Puppy advice

It's always hard training two puppies of the same age at the same time. I think it's called 'litter mate syndrome ' I may be wrong though.

I do the same as a poster further up thread. Finger to lips and a shush quiet command, as soon as they are quiet I throw a toy for them or have a game of tug.

So long as they are not out there on their own, barking their heads off I can't see the problem.

You refer to ‘the puppies’ so I assume your daughter has bought 2 litter mates- if so, this is seldom a good idea as they are likely to wind each other up and be far harder to train. I’ve owned dogs (have had up to 9 at a time - mostly working dogs) and have had a JRT so appreciate that they are a breed who generally like the sound of their own voices! Your daughter needs to really get on top of their training NOW before it becomes a much bigger issue. They are intelligent dogs so will learn quickly. Personally, I would only let them out in the garden one at a time to start with and supervise them when they are out. At the first bark, they get a stern, sharp ‘Quiet’. If they continue to bark they get bought straight back in. I would tie a light lead to its collar when it’s in the garden initially so that she can pick up the lead and walk it back into the house briskly without having to chase and catch it. Repeat, repeat, repeat!! It worries me that you say that your daughter and her husband are working from home - is this long term or just due to COVID? If it’s temporary, then please ask her to think if it’s sensible to have the puppies. If the neighbours are complaining already then it’ll get a lot worse if they have to go back to work at some point and leave the dogs alone at home.

Please don’t use a mesh muzzle to stop barking or use a deterrent collar. Positive training is all that is needed. Praise when they are quiet, don’t when they bark. But dogs do bark it depends how much. My neighbours dogs bark constantly if they are out and it does drive you nuts to be honest! But I understand that dogs bark when playing and when excited so they need to be out there with them and train them to bark only when asked or when someone is a threat, but to be quiet on command.

I agree Scentia positive reinforcement is the way to go, no muzzles or deterrent collars,

I echo the comments from Sheepandcattle. I currently have two dogs, one of them a 16 week old pup. In the past, often has three dogs, one of them a foster dog here for assessment.
Jack Russells are clever, like many small dogs, they like to bark. The key with dog training, is don’t let the dog practice any behaviour you don’t want.
Never leave dogs out in the garden without supervision. Go with them, straight back in after toilet and immediately if they bark.
If these are litter mates, advise your daughter to read up on litter mate syndrome. I’d read that even if not litter mates because training two pups the same age will present similar problems.
If your daughter is a first time dog owner, she’s taken on a lot. A trainer is a good idea and join classes as soon as that’s possible

Thanks to recent posters. I’ll pass all advice onto my daughter. Meanwhile, she has bought two muzzle type things for walks on the lead to stop them pulling etc.
Yes, she’s a first time owner but her partner has had digs before, he wanted a dog. When they picked their chosen puppy up there was a sad little tiny one left that nobody wanted so he bought that one too. They are sisters.
Personally my DH and I know it wasn’t thought through properly especially as they moved one week later into this house but we are where we are.
I pass on all the advice you’ve all given me, telling her I read it in the internet so she doesn’t know I’ve been telling tales as such on here!
Thank you all.

Dogs not digs ?

Sadly, I think it’s very likely that your daughter may have been fed a line regarding their little runt that no one else wanted. It rings my alarm bells that the pups could have come from a puppy farm and possibly from different litters. No sensible breeder would allow 2 pups to go to the same home, let alone spin a yarn about no one wanting the runt. (I’m guessing they still paid full price for it) There is a possibility that the 2 bitches could start fighting as they reach puberty and once 2 bitches start fighting, they will continue ( more so than 2 dogs or a dog and a bitch). I would urge your daughter to consider reforming (sensibly) one of the pups sooner rather than later.

Sadly, Sheepandcattle is correct.
This doesn’t bode well Forsythia. Jacks can be a challenge, even for experienced handlers.
Your daughter needs to invest in a trainer. Tools to help stop pulling don’t work without good handling

Thanks once again. Sounds worrying. They’re at the vet for a check up this week so I’ve told her to speak to them. They run training classes.

I’m worried about the “runt” story too. I can see difficulties ahead. My MIL bred Jack Russells from her own much beloved
Jackies and this sounds all wrong.

I think your daughter needs to think about whether she can manage the training that two female Jack Russells will need.

I know it’s not your decision but can you encourage her to do some serious research on the demands that lie ahead.

There are lots of online training classes now. We once bought a Burmese kitten and were given the runt of the litter for free. He didn’t live for long and all it brought us was sadness. Having said that we’re all jumping to conclusions now and what’s been done has been done. Also, if there are two dogs when they eventually stop working from home the digs will hopefully be company for each other (doesn’t always work, though). I wonder if she could get in touch with a JR rescue agency: not with a view to rehoming one but just for advice as no one will know the breed better than them.

Dogs not digs, although it might still apply!

Sounds like the neighbours are trying to take control and bully you. Politely stand up to them, as with most bullys they will most probably leave you alone

Maybee I looked for advice on the JRT specialist rescue website. The advice is okay and I can do. My problem is my bubble person excites and spoils the dog during visits and takes offence rather easily .

Try joining a group like 'petforums.co.uk' , there are some very knowledgeable people on there who gave me invaluable advice on taming my two feral kittens. There's a 'dog' section (as well as 'cat', and rabbit, and reptiles - and pink elephants too I imagine) anyway I found them very helpful.