What To Do After Your Dog Is Attacked By Another?

[erinonthefarm]

I took my nine month old Dobe for a walk today and he was attacked by another dog. The other dog had to be pulled of my boy who seemed pretty excited by the whole thing and unharmed apart from some missing fur and a small amount of swelling, but I'm wondering if this will cause problems the next time he encounters an unfamiliar dog?

We live in remote NT so he doesn't see other dogs at home apart from this rare and unfortunate occasion, he was due to start obedience and confirmation after July and was well socialised by his breeder who kept him for us until he was 3 months because of the high amount of parvo in our area, but he hasn't had much doggy interaction since (average of once a f/n) and might not see other dogs until next week. How should I handle the next doggy encounter, should I go out walking where there are other dogs to meet or keep him with dogs he knows and gets on with and hope he forgets about the whole thing? I am worried that he will attack first next time as a defense?!

I think it happened at a very bad time as he is at the age where he is becoming aware of territory, marking, females ect......

[tlc]

The next time you encounter a dog he doesn't know you need to be as relaxed as you possibly can. He will feel your anxiety and think he needs to be on the defensive otherwise. I'm guessing it could possibly be harder to get him out around other dogs if you live in a remote area.

All of mine have been attacked at one time or another and I got them out around other dogs again as soon as possible and just went on with our daily activities. One of mine was serverly affected by a dog attack but there was more than one dog which made it a lot worse, she is still reactive on occasion to larger dogs but much better in a social dog situation if she is off lead.

All you can really do is play it by ear and take it as it comes, you might be suprised he might be the kind of dog that just takes things in his stride and it won't affect him at all.

Is there any reason why you have waited so long to take him to obedience classes? So he will be 10 months when you start?

[erinonthefarm]

Thanks TLC, I have spoke to his breeder last night who offered the same advice.

We haven't been to any social things because we live two hours away from the club and need to do a orientation night before we can start obedience classes, there is none in July so we have to wait until August. It has been a bit of a problem, not as easy as driving down the road once a week for most people but I am looking to overcome it! He does play with other dogs in Alice Springs, but so far they have all been females.

As far as him taking it in his stride, I was very surprised he was quite happy after, I was quite tense as my husbad and I had to pull the other dog off three times and as it had no lead or collar I thought it might come after him again, so I think I will have to be careful of my own emotions next time.

[Agility Dogs]

All you can really do is play it by ear and take it as it comes, you might be suprised he might be the kind of dog that just takes things in his stride and it won't affect him at all.

Totally agree with this - two of my dogs have been attacked. On is quite reactive/defensive, the other really doesn't care. Just play it by ear and manage the situation as it arises.

[erinonthefarm]

Thanks Agility Dogs, its a shame this happens more than I thought.

Sniper seems fine today, I have to go to Alice Springs tomorrow so I'll take him in to have a walk around.

All you can really do is play it by ear and take it as it comes, you might be suprised he might be the kind of dog that just takes things in his stride and it won't affect him at all.

Totally agree with this - two of my dogs have been attacked. On is quite reactive/defensive, the other really doesn't care. Just play it by ear and manage the situation as it arises.

[Simply Grand]

I don't know if Sniper is a playing type of dog but I'd look out for a reaction if he is playing with other dogs down the track, even if he's fine in general interactions.

My little dog has been sort of attacked a couple of times (no physical damage was done but he was scared) and although he's since been fine generally in meeting other dogs and playing with them, if he gets too overwhelmed or especially if he gets pinned on the ground (which is what happened the first time he was attacked) he seems to get a bit aggressive to try and defend himself. The first time he did it I was really surprised as he'd seemed not to have any after-effects, but it took a particular situation to trigger the reaction.

Now I make sure I always watch him closely and step in if I see him start to change his behaviour and the noises he's making.

I do it mainly for his protection, because 1. I don't want him feeling scared and like he has to defend himself and 2. because he'd come off second best if a bigger dog decided to respond to him barking and snapping, but also because I don't want him to seem like a rude little dog that snaps at others (even though other owners often think it's funny :rolleyes: ). Unforunately other people would probably be more upset if your Dobe snapped at their rude dog in self-defence than when my Toy Poodle x does it.

Oh and most important, like the others have said, stay relaxed and don't be scared yourself, just be prepared, with any luck he'll be totally fine