Should I be worried about my dog’s socialization after a bad interaction today?
Some context is that my 6 year old female German shepherd was attacked two years ago by a much bigger dog. She was physically ok afterwards but nearly had to get a stitch over her eye. She’s had professional training since she was a puppy and was perfectly behaved before this incident.
Afterwards however she had behavioral issues with other dogs on walks- particularly dogs who barked at her, ran at her or did anything that seemed like it could be a threat. I could tell sometimes the other dogs were actually being aggressive but on other occasions were just being normal dogs and my girl just took it the wrong way. In response however she’d bark down the other dog, try pulling my leash to get to them and I’d have to drag her out of the way. She’s never hurt another dog ( bar when she was attacked and tried to defend herself but she was no match for the Rottweiler) but if I hadn’t pulled her away after she’d be reactive with another dog I honestly don’t know what she would do.
We have another German shepherd at home who’s a year older than her and he and her continued to get along perfectly and playing together and he was an especially important part of reinforcing normal dog behavior. Even after the attack he and her were great friends and she was able to trust him perfectly.
The first year after being attacked was hard on her psychologically and we did professional training several times, she even stayed with them for a couples weeks a handful of times and it has been extremely helpful. She even went back for a while this summer while we were away.
While she is still an anxious dog and may do things like bark incessantly at home if she hears a neighbor she’s made so much progress- and now on walks if a dog barks at her she may flinch and be nervous or even sometimes ignore it but she doesn’t bark back now and we’re able to just walk the other way or let the other dog go ahead.
She’s even been able to make new doggy friends in the area big or small and has been able to play off Leash and meet new dogs (a big win).
After this summer when she was there for a couple weeks the trainers did say they’ve been pairing her with lots of other dogs and she’s been great but she’s a bit anxious at rest even when she’s not socializing and this could be why she barks at home at random.They said sometimes with anxious dogs like ours they take a low dose antidepressant to help with stress. My family and I considered it and I was in favor if it could help her but ultimately we went against it since she was and continued to be a good dog socially.
Two years ago my dog was particularly nervous and bark prone with smaller dogs- I think it’s because in my area people either have big dogs (like German shepherd, retrievers, greyhounds) that they train really well or really small dogs( like pugs, chihuahuas or dachshunds) where they’re less likely to train them or discipline them if they misbehave. This has been a problem noticed by some of our neighbors, a really sweet and kind big PitBull was mauled by a small dog (I think a chihuahua?) and needed stitches and he was never able to be the outgoing dog he once was again.
Now finally getting to the point. I was walking my dog today and we came across a pug. We slowed down to say hi and let the pug approach us and the two dogs were sniffing and getting along fine and the owner and I were just watching them and smiling. Suddenly though the pug barks at my dog when she’s right up in her face and my dog didn’t take it well. She tried to bark back at her and wanted to lunge at the pug. I was absolutely taken aback especially since it’s been so long since anything has triggered my dog. It takes me a tug or two but both our dogs are now a solid distance away from each other. They didn’t touch each other and thankfully nether were hurt but it was definitely distressing for everyone involved.
Now I 100% can see why any dog owner in this situation would be upset but this lady went straight to giving out to me from a distance. She kept saying “your dog just tried to bite my dog” over and over again and tried to blame my dog for what happened.
Yes my dog should have taken it better and should have stood back the first time I tugged the leash but she did soon after and stayed quietly by my side even though the woman and her pug were still giving out. She tried to say her dog never barks at other dogs when I said her pug started it but she wasn’t having it. I wouldn’t be in a good mood either if I was her because it was very distressing but I know her dog barked first because I saw what happened and I saw my dog react to it.
I suppose what I’m wondering is do I take what happened today as a step back or lapse in her behavior that’s been impeccable as of the last year or as a once off that only happened because another dog was in the wrong?
I’m considering convincing my family to put the dog on the antidepressant because other than that I don’t see what more we could do for her behavior that we haven’t already but I just don’t know if it’s the right move considering this one event would be the main reason