Give the digging and chasing a venue
A sanctioned dig pit and a flirt pole with rules redirect the two behaviours that otherwise wreck gardens and chase cats.
Terrier Group
Jack Russell Terrier
A small dog with a very large engine. Jack Russells were bred to work independently underground and will invent a job — usually one you dislike — if you do not supply one.
FearlessCleverRelentless
What to work on first
Three things that matter more than the rest
Impulse control, in tiny doses
Wait at doors, wait at bowls, wait before the toy moves. Terriers gain more from thirty seconds of self-control practice than from a long walk.
Take dog-to-dog manners seriously
Terriers can be quick to escalate. Supervise play with larger dogs and interrupt early rather than letting arousal build.
Where it usually goes wrong
Common challenges with the Jack Russell Terrier
- Digging
- Barking
- Scuffles with other dogs
Behaviour that involves biting, real fear, or a sudden change in an adult dog is not a training problem until a vet has ruled out a medical one.
Read next
Guides that apply to the Jack Russell Terrier
Life Skills
Teaching the Off Switch
High-drive breeds do not calm down on their own. Settling is a skill, and it can be trained like any other.
6 min read
Foundations
Choosing a Breed You Can Actually Live With
Almost every serious behaviour case starts with a mismatch between what a breed was built to do and what its household can offer.
9 min read
Recommended equipment
What our guidance for this breed calls for
Chosen against the training plan above, not against a supplier's bestseller list.
Also in the Terrier group