Q: Our usually calm dog has become a little nervous since a dog nipped her in the park. What can we do to help her feel more confident again?
A: Your dog has been frightened by the incident and is now naturally apprehensive that it may happen again, says dog behaviour consultant David Ryan, spokesman for the Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors (apbc.org.uk). According to Ryan, she is probably worried about different aspects of the experience and the circumstances leading up to it. “When another dog appears that worry will intensify as the situation begins to resemble the previous bad experience,” he says.
To help her understand that not every dog is going to nip her when she goes to the park, Ryan advises providing her with extra good times there. “You have options depending upon what your dog prefers. You could go to a quiet corner of the park and play games so her expectations of the park change to something more positive. Or you could take a pocketful of her favourite treats on your walk and toss her one when another dog comes into sight,” he says.
As a gentle reintroduction, if you have friends with sociable dogs you could meet up for a safe playtime that your pet could enjoy, initially away from the park, then later back there.
Gradually she will get the idea that every dog isn’t going to be a problem for her, and start to relax. “If your dog was comfortable around other dogs before, she should quickly get back to her usual self,” says Ryan.
“But if she doesn’t improve in a week or so, you will probably need some extra help tailoring measures to suit her, so it may be advisable to see a qualified behaviourist.”
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