Help with my dogs fear? ?

Question

I posted this earlier and got an answer but that answer will not help

Please read before saying we need a behaviorist. We havent the money for a behaviorist nor do we need one. We have been in training but this is a small issue that we believe can be resolved. He is not an agressive dog. But he freaks out around any dog that looks similar to the one that attacked him as a puppy

Okay our toy poodle (who just turned a year old) when he was 4 months old was at a local dog park (small dog area) someone let a full grown Pit mix (looked to have some doberman as well) loose in the 20 pound and under fence (where our poodle was playing) and he came after him unprovoked. We were able to get our little guy away from him (with the help of another owner) with just a few scratches nothing serious but he was very shook up. We didn't go back since. Well we recently moved and we yesterday we found a quiet little dog park nearby that not many people went to. so we tried it out yesterday and all went well until a husky mix came in he got really nervous so we left.

We went back today and he played wonderfully with the other small dogs (our other dog was with us both days and she did wonderful too) but then this large dog (looked to be some kind of shepard mix (had doberman markings) came in and our Poodle starting barking and growling like crazy (we leashed him when we saw the dog coming because our poodle is so fast and just in case) and when he gets nervous our mix starts to get defensive.

Well at that point we figured it best to leave. (but we only plan on going when its not busy when we go back) I guess my question is will he ever get over this? I feel like that one event has hurt him so bad and I don't want him to be afraid forever. He doesn't have a mean bone in his body (when he does the barking and growling he is hiding under a bench or behind us or we are holding him. He never goes after the dog he runs from the larger dogs.

How do we help him. I really don't want him around big dogs we don't know to begin with but in the future we want a larger dog (husky or lab or something) and we don't know if that will ever be an option. Can he get over this and will he be able to be around a large dog at home. His sister (the mix lab/jack russell/ chihauha is larget than him but not by much).

Have any of you been here. It seems like with this issue its one step up and 2 steps back. He does okay with other large dogs in the family and other large dogs in public but not with ones that resemble the dog that went after him. Have you been here and will he have issues in the future with a puppy that will grow to be a large dog.

Answer 1

The more you socialize him around bigger dogs the better.  It will take time for him to see that he shouldn't fear all big dogs.  My friend's dog took several months to get over this fear

Answer 2

My dog is scared of Vaccums.

It can be done.

I had to hold my dog while my mom was vacumming, she would come close to him and i would hold him so he couldnt run.

It sounds mean, but it works. Try letting your dog meet other small animals, he will become more sociable with them and hopefully get used to being around other dogs. After that, show him/her a dog that looks like the one that attacked. Hopefully your dog will get used to that dog and be able to go to dog parks.

Answer 3

Take him and let him sniff a bigger dog and play around them let him socialize with them and keep doing it until he feels comfortable with bigger dogs it'll take some time : )

Good Luck  

Answer 4

The best method is to pick her up when a big dog comes by. Then you must comfort her and give her treats. Since most or all dog parks don't allow toys and treats in them, try standing outside of the fenced area.