How to prevent your Jack Russell Terrier from pulling on the leash
PetsJack Russell terriers are generally very active dogs. This is not surprising considering the fact that they were first bred to hunt small animals that tend to run very fast. As such, there will always be a tendency for your Jack Russell terrier to pull on the leash when distracted. However, if your Jack Russell terrier has a habit of pulling on the leash when you take him out for a walk, it is not only annoying and exhausting; But if you don’t correct this bad habit, it can result in some unwanted consequences. This is especially the case if the leash or collar breaks and your terrier loses control.
It is also not good for your terrier to be pulling on the leash for a long time as it can also cause injury. This is because the neck collar will exert great pressure and this pressure can also cause the collar to cut into your neck. The sudden tug on the leash will also put pressure on your hand and pulling hard on the leash also means you need more force to control your terrier.
As such, to solve the problem of your dog pulling on the leash, you will first need to understand the basics. If you’ve had a dog for some time, you may have noticed that your dog instinctively wants to be the leader of the pack. As such, your dog will always want to take the leadership position if you allow it. Therefore, if you do not establish yourself as the alpha leader for your dog early in life, you will find that you may be challenging him for the alpha dog position and pulling on the leash is one of the challenge symptoms for that alpha position. .
Therefore, one of the ways to prevent your dog from pulling on the leash is to be your dog’s alpha leader. If your dog feels that you are his leader, then a large part of his behavior problem can be easily managed. You can easily command your terrier and he will obey you because you are his leader. You can also consider leash and clicker training. Again with these workouts, it will also help you establish yourself as their alpha leader and at the same time instill discipline in your dog.
Have you also considered exercising your dog more often? It may sound funny, but a lack of exercise can also cause your dog to pull on the leash. This is because, as I mentioned earlier, your Jack Russell is a hunter and is full of energy. If he is locked up, you may want to release that energy within him by running, therefore he will be pulling on the leash.
Another important aspect that dog owners often forget is recognition. It is also another form of communication between you and your dog. Everyone wants to be appreciated, including ourselves. Remember how happy you were when your boss told you that you had done a good job? Well, your terrier wants your recognition too.
As such, once your terrier is behaving well during his walks, let him know that he is a good dog. Give him a compliment or even a treat. A word of caution though: don’t overdo it as it can have unintended consequences.