Very shy and then "aggressive"

[Niladog]

I have a three year old Boxer mix that is a rescue. We have had her for almost three months and she is the sweetest girl in the world. Unfortunately, I suspect that she may have been attacked while in a shelter. She has a nip in her ear that looks canine tooth size and she is petrified of most other dogs. I have read most of the articles on aggression, but it doesn't address Nila's specific problem.

I have enrolled her in obedience class and she does okay, but they are mostly excitable pups and their "saying hi" is too much for her. She wouldn't get out of the truck in the parking lot because she could see and smell the other dogs.

She nipped one of our neighbors dogs - even though she growled at him twice and I told the other owner that she wasn't good with other dogs. The other dog was a puppy - but her size and he ran around me to get to Nila (who was shaking and cowering behind my legs). I don't blame her and neither did the other owner, but it makes me nervous to keep socializing her.

So my question is - do I keep socializing her? She is not aggressive, but fearful. I don't know how to make her feel comfortable around other dogs or if I should even force the issue anymore? Am I doing more harm than good? I considered the idea of a muzzle, but I think that would make things worse for the girl.

If anyone has a mild tempered Boxer in OC and would be willing to help me socialize - please let me know.

 

[Debbie Magon]

Sounds like she is suffering from fear aggression.
When a dog is attacked by another sometimes , even if it fights back, it can have a very detrimental effect on the dogs confidence.
A dog that lacks confidence , lacks the ability to reason if other dogs are friend or foe.
She is basically saying to other dogs leave me alone or I will get you first!

I had a young male who was attacked , from behind, in the show ring and torn open. :(
It was a hideous fight and ever after that he was "difficult" around other dogs, but only at dog shows.
His "fear" made him dog aggressive.
To overcome his aggrerssion he had to overcome his fear of being attacked by every dog he looked at!
I had to learn how to be his leader once more as I had "failed" him.
It was difficult and took a long time.

What you need to do now is build up a relationship where you are the leader and she is comfortable with that.
Keeping her away from all other dogs is simply burying her head in the sand.
She needs support and the ability to regain her confidence.
I suggest professional help ,as for some dogs it is a long and scary road, but I am sure you will get her over the worst of it.
Dogs never forget but they certainly can be retrained to think differently.

 

[Tulsa-Dan]

I recommend a booklet called "The Cautious Canine" available at http://www.dogsbestfriendtraining.com

Good luck.

 

[hudson78]

We have somewhat the same problem with our girl Ally. We rescued her 8 months ago, she was living with a german sheperd who would mount her all day and basically bully her around. When we picked her up she had no hair on her sides, it had been torn off by the german sheperd. It looked so bad, black, purple and red with no hair. She now has her full coat but does suffer from the same type of fear aggression as your dog seems to be having. I've talked to several people over the net and some trainers that said the issue now is not her, it's me. After a dog suffers an attack in their past it never goes away. Like the previous post by Debbie said, you need to make sure she knows that you are the pack leader and will protect her. In this case she feels that when dogs come up to her you will not protect her. My girl will lung at dogs at times just cause she's in fear. I might add it's pretty scary. I've seen her get in a fight where I really feel she would have killed to the death, and that is not fun or safe to break up. She gets along with some dogs really well, she plays rough but friendly. I don't really have any answers for you but just letting you know that you're not alone!!

Good luck!!

 

[Niladog]

Thanks!

Thanks so much for the reply. It is good to know that other people have dealt with this same issue. I wonder if similar things had happened to our girl too - it seems like she has had several litters of puppies too.

Wish us luck! It is nice to know that your pup found such a loving home after having such a rough life.