dog and owner in need of help and/or guidance

for some time now i have been speaking to a woman at school who has had problems with her JRT... she has had her a few years and loves her but is desperate for help...

she is a married working woman with four children... when she first got tinkerbell the JRT ... she was only working an hour a day, so things were fine and the dog got lots of attention... but over the past year, the woman has taken more hours on at work, and has noticed a significant change in the dog .... she admittedly says that she hasnt got as much time for the dog as she needs...

the dog has started biting and snapping at the young child who is 6, when the child wants to play outside they have to lock the dog away... the dog also bites the woman for no reason at all... even for something as simple as shouting her for her dinner...

the dog spends the day in the garden when they are at work... she has a side entry what is quiet and the dogs kennel and bowls are down there out the way.
the dog does get taken out for a short walk across to the field at night, but that is it... only the other day the dog escaped again from the garden, and the dog warden bought it back the next day..

its evident the dog is bored out of its mind... ive suggested today that she buys her some kongs whch she can fill with treats and keep the dogs mind occupied while they are at work

she has tried ringing several rescue places who are unwilling to help her because the dog bites, many have even suggested she has the dog PTS... this is something she isnt willing to consider no matter how desperate the situation has got.

she woman lives in chaddesden derby, does anybody know anywhere that will take tiinkerbell in and not have her PTS?

I take it she is wanting to give the dog up?

Jacks are ratters so naturally 'nip' their quarry. Maybe the child running outside is now seen as prey by the dog.
You don't mention how old the dog is or if castrated?

That would be helpful.

cc

oooh i forgot to mention that she hasnt been spayed... this was the owners next idea to see if this would help ....

she doesnt want to give the dog up if she can help it... she doesnt sound as if shes very 'dog savvy' if you kwim ... so shes struggling to do the best for it... i was going to suggest a trainer does a house visit, wonder if this would do any good ...

It's sad to read Shell, but like you said, the dog is bored and prob feels not included, to me, there are only a few things, start putting a lot more time and attention into the dog, get a trainere in, although, it doesnt matter how good the trainer is, if the family doesnt have the time for it, it's a waste of time, or, find the dog a new home. The kong thing is good but its not bonding with the pet, it will still need quality time spent with it. I hope the woman can find the right solution for all their sake. You can advise her hun but she is the one who has to put the effort in

Sandra wrote:

It's sad to read Shell, but like you said, the dog is bored and prob feels not included, to me, there are only a few things, start putting a lot more time and attention into the dog, get a trainere in, although, it doesnt matter how good the trainer is, if the family doesnt have the time for it, it's a waste of time, or, find the dog a new home. The kong thing is good but its not bonding with the pet, it will still need quality time spent with it. I hope the woman can find the right solution for all their sake. You can advise her hun but she is the one who has to put the effort in

Agree...you can take a camel to water but you can't make it drink!

thats true ...

ive just seen her up at the school and shes been on the net and ordered some kongs to see if that will keep the boredom at bay in the daytime ....

one step at a time

any advice i could give her next

Yeah spend a lot more time with the dog. Jacks are a working breed so need to hunt. Tell her a tired dog is a happy dog so if it is hunting for Kongs it won't 'hunt' her child.!!!

yea thats an idea, i'll tell her to hide treats when shes at work

i think my daisy is an exception to the rule... shes an idle cow

some folk just aren't suited to certain breeds...but if they are willing to work at it then eventually it should be ok.

Wish your friend luck

thats true

fingers crossed it works out