How to help my dog's aggression and fear of other dogs after a bite?
Updated On September 23rd, 2025
Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Medium (23 - 60lb) | Female | spayed | 11 months and 7 days old | 23.5 lbs
My dog has a trauma from being bit in the face at 4 months old and to this day whenever she sees a dog she immediately gets scarred and starts barking at the dogs while I'm pulling her from her leash and her spine furs up. She gets aggressive and treats only help sometimes for her to listen to me. I really want to her to get along with other dogs because I can't even take her in the pet store because she'll cause a scene.
3 Answers
Most Helpful Answer
Published on March 12th, 2017
Poor Panda! Some dogs do become very fearful of other dogs after an incident like this, which can lead to barking and lunging on the leash. It sounds like you're on the right track by trying to use treats to help make her more comfortable - but if she is still barking and lunging, this means you need to be further away. Start at a distance where she is comfortable and able to take treats calmly, then gradually work on moving closer as long as she is doing well. It can be very difficult to do this on your own, especially if her anxiety is severe. I would really recommend making an appointment with a veterinary behaviorist or a good reward-based trainer who can help you in person for the best chance of success. You can search for a board-certified veterinary behaviorist in your area here (www.dacvb.org) or a qualified trainer here (www.ccpdt.org)
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
Related Answers from Veterinarians
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Published on November 17th, 2016
Poor Panda! No wonder she doesn't like other dogs - this is very common after a traumatic experience like being bitten or attacked. You can help her learn to be comfortable around dogs again by using positive reinforcement to teach her that good things happen when other dogs are around. For example, you could start by carrying tasty treats with you on walks. Every time she sees another dog, praise her and give a treat. Over time, you can gradually work on getting closer and closer to other dogs (calm and friendly ones only!!), with lots of praise and rewards as long as she's doing well. If she growls or barks or seems afraid, this means that you're going too quickly - just back up to where she was comfortable and keep working. A good reward-based trainer can help you with this if you have trouble getting started - you can search for a qualified trainer in your area here: www.ccpdt.org
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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Published on March 12th, 2017
Unfortunately, I'm not sure what behaviors you are referring to in terms of Panda. I'm not sure if she is aggressive to other dogs, or simply very frightened by them. If she is aggressive, I recommend getting a referral to a professional behavioral expert. I never advise owners to train aggressive dogs on their own due to safely reasons. It can be very dangerous to work with an aggressive dog, and that is best left to a professional. If I haven't answered your question, I apologize and ask that you please post again with more details about her behaviors so I or another expert can answer your question more fully.
1Pet Parents found this answer helpful
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