'm not sure if you should be crating him every time he has an episode with mom . i'd be concerned that he might start associating the confinement / isolation / punishment of the crate with mom and his apparently good relationship with the crate might change .

i think mom should be loaded with treats all day long and that is where he gets his daily intake / ration of food from . when he realizes she is his sole supplier of food i'll bet his view of her is going to change .

and i agree with the other member who advised against mom trying to change her posture . that is something he is going to eventually accept as non-threatening ( if indeed , that is the case ).

If mom does start carrying treats around then be sure that it's NILIF. Just handing out treats can make the dog pushy for more.
Did I say pushy in relation to a JRT? NAAAAAW!

Thanks everyone for you advice regarding my Mom's posture and my saying "It's okay" to Pirate after he shows aggression towards her. Also about crating him after his aggressive behavior.
I can see where all three are bad ideas now.
I am now saying a firm "No." And then removing him from the area where my mother is (no crating).
But I am having a difficult time trying to figure out what exactly is triggering his aggression toward my mother. I have her give Pirate his meals (breakfast and supper) at the same time each day and he is fine towards her. She even pet him today, first time.
He is quite friendly to her most of the time now but (and it's the 'but' that really bothers me) he will suddenly begin to growl at her and although she remains calm, does not move, makes no eye contact and says nothing to him he does not calm down. It's as if he goes into a zone where he doesn't recognize her and she is suddenly a 'stranger' to be dealt with. Then after the episode passes he 'likes' her again and all is okay in his world.
I am going to try and video tape this behavior and will post a link to the video on this forum. Perhaps some of you may be able to see what my mother and I cannot regarding this aggression.
Oh, my Mom giving out treats - We quit that as Pirate was beginning to view her hand as a food dispenser and would follow her around sniffing her hand for the food that it was supposed be dispensing. One 'greenie' treat and two meals from her a day instead. I know JRT are great for trying to train their owners. One must constantly be alert to that. And this boy is definitely a chow hound who could easily become overweight. No feeding 'people food' from the table either. And if she does give him a treat, she takes it over to his food bowl and calls him there.
Good news... Pirate while out of doors does mind me quite well now. He listens to "No" when I do not want him to go a certain way, he listens to "Come' when I lead him a certain way or call him to me and he will head for the back door when I say "Go home now."
But should he find a very fresh scent of a rabbit (his favorite varmint to track) he will still run off with abandon chasing the scent. If not on a line under my control no verbal command would control him under such circumstance. Genetically that is his bent, he is a working dog, a hunter of varmints. So the long line shall remain attached for now.
Again... My Thanks! to everyone who has responded. Your support gives me hope that one day Pirate's behavioral problem can be solved.

Sue, does your mother wear a hearing aid?