Quote: connie sutherland

I'd say that "allowing" dials back any threat to pack structure.

Put that way, it looks like a "Can you mark that tree for me ?".

I'll see how it goes on tonight's walk! Thanks everyone again.

 Quote: francis daigle

Put that way, it looks like a "Can you mark that tree for me ?".

I just read through the posts in this thread and have to agree that the OP should definitely get rid of that so-called trainer.

I have one suggestion. In addition to short more formal training sessions incorporate some fun sessions where you use games to train. You can use modified versions of children's games such as follow the leader and red light green light. When you have a game training session you don't use corrections (unless you consider stopping and starting again when he doesn't understand the game at first as corrections).

 Quote: Elaine Haynes

You can use modified versions of children's games such as follow the leader and red light green light.

Interesting. Can you elaborate ?

Getting enough input Francis? LOL

I'll add more of my two cents into it.
What I want to address is your mind set with the dog, forgive me if I'm redundant here; try to stop thinking in terms of making the dog comply. Instead, think in terms showing the dog how to get what he wants, ie. the toy, the treat, the tug game, free time at the end of a leash. Think in terms of teaching him he has the power to get what he wants by coming, by looking at you, by doing a nice down, etc. Remember, your shaping behavior by using his natural instincts, not forcing him to comply to your will.
The other thing is; in my mind at least, work and play are not really two separate pieces of the puzzle, they are the same thing. I know, it takes a bit of getting used to, but if you look at them as the same, it changes your whole out look on how you and your dog interact. You're always having fun. Believe me the dog picks up on it.
Are you going to make mistakes, most assuredly. Shrug your shoulders (my bad)(everyone makes them.......everyone), and carry on having fun!

If my dog isn't learning, I'm doing something wrong.
Randy

 Quote: randy allen

Getting enough input Francis? LOL

I can hardly keep up.

And regarding to combining play with training, this is exactly what I'm doing in my backyard. I toss his ball a couple times, trade it for a treat, then I add NILIF to the ruleset. He quickly catches up.

If I just stand there and look at him once he gave me the ball, he'll go through his full bag of tricks with his "C'MON TOSS IT, C'MON, C'MON!!!" hyper attitude particular to JRTs. I feel he's really trying to communicate (and/or "train" me to throw is ball!). Anyway, I think we're both having a blast.

It's really fun when he's focusing on doing anything in his power to get me to toss the ball. However, he's too easily distracted to do this anywhere else than home, or after staying at a relatively calm spot for a few minutes. I got hope now (thanks to you guys) that time will help on this aspect.

Hi Francis,

I'm sitting here reading through all the posts a bit bewildered. I have a 4 year old female Jack Russell Terrier who I have had since she was 4 months of age.


You wrote:
1) "No treats. A dog will never comply to his master in high distraction environment if he find the distraction more interesting than candies. His motivation must solely come from submission." (Why not positively reinforce with treats? Make learning fun and as they learn the command you can gradually not use any treats. My Jack is totally trustworthy offleash and will even come back if she sees a squirrel...this took lots of work, but I started out with treats and tons of praise).

2)Pet the dog (but not too much) when he successfully complete a command. Otherwise correct using choker or promise collars. (Praise can come in different forms and with my dog I don't have to pet, but just a high pitched "good girl" is enough. You can't correct a dog unless they really understand a command I hope he hasn't been getting a ton of mixed signals from you....also, you won't get anywhere with your dog is he doesn't trust you.)

3)Minimize petting at home, this can lead to dominance problems. (Who told you this? Of course it is horrible to share affection when a dog is in a anxious/aggressive state of mind, but if they are calm and behaving well there is nothing wrong with petting and loving your dog which builds trust. Dominance problems can be related to "humanizing" you dog or not implementing pack structure rules, but c'mon, you can share affection with your dog and there is no such thing as "too much" if they are in the right state.)

3)Socialize your dog to as many situations as possible: traffic, animals, crowds, etc. (Is he is acting out so aggressively to other dogs, etc in certain situations are you sure you aren't tensing up and already expecting the worse ready to jerk him a correction rather than being calm and in control? Just a thought. )

Finally, I know of two other people that live in my neighborhood that got a Jack Russell Terrier and they both rehomed them. I hate to say this to you but if you cannot give Diablo a MINIMUM of ONE FULL HOUR, and yes, this is a minimum for JRT's then you need to rehome him b/c you cannot give him what he needs to be balanced. They need a TON of exercise and stimulation....and if they don't get it they can be a handful. My dog gets two hours minimum a day...Do you run? Have a bike? I hope you are an active person and did your research as these dogs are not for couch potatoes.

 Quote: francis daigle

Actually, could you go over the general rules ?

At home, he has his "toilet" consisting of a 3ft square of peebles. This is the only place I allow him to do his business.

I have him pee before walks to make sure he doesn't need to relief himself on the go. The only reason he does pee (if I give him a chance) is to mark.

When I had dogs and they were my running/pulling/walking companions. Also, I had a rottwelier mix whose job was to pull a scooter. Anyway.. They tried to keep up with me and ignored everything. I didn't really teach them how to walk with me. They all picked it up on their own. If I got really tired of running then I would stop to rest. (Not a light walking, but really stop to rest) They grabbed that opportunity to pee and poop. When I started to pick up faster pace, they started to jog and ignore everything again.

Usually, I know that they weren't interested in marking because they were peeing in hurry.

Well said. Leave him be for awhile. If every time I saw someone coming at me and I knew they were barking commands at me and not praising me/rewarding me in a correct manner for "performing" I wouldn't want to do anything for that person either.

Ok, So I plowed through reading more of your posts and there is a ROOT and BRANCH to all problems and I think the root to your dog's anxiety the minute it goes outside is your heavy handed tactics of correcting him while implementing a harsh "training" program of little no praise for performing correctly. Wouldn't you be nervous and show anxiety if every time you walked outside with your mom/dad you got the hell corrected out of you and I'm sure you are incredibly tense/anxious on walks too anticipating "what could go wrong" which doesn't help matters. Through conditioning, he has probably been taught repeatedly what going outside means and his associations with it at this stage are not pleasant.

The ROOT of your dog not listening to you with basic obedience even though he is almost two and I can tell you, especially since I have a Jack Russell Terrier they are not stupid dogs is that he doesn't trust you at all. The BRANCH being you think he is just stubborn and easily distracted so you correct the hell out him. If at nearly two years of age you cannot master basic obedience when you have been "working with him" everyday and not have him respect you as a leader you have to tackle the ROOT: BUILD TRUST.

The question you posed of not taking him for walks is INSANE!!! You have your needs: which is you want a dog you can walk anywhere, you want a dog that will perform basic obedience and listen to you, but recognize your dog has wants and need you need to respect. Your dog needs TONS of exercise. You have a high energy dog that needs structured exercise, at least an hour, that doesn't just involve being barked commands and having your dog submit.

Finally, before you introduce yet another element in this dog's probably already confused life please lay off trying to force him to like the pool. Why are you choosing yet another thing that at this point is just setting him up for another failure? I'm confused as to why you are trying to force him to get to like the pool at this point when you have much larger issues to tackle. Why don't you focus and prioritize and the most important thing being building trust and this can be accomplished by getting the exercise he needs by taking him for a run, either on foot or a bike and get another experienced trainer.

If I were you I would contact a Jack Russell Terrier rescue agency in your area and ask them for a referral. I'm sure you can get someone that can help you in your situation.

I'm sorry if I seem a bit harsh, but I so love the breed and I know they are def not a dog for everyone and I have seen so many people get them that have no idea what they are getting into.