Julia's posts with tag: aggression
Meet Jack. He's not exactly everyone's cup of tea. Ever felt that way?
(strumming of With or Without You by U2 begins)
We got him 4 years ago for Dad on his birthday. He was about a month and a half old and absolutely hated being alone. In his litter, he was the runt, the last puppy to be chosen. He's moved house with us 3 times and for a spirited male Jack Russell terrier that is so less than ideal. This Wishbone double has seen us at our utmost financial worst and well...he adapted as best he could in order to survive. To top off his strained puppyhood, I left for Europe somewhere during his crucial months, I was gone for 3 months, and when I came back, our house was a mess and I realized whatever training I had begun with him was undone. Nobody followed on or kept track. He was then on relentlessly young and out of control.
Jack's first ultimate goal in life is to be the first to know you've arrived...everyday. It's probably his calling. No one at home matches his enthusiasm when anyone arrives. Surging with adrenaline he sprints to the front door barking enough to bring the house down until you hold him then the barking mellows into hyperactive grunts and squeaks. Not everyone likes an over-eager canine screaming "I love you" at the first meeting. Jack's too impatient for small talk. He does not stop till every member of the family has said hello to him.
He's not exactly the best around kids. Jack likes kids who adore him and detests kids who are afraid of him or don't trust him, naturally. We often tie him up during family lunches because he ends up making toddlers cry after kissing them in the face then barking after.
Big bodies of water are his worst enemies. We made the mistake of bringing him to the beach when he was too young then an unanticipated rush of surf overwhelmed him, because he was so tiny we hardly noticed. He shivered and coughed up beach water before we could even tell him to swim. From that point on he nobly carried the credo "Don't be evil. The ocean is." A swimming party months later brought that to light.
You can imagine how seeing Joey dive into a big pool almost drove him half mad. We put Jack in his kennel but he was barking in panic seeing the huge pool swallowing kids at my lolo's house. I let him loose so he could run around and hopefully relax but when the cage opened, Jack bolted and dashed to the edge of the pool repeatedly cursing the water or helplessly pleading Joey to get out so the pool wouldn't eat him. Jack would die to save Joey. Joey didn't understand him, but I did. I ran to observe what was wrong and before I could stop him Jack cannonballed (them russels can jump) into the pool of his own accord to "save" Joey despite his terrible fear of water. Another problem arose, when Jack surfaced, his original mission to save Joey lasted for a few seconds until he realized he was in a turbulent pool of chlorinated water with a pack of kids, Jack made a complete 180 and dog-paddled for the edge of the pool but began to drown coz of the chaotic splashing. I jumped in and saved him.
It was embarrassing. Deep inside at that very moment, I was embarrassed that we owned him. Why couldn't he be just a normal dog? I also couldn't understand why mom, who was supposed to be the animal hater, sympathized and defended him when he'd drive us batty. "No one is perfect. He's our dog. Do we give up on him just like that? His being neurotic makes him family." I guess what mom was trying to say was, we have pets not just because we want someone to pet and make us laugh, but because they also need love. Choosing to love them should not change because they are unlovable. So as much as we can, we will try to understand him and find where we went wrong. We'll see how far it goes before we have to neuter him, but mom again says that will take away his true spirited traits.
They said Jack Russels were smart. Through our dark days moving from home to home 4 years ago, and having to sell our cars I remember crying nights then Jack would hear me and enter my room. I guess for all his unrefined qualities what he carries deep inside is not something all dogs have. He began to lick my tears and he pushed his round macho rump beside me and put his head on my chest. On the extreme other side, on bad days, I've been bitten, well of course after I SMARTLY tried to force him away from Jill, our female russel, when she was in her first heat. Genius on my part really. Have the fang mark scars on my right pinky. Dad boasts he's been bitten by bigger dogs, they had 12. He tried to referee male fights between their Shepherds and got bitten, too. Dad says never come between a dog and sex or food.
Jack began barking at one of our kitchen cabinets weeks ago, then we discovered mice had nibbled many of our groceries in that pantry. Jack is an extraordinary rat catcher, he catches them kills them without blood and leaves them for us. He's killed some half his size in our previous homes. While in his craze for a mouse hunt, mom simply humors him and explains to us "He's excited because he is doing what he was born to do."
I watched a show on Oprah where a dog whisperer, Cesar something, fixed the attitudes of 2 of Nate's terror dogs. They attacked other dogs while on their walk, attacked guests when they arrived at his apartment, (and I thought Jack was difficult) and they hate Nate's maintenance man. I wonder why people with such gifts charge so much naman and unless Oprah graces you with an opportunity, you never get to meet them. I've prayed that somehow God shows me what I need to do in order to be an owner who strives to know what her dog needs to be happier and better around people. Our 2nd russel Jill is progressing excellently and shows no signs of aggression, I can even walk her without a leash. At the vet she sits beside me and waits patiently. Guess that's what happens when you grow up in Laguna. She's more the favorite with guests.
Jack will always be Jack, dominant, independent, and overly protective, but I guess we can help him improve his manners eventually. His princess bride Jill will be 1 year old in a few weeks. Who knows, maybe true love is all this 4 year old virgin is waiting for.
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