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Registered: Oct 2003

posted 10-19-2003 05:34 PM         

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I have a five month old JRT who i cannot take outside without a leash. Whenever I take him outside he runs away into the neighbors yard and when I chase after him, he likes to play "you chase me and i run away from you" he is so quick that I cannot catch him and I really have no idea what to do. Fences are not aloud in my community, and I bet if we put one up he would jump over it or dig a hole under it. I have tryed to boundary train him but as soon as he sees a bird or squirrel he is gone and just doesn't care. I am thinking about getting an electric fence, and I know a lot of people think they are cruel but I really have tried everything else. HE is not neutered yet, so I was wondering if maybe after he is neutered he will coapperate more, but I am not sure.

If we do get an electric fence will it work? My dog is so fast, so my father thinks he will just run straight through the fence. I really do not know what to do!!! PLEASE HELP!!!!

Thank you

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Posts: 50
From:Post Falls,Idaho
Registered: Oct 2003

posted 10-19-2003 05:40 PM         

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An electric fence is a good idea..there is nothing cruel abt it..they will get bit
2 times maybe 3and that is abt all it takes...the first time will b an accident the second will be to see if it was an accident and the 3rd will b to to see if it is still there..lol.. we always use an electric fence around the bottom of the reg. fence to keep them from digging and one around the top to keep them from jumping...you could also put one up with out reg. fence..and i wouldnt think it would b a problem where your living because it isnt permanent ..they actually have the whole pet electric fences with wire,and fiber glass stakes...works pretty good...i think this would b your best bet ...it really does work and eventually they will learn to stay in the yard too...getting your dog neutard has always helped me..they quit looking for a mate...best of luck!!

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Cowgirls live hard, ride hard,and love forever!!

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Posts: 27
From:Edgewood, MD, USA
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 10-19-2003 05:53 PM         

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5 months is still a young pup, and it's not realistic to expect him to stay where he's supposed to, expecially a JRT! I understand your problem because I live in an apartment complex and so I have to keep my puppy on a leash at all times so she doesn't run into the road or eat something she's not supposed to, etc. I bought a retractable leash to give her some length in running room, but that still might be too little for a jack russel's spunk.

I'm not sure what the answer is for you, but I can relay what my trainer says about leash training. You need to train the dog that there's a 6-foot radius around you that he can go and that's it. In order to do this, use a 6 foot leash and every time your dog pulls the leash taught, give it a little upwards "jerk" that's not to hurt him, but just to catch his attention. Then if he looks at you or stops pulling, give LOTS of praise and maybe a treat. That way he'll learn that pulling on the leash doesn't make you mad, there's just an invisible barrier that he can't cross. You need to be consistent and do this every time he pulls. After you train him to do this and have a good recall, then it's probably safe to take him off-leash with good results.

Anyway, I haven't had lots of experience with this since Sophie is so docile she follows me around anyway (still use the leash just in case she wants to chase leaves into the road, though!). But it seems to work for his dogs!

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Posts: 50
From:Post Falls,Idaho
Registered: Oct 2003

posted 10-19-2003 06:03 PM         

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i posted this website before you should see if she has anything that might help you......www.terriarnold.com
she has some wonderful ideas and is a great trainer...she really makes alot of sense to me...

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Cowgirls live hard, ride hard,and love forever!!

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Posts: 585
From:Portland, Oregon US
Registered: Sep 2003

posted 10-19-2003 11:11 PM         

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I played the "chase me " game for a while with my Aussie mix when he was a puppy. Someone told me that I had to make coming back into the house more fun than whatever he was gonna get to do outside. This makes sense and I found a couple ways to manage it. I bought a box of noisy treats and placed them near my back door. When I let him outside to go potty, I would stand in the doorway and watch him, when he was close to being done with his business I would pick up the box and as soon as he was done and started to move I would shake the box and call him in an overly excited manner. When he came to me he got a treat and lots and lots of praise. The second thing I did was all the same except I used a noisy toy and looked completely rediculous bouncing around in the doorway animated calling him. I had bought him a Gorilla that when squeezed makes loud gorilla noises(PetsMart, $5.99, best darn toy I have ever bought him), this was his favorite toy and he was very very selfish with it, he would freak if anyone else touched it. When all else failed to get his attention, I would squeeze it and he would come barreling in the house. I also found that if when your dog runs away from you and plays the "catch me if you can game", turn and run the opposite direction, loud laughing and teasing helps here, they usually can't resist chasing after you. If you are worried about him getting out and hurt while he is learning this, put a long line on him...like 25 feet. Don't pull him back in, do all the same stuff above and reward like crazy when he chooses to come to you. The line is just to keep him from running off. Remember baby steps to get to your goal, break things down into smaller steps and generally you'll have more success.
There were times when I felt pretty foolish jumping around and acting silly, praying that my neighbors wouldn't see me...BUT it was certainly better than running down the street yelling his name in my PJ's. Both of my dogs learned quickly using these methods, I hope they help you and your pup.

PS. I have horses and we use electric fences around their pastures, each of my dogs has been "bitten" ONCE, that was it...they both reacted as if they had been struck by a ghost. These fences were not meant for containing the dogs...and they are welcome in the pastures with us, they just brushed it while running under it accidently, but they have not since. I also have a small box that I got at a feed store, it's used with temp fencing and is meant for smaller coverage, we use it when we go camping with the horses. When used in a small area the shock is pretty hot, when used over more area it is less. They do have invisible fencing and other options at pet stores, but it may be less expensive to look at a small box at a feed store or farm supply and just get some of the fiberglass poles used in temp fencing and some connectors. I don't find this cruel, but I grew up on a small ranch so it seems normal to me. I think it is far less cruel than letting your dog get hit by a car. JMO.
Good luck and keep us posted on what works.
Smiles, Maisey

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