My dog is scared of other dogs and a new puppy after an attack?

Hello, poor Fiddle! He seems to be very scared by other dogs. I think the best way to approach this is by introducing him to dogs that are not overtly playful and pushy in a neutral environment. That is, you may meet with a dog you know is calm and low energy in a park just to have the other dog be around Fiddle to see if he tolerates this. Obviously, avoid any situation which makes Fiddle scared or nervous and don't encourage his fearful behavior with any rewards such as talking to him, carrying him, or petting him as this may equivocally teach him that it is ok to be afraid of other pets. Ultimately, if you're having a really hard time with Fiddle, you may need to have him evaluated by a behaviorist as it is never too late to work with them on improving a behavior. Hope this helps.

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!

This actually is not particularly unusual - while many dogs enjoy playing with other dogs, some dogs definitely prefer people. The dog park can be overwhelming even for social dogs so I would recommend avoiding it for now - if she continues to feel overwhelmed she could start to become fear aggressive. You may want to start by meeting one on one with a quiet dog friend to get her used to dogs. Make sure it is a good experience by offering treats, and if she starts to become too anxious stop and try again another day. She may never get to the point where she loves other dogs that are not familiar, but hopefully you can find a few dogs that she knows and will play with.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! The first thing would be to start by having Cashew interact with dogs of his size first. When he gets completely comfortable in this scenario and the interaction goes well, then I would recommend perhaps starting to have him interact with larger dogs. The fact that he was bitten last time does not mean that every interaction he has with another large breed dog will be like this. I would highly recommend that there is always someone present when these interactions occur. This should help getting him socialized in general. Good luck and have a great day!

I strongly recommend you consult with a professional, in-home dog trainer. You need a trainer to come to your house and see the behavior and how you react. Likely you are making this worse. This is your best bet at correcting this problem before it worsens. Shy dogs that are unsure need special care and it is not recommended that you try to correct this on your own. I found this one trainer in your area. If they can't help you they may be able to recommend someone to you. Your vet's office may also be able to recommend a trainer. ( http://www.cjsdogtraining.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=14&Itemid=42 ) You may also want to consider getting her spayed. She is going to resent other dogs jumping on her/being around her when she goes into heat. Taking unspayed dogs is to a dog park is not recommended and it is often posted at the entrance to the park that no intact animals (male or female) are allowed because it starts fights.

If Hondo gets into a fight every time he's at the dog park it would be best to discontinue going. For some dogs, the dog park is a high-stress place and it may not be for them. Other ways to exercise can include solo walks, fetch in secluded areas, and even focused activities that don't involve other dogs. If he's having trouble with the new puppy, or is severely dog aggressive/reactive it would be best to talk with a trainer or behaviorist in your area that can work with you on a plan to help get him more desensitized to other dogs, and potentially doing OK with some. In the mean time, if play gets too rough or one or both dogs seems agitated, taking a break and separating both dogs until they've calmed down is best. Make sure not to leave them unsupervised together as even the sweetest dog can accidentally injure another! Since aggression toward other dogs is a complex issue, it is best to work with a trainer who can supervise your techniques and plan in person.

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.