My dog was attacked and now screams at other dogs. How to help?

I hate to hear you both went through this trauma and unfortunately there is not an easy answer or easy advise to give. Dogs can suffer from PTSD type problems like people and until he has multiple, positive encounters he will not be the same. The other issue as well is that he is a large dog who is barking/growling and strangers are not going to approach him. In Hades brain, he does to want people to approach, so he barks. Of course, people do not approach so in Hades brain, he wins. He is having positive re-enforcement so he keeps doing it. This is a complicated situation that is best dealt with by a professional trainer who understands how dog's brains work. Because there are some aggressive signs already being shown, you need to stop him at this behavior before it escalates. You do not want a dog bite situation. I hope this helps to lead you in the right direction.

I would recommend having a certified trainer work with you on these issues. They can come to your home and the dog park to help King adjust again to playing with dogs and not be so protective over you or aggressive with other animals. Your veterinarian should have recommendations for good trainers in the area. Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

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.

Hi there! I'm so sorry to hear about Cooper's troubles! I definitely don't blame him for being so traumatized. I would be too! In these situations, I always turn to local dog trainers for some help. They can work on helping Cooper get past his fears in a controlled setting. They can also help you work through him being so scared, and maybe even reintroduce him to other very friendly, laid back dogs. It is important to get professional help because as time goes on, Cooper will just become more agitated. Sometimes this can trigger dogs to fight, and he may wind up having another incident that makes all of this worse. If you visit your veterinarian, they may be able to recommend some natural supplements for Cooper, or even some anxiety medications for him as long as he goes and works with a trainer at the same time. This can be even more helpful in getting him acclimated to being a social dog again. I hope you find this answer helpful. Best of luck!

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!

Poor Brody! How scary for both of you. Dogs can certainly be anxious and upset for a while after a traumatic event like this, just like people. This should improve with time, but there are a few things you can try in the meantime that may help. If he seems nervous all the time, you can try using a DAP pheromone collar along with a natural calming supplement like Zylkene or Composure to help him relax - these products are all very safe, and can be purchased over the counter without a prescription. On walks, he may be very nervous about other dogs approaching for quite a while - so I would make sure to give him plenty of space, and don't walk in areas where other dogs are likely to be until he seems more relaxed and comfortable again. You can also carry treats with you on your walks, and praise and reward him every time you see another dog - this can be a very effective way of helping with fear.

GSD are already very high strung and skittish dogs so you really need to get a handle on this before it gets worse. Most often GSDs will resort to fear biting if they are uncomfortable around people. You need to get a trainer to work with you at your house, in her environment. Behavior issues are not a quick fix - they take a lot of time, training and dedication. There is nothing magical I can tell you over the internet to fix this. With a GSD you need professional intervention with a trainer in your home so they can see how she interacts with people, what her triggers are, etc. Here is a trainer in your area. I am not endorsing her as I do not know her in any way. I suggest you contact her and see if she can help you. If not, maybe she can refer you to someone who can. https://www.karenpryoracademy.com/Debi_Buchholz Hope this helps. Best wishes.