In order to ensure good behavior, training Jack Russell Terriers is an absolute must. Untrained, the breed is prone to very unpleasant behaviors such as barking, aggression, digging, and overall destructiveness. This does not make for a pleasant companion or family member, and will ultimately hurt your relationship and experience with your Jack Russell.

There are many different kinds of behavioral problems that can be corrected by training Jack Russell Terriers. It is important, though, to recognize that while some things - such as digging and barking - are natural parts of the breed that can be discouraged, other undesirable behaviors may be a result of other circumstances in the dog's life. These circumstances include:

• Separation anxiety. Jack Russell Terriers are specifically prone to developing behavioral problems as a form of acting out when they feel the anxiety of being left away from their human companions.

• Lack of communication. Jack Russell Terriers who don't receive the right communication or a lack of communication altogether from their owners will often bark, bite, or dig as a response. The dog simply isn't aware of what is expected of him or her and acts out against the lack of boundaries.

• Waiting too long for training. Though a dog can be trained at any age, it is best to start early before bad habits develop. It's much better to build good habits from the start than to try to correct bad habits that have already been formed.

• A dominance issue. This breed is a very stubborn and dominant one, so as a part of training Jack Russell Terriers, you'll want to make sure that you consistently establish yourself as the alpha dog in your family "pack". Be very consistent in communicating what you feel is acceptable and what is not acceptable. This should be accomplished through clear positive methods.

• Inadvertent rewarding of bad behavior. It's easy to accidentally encourage behaviors that we actually want to eliminate. For example, if your dog barks incessantly when he or she is outside, by calling him or her inside instead of correcting the act itself, you're teaching your dog that to get attention and to come inside with you, all he or she needs to do is make enough noise!

With consistency, determination, commitment, and the right techniques for training Jack Russell Terriers, you'll have attractive results, and a terrific companion and friend.