Talking about the trauma of my dogs being attacked by other dogs

In this video I recount the stories of the times my dogs were attacked by other dogs and how it affected them and I. The reason I am making this video is because I found it therapeutic and healing to talk to and hear the stories of others who had experienced similar experiences.

#dogtraining #professionaldogtraining #positivetraining

[MossyBear]

as a therapist, I'm appalled that your therapist would have called you irrational for ANY reason. your trauma is valid, and I'm so sorry you've gone through so many dog attacks (and attempted attacks)

[selinhaydaroglu]

Hello, thank you so much for sharing your warmth and experiences. I live in Turkey and found you while searching the internet for people who share similar memories. After watching you and reading the comments, I definitely feel less alone.

A Rottweiler attacked me and my dog two weeks ago. My dog is a 7-kilogram, medium-sized kokoni . Both dogs were on leashes when we encountered each other on the street. The attacking dog saw us and started pulling, and its owner, a young and weak person, couldn't hold the leash and let go. Later, as I was carrying my dog to the garage where I had seen it, the Rottweiler grabbed its leg. At that moment, both my dog and I were screaming. It started shaking and pulling its leg. I thought it was the end for my dog and I got between the attacking dog and my body. We wrestled on the ground, and I tried to protect my dog's vital organs in a fetal position. The dog's owner was too afraid of their own dog to even approach us. My dog's hip was dislocated, it underwent FHO surgery, and the ligaments in its knee were torn. I'm very scared. We only go outside for short potty breaks, but the owners of the attacking dog deliberately walk their dog in front of our door, and my dog wants to go back inside when it smells the other dog. We are now going to move out of our house.

[emilyhalpert-cole]

I am SO sorry you had to go through this. Your therapist was extremely insensitive saying that to you. Trauma is trauma. And being attacked by a dog is traumatizing. Thank you for sharing <3

[kat]

My thoughts pre-video: There seems to be a popular issue where many of the people who have their dogs off leash and which come up and scare the daylights or bother other dogs and their owners, these irresponsible owners somehow think that it's not their fault, that it's OUR fault and that their dog "just wants to play", or that other owners shouldn't be there with their dogs if they don't want to be approached by other dogs.

[Moimemetje]

Thank you for explaining there is no "over friendly dog". It is hard to explain it to the owners of "friendly" but brutal dogs, in fact if the dog doesn't respect the other dog's fear we can't say he acts "nice".

[agnesdu]

Thank you for your courage to speak up. It is impossible to imagine the pain for you and your dogs. It is not your fault, it is the fault of the irresponsible so-called trainers. Your decisions are correct! So sorry that you have to go through these traumatic incidences. Hope your panic attack will be healed soon. You are the best!

[chumby]

This video was really tough to watch. I had to take breaks because the pain is so evident in your voice. Dogs, no matter the breed or size, should not be underestimated as they are powerful animals. Similarly, we humans have the power to support and uplift each other. Thank you Emily for sharing your story.

[kimbennett]

Thank you, thank you, thank you. I cannot tell you how validating this is for me. My dogs have been attacked on two separate occasions by two different pairs of power breeds that were unleashed. I’m literally not the same when I exercise my dogs, and I identify with the panic attacks.

[untappedpotentialktrainin]

I lost my 5 month old Chihuahua puppy about a month ago. We were attacked by an aggressive pitbull mix. I managed to get the dog off of us, but as I rushed my little Chloe to the vet she passed away on my lap.. I couldn't sleep for days the nightmares were too much and my mental health quickly deteriorated. I couldn't handle my other dogs looking for Chloe checking her kennel. It took about three weeks to basically function again. I'm really trying to get back to "normal" but that day has caused something to break in me I won't ever be quite the same again.

[QuinSteph]

The biggest problem is the people who don't treat or train their dogs properly.

I have had a dog reactive dog for 12 years but she has never had or given any injuries to anyone dog or otherwise.

Because I have done lots of work with her and even when she's off lead she is under control.

But I am always aware of other dogs and their behaviour and I do warn people if their dog is getting close to her.

I accepted a long time ago that she will never like other dogs.

So I took steps to keep other dogs safe while giving her a good quality of life.

[RandomJane]

My previous dog was brutally attacked by an off leash dog in our condo complex. It jumped a picket fence totally quiet from behind, no barking or growling. My dog was a mini-schnauzer and it was a large pit-mix. It went for her throat. My husband jerked our dog's leash so hard that it couldn't reach her throat. It got her side. It tore a large degloving wound in her side, broke and dislocated her leg. Recovery took 3 months of repeated surgeries and wound dressings.

She was scarred physically for the rest of her life (about a year) but she did return to her sunny disposition thankfully.

We now have a different dog that is dog reactive and we are also paranoid of off leash dogs.

Our dog is the dog that runs straight at other dogs. We haven't been able to correct his behavior after 3 years of training, therefore he is not allowed off leash or to interact with other dogs except for my sister-in'-law's dog that we spent time introducing him to. We don't want to be responsible for an attack. Off leash dogs are a real problem. We can't walk him alone. We have to go as a pair to run interference.

[ronily]

Thank you so much for sharing this. I had an agility training class where I ended up in the ER with bite wounds after physically stopping a dog from attacking my dogs at the agility field. I was criticized by so many people (agility folks and even my own family included) saying you should just let dogs be dogs and sort things out for themselves. not step in and get yourself bit or injured. I cannot express in words how relieved I was to find that it was only me on the receiving side of those bites and both my dogs were fine and unaffected by the incident. I would do the exact same thing again of course. I just never shared this trauma with someone who understands how it affected me.
Sorry these things happened to you and thanks again for sharing.

[katereed]

thank you for sharing this. It opened my eyes as to how trainers can be as clueless/negligent about their own dogs’ behaviour. Also, I had decided my job is to protect my little dog but will now no longer feel embarrassed that I am overprotective or whatever.

[emwing]

Thank you so much for your authenticity and honesty. Over the years I have had several dogs attacked and yes, it is terrifying. My current dog Roland I adopted at 9 months. He was the sunniest, happiest, gentlest, easy go lucky guy, and for a couple of years we went to the dog park daily to play with his best friends. Then a large (Pyrenees mix) dog turned on him and attacked him. He wasn't harmed, just shaken. The next week, another dog attacked him at the park. (the owners had no control and were like, "he's just playing"). At that point, Roland's personality changed. He decided that he needed to be preemptively aggressive. If any dog acted a little bit cocky, Roland would put him on the ground. We had to stop going to the dog park. We had to stop letting him run off leash in the park. Even on leash, we have to avoid passing another dog on the street. His life got so constrained, and mine too (no hikes off leash). Several times I have been walking him and my other dog on leash, and another dog runs up ("it's ok, he's friendly!" they always say) and I have been in the center of a three-dog dog fight, which is really scary. Roland is 8 now and still dog aggressive and unreliable around dogs and it makes me so sad. I lost my little sunny guy. It's had such a huge impact, those few dogs that had no business being at a dog park. Sorry for going on and on.

[deannaburkett]

Thank you for sharing your experiences...this video is so generous and courageous...sending you much care and gratitude...

[pamanderson]

Sorry that you have had these experiences with dogs, trainers, and the therapist (who was clearly wrong to say your anxiety is irrational with the number of encounters you have had). I have had one serious encounter where a large dog latched onto my puppy with no warning bark, growl, or glare. The owner was there and could not get the dog to release. I lifted and twisted on the dogs collar and it passed out and released my puppy which was not severely injured thank goodness...the dog had bit it and held on but did not shake it. The owner of the other dog was extremely apologetic, shocked, concerned for me and my puppy, and followed me to the vet, went in with me, and paid for the visit and gave me contact info. Receiving this support immediately at the time of the event made it less traumatic. (The other dog woke after being choked out and was fine and not at all aggressive). Thank you for sharing your experiences...it may help others to be more aware.

[katitimar]

Thank you for sharing! I can relate so much! My 9-week old puppy was also attacked by a trainer's "friendly" dog, and it certainly affected his reactivity.

[allisonbasanese]

A very good cautionary tale about always watching out for your dog, not trusting when others say their dogs are friendly, and being on alert in all situations. Thank you for sharing. Many, many owners, from those who do the attacking to those whose fur babies are attacked, NEED TO HEAR THIS!

[rachl]

Thanks for sharing. It's nice to hear trainers have these struggles too. My dog is very afraid of other dogs and I will specifically say "my dog is very fearful, we don't want to say hi" and people will walk their dog over because "their dog is learning to advocate for my dog more and it's gotten me into some awkward/heated situations. Off leash dogs are the worst but even people with dogs on leashes will still ignore what I say and it's sp frustrating

[audrey.wonders]

Thank you so much for this video! In my old apartment a dog lunged at my dog to attack in the elevator as soon as the door opened and really scared me. A week or so later that same dog attacked a puppy in the elevator. I was so scared and actually moved to a house so I wouldn’t have to deal with the maze of elevators and hallways.

Here a family just a few months ago got a large 9 month GSD that appears entirely untrained. The family allows a teeny 10 year old girl to walk him. I have been so terrified because she cannot hold him back at all and he has dragged her fully across the street to my dog several times.

I really wish people would be mindful of others and keep their pets from charging others in public. I am not at a dog park and my old girl does not want to be lunged at by your enormous dog and I don’t want to deal with the anxiety of waiting for the next bite.