Help with Jackadoodle vs guinea pigs
Discussion
Last autumn we got a Jackadoodle:
All has been fine so far. However now the weather is warming up the guinea pigs need to move from their winter hutch and start going out in the garden again.
Apologies for rubbish photo, they had already been fed so couldn’t bribe them out to get a better photo.
The problem is the dog really wants to get to the guinea pigs. We have put a fence around the guinea pig run in the garden to keep the dog back.
The damage to the front of the run is from where the dog has been chewing/clawing at the run (guinea pigs safely in their other hutch) over winter.
The fence sort of works, but the dog just wines and barks at them while trying to push through the fence.
We have tried squirting the dog with a water pistol each time it goes near the run to “encourage” him to leave it alone.
After about 10 mins we just ended up with 2 annoyed guinea pigs and a very wet dog.
Is there a way to train the dog to leave the guinea pigs alone? Or is it just a case persevering with the water pistol approach or some other method?
All has been fine so far. However now the weather is warming up the guinea pigs need to move from their winter hutch and start going out in the garden again.
Apologies for rubbish photo, they had already been fed so couldn’t bribe them out to get a better photo.
The problem is the dog really wants to get to the guinea pigs. We have put a fence around the guinea pig run in the garden to keep the dog back.
The damage to the front of the run is from where the dog has been chewing/clawing at the run (guinea pigs safely in their other hutch) over winter.
The fence sort of works, but the dog just wines and barks at them while trying to push through the fence.
We have tried squirting the dog with a water pistol each time it goes near the run to “encourage” him to leave it alone.
After about 10 mins we just ended up with 2 annoyed guinea pigs and a very wet dog.
Is there a way to train the dog to leave the guinea pigs alone? Or is it just a case persevering with the water pistol approach or some other method?
Blue32 said:
I thought that might be the case
, he is 3 years old I think. When we got him he was very timid and didn’t like being near men,especially if one of us was standing.
We have got him used to us now so he doesn’t run and hide when either me or my dad enter the room
If you had had him as a pup even with the terrier in him you would probably have managed to integrate him with the g.pigs quite well with care but I think it is going to be really unlikely aa he was already an adult dog and I assume not mixed with them before., he is 3 years old I think. When we got him he was very timid and didn’t like being near men,especially if one of us was standing. We have got him used to us now so he doesn’t run and hide when either me or my dad enter the room
I'm not saying there is no chance but I suspect he will never be trustworthy with them. It can become an obsession aswell.
My old collie beame obsessed with my sisters hamster which lived in the lounge, she would sit for ages waiting for it to wake up!!
Just to give a slightly more positive slant....
As others have said, breed traits are very difficult to modify, but you may find that with time he will lose some interest in the guinea pigs. It won't be a quick fix, though.
I had rabbits and guinea pigs when I adopted greyhounds and lurchers (not the most obvious combination
) and at first Lily (greyhound) was absolutely obsessed with them. We, like you, had to construct a fence to give some space between the two. However, after a year or two, Lily got used to them being there and lost interest. Not to the point where they could be loose together, obviously, but I wouldn't allow any of my dogs loose with a small animal.
I still have rabbits now, along with four dogs (two greyhounds and two whippets). The dogs still show an interest in the rabbits, but less than they used to. All will now walk past the hutches without lunging at them like they did. These are ex-racing greyhounds who have high prey drive and whippets - whose genetic background includes terriers....
What I would say is that if you want to have the guinea pigs out in a run, you will probably need something more robust than the green fencing you currently use - I should imagine that a terrier could make short work of that, or jump over it. Perhaps a solid wooden and mesh run with mesh over the top (preferably secured to the ground) would be better?
As others have said, breed traits are very difficult to modify, but you may find that with time he will lose some interest in the guinea pigs. It won't be a quick fix, though.
I had rabbits and guinea pigs when I adopted greyhounds and lurchers (not the most obvious combination
) and at first Lily (greyhound) was absolutely obsessed with them. We, like you, had to construct a fence to give some space between the two. However, after a year or two, Lily got used to them being there and lost interest. Not to the point where they could be loose together, obviously, but I wouldn't allow any of my dogs loose with a small animal.I still have rabbits now, along with four dogs (two greyhounds and two whippets). The dogs still show an interest in the rabbits, but less than they used to. All will now walk past the hutches without lunging at them like they did. These are ex-racing greyhounds who have high prey drive and whippets - whose genetic background includes terriers....
What I would say is that if you want to have the guinea pigs out in a run, you will probably need something more robust than the green fencing you currently use - I should imagine that a terrier could make short work of that, or jump over it. Perhaps a solid wooden and mesh run with mesh over the top (preferably secured to the ground) would be better?
Thanks for all the advice so far, looks like we will be on an uphill battle. Regarding the “kill the rat” he did manage to catch a mouse last weekend, he looked very pleased with himself after that.
The mesh fence was just a temporary measure to see if it would keep him back, so far he has worked out he can get his head through the holes, so I guess it wont be long until he tries jumping over it.
Might try putting the guinea pig run by the patio door so he can see them but not get to them to see if that will get him use to their presence.
On the plus side apart from the noise he makes, the guinea pigs aren’t that bothered by him. Last summer they quite often sat and had a staring match with some of the local cats
. Regarding the “kill the rat” he did manage to catch a mouse last weekend, he looked very pleased with himself after that.The mesh fence was just a temporary measure to see if it would keep him back, so far he has worked out he can get his head through the holes, so I guess it wont be long until he tries jumping over it.
Might try putting the guinea pig run by the patio door so he can see them but not get to them to see if that will get him use to their presence.
On the plus side apart from the noise he makes, the guinea pigs aren’t that bothered by him. Last summer they quite often sat and had a staring match with some of the local cats
bexVN said:
digimeistter said:
Blue32 said:
Last autumn we got a Jackadoodle Mongrel
FTFY 
. (and he is a crossbreed not a Mongrel 
) , same thing though and generally have a better temperament than "pure bred" digimeistter said:
bexVN said:
digimeistter said:
Blue32 said:
Last autumn we got a Jackadoodle Mongrel
FTFY . (and he is a crossbreed not a Mongrel ) , same thing though and generally have a better temperament than "pure bred" elephantstone said:
If hes already caught a mouse as you mentioned im afraid you will probably have no chance. Our two terrier crosses will chase thin air sometimes. One sneaks up on things like a cat and the other goes into killer hunter mode and will chase squirells for hours.
The mouse was an opportunistic catch, wrong place wrong time for the mouse…. He is also yet to meet the pet tortoise, which could be fun. Although it is more likely the tortoise will go for the dog
We have a 7 month minature schnauzer who is obsessed with our two guinea pigs (5 yr old labradoodle just doesn't take any notice) and just wants to play with them. I did used to put her in the cage with them when she was tiny though.
I still wouldn't trust her unattended in case she's too rough - or reverts to type, and that's having grown up with them.
She actually doesn't show too much terrier obsession with chasing many things, probably because she's taken her energy lebels after Dexter the labradoodle who is the most laid back dog I've ever seen, but is very playful.
I still wouldn't trust her unattended in case she's too rough - or reverts to type, and that's having grown up with them.
She actually doesn't show too much terrier obsession with chasing many things, probably because she's taken her energy lebels after Dexter the labradoodle who is the most laid back dog I've ever seen, but is very playful.
bexVN said:
I know the breed isn't really used for its original purpose now but I've often wondered why schnauzers are classed as utility dogs and not working dogs (are they terriers I've never seen them classed in that group, though they would suit it )
You know that's interesting, I have automatically assumed they are terriers? You might be right ) lovely dogs in any case 
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