Tiller- (Skansen's- Ira in the M
 I DO Exist...To- Drive You Batty | 
| Barked: Sun Nov 18, '12 9:36am PST |  |  |  |  | It's all really unfortunate but with more fault line breeds, in raising them you need what I call "sustained socialization." We are very much trained to think that socialization is about getting the dog accustomed to things, and the concept there is that once the are accustomed, then that's it. But no, that is not the case.
The dog parks likely were sustained socialization for Tuna. They were keeping her exposed to other dogs. In that, two things. There was only so territorial she could get...as she was surrounded by other dogs on common space....and also whatever social testing she could do was mitigated by not wanting to get herself tarred if she got out of line.
JRTs have the capacity from highly assertive action. I don't know what other term to use....people seem to have a heart attack if you use the word "dominant." Ah, to heck with it They have a dominant personality. If someone wants to mess with their junk, they are more than ready to war. They can be extremely possessive. And they do have a propensity towards DA, particularly towards strange dogs on their turf. With this breed, there often is hiking of aggression as they are young adults in the testing phase. With Jacks, you may be more likely to see this when they are young. This is because they are often run in a pack and need to find their place, so they toughen, almost to exaggeration, when they come of age.
This is why you need sustained socialization, as your Jack grows keeping her around other dogs. In such scenarios, the experimentations of asserting themselves is lessened, for they have become used to being around other (unrelated) dogs, a dynamic in their lives that existed BEFORE those hormones came in and they started to "grow into themselves," and also whatever assertiveness they may have been prone to show would always be mitigated because most dogs won't start something in a pack setting. That often will get them mobbed by the entire pack. Something dogs know. Dogs and Cesar Milan. That's why his "rehabilitation center" works, because you can put a DA dog in there, and he'd need to be a real wack job to try to start something. So while there, they actually learn new social behaviors....used to starting fights, but now they can't due to "pack law" and being held back start to practice new and more healthy social behaviors.
So at any rate, the removal of the dog parks from Tuna's life....very ill timed at this stage, sadly Just giving it to you straight. What you are describing is sadly predictable to me
What can you do? Ah, well there certainly are things.
Firstly, this is a developmental time in your girl's life still, so take heart! One thing you need to be tuned to is her possessiveness, and not allowing that. She should not have free access to toys, or as much of anything she calls her own. She can have her toys, but you give them to her and when she is done, you take them away. Can you take her food away while she is eating? If so, do so....just take it, have her sit, give her a piece of liver or something juicy for so doing, then place her food back.
Also, tug games. Can she play tug? Most Jacks are more than happy to Practice having her release in the throes of good tug battle, and when she does, then she gets to re-snatch.
You should be able to order her off the couch at will. If you can....great!....just make a daily habit of it, reward, have her sit and then allow her back up. If not, work on the behavior.
Finally, introduce her to new dogs weekly. You need to get her back to a doggie play setting....a dog park, a doggie day care, etc. You can also contact training schools and see if they have play groups...many do. Get her back into that social enhancement, with supervision. If it is possible to take her to work with you, do so.
She's only testing now, so give her some time to grow, try and keep any possessive tendencies under wraps. And socialize, socialize, socialize!
Hope that helped. If you have the opportunity to foster another Jack who is dog friendly, that could be a positive motion, as Jacks have exceptional breed recognition....recognize one as their own, and can be more amenable to partnering with them.Edited by author Sun Nov 18, '12 9:40am PST
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