Jack Russell Running Away

 

It may not be nice to see your Jack Russell running away from you, but the simple fact is that it’s in his genes. He was traditionally bred to run ahead of the hunting party to catch the prey, and even today he’s likely to give chase to anything that moves. This predisposition, combined with his incredibly active and athletic nature, means that he’ll have no qualms about running miles ahead of you, and while it’s nice to give your dog the chance to exercise it isn’t so good when he doesn’t like to come back.

How to stop your Jack Russell running away

For this reason, proper training to stop your Jack Russell running away is essential. You need to teach your dog the proper commands and make sure he knows you’re the leader of the pack, and while it can be difficult for you to change the innate desire to run, it can be done – all it takes is a little patience and an understanding of what makes your dog tick.

Obedience training is an absolute must. It’s possible to do it yourself through a combination of positive reinforcement and persistence, but when it comes to Jack Russells it’s often best to get the experts in. Start early by taking your pet to a puppy training class where you’ll be with likeminded people who won’t judge you for having a difficult-to-control dog – they’ll know what it’s like and will help you on your way.

Make sure to practice any techniques at home as well. This should always include teaching your dog to come at your command, and you do that by teaching him that coming back is rewarding. It’s important that he knows the commands of “sit”, “stay” and “come” – to do this all you have to do is show him a treat before telling him to sit, then back away slowly while instructing him to stay. If he does these things then tell him to come, and if he does, he gets the treat. He’ll soon learn that if he follows your commands he’ll be rewarded, and that’s the best way to teach a dog how to behave and really reduce the likelihood of your Jack Russell running away.

Click Here NOW to Learn the Secrets to Jack Russell Obedience Training!

Top tips

But, throughout the training process, remember that Jack Russells have very short attention spans. Keep your training sessions brief to prevent boredom and frustration, and if you practice these things on a regular basis you’ll soon notice the difference.

Another tip is to not start chasing him when you see your Jack Russell running away. If you do this he’ll simply think it’s a game and in a way you’ll be rewarding his bad behaviour, so no matter how much it may be tempting to do so, don’t give chase. You may wonder how you’re actually going to catch your dog when he runs off – the simple answer is to not give him the chance to do so. Until he’s been properly trained never let him off the leash when you take him out for a walk, otherwise you could have a lost dog on your hands.

The most important thing to remember is to never punish your Jack for running off. If you reprimand him when he comes back (or once you’ve caught him) it’s like you’re punishing him for returning, and that’s never going to help stop your Jack Russell running away. Instead, focus on teaching him commands and asserting your place in the pack, and hopefully he’ll start to get the idea that running away isn’t acceptable.

So, the simple nature of this breed means that you’re likely to experience your Jack Russell running away at one time or another. Their energy and lust for chasing means that it could be difficult to correct, but if you spend the time to train him you’ll soon be able to take charge of your dog so he’s obedient and, above all, safe.