How to help my dog overcome fear and trust me again after hitting her?

Unfortunately, some dogs are very nervous by nature and this may never stop completely. I would be sure to show her a lot of TLC and stay calm around her for now. As she gets more use to the new environment and understands that you aren’t going to hurt her, she will likely do better. She may never be 100% normal, but hopefully she will improve. You could try some calming chews like composure or composure pro and a calming collar like adaptil. You could also talk to your vet about putting her on an anti anxiety medicine if needed. I hope this helps!

Something must have scared her and it will take some time to get her to relax again. I would ignore her, go sit in the room with her and have very tasty treats ready. Hopefully Merida will investigate the smell of the treats and you can offer them to her. I would only reach for her if she's relaxed and not hold her if she wants to get away. Gradually she'll learn you always have good treats and she will relax and start to come to you again and then you can start petting and playing with her. Please be calm and speak softly and even play with her toys without looking at her. She should become curious and want to join in. Again this may take some time and if you are too loud or forceful it may make her more fearful. Be patient and things should gradually get back to normal. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you care for Merida.

Hi! Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! When it comes to dog training, positive reinforcement is the way to go. This means focusing on the positive. For example, When Gordon does something undesirable, you firmly let him know that it is not ok and move on. When he does something well, you congratulate him like it is the most amazing thing in the entire world and reward him with treats. I think that Gordon will lose that fear as soon as he realizes that you are not using that sort of training anymore. Good luck!

Every dog is a little different as I am sure you know. Each will form her own personality, idiosyncratic behaviors, and preferential relationships. With this uniqueness is going to come a certain level of uncertainty in situations like you've described above. Some dogs will forget about something like you've described almost immediately while others seem to take it to the grave. The vast majority fall somewhere in between. I don't know how long it has been already, but the first thing I would do if you have not as of yet is to have the tail examined medically for any sign of continuing pain. If there is, this is going to be a continued reminder for Eva of what has happened to her. Once the pain is controlled, the reason for causing the pain becomes less fresh in their mind (at least that is what I think, some other vets may say I am anthropomorphizing dogs and cats a little more than they deserve). If you are able to determine that pain is not playing a role in the problem, the best you are going to be able to do is prevent the same thing from happening again. Once you feel Eva has healed mentally from this event and is ready, desensitizing her to doors and areas that trigger her anxiety may be in her best interest. This is something that should be done slowly and any positive outcomes should be rewards vigorously. Hope this all makes sense. Let me know if I can help in any other way.

I hate to hear this happened. You will need to be very careful with her moving forward and very selective about what dogs get to meet her. You will need all experiences moving forward to be positive. You can start by having a high value treat. When out for a walk, any time Pixie sees another dog, call her name and reward her. Soon she will figure out other dogs mean treats, Do not allow her to meet other dogs yet. Once you are certain the connection is made, arrange to have her meet a friend's dog who is calm and friendly. approach slowly and reward her. If Pixie seems too afraid, don't push it and only get as close as she seems comfortable. Work on gradually getting closer. Then expand to other dogs you already know. Then work on stranger's dogs (if desired). You should also learn as much as you can about body language so you can avoid another negative encounter. Victor Stilwell is a trainer who has written several helpful books and has a website that would also be helpful in learning how to recondition Pixie and select good playmates for her. I hope this helps and be patient. It takes time.

It sounds like you may have frightened Millie, and it will take her some time to trust you again. I would allow her to come to you when she wants, give her love as she asks for it, move slowly and calmly around her, and use a quiet voice. She will start to trust you again, and the relationship should return to normal over time.

I'm sorry to hear about Maja's bad experience with getting attacked! That can certainly be a scary memory and can make a puppy fearful of new dogs. The best way to try to counter a bad experience, is to provide lots of positive experiences to help her gain confidence. This can only be done in a controlled setting, with dogs you know and trust, because we want the interactions to be positive ones. I recommend setting up play dates with friends who have dogs that are known to be social and friendly - but don't force Maja to interact with the other dog any more than she would like to. Trying to force her may only escalate her fear and make it worse. If it seems you're not making any progress and she continues to be fearful, it may be worth contacting a reputable trainer who can help facilitate her training and can offer specific recommendations based on the behavior and body language they're observing in Maja. If you don't know any trainers, your vet may be able to offer recommendations of people near you. I hope this helps!