My Dog Was Attacked

[kiesha09]

On the weekend my 3 yo mixed breed bitch (SWF) was attacked by a German Shepherd. She has been fearful of dogs since being attacked as a puppy and I have spent 2 years getting her to a stage where she will happily walk past other dogs, play with small dogs and tolerate being sniffed by larger dogs.

We were at the park and about was about 50 metres from a lady with 3 German Shepherds. One of her dogs had a go at a staffy so I walked in the opposite direction away from the dog. It saw us and began running towards us, and my girl who was scared began to run away, so the chase was on. The GS chased her down grabbed her and she tumbled and screamed. The dog bit her her on her hip and she now has puncture marks and bled quite alot.

** If the GS was serious about it I'm sure my girl wouldn't be here today so this thread isn't about the other dog... other than the owner is an idiot and the dog should of been on lead!!**

Since the attack I have bathed her wounds and let her sleep and generally mope around the house. But last night I was staying at my OH's house and of course she always comes along. I took her and his housemate has a lab x poodle who she is ok with so thought it would be a good opportunity for her to see another dog. Well I was wrong. She is petrified and wet herself as soon as he said hello. She hid behind me all night (I just ignored her and rewarded her for any normal non fearful behaviour).

She has gone back to where we started, and even worse. So where do I start with her rehabilitation?

[poodlefan]

Keep her out of dog parks when there are large dogs you dont' know are there. You just found out the hard way why so many small dog owners (including me) won't use them. All it takes is the wrong dog on the wrong day. :

As for the rehabilitation, seek professional help. What you've got to remember though is that she has every reason to be scared now. Keep her away from large dogs she doesn't know.

I'm sorry this happened. Take her to the vet for a professional check up and some antibiotics. Bite wounds need to be checked.

Never expose her to the same risk again. If I'd been in the park and those dogs had turned up, I'd have put my dog on lead and left.

Edited September 20, 2010 by poodlefan

[sas]

Sorry to hear this has happened!

Please take her to the Vets to ensure she's ok and to have any meds nececssary.

Please also call your Council to report the inccident.

I would further suggest you contact a Behaviourist to not only help the dog but also yourself (who is probably going to be on edge from now on) how to go forward with your girl.

Edited September 20, 2010 by sas

[kiesha09]

I should clarify this park isn't actually a dog park. It is just a general use park and when I initially got there no one was using it. When they arrived I was on my way to the car but had to turn around when it had a go at the staffy so was trying to go the other way back to my car. I actively avoid dog parks and go to other places either early or late at night to avoid other dogs because I just can't trust them.

She has also been to the vets. I bathed her wounds in the antiseptic stuff the vet gave me but it didn't require antibiotics. Sorry should have been more specific.

I think the behaviouralist is the way to go. She has some other issues that we can go through at the same time so would be beneficial all round.

[persephone]

Nasty. poor little girl.

Agree Vet for AB's in case puncture wounds have let infection in ...(and so the attack is on record!) and a professional to start work soon on helping her regain some confidence.

edit - :D glad she's been to teh vet.

Edited September 20, 2010 by persephone

[oakway]

Stay away from dog parks unless you are the only one there.

So sorry this has happened to you and your dog.

While people frequent dog parks this going to happen.

My only suggestion is to try and use an area where only one dog can run at a time.

Try to get a dog park that has lots of individual runs. (We wish). Its the only way it's going to work as I see it.

There is NO way you would get me to use a dog park with communal dogs running together. Just to dangerous.

[poodlefan]

I should clarify this park isn't actually a dog park. It is just a general use park and when I initially got there no one was using it. When they arrived I was on my way to the car but had to turn around when it had a go at the staffy so was trying to go the other way back to my car. I actively avoid dog parks and go to other places either early or late at night to avoid other dogs because I just can't trust them.

She has also been to the vets. I bathed her wounds in the antiseptic stuff the vet gave me but it didn't require antibiotics. Sorry should have been more specific.

I think the behaviouralist is the way to go. She has some other issues that we can go through at the same time so would be beneficial all round.

Just don't expect miracles Keisha - she's had a major trauma and may never fully recover.

[kiesha09]

No miracles expected here unfortunately. Being the second attack I just want to get her back to a stage where she can tolerate other dogs she knows, particularly OH's housemates dog.

[poodlefan]

No miracles expected here unfortunately. Being the second attack I just want to get her back to a stage where she can tolerate other dogs she knows, particularly OH's housemates dog.

Have you got a portable crate? Take it next time and see if it helps her relax.

[bark]

It's really unfortuante that this has happened and traumatic for your dog and you. After my dog was attacked and being of a highly anxious nature, I consulted a vet who is also an animal behaviourist and he advised me my options were:

• to use a DAP diffuser at home
  
• Clomicalm for a couple of months (it took 4 mths before I weened him off it, which is longer than normal)
  
• Gentle Leader collar (apparently having something around the nose is calming but it takes a while for the dog to get used to the collar)
  

The A. Behaviourist also advised that it would be acceptable to keep my dog away from other dogs for the rest of his life, because the incident has really traumatised him. It's now been 1.5yrs ago since the attack and despite loads of monitored resocialisation, my dog is still very wary (to put it mildly) of all sized dogs, even the tiny dogs.

I used to see a man walking his GSD off lead around the streets in the early morning. One morning, without my dog present I approached the man and told him I frequently walk my dog at the same time and because he was attacked, he's now really wary of all dogs and it's amazing the damage a larger dog can do. I then asked him to put his GSD on lead should he bump into us again ... I haven't seen the guy since but there are still a few other men who walk their dog of lead in my area.

I may have to put my dog in a kennel during Christmas and the Behaviourist has prescribed 2 types of drugs which need to be in his system a couple of months before going to the kennel, to make it a less stressful/anxious experience for my dog. I don't like the idea of putting him on drugs but at the same time I want to reduce the anxiety and make his stay more comfortable.

[Dory the Doted One]

Sadly, walking them early or late is also the prime time that people with dog aggressive dogs also walk their beasties.

[kiesha09]

THanks Bark for your post it was really informative. I have actually been looking into a DAP diffuser for some other anxiety issues that she has so should bite the bullet and buy one.

Another little update though... We stayed at the OH's again last night. I took her soft crate etc. so that she would have a safe place. We got there, she ran in, said hello to Gordy (housemates dog) like she hadn't seen her long lost friend in 10 years, bum wiggles and all. Was so excited to see him. 10 minutes later she had stolen his bone and was quite happy chomping on it while he snuggled in next to her.

Ahhh dogs... I give up cos I sure as hell don't get em.

[spottychick]

THanks Bark for your post it was really informative. I have actually been looking into a DAP diffuser for some other anxiety issues that she has so should bite the bullet and buy one.

Another little update though... We stayed at the OH's again last night. I took her soft crate etc. so that she would have a safe place. We got there, she ran in, said hello to Gordy (housemates dog) like she hadn't seen her long lost friend in 10 years, bum wiggles and all. Was so excited to see him. 10 minutes later she had stolen his bone and was quite happy chomping on it while he snuggled in next to her.

Ahhh dogs... I give up cos I sure as hell don't get em.

SHe might have been in pain the first time you went back and also still jumpy. Just a little too soon - she probably was just wanting to hide away and recover.

So happy to hear she's okay with her buddy now

It's so hard to find somewhere that's safe to let your dog play isn't it. Especially in the city or larger towns. There's some advantages to living in a little place like I do ;)

[ness]

When something similar happened to Ness way back I was told to avoid contact with other dogs for around 72 hours. Something about time it takes for the chemicals released during the attack to dissipate (or at least thats the theory ).

I certainly feel for you kiesha I have had a few unfortunate incidents in the past few months and Kenz is not taking it particularly well.

Edited September 21, 2010 by ness

[spottychick]

When something similar happened to Ness way back I was told to avoid contact with other dogs for around 72 hours. Something about time it takes for the chemicals released during the attack to disapate (or at least thats the theory ).

I certainly feel for you kiesha I have had a few unfortunate incidents in the past few months and Kenz is not taking it particularly well.

Interesting. I've never heard that before.

[ness]

I am sure there are others who are more versed on the specifics then I am but it was more that the dogs are likely to remain on edge for 72 hours and so to try and avoid putting them in situations they might find a little stressful for that time until they have calmed down again.

No different to humans after they have had a fight either - takes time for emotions to come back down to normal on both sides.

[kiesha09]

Yes that all makes sense. It probably was a little too soon for her to see another dog and she just needed some extra time to settle all her emotions down. She is a sensitive soul afterall.

It certainly is hard to find somewhere safe to exercise your dogs in the city. I never go to dog specific parks but go to the local school or football oval. However, people soon cotton onto the fact that they are nice places to excercise their dog so start coming too. I don't even mind other dogs being around but what really annoys me is people thinking its a free for all and let their bad mannered dogs come rushing up to my dogs who are minding their own business. Then you get the disapproving looks when you ask them to call their dogs away from your dogs.

Ness do you find Kenzies reaction gets worse each time she is in one of these situations?

[ness]

Yep Kenz is getting worse unfortunately and is shutting down around dogs to a greater extent then she has previously. She had a weim take a huge chunk out of her at a place I thought was safe to walk dogs (a school oval that we have been given permission to use). Does not help that this weim lives 5 houses down and walks around the district most days. Sniffing that its been somewhere is enough to send Kenz into a panic and she will shut down just going for a walk. She spied it on the far side of the oval with a fence in between and she was still slinking along as far as she could get from it.

I have had other dogs chase after her at club training and also at trials with the most recent being a GSD lunging out the back of the car and the lead snapping and it coming after her. She totally shut down on me then ;). She hasn't been back to that ground since but I am hoping she copes ok as we are trialling there in a few weeks time.

ETA. And as you are aware Kiesha Kenz didn't have a great view on dogs previously to all this. She can get a little defensive/protective of her space and this has not helped.

Edited September 21, 2010 by ness

[spottychick]

Yep Kenz is getting worse unfortunately and is shutting down around dogs to a greater extent then she has previously. She had a weim take a huge chunk out of her at a place I thought was safe to walk dogs (a school oval that we have been given permission to use). Does not help that this weim lives 5 houses down and walks around the district most days. Sniffing that its been somewhere is enough to send Kenz into a panic and she will shut down just going for a walk. She spied it on the far side of the oval with a fence in between and she was still slinking along as far as she could get from it.

I have had other dogs chase after her at club training and also at trials with the most recent being a GSD lunging out the back of the car and the lead snapping and it coming after her. She totally shut down on me then ;). She hasn't been back to that ground since but I am hoping she copes ok as we are trialling there in a few weeks time.

ETA. And as you are aware Kiesha Kenz didn't have a great view on dogs previously to all this. She can get a little defensive/protective of her space and this has not helped.

I am so sorry to hear this. That's just not fair. Kenz looks like such a sweetheart too.

[ness]

Nope its not fair but then life is never fair.