[babyblonde430]

I have a jack russell who just recently turned 1. he is a complete nightmare! I don't know what to do anymore. He eats cat poop no matter how I discipline him. He runs by nipping at you trying to play but it hurts and he won't let you catch him. He's only good when he curls up beside you to go to sleep. He knows how to sit and lay down and stay but he only does them if he knows he's getting a treat.he's potty trained too but he chews up everything.. . All underwear, bras, shoes, and anything with lace. I love him to death but I'm fed up.he does things to push your buttons, like he knows you'll be mad. Any advice?

[labman]

The key to most behavior problems is approaching things using the dog's natural instincts. Dogs see all the people and dogs in the household as a pack with each having their own rank in the pack and a top dog. Life is much easier if the 2 legged pack members outrank the 4 legged ones. You can learn to play the role of top dog by reading some books or going to a good obedience class. A good obedience class or book is about you being top dog, not about rewarding standard commands with a treat. Start at Raising Your Dog with the Monks of New Skete For more on being top dog, see Establishing and Keeping Alpha Position, Letting your dog know you are the boss

Yelping and jerking you hand or leg back should help the biting.

When you are around you need to keep a close eye on the dog. Use closed doors or gates to keep it in the same room as you are, and perhaps as I do, a short chain fastened to the computer desk. If you see it focusing on something it shouldn't chew, give it a sharp ''Ah, ah, ah!'' and offer it a chew toy. When you can't watch it, crate it.

More about that in the sticky at https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/dogs/i...tml#post251802

A dog that has not been crated since it was little, make take some work.
Start just putting its toys and treats in the crate. Praise it for going
in. If you have been able to trust it with any bedding, put that in the crate.
Feed it in the crate. This is also an easy way to maintain order at feeding
Time for more than one dog.