My jack russell is 11 years old and has always been very good natured that is untill almost a year ago. v While suffering with a dodgy stomach he bit my husband when my dopey old man squeezed. Since then my dog has taken a dislike to me, if i as much as look at him he growls, he no longer shows me any affection unless he wants a treat. He is not like this with anybodyelse. The vet said it's behavioural and to ignore him and just do things with him when i want to but this doesn't mseem to work any ideas anyone.

Were you holding him when your hubby squeezed him? It is possible that he may link you withthe pain and is a bit wary of you.

But it may also be totally unrelated. Perhaps he is just getting old and doesn't really enjoy being fussed over any more? Is he in pain at all, either from the dodgy tum or from arthritis or other age related illness? (NOt that 11 is old for a JRT anyway :p)

Dont give him any treats just to get him to "like" you.

I would suggest in fact a visit from a behavourist, a reputable one, who will show you how to implement a programme which would hopefully sort out his behaviour.

One beginning is to make you totally responsible for every thing he enjoys, and also to get him to do something for you (such as a sit) before you givehim anything, or do anything for him. It may be that further posts will show you how to do this, the vet needed to give you more help really and to explain more what he meant :)

Usually over a period of time a dog will improve with this sort of "regime", but if not then you will IMHO need a behaviourist.

Good luck with him

Lindsay

Thanks for the advice Lyndsay,

When he bit my husband i was in another room. The thing that is strange is that my husband gave the dog a bit off a smack but i was the one that was nice to the dog and suggested that there was a problem as he was the most placid natured jack i've ever known and arranged the visit to the vet.

I am the one that does everything for the dog i.e walking, feeding and grooming, he gets most of his affection from the kids now as i tend to leave him alone until he comes to me and still that doesn't seem to have made any difference.

If i offer him a treat i have to give it to him in silence because if i speak to him he refuses to take it from me.

That's a shame as you say you do already do everything for him, I find his behaviour a little strange to be honest and hard to fathom. It's doubly peculiar as you say that he was fine before all this happened. I could understand it if he was like this before.

I can only suppose that something has "happened" in his mind for some reason, and unfortunately it has had this effect on your relationship with him.

It might be an idea to really ignore him, and to get everyone else to do the same, so he relies on you for affection as welll as everything else, for several days. I have a friend who swears by the 24 hour ignore system, perhaps she will see this post and explain. It would be unusual if he didn't respond. But he does seem to be a bit of an unusual "case" considering his previous history, etc

Lots of luck :)
lindsay

Tee hee, Lyndsay I think you were reading my mind and typing that as I was thinking it <G> It does sound as if the little chap has got a bit 'up himself', and the 24 hour ignore possibly would help him re evaluate where he is in this family. It needs a little forethought to put into operation, some folk have not been able to carry it through because the cleaner came and she idolises the dog, or they were at work all day.... Ideally I'd plan to do this on a day when you are going to be around most of the day, set the alarm clock if you have to so the dog gets no chance to say 'Oi! Let me out!' or 'Oi! Feed me!' - you call the shots (I suggest not even taking him for a walk for the period of the ignore, it won't kill him!). Open the door for him to relieve himself in the garden at regular intervals, put his food down a little time before you would normally, and other than this, ignore him - don't look at him, don't catch his eye if you can help it, don't invite him up, if he jumps up - turn your back and edge him off the seat (don't use your hands if you can help it, use your arms or body, even legs). He may well seem to be getting worse for a period, and knowing JRT's they don't give up easily, so it may seem that it's not working, but if you persist, he will realise things have changed and he has to be nice to you - this relationship is a two way thing and you are not a vending machine.

Alternatively - is it possible he injured himself in anyway when hubby poked at him? Dogs don't often tell us in very obvious ways that they are hurting, and I wonder if he could be withdrawn due to some pain - did he go to the vets in the end?

HTH

Thanks for the advice, in answer to your question yes he went to the vet and i was told he had a stomach upset when he bit my husband and that was his response to my husband squeezing which is fair enough after allo he can't talk. When i went back to the vet regarding his behaviour he told me it's behavioural and to ignore him. Have tried this and he still stormy. I actually think that where he bit my husband he thinks that he's the boss over my husband and is now trying to assert his authority over me. I don't want that to happen as if he succeeds will he try the same with the kids.