I’ve been lucky enough to have owned three Jack Russell Terriers since I was born. They’re wonderful energetic dogs that love to snuggle (even if they’re on top of you), play endlessly, and are generally a riot to be around. However, just like any other breed of dog, they bark and whine.
Now, I understand that barking is natural and perhaps even useful for some dogs. It’s their way of communicating with other dogs or alerting you to a possible intruder. But, do Jack Russells bark a lot? And if so, what can be done to discourage this type of behavior?
Yes, Jack Russells can bark a lot and this is because they have a very protective nature and because they were bred to hunt. Jack Russells are known to be very loyal and devoted to their owners, and this can lead to them barking a lot. If they sense any danger, or if they see anything that might potentially be a threat to their owners, then they will bark in an attempt to protect them. They can also bark excessively if they get bored which is normally caused by a lack of exercise or mental stimulation.
But when they do it for no reason or when they just seem to be barking constantly, it gets annoying after a while. Thus I’m going to give you the steps on how to teach your Jack Russell Terrier not to bark, or at least get them under control.
But before we continue, we need to identify the reason your Jack Russell is barking.
Why your Jack Russell Terrier might be barking
Make a list of all the things that could be triggering your dog’s barking and then try to rectify it. Look at your dog’s overall environment:
- Is it too small?
- Does he not have enough mental stimulation?
- Is there too much stimulus – too many people around, too many animals, noise, and/or other distractions?
- Are you keeping him in the same place for too long?
- Are you leaving him alone for long periods of time?
- Does he have access to his favorite toys and treats?
Once you’ve looked at these factors, you’ll have a better idea of what the issue might be.
15 Ways to stop your Jack Russell barking
Now that we’ve identified the issue, let’s have a look at how you can stop your Jack Russell Terrier barking.
1. Make sure your Jack Russell is not bored
First off, be sure not to allow your Jack Russell to become bored or under-stimulated. Dogs love to have projects and things that keep them busy. However, if your dog is barking out of boredom, more often than not, you don’t need to train. You just need to give them something to do!
2. Stop your Jack Russell from barking when it first starts
Make sure to stop your dog from barking when it first starts. Your Jack Russell will most likely become startled when you startle it, and this is a wonderful time to teach them that barking is not allowed in the house. Simply give your dog a sharp “No!” or “Quiet!” and they should quiet down. If they don’t, go to the next step.
3. Physically restrain your Jack Russell
If your dog continues to bark after you’ve given it a command to quiet down, you’re going to have to physically restrain them. I’d recommend keeping a leash around just for this purpose. When your dog begins barking, give it the leash and say “Quiet.” If you have to do this often, keep a leash nearby when in the house, and don’t let it out of your sight.
4. Give your Jack Russell a treat
You’ll also want to give your dog a special treat that they don’t get every day (like a Milkbone or a small piece of steak). This is an excellent way to get them to stop barking because they’ll be distracted by the treat and forget all about barking.
5. Keep a close eye on your Jack Russell
Do not let your dog out of your sight. I know that sounds lazy, but if you don’t, you’ll never quite be able to pin down when they’re barking and when they aren’t. If your dog is in the same room as you, this step will be easy. If not, it’s going to take a bit more effort.
6. Speak clearly to your Jack Russell
Remember to speak clearly to your dog. When you’re talking to your Jack Russell, be sure that they understand what you’re saying. If you’re saying “quiet” and they don’t hear it or see the movement of your mouth, then they won’t respond!
7. Remove furniture or objects from your room
If your Jack Russell is barking at furniture or objects, you may want to remove those objects from the room. Distraction will often lead to barking, and if he isn’t able to bark at those items, he’ll soon forget about them.
8. Use a spray bottle
Spray bottles are a great way to silence your Jack Russell that won’t stop barking. My Jack Russell is very stubborn and likes to challenge us at all times.
To get my dog to stop barking I use the following method: The first step is to have a spray bottle filled with water nearby. When you say a command such as “no bark” take the spray bottle and give your dog a quick shot in the face. Since dogs are visual creatures they will learn quicker if you do it each time instead of giving them one big spritz. After about 30 seconds or so, if your dog hasn’t learned its lesson then repeat the process until you see him stop and listen.
Conclusion
Jack Russells can be a great blessing and you should think about getting a dog if you haven’t already. Having a dog is an excellent way for you to get out of your house and be more active. At the same time, dogs can be very hard work, especially if they are barking constantly.
If they are barking all the time it can become very annoying and it will not only disrupt your life but the neighbors too.
Hopefully, the tips mentioned above will help you to stop your Jack Russell from barking.
