Hi Everyone,
This is actually my first post, but I have major concerns about my Jack Russell. He is just over 4 yo and quite the character. When he is asleep we can just walk by his bed or where ever he is asleep and he will immediately wake up growling and snarling, often snapping. He has also started to wake up randomly (without anyone near him) and he will bite his own legs and tail. This doesn't even seem to 'wake' him up, he has continued to bite himself sometimes for several minutes.
I'm 18 and I'm the youngest in the household, my dad used to breed Wymarana's BC (Before Children) and he also used to be the head honcho at the local canine council as well as a whole list of champion dogs. Training is not the issue here. My sister lived with us until about a year ago but has sinced moved to france but was a big part of Chutney's Life. There is also my mum.
When we bought Chutney he was the biggest of the litter, and full of life. My Dad knew that he was going to be a handful, and (in hindsight) should have probably known this sort of aggression would occur coz when we were buying him, my dad went to approach the dam and the breeder said..."WHoa, don't go there, he'll bite you!". I guess we were overcome by the thought of a puppy after so long (probably about 15yrs since our last wymarana died)
The aggression isn't just when he is asleep, we could be sitting around watching tv and he will come up to us wanting a rub, tail wagging. We will go to give him a little pat and he'll just start snarling. If he is barking at the postman and we tell him to be quiet he will turn around and take swipe at us. When we go out we put him in the yard and he can tell when I'm about to go out, so he dives under the chair and starts growling and snarling. Once he's outside if you walk past the door (glass) and he sees you, he will attack at you through the glass.
Over the past few months he has become more and more aggressive, especially to my mum. He is most comfortable with me (we are not sure why) although he is also comfortable around Dad. I am the only one who can pick him up, and he'll let me pat him for the longest (even i know my limitations). It as though you can see the aggression coming in his eyes. I've had my fair share of bites. He all most took my thumb off not long ago (I'm quite small, and he is a big jack russell)
Just over a week ago he attacked my mum. She was just sitting there and he was rubbing up to her, and when she didn't rub him he took a chunk out of her arm. She stood up and backed away and he kept going for her and took another chunk out of her leg.
It has become so dangerous and we have lots of kids and other dogs in our neighbourhood, who think he is so cute and all want to play him.
I have this awful feeling that we are going to have to put him down, but I'm not sure if this is the right thing...Has anyone had any problems like this before. I love the Jack Russell Terrier but I'm wondering if I'll find this alot with the breed!
Sorry it's so long!
This is actually my first post, but I have major concerns about my Jack Russell. He is just over 4 yo and quite the character. When he is asleep we can just walk by his bed or where ever he is asleep and he will immediately wake up growling and snarling, often snapping. He has also started to wake up randomly (without anyone near him) and he will bite his own legs and tail. This doesn't even seem to 'wake' him up, he has continued to bite himself sometimes for several minutes.
I'm 18 and I'm the youngest in the household, my dad used to breed Wymarana's BC (Before Children) and he also used to be the head honcho at the local canine council as well as a whole list of champion dogs. Training is not the issue here. My sister lived with us until about a year ago but has sinced moved to france but was a big part of Chutney's Life. There is also my mum.
When we bought Chutney he was the biggest of the litter, and full of life. My Dad knew that he was going to be a handful, and (in hindsight) should have probably known this sort of aggression would occur coz when we were buying him, my dad went to approach the dam and the breeder said..."WHoa, don't go there, he'll bite you!". I guess we were overcome by the thought of a puppy after so long (probably about 15yrs since our last wymarana died)
The aggression isn't just when he is asleep, we could be sitting around watching tv and he will come up to us wanting a rub, tail wagging. We will go to give him a little pat and he'll just start snarling. If he is barking at the postman and we tell him to be quiet he will turn around and take swipe at us. When we go out we put him in the yard and he can tell when I'm about to go out, so he dives under the chair and starts growling and snarling. Once he's outside if you walk past the door (glass) and he sees you, he will attack at you through the glass.
Over the past few months he has become more and more aggressive, especially to my mum. He is most comfortable with me (we are not sure why) although he is also comfortable around Dad. I am the only one who can pick him up, and he'll let me pat him for the longest (even i know my limitations). It as though you can see the aggression coming in his eyes. I've had my fair share of bites. He all most took my thumb off not long ago (I'm quite small, and he is a big jack russell)
Just over a week ago he attacked my mum. She was just sitting there and he was rubbing up to her, and when she didn't rub him he took a chunk out of her arm. She stood up and backed away and he kept going for her and took another chunk out of her leg.
It has become so dangerous and we have lots of kids and other dogs in our neighbourhood, who think he is so cute and all want to play him.
I have this awful feeling that we are going to have to put him down, but I'm not sure if this is the right thing...Has anyone had any problems like this before. I love the Jack Russell Terrier but I'm wondering if I'll find this alot with the breed!
Sorry it's so long!
