Hayley, sorry to hear about the blows life has dealt you. I agree that it will take time and some professional help but you will get through it.

That said, when you are ready, I have a suggestion. I take my dog (GSD) to class twice a week at a park and there are always people watching (especially advanced obedience). These people are "around" the dogs before class begins (when the dogs are on leashes) so it is a fairly safe encounter with trained dogs and responsible owners. Also, there are usually some "bully breed" dogs enrolled. If you could find something similar where you live, it would allow you (without your dog) to experience being around them in a controlled environment. It also allows you to meet other dog owners in your area.

Ruth, where are you in Utah? I'm in Midvale.

And, Hayley, your fear is totally understandable and I'm glad you are doing whatever's needed to overcome it. Just to let you know, there are many responsible Pit owners out there who do the right thing by the breed. Pits and other bully breeds do require some special care and extra responsibility from owners. There were 6 pits in one of my collie's obedience class and you couldn't have asked for better dogs (because of responsible owners).

Elaine,
I'm in Bountiful. Please send me a PM. I'ts good to find another dog person.

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Hayley, you have been through hell and back <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> Remember, each terrible experience has made you stronger and better!

Having a little fear equates to having a healthy respect IMO... Keep in mind when you're in public that you don't know the dogs, you don't know the owners, how the dogs were raised, and what they were allowed to get away with etc. Going from extreme fear to none at all might not be the greatest idea. A while ago I asked a lady in my neighborhood if I could pet her rottweiler x, and if it bites. She said no go right ahead. Well the dog lunged for my face, I stepped back and she pulled back on the leash saving me from getting bit. That was right after the dog was attacked by the rottweiler x apbt across the street from me, so that could have been why. That was the last time I asked to pet someone's dog. So, keep a little bit of caution and reservation with strangers dogs. It sounds like the corso lady was a good find for you <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> But be careful of going from extreme fear to none at all, especially when you have your dogs with you, and other dogs. I think the best way to spend time with other dominant type dogs is without your dogs to fully prevent any type of spats that could arise and set you back.

Good luck and I'm glad things are looking up for you <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Thank you too Barbara and I agree that bad things can really make a person stronger.

I take your point here too and will keep it in mind. I'm not going to approach strange bully breeds in general, and not if I have Zeus, my Giant, with me. He still will growl and get up on his toes, regardless of the desensitizing I'm doing with him in a dog trainng class. As far as he's concerned, he hates them and that's that. I've decided to let him be on it a bit, as I can tell that correcting him in his responses to these certain breeds really confuses him. He knows he was beat up by one, knows I couldn't save him and probably figures I can't again. Which is why I've decided to get the stun baton. I think I'll just feel way better about things, not a fool-hardy carefreeness, but less fearful.

As Alice noted up thread, and which I forgot to mention earlier, my adrenaline is up right now. I need to calm that down. Accupunture is a great idea as I've heard others I know remark on it's genuine ability to bring relief of pain. I think too this uber-hot summer weather isn't helping me any either. I'm having real heat related issues - can't stand anything over 84 degrees without melting, feeling sick to my stomach and weak. My poor dogs are wilting too, even with AC, swimming every other day in a cold lake, and being hosed off. I'm hoping when Fall arrives and brings colder temps, I'll feel less groggy and cranky. My new stun baton may also help. <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

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I take your point here too and will keep it in mind. I'm not going to approach strange bully breeds in general, and not if I have Zeus, my Giant, with me. He still will growl and get up on his toes, regardless of the desensitizing I'm doing with him in a dog trainng class. As far as he's concerned, he hates them and that's that. I've decided to let him be on it a bit, as I can tell that correcting him in his responses to these certain breeds really confuses him. He knows he was beat up by one, knows I couldn't save him and probably figures I can't again. Which is why I've decided to get the stun baton. I think I'll just feel way better about things, not a fool-hardy carefreeness, but less fearful.

anything that makes you feel less fearful is good. it's also better for zeus to be out walking with an owner who isn't fearful. he needs you to be calm and confident. your fear is no doubt triggering his own. he needs you to be a confident leader he can trust to protect him from all danger. until he can trust you to protect him, he will continue to be reactive to these other dogs.

if you can get yourself into a calm and confident state of mind, you really should correct him the second he starts reacting to these other dogs. the correction is your way of saying to him, "hey, you don't have to deal with this, i'm in charge and i will protect you. i will take care of it."

you should teach him to completely ignore other dogs. and you do it with well-timed corrections. that means, the second his ears pop forward, the second he starts to fixate on another dog, before he even has a chance to growl, bark, lunge or get started.

i think it is probably more confusing to him if you don't take charge, and more stressful for him as well. if you don't correct him, you are turning him into the pack leader, and i don't think you will like where that will take you. he's going to get aggressive with the wrong dog, and then you'll be back in another traumatic situation.

If when correcting Zeuss in these situations is confusing him, maybe corrections aren't ideal. Sometimes they can make a problem worse. Hopefully Anne V. can chime in. She usually has great ideas and I'm sure she's experienced this before.

The results of accupuncture are phenominal I heard. If you can handle needles. I have a needle phobia <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> Look into meditation too <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I think the stun baton is a good idea, legal or not. If the laws aren't protecting you and your dog, I guess it's up to you. Just make sure you look into the minimum charges you could get if caught with one, to be safe.

barbara, i can't handle needles, either, so my tcm practitioner uses a machine called a myomatic, that uses electric current in place of needles. you don't feel anything, and it produces the same results as needle acupuncture.

the dog is probably confused because hayley isn't calm herself. she needs to be in the right frame of mind to give effective corrections. probably while she herself is still so freaked out, she needs to simply avoid all triggering situations so she doesn't trigger her dog.

You could also use T-Touch for both yourself and for your dog.

I never heard of the non needle accupuncture. Interesting!

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the dog is probably confused because hayley isn't calm herself. she needs to be in the right frame of mind to give effective corrections. probably while she herself is still so freaked out, she needs to simply avoid all triggering situations so she doesn't trigger her dog.

You're probably right about frame of mind. Do people give corrections to a fearful dog in that situation? I don't think I'd be able to do that because of the past situation that created the fear was very understandable. I would be afraid that I would make that fear worse by correcting the dog and instead of just fear of the other dog attacking, the dog would have fear of the owner correcting. The attack sounded pretty severe. There's not a better way? Is the correcting a flooding method? What about keeping to the outskirts of all the other dogs with a desensitization method? Or is that too long and dragged out?