My dog is aggressive to other dogs after an attack. How can I stop it?

Question

My 1.5 year old dog was very nice and non agressive but ever since another dog tried to attack him in July he acts agressive towards other dogs, barking and growling at them. What do I do to make him stop?

Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA · Accepted Answer

This is unfortunately very common. Young dogs often learn from a single scary experience that all dogs are to be feared, and therefore become very aggressive towards them to prevent them from coming near. This problem usually responds very well to training, but it can be difficult to do on your own - so I would really recommend getting in touch with a good reward-based trainer who can help you in person. You can search for a qualified trainer in your area here: www.ccpdt.org Generally, treatment for this problem involves teaching the dog to associate good things (usually treats) with seeing other dogs. So you might carry treats with you when you take him for a walk, and praise and reward him immediately as soon as he notices any other dog on the street. But in order for this to work, it's important to start at a distance where your dog is comfortable and able to stay calm - if he's already barking and lunging, you're too close. This may mean that you need a lot of distance at first! This is where a good trainer can help, by setting up controlled training sessions with a calm "helper dog" until you get the hang of things.

My dog is aggressive to other dogs after an attack. How can I stop it?

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