Advice needed on restoring a puppies confidence.

[loquacious]

This little honey is now 13weeks old (today) and is of course, utterly adorable. However, last Saturday on her fiirst walk without a lead (or being carried) she was attacked by a dog! A Lab of all things that gave no (visible or audible) warning nor was Bella bothering it in any way, it just grabbed her by her nose/muzzle and shook her, she ran away screaming...

Thankfully, physical injuries were slight and healed quickly and perfectly but psychologically, she is a mess. She is back to being happy and confident at home, plays boisterously (and noisily) with my other dog (Chester) and they fight each and every day for at least an hour, wrecking rooms as they go...

But outside, she is nervous. Very nervous if there's another dog around or she hears a dog bark somewhere. She is also no longer the cuddliest dog in town, she doesn't want cuddles from strangers anymore (before she would be delighted to be cuddled and kissed by anyone!) and does not leave my side except to run between me and Chester when out on walks.

I did keep her in more remote spots for a few days where she could get a run without too many other mutts around but that didn't work and she would start crying if she even saw another dog in the distance so I started taking her back to the park where we went before she could go down on the ground to see all the dogs she knew well (they had all met her while a 'babe in arms') and she loved all the BIG dogs. Sadly this is also where the attack took place. She is not even keen of talking to the dogs she knows and keeps her distance/stays by my side.

Today we played ball. She is really good at it straight away, brings the ball back and drops it at my feet (no training!) but as soon as other dogs arrived, she forgot her ball and remembered that she's scared. I really want her to get her confidence back but I admit, I'm at a loss as to how this can be achieved.

Any ideas?

Note, it transpires that the dog tat attacked her has form for this behaviour and has done the same/similar to many other dogs!

Edited by loquacious on Sunday 13th March 19:01

[juice]

Take lots of treats with you on your walk. If a dog gets close, treats, treats treats. Associated a dog coming close to something good (not bad) happening.
The route to a Labs heart is through it's stomach afterall !

[babelfish]

Sounds awful the puppy and you at such an important time in their development.

Do you have friends with large dogs that you can use to try and regain its confidence?

[loquacious]

She knows BIG dogs at the park from before and since, she is wary of them now even though she used to like them. Chester is a big(ish)dog and she adores him but t's not helping her confidence sadly.

[Byker28i]

Weird this. The only two dogs to attack Asha (black lab puppy) are two other black labs.

First time she went up to one to say hello and it went for her, growling, took her on her back when I stepped in and shoved the dog away and picked Asha up to get her out the way. The owner didn't do much. Quite surprising. His excuse was the dog didn't like other dogs on leads - so he knew about the problem.

Second time the same, only this time I hauled the dog off by it's collar and held it away so Asha could run back to mum. In that base the bloke apologised, said he was walking it for his brother, but it was really good with kids...

Luckily it hasn't spoilt her confidence, but she does now lay down when other dogs come, then gets up and approaches them.

We use the 3 sec rule now. Let her say hello, but no longer than 3 secs then move her away. Seems to work well.

[UTH]

One of my cats was 'attacked' by some other dhead cat in our area.....ever since he won't step foot outside, so we've had to go back to having a litter tray in the house.

I imagine it's going to be even harder to get him to go back outside than to 'retrain' your puppy.

Either way, bloody st when another animal attacks yours.

[Sub8]

Whatever you do you must not radiate any concern at all yourself. This will be picked up by the pup as there IS something to be worried about.

I would ignore the scared behavior completely. Find somewhere with dogs in the distance, ignore them completely and play ball, treat and carry-on as normal. Gradually get closer and repeat.

Ideally if you can find someone with a friendly (to pups, most dogs arn't!) and calm adult dog get them to walk parallel with you both on lead at a distance - again ignore any kind of fearful reaction, completely blank it and keep strolling on as normal. Any instance of more normal reaction - the pup not looking at the other dog, sniffing the ground, looking at the ball etc reward with a lite vocal (good girl / boy / dog) and treat. Gradually get closer and repeat.

[Challo]

Byker28i said:

Weird this. The only two dogs to attack Asha (black lab puppy) are two other black labs.

First time she went up to one to say hello and it went for her, growling, took her on her back when I stepped in and shoved the dog away and picked Asha up to get her out the way. The owner didn't do much. Quite surprising. His excuse was the dog didn't like other dogs on leads - so he knew about the problem.

Second time the same, only this time I hauled the dog off by it's collar and held it away so Asha could run back to mum. In that base the bloke apologised, said he was walking it for his brother, but it was really good with kids...

Luckily it hasn't spoilt her confidence, but she does now lay down when other dogs come, then gets up and approaches them.

We use the 3 sec rule now. Let her say hello, but no longer than 3 secs then move her away. Seems to work well.

Was she off lead when attacked and where the other dogs on the lead?

Did you check with the owners that she could say hello to their dog?

[Byker28i]

Challo said:

Byker28i said:

Weird this. The only two dogs to attack Asha (black lab puppy) are two other black labs.

First time she went up to one to say hello and it went for her, growling, took her on her back when I stepped in and shoved the dog away and picked Asha up to get her out the way. The owner didn't do much. Quite surprising. His excuse was the dog didn't like other dogs on leads - so he knew about the problem.

Second time the same, only this time I hauled the dog off by it's collar and held it away so Asha could run back to mum. In that base the bloke apologised, said he was walking it for his brother, but it was really good with kids...

Luckily it hasn't spoilt her confidence, but she does now lay down when other dogs come, then gets up and approaches them.

We use the 3 sec rule now. Let her say hello, but no longer than 3 secs then move her away. Seems to work well.

Was she off lead when attacked and where the other dogs on the lead?

Did you check with the owners that she could say hello to their dog?

Asha was on the lead and close, other dogs were off. I always ask if it's ok to say hello.

[Challo]

Byker28i said:

Challo said:

Byker28i said:

Weird this. The only two dogs to attack Asha (black lab puppy) are two other black labs.

First time she went up to one to say hello and it went for her, growling, took her on her back when I stepped in and shoved the dog away and picked Asha up to get her out the way. The owner didn't do much. Quite surprising. His excuse was the dog didn't like other dogs on leads - so he knew about the problem.

Second time the same, only this time I hauled the dog off by it's collar and held it away so Asha could run back to mum. In that base the bloke apologised, said he was walking it for his brother, but it was really good with kids...

Luckily it hasn't spoilt her confidence, but she does now lay down when other dogs come, then gets up and approaches them.

We use the 3 sec rule now. Let her say hello, but no longer than 3 secs then move her away. Seems to work well.

Was she off lead when attacked and where the other dogs on the lead?

Did you check with the owners that she could say hello to their dog?

Asha was on the lead and close, other dogs were off. I always ask if it's ok to say hello.

Yeah sorry thought I would check as my dogs can be reactive on the lead and we have had so many owners just let their dogs run over and say hello and my two aren't fans.

I think as you mention she now lays down now which is never a bad thing. Dogs have so many subtle body language reads and she seems to be learn how to communicate which is good.

Hope all goes well.