please can you help.we have started having problems with our jack russel of 18 monthswe had him when he was just 8 weeks old and he made our family complete we had longed for a dog and was totally in oar when bob came a long he slept on are beds each night and played with the children he gose everywhere with us aswell.recently started barking a lot and showing agressiveness towards my husband and me if we told the children off or if the children are fighting he will intervene and growl and bite. things had got so bad that we consulted a trainer and was hoping to go down that road with him.that was untill today. he had bit me once befor but today i had taken him for a walk with my 3 children and while coming back it started to poor down with rain so i shouted to the children to go round the back because i was having trouble with the front door.as i was shouting this my dog went behind me and put his teeth through my jeans and in to my bottom it sounds funny but beleive me i was petrified each time i tried to move he shook his teeth and head violently. i am now so so confused there he is lying on my bed being all cuddly like a different dog as if nothing has happend. my husband says that we cant keep him because he cant be trusted. im afraid to say i agree with . it will break all are hearts to part with him and my children will never forgive us for this.i wish there was another way so please any suggestions gratefully received.

Could it be that he thinks he's protecting the children? It seems that he only gets this way if you are in some way shouting or interacting with the kids, is that right? or does it happen at other times.? Does he see the children as his litter -mates, and feels he has to intervene even between them? I'm sure lots of good advice is on it's way from the much more experienced people on this board. :)

From what you say, it certainly seems as though he is protecting your children. It appears to him that raised voices mean trouble, and he's doing all he can to stop it.
:)

Me personally I would work more on his obedience. Also get ur children to work on his obedience too. Do not allow him on furniture.bed/ect. When u give him his food make him work for it, like sit/down ect. Teach him an out command (play fetch and when he has something tell him out to realease it). Always praise/treat for a job well done. He sounds as though he is the alpha in the house not u or ur children so he is sorting things out the only way he knows how to. Sign up to a couple of obedinece classes as well as other fun dogsports (flyball,agility) and have ur children do them with him, and u must practice at home as well as in class. The more obedience u have over ur dog the better. U have to teach him that u are the top dog in the house as well as ur children and make him the bottom of the pack. Only pet and play with him when u want to not not when he wants to, and u must end all play not the other way around. Have a special toy that only comes out at play time and gets put away after when U are done playing. Teach him no bite never to old to learn. U can have a set up, keep him on leash and have the children yell or u but have some one strong enough on the other end of the lead so if he goes to bite give him a correction (like a pop on the lead) and say NO in a low growl voice and put him in a down position (the person on the other end of the leash does this), then praise/treat once he is laying down. Do this a couple or more times through the day so he realizes that if someone raises their voice that he is still ok and no one is going to get hurt. Dogs feel vulnerable in the down position thats why I suggested to put him in one, it shows them that they are still safe and nothing is wrong.

Please don't give up on him just be a little more patient and work harder on the obedience and setting things up so he is put in that situation and can be safely and easily corrected. He will not be corrected over night but if u take the time and work with him everyday I'm sure he will be a better behaved dog. Just make sure ur whole family is involved with everything and u give a lot of praise/treat for good behaviour.

Good luck :) This is only my opinion:) Junior my male (boston terrier) has been a real hand full and would try to nip strangers if they came to close to me but now he is doing great and a real joy to take outside and loves to great people. They can be turned around but a lot of time/devotion/patience on ur part if u really want it to happen. Wishing u the best of luck and ur little man :)

ttfn :)

Many years ago I had a friend who owned a Chichuahua who sounds similar to your Bob. Her Chichuahua would bark and threaten to attack (sometimes nipping an ankle) anyone who it determined was the one that started a loud, threatening type confrontation. If my friend pretended to yell at me and raise her hand as if to strike me her Chichauhau would go to attack my friend.

Your Bob seems to be reacting to what it perceives as threatening behavior and protecting his family - even against another member of the family. It's similar to what a dominant dog would do in its own pack. It does not sound like your dog is uncontrollable and aggressive dog - he's doing what he thinks is his responsibility. The problem is, of course, that he's come to the conclusion that he is the dominant pack member.

I suggest you find a trainer who is familiar with behaviour and has experience handling "problem" dogs. I would not give up on you dog now, most likely he is trainable if you and your husband (and children) are willing.

Stacey

Firstly I would suggest you take him to the vet to eleiminate any kind of medical problem.
I doubt if there is a medical problem what you describe is dominance, I don't know if you have been to positive training classes but you do not mention any correction, this suggests you either do not know how to corect him or someone has told you not to, if they have they don't know what they are talking about.
What you see as aggression is quite normal dog behaviour for a dog which is dominant and feels the need to establish his rank, and in youre case is simply showing he outranks you, dogs will use warnings or aggression to do that, that is their natural communication, they are not animals which are what humands call kind tehy have no understanding of such things.
You have three choices, 1 you find a trainer who understands corrections and can show you how to become top dog yourself, 2 you learn to live with it 3. Then you must find another answere for yourself, good luck.