Why Jack Russell Terrier Jackson Welcomes People but Bites as Soon as They Touch Him

According to the September 28, 2020, broadcast of KBS Animal TV : Animal for You animal4u's 'Dogs Are Incredible', the case of a Jack Russell Terrier named 'Jackson' was introduced. Jackson welcomes customers visiting the hair salon by wagging his tail, but he immediately bites as soon as they touch him. Jackson is loved enough to be called the mascot of the hair salon, but he was in a state of making his guardian and customers anxious by showing sensitive aggression in certain situations.

Jackson's dual nature: loving people but rejecting touch

Jackson is a 3-year-old Jack Russell Terrier who plays the role of greeting customers at the hair salon operated by his guardian. In the video, Jackson shows high sociability, to the extent that he wags his tail when he sees people, but he showed behavior where he bites immediately when a customer approaches to touch his body. The guardian expressed feeling sorry to customers because of Jackson, who exhibits an attitude like, "I can touch you, but you must not touch me."

The guardian shared a chilling experience where Jackson showed aggressive behavior by rushing toward a baby's face after the baby was born in the past. Recalling the moment Jackson lunged toward the baby's face, the guardian said, "It felt like my heart dropped." Fortunately, the baby was not bitten and was fine, but the situation could have been a great danger given the contact with a baby's delicate skin.

To alleviate Jackson's aggression, the guardian tried to develop his social skills by visiting training centers or sending him to a kindergarten for one year. However, due to the nature of the hair salon environment where many people pass by and observe Jackson's behavior, the guardian's worries inevitably deepened. The guardian expressed the desire for Jackson to become a gentle dog that is loved by customers.

Hernia pain and lack of exercise identified as causes of aggression

In the video, two aspects were analyzed as the main causes inducing Jackson's aggression. The first is pain related to his health condition. Jackson was brought home by the guardian after being found in a sick state at a breeder shop, and he had a severe congenital hernia. At the time, he was in a dangerous state, weighing only 600g, but he had completed treatment after receiving surgery when he exceeded 1kg. An expert (appearing in the video) analyzed that such physical discomfort and the resulting stress can lead to sensitivity and manifest as aggression.

The second cause is the lack of exercise due to breed characteristics. Although the Jack Russell Terrier is a breed with very high activity levels, the environment made it difficult to secure sufficient walking time because the guardian operates a hair salon. In the video, the lack of energy release was pointed out, mentioning behaviors such as Jackson sitting on the hair salon sofa. Jackson's behavior of sitting on top of customers in the hair salon was described as if he were claiming, "I am not your slave, I am not your toy."

Possibility of aggression due to possessiveness and on-site inspection

During the behavioral inspection conducted at the hair salon site, Jackson seemed to show favorability when eating treats, but he still showed sensitive reactions when eye contact or physical contact was attempted. Observing Jackson's gaze and ear shape, the presenter diagnosed that Jackson does not simply dislike people, but is highly likely to show 'aggression due to possessiveness' in an attempt to protect his territory or state. In particular, the characteristic of reacting sensitively when a hand approaches was observed.

During the inspection process, the presenter paid attention by instructing Jackson not to make eye contact and to wait. Jackson seemed to show favorability for a moment while eating treats, but he showed sensitive behavior again when the guardian tried to touch him or when the situation changed. Jackson also showed signs of being bewildered or confused when situations arose where his aggressive behavior did not work. The video concluded with the guardian earnestly wishing for Jackson to be a dog that is loved rather than hated by customers.