My dog was attacked and is now acting aggressive. PTSD?

[moebe97]

I have a two-year old 75 lb mix (we're not sure what he is - Shepherd? Mastiff?) and a little 20 lb jack russel mix. Both are the same age.

A few weeks ago we had them both in the local dog park and Baloo, the big one, was attacked and bitten by another dog (a pit bull... and I don't say that because I hate pit bulls. I love them. But it might be a useful piece of information). He was scuffed up a bit, but just fine after a round of antibiotics. We waited two weeks to bring him back into the dog park again.

The first time I took him, he seemed perfectly fine. Didn't have any problems with any other dogs. The very next day, my husband took him back and there was another scuffle with another pit bull. This time the only one who got hurt was my husband - who tried to get in between the two dogs and got a tooth in the knee. Again, my husband said the other dog went after Baloo and Baloo quickly retaliated in kind.

I was beginning to become concerned but thought maybe it was just an issue of the dog park having too many dogs and there being a few aggressive animals there. So I brought him back today during the day when I knew most people would be at work. it was quite empty and he and his little bro were there for about 30 minutes playing with the three other dogs that were there - no problems at all. Until another dog showed up - a pit bull. Baloo did fine at first. Kept trying to play with the dog (as always - batting his paw at them, sticking his rump up in the air, wagging his tale). The dog warned him once or twice to back off a bit. A few minutes later, they were chasing a ball together when my little one decided the big one needed some schooling (he does this often while the big one is playing with other dogs. He jumps in and either nips at him or stands between him and whatever other dog he's playing with and growls or barks). As soon as the little one jumped between them and began barking and raising his back fir, the pit bull changed in an instant. He immediately bore his teeth and launched forward (not sure if he was after my little one or Baloo) but in a fraction of a second, before the pit had a chance to do anything, Baloo lunged after him and bit the dog on the side of the face. I was so stunned. I have NEVER seen him look like that before - teeth showing and such. I was luckily right next to him. I grabbed and pulled him back very quickly. The other owner did the same. They both immediately calmed down and the other owner is convinced that he was just protecting his little brother - but now we're three for three here in the dog park and all of a sudden I'm very worried that the first incident  - when Baloo was attacked and bitten - has brought an aggressive side out in my dog.

Baloo has always been a very friendly and easy-going dog. He is submissive to the smaller one and he is always very playful with other dogs/animals/kids. He has never shown any signs of aggression. In fact, there has been one or two times when another dog would snap at him and he always wimpers and backs off. He's a very submissive dog and the only time I've ever seen him be anything but sweet and playful is when he's scared - if he hears a noise at night or thinks an intruder is in the house, he's very protective of the home and his owners. But honestly I've had him nearly two years and he is very well socialized - I'm not sure where this is coming from all of a sudden. Mostly, I just want to know what I can do to correct and help the situation before I have a very regrettable incident on my hands. For starters, no more dog park for us. He'll have to get his playtime elsewhere. Any help or suggestions is greatly appreciated.

[Cludoe]

I cannot believe how nasty the last answer is. This person needs traini g in manners. It is possible to take the dog to some training that that can help with the aggression. Other than that staying away from the park and taking your dog on a quiet walk would help. As for mentioning breeds of dogs, I see no problem in that as we all want our dogs to be safe

[rosiemac]

Your'e an ignorant dog owner. Dogs are animals not children. Breed has NOTHING to do with why the dogs fought. Maybe it was a pitbull because most dog parks are out numbered by them? You lose credibility by continuing to mention the breeds AND continuing to bring your dog back again and again after multiple incidents with both of YOUR dogs. Your dogs may be sweet and well mannered and socialized, but obviously there is a pack leader(s) missing and social cues from other dogs to your dogs.let me ask, just your two poor dogs were attacked at the park by all these pitbulls or were there recurrences with other dogs?  I suggest training for you and your husband and your dogs. Good luck lady!

[getrealin2018]

Rosiemac, in this age of incivility, it is still not ok to be so nasty to someone you don't even know. I suggest you consider your interactions with humans.

[Mxdcp]

Another pit bull alert! lol^
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[zhawn14]

I have had the same situation with my 4 yr-old black lab Clyde. He has a sister Bonnie who a 1.5 yr-old boxer mix. They play together fine all the time. Clyde was very passive and kind dog until one day, he was attacked by a very dominant Husky and his nose got cut up fairly badly. After that, he could not be around other huskies at all as he would be on guard. In the dog park, he would be absolutely perfect with any smaller breed dog (non threatening). However, he would have problems with normal sized dogs. Clyde is still very passive and does his own thing in the dog park but if a normal sized or larger dog would corner him or be any what aggressive he will attack. I have tried to work around it and rehabilitate him by doing controlled interactions between him and other large dogs which was working well. He was to a point where he was handling barking and some dominant behavior. Unfortunately, a week ago, a very territorial protective boxer gave a very nasty warning snap at him and he pounced. While me and the owner agreed his dog snapped first, Clyde completely over-reacted and clenched down; me and the owner could barely get Clyde off the other the boxer and the dog ended up needing stitches. With Clyde and my experience in mind, you need to be very careful when dealing with your dog after its been attacked and displaying signs of PTSD. I highly recommend investing in a muzzle ASAP. I had one for Clyde but was not using it because of the stigma attached to it for one, and I had never seen him viciously attack another dog and was always able to break up any fights with no injury (until I couldn't). Also, I would avoid dog parks all together as the confined space can lead to all kinds of aggressive behavior. Instead, I would first focus one taking your dog on walks in dog popular areas where you basically try to get your dog to go by his trigger breed and not react. If that starts going well, then move to maybe controlled greating and sniffing (1 on 1; use a leash and harness, and even a gentle leader to control the face). You could even try walking around the outside of the dog park so there is a barrier. The basic idea is your dog associates a negative experience with some breed or trigger, and your dog relives it everytime the reenounter it. By exposing them to that trigger, in a controlled way, you want to have your dog to have positive interactions which will eventually circumvent the PTSD.

[Margot49]

Well, don't think I would be going back to that dog park either!  You have two intact males?  That last scenario sounds like the JR was the cause, feisty little dogs.  Balloon could certainly have been in protective mode or, having been in a couple of scuffles, being aggressive.  
Not quite the same, but my daughter has a large breed mix and a Chihuahua mix and she takes them to the dog parks all the time.  Her large breed us very mellow and tolerant, however, if they are at the dog park and she hears the little one yelp (she is a bit of a drama queen), the big one will come running from wherever she is at full speed and literally head butt and knock the hell out of the offender.  So, that may have been a protective move on the part of Baloo or he has just had it with the Pitts.  I am not against Pitts either, just irresponsible Pitt owners but it is instinct for them to go after smaller dogs.  When my daughter lived in WA state, their dog parks have signs up that Pitts must be kept on a leash, not a bad idea.  

[Jerry_NJ]

Interesting story, but I don't have any brilliant suggestions other than I think you've got it right, stay away from the dog park, at least for a few weeks.  

I doubt that the bit episode has permanently changed changed your dog's personality - keep them as active as you can in the absence of dog park play - or whatever it was.