My Dogs Attacked Last Night by a Pitbull

[Super Boo]

Positive socialization will be the thing that will help him overcome his fear now. He may have fear aggression from his experience. Lily is still recovering from a year ago attack. She will react with aggression if another dog even slightly shows any assertiveness. Lily has the attitude of "Gonna prove I am tough before you can show me I'm really not".

I'm shocked. My neighbors little shihtzu was on the sidewalk laying down hanging out and poor Skye still got his hackles up and wouldn't take his eyes off of him. He NEVER had ANY issue with dogs before. This is KILLING me. Also another neighbor was running his Aussie up and down the street on leash with his bike, Skye freaked out again and spun my husband around.

 

[EAO76]

You might want to find a really well run dog daycare (that REALLY knows how to properly reintroduce & socialize) and see if they can help you re-socialize him. It would need to be somewhere that also has a top notch trainers/ training programs so they can set up positive experiences with well socialized, well trained, friendly dogs…

Because each time he reacts negatively you will too & it will inadvertently increase his fear.

 

[Super Boo]

I have a horse--the stable owner also runs dog boarding and daycare. Skye virtually grew up there so he's pretty secure there. He was off leash and I noticed he would cautiously approach some of the dogs that were in their runs. The stable dogs there are pretty mellow and take good care of him. I think that's the best way for him to get his "mojo" back.

 

[VivDarkbloom]

Please continue to be really careful and don't leave them outside by themselves. My mum had two Staffies living next door who did this and recently they managed to get into her yard and mauled Mum and Bro's Lab to death. Shiver went down my spine when I read it as it sounded so familiar.

Gosh, Please Work, what a nightmarish thing to have happen! My sympathies to your Mum and Bro.

 

[VivDarkbloom]

I have a horse--the stable owner also runs dog boarding and daycare. Skye virtually grew up there so he's pretty secure there. He was off leash and I noticed he would cautiously approach some of the dogs that were in their runs. The stable dogs there are pretty mellow and take good care of him. I think that's the best way for him to get his "mojo" back.

I'm glad to hear that Skye seems to be getting his confidence back a little!

 

[LILYLARUE]

Just be patient. It will take some time for his MOJO to return. Lot's of positive experiences with other dogs will be your savior. But, one bad experience of a meeting will set him back again. It just takes time, patience and lots of positive experiences. If he gets that at the horse farm, awesome! But he will need more at other places. He needs to build his confidence in many different situations. Starting at the horse farm is ideal since YOU will feel more comfortable. But it should be a building block for more places to come. The more confident you feel, the more he feels, the better the situations in the future. Just always be prepared to remove him at a moments notice. Before it gets ugly. Study his body behaviors and learn that moment he needs to be removed BEFORE he gets to react. You can't give up. He needs you to force this for him to be more confident.

 

[Murp.mm]

Ms. Ali had a bad experience around 18 months old when she was at the dog park (I don't go there anymore) and another a few months later. Up to that point she was totally happy with all dogs. After that she changed and I figured it probably was that she was maturing but looking back I really think those incidents changed her outlook on other dogs. Now she has lots of buddies but she is not good when she meets a strange dog for the first time. She lunges at them and her fur goes up and that little nub is straight in the air. However, I think it's all for a show. She needs to be the boss just in case that other dog decides to threaten her. So I get where you're coming from. I really believe that's what happened to Ms. Ali cause she was always so good with all dogs. But like everyone said keep socializing him and let his confidence built up. I think it's all about fear once they've been attacked. Good Luck.

 

[Super Boo]

We CAUGHT Them!!!

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My husband and I were walking home from the very same park and came around a corner by a school (actually talking about the pitbulls) and OMG there they were!! Same women same dogs EVERYTHING. I confronted them explaining about the vet bill and she proceeded to lie and say that my dog bit her!! Funny since my dogs were on leash and never approached her. I asked her for her address and she said no. Right at that moment, one of my friends came around the corner with his Boxer (totally dramatic perfect timing). He had seen us cross the street from the park and thought he'd catch up to us. He had his phone and my husband called the police. The women started to run and my husband got the address from one of their neighbors. He later drove by the house and caught them in the front yard!!

And the dogs...they are still huge and VERY aggressive.

We're calling animal control first thing in the morning. I'm positive since they were running that SOMETHING has been reported before.

 

[ehayes21]

That's wonderful news!

 

[LILYLARUE]

Good for you!!! It's owner's like that that give pits a bad rap, not just the owners that fight them! It's irresponsible, ignorant, skeevy owners like this one! Sock it to her! And hopefully those poor dogs can be rehabilitated into a more proper, loving home.