Hi,
I am still waiting for my DVD (Your puppy - 8wks to 8 months) and I have read alot on the Leerburg site and this forum. I know that I am to protect my puppy! What happened was so fast and over so quickly that I literally didn't have time to think.
I was sitting on my porch, pup sitting next to me looking calm and adorable, four kids doing various things in the yard (bike riding, etc.) when my neighbor's German Shepherd comes bolting over at us. We have already filed a complaint against my neighbor over this dog with animal control and hadn't had a problem in months. Well, here I am, knowing this dog is coming full speed at my puppy but that my four kids are in possible danger also and I don't know where to run. The dog grabs my pup by the stomach and bites a few times. The pup is yelping and crying and the neighbor grabs his dog and drags him home. Rushed the pup to the vet and she appears to be fine - wasn't even in shock once we got there. She is already her calm playful self now. She was really freaked out w/in moments of the attack but calmed down quickly.

Look - I have played this over and over again in my mind. I wish it had gone differently and don't want to keep beating myself up about it.
What I want to know is how likely is it that she will have behavioral problems as a result of this. Since she is so young is there a chance I can still raise a wonderful pup?

Just so you know, she is a confident, curious little girl. Isn't fazed by a metal bowl being dropped behind her meaning she doesn't seem to spook easily or be nervous or anxious in any way, seems to be more of a soft dog as far as corrections because I can just say NO and she responds really well and it hasn't taken much for me to keep her from jumping up on kids, etc.
I do not have my DVD yet so feel like I'm at a disadvantage here. I do have alot to learn and was just hoping to hear that there is still hope for my little girl.
Thank you,
Jen

http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/postlist.php/Cat/0/Board/18

I got good advice from there

Did you file reports again? That could have been your kid in the place of your pup! What a stupid, ignorant owner that guy is. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />

I'd keep a big, heavy walking stick on you whenever you're outside with the kids and the pup. If that dog comes running, you can defend yourself.

Some links:
http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/80892/page/0/fpart/all/vc/1
http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/4146764/page/0/fpart/all/vc/1

Yes I am filing another complaint today. I'm going to ask the animal control officer what has to happen before something is done about this man and his dog.
My four kids didn't even see the puppy attacked because they all ran behind the house the second they saw that dog (which really wouldn't have helped them if he decided to go after them). I was just frozen in indecision.
I am definitely going to have a weapon with me from now on. All I had yesterday was a coffee cup and I hit him in the head with it. He didn't even notice.
My neighbor paid the vet bill and apologized about 2 million times but my husband said we absolutely have to file a complaint. My neighbor always apologizes and then calls the animal control complaining that the two cats we own make his dog bark. Animal control just tells him that is his problem and he needs to train his dog.
He told me the story of when he brought his dog home. He goes into the kennel at the humane society and the dog is snarling at him and he just decided that he would not "let the dog get the best of me." So now he lives with this dog that HATES everybody and everything.
Oh well.
Hopefully the complaint will help this time - permanently. Or at least I'll get to beat the thing if it comes near me.
Jen
P.S. Back to the subject of puppy training...What bothers me so much is that my DVD should be here today (the one I ordered from Ed) and I have been doing such a good job with this pup, enjoying her so much and learning so much. It just makes me so mad to think that in 2 minutes time this could be ruined. She does seem fine and her regular confident puppy self. I'm just hoping she stays fine. I have GOT to stop beating myself up about the way I reacted and just be more prepared for a possible 'next time.'
Thanks again.
I'll go check your links now - and thanks for the links Dennis. I should have done a search on this first I guess...just wasn't thinking! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

Jen,
You wrote about your puppy, but I couldn't help noticing what you said about your kids running behind the house. As hard as it is, kids need to learn to never run away from a loose dog (unless there is a door or shelter VERY close by).

Here is a helpful link about teaching kids how to behave around dogs:
http://www.safekidssafedogs.com/Preventing_Bites/preventing_bites.html

T

Thats awful! I'm glad you and your family are safe and sound...

I would up the socializing part of your puppy by introducing him to dogs that you KNOW are calm and friendly towards puppies. Even dogs that are friendly to other dogs may not like an exuberant puppy jumping in their face.

My dog was attacked by a shepherd and a chow when he was about 7 months old. Perhaps it was a stupid idea, but I kicked the attacking dogs until the unaware owners who had let their aggressive dogs OFF-LEASH in a public area could get them back.

After that, he was always very cautious around shepherds (it was breed related...strange), so I made arrangements with every shepherd owner I knew to get together and socialize.

I think your pup will do fine as long as you keep up with the socializing, and reward him for good calm behaviour around other dogs...

Thanks for the links. I checked them all out.
I am not feeling very hopeful for my puppy as I watch the DVD where Ed says, "If your puppy is attacked just one time it will be dog aggressive it's whole life."
Animal control will be taking my neighbor's dog but that doesn't change what has happened to my puppy.
The only hope that I had was that my puppy might be so young that I could undo this but I'm now hearing Ed say that a puppy's memory is for life.
Well I will keep watching the video but I seriously am afraid there is not much hope for my dog.
I guess I can hope to train my dog so well that she will not lose control or be timid around other dogs and just be focused on me.
She has been around one adult dog that I know very well since then and was not nervous and one seven week old pup and she just played with the pup (of course).

I just can't say how frustrating this all is. I had really high hopes for my first puppy and really feel cheated.
I guess I was hoping to hear that someone else had actually gotten through this and the dog got over it.
Thanks though - the links were very helpful.
Jen

Jen,

Don't lose hope, every dog is different. Sara advice on upping her socialization with other dogs is probably a good idea. I would also do some research on dogs body language so you can understand your dog when he is interacting with other dogs. What is his body language saying?

Reward and praise him when he is doing well and correct him when you sense aggression even before he becomes overtly aggressive.

I have a 3 year old dog that has always been aggressive to other dogs… but he was also attacked by another dog in his own yard when he was a pup. I didn’t realize the lasting effect this would have on him until I watched Ed’s DVD and I heard the same thing you did. My dog was marked for life from that moment on.

Back then I didn’t understand the implications that attack would have on my dog in the long term. If I had known then what I know now, I would have done a lot of things differently. Knowledge is Power. Don’t give up. It sounds like you have a nice pup.

I would be very concerned for you children. That neighbor needs a good wake up call. We have a neighbor that has a very aggressive dog and they are very diligent about keeping him leashed (I personally think he needs to be behind a kennel as chains do wear out and break). Thank God he has never broken his chain because he looks vicious and he will lunge so hard. It is just plain scary. If he is in the house when you walk by he will bounce off the picture window trying to get at you with every tooth in his head exposed. They have had to fix the glass several times because he has broken through the first pane. To-date he his never gotten lose and I thank my lucky stars because I have 3 small children. I carry mace on my key chain and I always have my keys clipped to my belt which has come in handy a couple times… not just with dogs either.

Again… don’t get discouraged. Love, education, and consistency can do wonders.

Very terrible, Jen. I'm glad AC finally took the dog. Do you know anyone with an older, mellow dog for your pup to be around? In Ed's video, "Raising a Working Puppy," Ed says that an older dog who does not react to puppies is good for socialization. If you know anyone who has a dog that may do no more than just sniff the pup and accept it as part of the scenery that may help with teaching your pup that not all dogs are bad. I don't know if this will help any, if at all, though. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />