When you first train a Jack Russell puppy, it’s easy to make mistakes. At first, puppy care seems simple: feed it on time, give it a place to sleep, and everything will be fine. Then you start to discover that things are not so simple. Little accidents start showing up on your carpet. Your pup starts biting your hands with those sharp little teeth. You find chewed up socks and shoes lying around the house. Suddenly, that cute little ball of fluff starts to turn into a little terror. It’s time to make sure you avoid the major mistakes involved in Jack Russell puppy training so this time goes by in the best possible way.

House Training Jack Russell Puppies

When you start house training, avoid punishing your puppy for making a mistake by pottying in the wrong place. This is the number one mistake new homeowners make. Don’t yell at the puppy or rub your nose in his mess; this is confusing and scary for a puppy, and doesn’t teach him what you really want him to do. Instead of punishing him, you should give him regular opportunities to do the right thing; In other words, take it outside many times during the day, especially after drinking and eating, and before and after sleeping. Then, when he goes to the right place, give him a reward in the form of food, praise, and petting.

bite and bite

The common reaction most owners have when a puppy bites them, again, to punish the puppy. Again, this can cause more problems than it solves. Nipping is a natural behavior for pups: they have to learn from other members of their pack not to bite. Now your family is your pup’s pack, so you need to teach the pup not to bite hard. Being a good pack leader is a big part of Jack Russell puppy training. To do this, be sure to interrupt any play whenever the puppy gets too excited and bites. You don’t want to associate good things with biting. This way, the pup will learn that biting leads to game over, which is a bad thing.

You can also use a technique called a nose grab. This is where you gently hold the puppy’s jaws closed for a few seconds when he bites. This is based on the natural behavior of wild dogs. In the wild, mothers use their jaws to keep a pup’s mouth shut and teach them when they’re out of line. Just be careful not to squeeze too hard or plug the puppy’s nostrils; it should not be unpleasant for the puppy. Training a Jack Russell puppy should be a positive growing experience for you and your puppy.

Destroy clothes and furniture

Understand that it is completely natural for a puppy to chew and destroy things in its environment and, again, punishing the puppy with yelling or hitting is a bad idea. Instead, you should provide the pup with plenty of toys and chewy treats to keep him busy. Exercise also helps alleviate boredom: the most destructive chewing occurs because the pup is left alone for a long period of time with nothing to do.

Training a Jack Russell puppy takes time and patience, and there are many mistakes an owner can make if they don’t have the right information from the start.