Taking Hiking Trips With Your Jack Russell

If you like the outdoors, then some of the best times you can have with your jack russell dogs is by wandering around on roads and trails. Curious, full of wonder and excitement, dogs are sometimes the best companions. They’re not self-sufficient, however, so you need to keep some things in mind when it comes to hiking, backpacking canine style, and some hazards to watch out for on the trail.

First of all, have your veterinarian check your dog to ensure she’s healthy enough for these demanding excursions! Dogs should be conditioned (every day walks will do) before taking them out for a hike.

To me there is no more relaxing activity in the world than hiking in nature. Hiking, however, is a strenuous activity and not without risks, so if you’re going to take a hike with your jack russell dog, you need to follow a few guidelines:

* The first priority is to determine if your dog is healthy enough to hit the trail. If you’re not sure, go to your vet. Ask the vet to check your dog’s heart, blood, and respiration. If all is well and your dog is game, take him on a short hike near your home. Does he run out of energy? You need to do some conditioning: Jogging, tennis-ball fetch, and swimming are great ways to get your dog in shape.

* Aside from conditioning her heart, you need to toughen up those toes. But watch those pads! If your dog is out of shape, her pads will wear quickly and might even bleed.

* Before you go out on the trail, make sure your dog’s ID tags, rabies inoculation, and license are up-to-date. For extra precaution, you can have your veterinarian embed a microchip in your dog’s shoulders that can be used to track them if they’re ever lost or stolen.

* Respect all trail restrictions. If an area is blocked off, don’t go there. If the trail requires all dogs to be on leash, comply. Even if it doesn’t, leash your dog if she won’t stay with you. And always have a pooper-scooper of some sort to pick up after your dog if he goes to the bathroom on a trail other people will be using.

When You Arrive At Your Hiking Site

You may get to an area and find a “No Dogs Allowed” sign. Quite a disappointment, but it’s there for a reason. Sometimes the reason is that other dog owners didn’t follow the rules and ruined it for everybody. We don’t make the rules, but we should follow them.

Most dog-friendly parks will allow jack russells that are under voice control to hike off leash. Polish up the Let’s Go, Come, and Down commands reviewed in Chapter 2, and never let your dog off leash if you have the slightest doubt that she will obey.

If you have a jack russell puppy, introduce her to short trail hikes after she’s had all her inoculations. Keep her on a 10-foot leash and call her back to you for a treat every few minutes. Also, introduce the command “Wait” to mean “stop in your tracks.”

A Few Reasons Why Your Jack Russell Is Jumping Out Of Windows

The most common cause for jack russells jumping through windows is social isolation. Most cases generally involve dogs that do not accept being left alone in the house and escape to seek some social contact in the neighborhood. Some escape and remain on the front porch to await the return of their owners.

Most of these dogs have experienced some sort of highly gratifying social interaction when outside. Males or females in heat may escape to obtain sexual satisfaction. Others have been fed by neighbors or otherwise welcomed into their homes. Some have been generally allowed to run loose when their owners are at home, but are confined when the owner is away.

A less common cause is genuine fear of confinement inside the house or in the yard, causing the animal to jump out of the yard and/or into the house. In these cases, there has usually been some sort of experience involving the area in which the dog is confined. Such traumatic events may include severe physical punishment, extreme hunger, pain from BB shots or rocks thrown at the dog, and firecrackers or other explosions nearby or in the yard. Such distress has caused some jack russells to jump out of windows as well.

Myth: If Your Jack Russell Is Dragging Himself On His Rear, Then He Has Worms

Actually, this one has a little truth to it and is not entirely a myth. A Jack Russell scoots on his rear in an attempt to relieve irritation - and worms can be one source of that discomfort. They aren’t the only potential problem, however. Impacted or infected anal sacs can be a problem, too, and so can a piece of something a dog has chewed that hasn’t been completely expelled in the stool. For long haired dogs, fecal material can cause a nasty, itchy, and oh-so-smelly mess that needs to be cut out prior to bathing.

You need to keep an eye on this area, whether or not your pet is scooting. Express the anal sacs when you bathe your dog and keep the hair clipped short and clean around the anus. (Your groomer or veterinarian can take care of the job for you if you’d rather leave this task to someone else.) Be observant for signs of worms on your pet’s rear, such as the squirming segments of a live tapeworm or the rice-like appearance of dried segments.

If you think your Jack Russell has intestinal worms - because you’ve seen them on his rump or in his stools - have your veterinarian confirm your guess and prescribe appropriate treatment. Be on alert, too, for swollen areas on either side of the base of your dog’s tail, which indicates infected anal glands, a condition that also demands your veterinarian’s attention.

More On Housebreaking Your Jack Russell: 4 Rules To Help

By most estimates, housebreaking problems are the number-one reason that people give their jack russells up for adoption. That’s very sad, because - contrary to popular belief - housebreaking really doesn’t have to be all that difficult. And you can make the job even easier on yourself if, as you venture into the exciting world of potty-training, to let these four simple commandments guide you:

Rule #1: The key to housebreaking is scheduling. You’re going to have to establish a firm routine and stick to it until your dog gets the hang of housebreaking. If she knows when to expect to be taken outside, she soon won’t mind waiting until her next scheduled outing. But if she never knows when or whether she’s going to get to go out, she may decide it’s not worth her while to control herself.

Rule #2: What goes in must come out. In other words, if your dog is nibbling and sipping all day long, she’s going to need to go to the bathroom all day long. So it’s important that you schedule her food intake and keep snacks to a minimum, and you can even schedule her water intake at the beginning. Of course, if it’s very hot or if your dog is getting lots of exercise, then she needs to have fresh water available to her all day long. But otherwise, you can give her periodic drinks throughout the day so that you’ll know when she’ll need to go out - probably about ten to thirty minutes after drinking or eating.

Rule #3: In housebreaking, timing is everything. Your Jack Russell is going to have accidents - count on it - and the only way you’re going to teach her right from wrong is to catch her in the act and correct her. Correcting her after the fact won’t do a bit of good, because she won’t know what she did or why you’re upset with her. And that’s why it’s so important that you supervise her scrupulously during these early days.

Rule #4: Cleanliness counts. Dogs will almost always return to spots that they’ve soiled before. So if your dog has one accident on the couch, she’s likely to have another, unless you thoroughly disinfect and deodorize the area. And remember, her nose is a lot more sensitive than yours, so you’re going to have to do some heavy-duty scrubbing to make sure that no traces remain. Your best bet is to use one of the commercial sprays or solutions designed for this very task.

Jack Russells - Loss Of Vision & Other Aging Problems To Look Out For

jack russells who begin to have vision problems - whether it’s glaucoma or cataracts - can pose a problem for themselves and for you. There are certainly veterinary medical solutions to some visual problems. In the meantime, you can try to substitute auditory cues, like words, phrases, or claps, for things you used to rely on vision to convey to your pet - it’s just the opposite of the hearing-loss problem.

If you used to get a kick out of tossing a treat to your Jack Russell and having him catch the treat in the air, or playing Frisbee with your dog (now he can’t see the Frisbee too well, so he’s getting hit on the head), try tossing the Frisbee or treat to his left or his right with a large motion of your hand so that he can see it a bit more clearly, just from the movement. Oftentimes, he seems less upset than you are at getting knocked in the noggin, but both of you will probably be happier if you toss to either side and then enjoy that special treat time you used to have when everything worked correctly.

As a dog gets older, another thing to be concerned about along with sensory loss is the quality of their normally fun or exciting experiences. Now, when they go to the park and play, do they continue to enjoy these endeavors? Or, since they don’t experience these events with the senses that they used to have, are they still having fun? Actually, things can become dangerously stressful for your pet while you aren’t even looking.

As you leave him at the groomer or take him into the park to see if other jack russells are around for him to play with, notice if he seems to enjoy the experience or if he starts trembling. Pay attention to any changes in behavior. Even though they may not make sense to you, they may indicate that his experience is starting to be different. He’s not smiling as much. He doesn’t spend as much time away from you as he used to in the park. He doesn’t want to walk or run ahead of you in the park like he always used to; now he’s hanging back and avoiding people who might come up to him and possibly hurt him with a too enthusiastic pat on the head.

Loss & Grieving For Your Jack Russell

When your Jack Russell passes, you may find that the sudden absence of your dog is too upsetting to bear alone. This is a perfectly natural response. If you feel you need some help getting through this traumatic period, seek professional counseling. Ask your veterinarian or the humane society for recommendations.

You should not keep a Jack Russell’s death from your children, but you may need to exercise caution in explaining what has happened. Carefully explain euthanasia to older children. If you have very young children, you will probably want to shield them from the details. Instead, emphasize that, although your pet has had a long and happy life, he is now very sick and won’t get better. Tell them that the veterinarian is going to help end the dog’s suffering.

Be very respectful of a child’s right to grieve, and keep watch over the various forms in which that grief may be expressed. Allow your child to be sad or angry, as long as the emotions do
not become so overwhelming as to interfere with normal functioning after an initial period of mourning. Show that you too are saddened by the loss of your beloved Jack Russell, but concentrate on the positive, emphasizing that the terrific memories you all share of life with your dog will live on.

Everything You Need To Know About Heart Failure In Jack Russell

Heart failure in jack russells occur when any kind of heart disease becomes so severe that a dog’s heart is unable to circulate enough blood to meet all the needs of his body tissues. As a result of associated blood-pressure abnormalities, fluid may begin to pool in some of his tissues, and the blood supply decreases to those body tissues that are furthest away from the heart.

What can cause heart failure?

Any form of heart disease can cause this condition. A dog may be born with a defect that leads on to heart failure - such as a hole in the heart or a major blood vessel positioned wrongly - but in most cases heart failure is associated with an underlying heart disease that is not present at birth. These diseases include the following:

* Long-term disease of the major internal heart valves, making the valves ineffective as seals.
* Diseases of the heart muscle.
* An infestation of heartworms.
* Diseases of the tissues that surround the heart, leading to a build-up of fluid.
* Electrical disorders of the heart, affecting its beat rhythm and rate.
* Bacterial infections of the interior lining of the heart.
* Tumors of the heart.

Heart failure is obviously a very serious; life-threatening condition. For instance, heart-valve disorders are most common in middle-aged and older dogs, and in toy, miniature arid small breeds, especially the Cavalier King Charles spaniel, chihuahua, cocker spaniel, poodle and Yorkshire terrier. Heart-muscle disorders most commonly affect the boxer, cocker spaniel and doberman pinscher, as well as giant breeds, especially the Great Dane, Irish wolfhound, St Bernard and Newfoundland.

Early stages of heart failure: In the earliest stages of heart failure a dog may not show any symptoms, because changes that occur in his body will help to compensate for his failing heart. However, heart disease may still be detectable by a vet at an early stage. As the condition progresses, the dog will begin to exhibit symptoms. At first, this may only happen when his heart is under stress, such as on exercise, but later on his quality of life will deteriorate as he develops symptoms that are obvious on mild exercise or even at rest. Typical symptoms are mainly due to the build-up of fluid in the lungs and/or abdomen, to an increase in the size of the heart as it tries to compensate for its own failure, and to the inefficient pumping of blood around the body.

They may include the following: Exhaustion on exercise, Coughing, An increased breathing rate, Abdominal swelling, Weakness and lethargy, Cold extremities, Pale gums, Fainting, Weightloss, Reluctance to eat, and last but not least, Depression.

6 Ways You Can Reverse The Roles Of A Demanding Jack Russell Dog

Dominance aggression is a very common form of aggression because of its inherent nature. In order for the human owner to achieve and maintain dominance, he must understand the Jack Russell’s urges and know how to diffuse them in a positive manner. It is important to note that dominant jack russells generally escalate their aggression when physical corrections are administered via leash and collar. Overwhelming physical force has backed many of these dogs down yet often proved to be only a temporary solution.

Treatment: Management generally consists of learning how not to trigger aggressive responses. If you call your dog and he will not come, leave him alone. If you want to pet him and you call him over with success, you may pet him; otherwise, do not go to him. Praise him only when he responds to your command to come. Do not go to him and stroke him when he will not come to you. Furthermore, remember not to pet him when he comes over, nudging you with his nose, pushing at your arm for some strokes. It is important that you don’t acknowledge demanding behavior in order not to encourage these demanding tendencies.

The common areas to recognize and control the hierarchical structure include:

1. Who sleeps in the best spot. The best spot is that area that is considered either most comfortable or closest to the dominant figure in the pack.

2. Who eats first. Survival of the fittest insures that the strong eat before anyone else. Feed yourself first.

3. Who walks in front. He who is in front is the leader. If you are always following your Jack Russell, he is the leader and you are the follower. Commonly, dogs are walked on a lead, and they pull their owners constantly around the neighborhood. Why would the dog think that the owner is in charge?

4. Who protects the pack. The strong protect the pack. When your dog has a hard time settling down when a visitor arrives at your door, and the barking appears to be somewhat aggressive, the dog assumes that it is his job to inspect and decide who can and who cannot enter his domain. This may be a manifestation of a protection or dominant drive. It is up to you to teach your dog that he is not to be involved in protection issues because you will take care of such problems for him.

5. Who owns the toys. The dog that can control his toys may be inadvertently trained to guard his toys. Leaving his toys around for him to play with at his will may suggest ownership of these toys. It is a good habit to take your dog’s toys away when he is not using them and give them to him when you wish to play.

6. Who controls the play time. jack russells will almost throw their toys or balls in your lap in an attempt to elicit play from you. Although this can be a harmless act, it may also be a dominant act as well. Be sure to initiate play on your terms; it is amazing what a dog will do for his owner for a short play session. Use play as a reward for your dog’s compliant behavior.

6 Steps To Introducing A New Jack Russell Puppy To Your Other Pets

Introducing a jack russell puppy to the existing pets in a household is accomplished positively if the established house-pet is acknowledged before the puppy is acknowledged.

1. Before bringing puppy home, feed your established pet a partial meal.

2. When you bring the puppy home, bring your pet outside to greet the puppy. If you have a particularly dominant-type pet, arrange this meeting a block or so from your home.

3. Walk the pet with the puppy (however well you can get the puppy to walk!) and let the existing pet sniff the puppy all he wants. Stay outside for forty-five minutes to an hour.

4. Take the pet and puppy into the house and just walk around the house for ten to fifteen minutes, letting everyone get adjusted to a new body in the house.

5. Feed the established pet another partial meal and let puppy watch.

6. Feed the established pet again, and this time put a bowl down for jack russell puppy. If the other pet comes to the puppy’s bowl, tell him “No.” Whenever you feed your animals, feed the older ones first, but make them respect the puppy’s bowl.

6 Reasons Why Your Jack Russell May Be Overly Aggressive Toward Outsiders

jack russells that bite or show aggressiveness toward people outside the family group usually feel insecure about their relationship with their owners and/or their property, or have been frustrated relative to people at barriers, on leashes, etc. Some of these dogs may have been mistreated by strangers or former family members, often not known to the owners.

Pack (family) and property protection tendencies naturally begin to appear at about 6 months of age. At this time the dog may show slight signs of hostility toward outsiders who threaten the integrity of its property or group. This behavior may become extreme in the following circumstances:

1. The Jack Russell’s owners do not have a uniform leader relationship with the pet (dog is submissive to some, dominant toward others).

2. The family has very few visitors.

3. Fear, hostility or aggression is commonly shown toward outsiders by family members (often by the children).

4. At the dog’s first signs of hostility toward outsiders, the owners have encouraged the behavior.

5. The dog has been frightened or teased by outsiders.

6. The Jack Russell has been shut away from the family when guests visit (often because of other types of misbehavior).