When a dog has bitten...what would you do?
Discussion
I have a 11 month old Jack Russell, yesterday the little houdini escaped out of the front door as I let a friend in and ran off down the road. After a lot of running around trying to catch him ( I assume he thought it was a game) he ran up to my friend who scooped him up and started walking back towards the house. After he'd taken a few steps the dog snarled and bit him on the face twice, drawing blood down the side of his nose and giving him a swollen lip.
The dog has met my friend many times before.
Now I also have an German Shepherd dog who is very well trained, and had it been the shepherd it would be at the vets right now being put to sleep without a second thought. However the jack russell was raised on the farm and has always been a bit snappy with people but has never bitten.
I've spoken to the RSPCA and the local dogs home who have advised that as he has already turned on someone they would not rehome him unless they had a lot of time to spend with him and they are currently too busy to do this.
I'm really concerned as the dog can scale fences up to 5/6 foot and I live on a small estate with a primary school on it and a lot of young kids, I also will not be able to walk him off the lead around parks and such incase of another such incident. Hence, he now has to be put on a rope/lead when letting him out into the garden.
My partner seems to think that it's quite acceptable for the dog to have done this but as he wasn't in any pain or frightened I'm very concerned that it will happen again...
He's a lovely dog most of the time but tends to show a lot of aggression towards other dogs if he's on his lead.
What are your views on this?
The dog has met my friend many times before.
Now I also have an German Shepherd dog who is very well trained, and had it been the shepherd it would be at the vets right now being put to sleep without a second thought. However the jack russell was raised on the farm and has always been a bit snappy with people but has never bitten.
I've spoken to the RSPCA and the local dogs home who have advised that as he has already turned on someone they would not rehome him unless they had a lot of time to spend with him and they are currently too busy to do this.
I'm really concerned as the dog can scale fences up to 5/6 foot and I live on a small estate with a primary school on it and a lot of young kids, I also will not be able to walk him off the lead around parks and such incase of another such incident. Hence, he now has to be put on a rope/lead when letting him out into the garden.
My partner seems to think that it's quite acceptable for the dog to have done this but as he wasn't in any pain or frightened I'm very concerned that it will happen again...
He's a lovely dog most of the time but tends to show a lot of aggression towards other dogs if he's on his lead.
What are your views on this?
mvagustaobsessed said:
I have a 11 month old Jack Russell, yesterday the little houdini escaped out of the front door as I let a friend in and ran off down the road. After a lot of running around trying to catch him ( I assume he thought it was a game) he ran up to my friend who scooped him up and started walking back towards the house. After he'd taken a few steps the dog snarled and bit him on the face twice, drawing blood down the side of his nose and giving him a swollen lip.
The dog has met my friend many times before.
Now I also have an German Shepherd dog who is very well trained, and had it been the shepherd it would be at the vets right now being put to sleep without a second thought. However the jack russell was raised on the farm and has always been a bit snappy with people but has never bitten.
I've spoken to the RSPCA and the local dogs home who have advised that as he has already turned on someone they would not rehome him unless they had a lot of time to spend with him and they are currently too busy to do this.
I'm really concerned as the dog can scale fences up to 5/6 foot and I live on a small estate with a primary school on it and a lot of young kids, I also will not be able to walk him off the lead around parks and such incase of another such incident. Hence, he now has to be put on a rope/lead when letting him out into the garden.
My partner seems to think that it's quite acceptable for the dog to have done this but as he wasn't in any pain or frightened I'm very concerned that it will happen again...
He's a lovely dog most of the time but tends to show a lot of aggression towards other dogs if he's on his lead.
What are your views on this?
You answered your question right there IMO. Just because it is a small dog, doesn't mean it is any less viciousThe dog has met my friend many times before.
Now I also have an German Shepherd dog who is very well trained, and had it been the shepherd it would be at the vets right now being put to sleep without a second thought. However the jack russell was raised on the farm and has always been a bit snappy with people but has never bitten.
I've spoken to the RSPCA and the local dogs home who have advised that as he has already turned on someone they would not rehome him unless they had a lot of time to spend with him and they are currently too busy to do this.
I'm really concerned as the dog can scale fences up to 5/6 foot and I live on a small estate with a primary school on it and a lot of young kids, I also will not be able to walk him off the lead around parks and such incase of another such incident. Hence, he now has to be put on a rope/lead when letting him out into the garden.
My partner seems to think that it's quite acceptable for the dog to have done this but as he wasn't in any pain or frightened I'm very concerned that it will happen again...
He's a lovely dog most of the time but tends to show a lot of aggression towards other dogs if he's on his lead.
What are your views on this?
The RSPCA won't take him unless they have time to re-train him basically... question is, do you have the time or inclination to try and re-train him?
Friend (vet) reckons many dogs put down could be saved if people were willing to put the time and effort in.
So basically if you don't / cant put the time in - then you can't take the risk, time for a one way ticket. If you can - worth a try, buy a muzzle and stick on him while you decide!
Friend (vet) reckons many dogs put down could be saved if people were willing to put the time and effort in.
So basically if you don't / cant put the time in - then you can't take the risk, time for a one way ticket. If you can - worth a try, buy a muzzle and stick on him while you decide!
tomash said:
So whats the difference between a GSD biting someone and a Jack Russel biting someone.
If he can climb fences and could attack someone unprovoked there's one solution.
Vets -> Injection -> Glue Factory.
Job Done!
About 200 lb of force? If he can climb fences and could attack someone unprovoked there's one solution.
Vets -> Injection -> Glue Factory.
Job Done!

My old GSD used to bite people if they came in unannounced. He wouldn't bite hard, but would hold onto them by the arm till I told him to let go. They're not bad, just very protective

mvagustaobsessed said:
He's a lovely dog most of the time but tends to show a lot of aggression towards other dogs if he's on his lead.
What are your views on this?
He needs proper training simple as that. If you know thats he a bit of a pest then its no good putting him down now. You've accepted that situation, now deal with it. Good luck btw. Thoroughly recommend training classes if you can find one. Great fun to mess with their tiny minds.What are your views on this?
Just muzzle him. My jack russell gets very snarly around people he doesn't know, but I just tell them not to try and touch him. He won't bite unless the person persists in trying to pet him, and after me telling them not to and him baring his teeth and growling they should have got the message and deserve everything they get if they choose to ignore.
Maxf said:
Muzzle as a first step. If it won't wear it, then injection.
+1We have had GSDs and they are usually as good as gold, Jack Russels like terriers seem to have a bit of a screw loose, I think its short dog syndrome!
Mussel it and see how he behaves, if he doesn't toe the line put him down. Quite worried that your partner thinks it acceptable! Could have been a small childs face, scarred for life, these are the sorts of stories that give dog owners a bad reputation.
Duke Thrust said:
Hmmm, your mate didn't give me a playful pinch or anything? Gave him a bit of a shock and then give your chum a nip?
Thats what I was thinking. Have you taken the dog to the vets for a check up? It's possible that there's some kind of infection/wound and when touched it caused distress to the dog.
Some dogs turn nasty - fact and if it can't be treated then they must be put down. Just look into it futher before you decide it's fate.
You need to sort out his 'energy'. Best to call Cesar Milan (the dog weeesperer) 
Seriously though, sounds like fairly standard Jack Russell behaviour. I wouldn't pick my gf's one up if it were agitated, if he was wriggling and I kept restraining him then its exactly what I'd expect to get. Sounds like you're being a bit melodramatic!

Seriously though, sounds like fairly standard Jack Russell behaviour. I wouldn't pick my gf's one up if it were agitated, if he was wriggling and I kept restraining him then its exactly what I'd expect to get. Sounds like you're being a bit melodramatic!
Edited by OJ on Thursday 23 October 14:52
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