Puppy scared of other dogs after rough play. How to socialize?

Question

Bella had her first interaction with another puppy that we set up as a play date. They are both the same age, but the other puppy is a few inches bigger. Bella was absolutely petrified of him. Maybe it's because the other dog was a male? He occasionally tried to jump her but she would run away. He played rough and Bella had never played with another dog before. I'm worried she'll be like this her entire life. I don't want her to be scared of dogs. What can I do? Pet's info: Dog | Mixed Breed Small (up to 22lb) | Female | spayed | 3 months and 8 days old | 16 lbs

Jeffrey Milner · Accepted Answer

I'm sorry to hear Bella had such a frightening experience! In terms of how she will be in the future, this is a matter of training, patience, and instinct. Since you have stated that this is the first interaction she has ever had with another puppy, I am under the impression that she was either orphaned or an only puppy. In either case, Bella was unfortunately stripped of the extremely important times when learning and socialization take place among puppies. While training can certainly help, we can not go back in time and have her relive these experiences if this was the case. The first thing I would do is see how she does with another dog that is known to be extremely calm, the same size, and well-trained. For any behavior that you see that is liked, be sure to reward this with praise and treats. If she is still showing fear, you will have to approach the situation much more slowly. She will need to be reintroduced to dogs at a distance first, rewarding any preferable behaviors or interest shown towards other dogs. This can be a long and daunting task, but in some cases can have rewarding results. I would keep her on a leash at all times for now during any of these play dates or training sessions, as well as the other dogs involved. Having complete control over the situation in the beginning will be of great importance. If you have any other questions for me regarding training or how to go about this sort of thing, feel free to request a consultation to speak in greater detail. Good luck!

Puppy scared of other dogs after rough play. How to socialize?

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