My dog got hit by a car

[PsychicPam]

Yesterday morning. 5 months old.

I took her for a walk in the park and she is scared of other dogs. She always hides behind me on lead.
Park was empty so she was having a run when a dog came from no where.

It ran straight at her.

Didn't even have time to think about getting her tethered. She was gone. Dog in persuit.

She ran right across the park and out the gate into the road and a car hit her. He didn't stop :(

She disappeared.

She was gone for 40 mins until someone said she had been taken vets.

Thank fully she is ok. Just has painkillers.

But I'm so terrified now. I have bad anxiety and got to to try and ease that. I was shaking bringing her home on lead yesterday.

Her recall is fantastic but she just went into flight mode.

Obviously keeping her on lead is essential now but I'm just in pieces that it happened.

I think she needs to see a behaviourist

[PsychicPam]

Background:

Had her from 8 weeks.
Really lovely breeder
Semmed happy and confident.

But from first walk was wary of other dogs.

Try to socialise her and she just runs/pulls away.
.got progressively worse until this

[ADastardlyThing]

Awwww hugs op, am so glad she's ok. 5 months is still very young, she'll get there but yes may need a bit of help!

[BiteyShark]

Oh I am so sorry OP as that must have been awful for both you and your pup and I am glad she is recovering.

As for moving forwards when she is better I think you should definitely get a good trainer to go out with you, not just for your dog but to also give you your confidence back.

On thing that stuck out for me was this

I took her for a walk in the park and she is scared of other dogs. She always hides behind me on lead

Is there anywhere you can drive to that isn't a park. I avoid the park at all costs because my dog is very submissive and he doesn't like all the other dogs bouncing up and down on him I wouldn't either and then stealing his ball. My dog is happily socialised as he loves playing with his pals at doggy daycare but the park tends to lend itself for a 'free for all'. I walk now in more isolated countryside.

[PsychicPam]

Unfortunately I don't drive so my options are nearby park or nearby playing field. Both busy dog areas :(

I have found a private hire field. But it's a bus journey away so it's not something I could do everyday but I will take her there in weekend for a proper free run.

I have also purchase a 10m long line and Julius k9 harness for her so she can have a little space but he safe

[PsychicPam]

It was awful. I could see it happen before it even did. I knew she was going to get hit and i couldnt do a thing.

We are EXTREMELY lucky.

[totallyliterally]

Was coming on to say get a long line for her. Be careful of the julius harnesses as they can back out of them. I found a ruff wear was much better and is properly secure.

We used a long line on and off for the first year. Especially when we went to new places. Just give both you and the dog some extra confidence. We didn't hold it, but idea is to let them run about with it (obviously as long as safe to do with other dogs / trees etc)

[PsychicPam]

Ok. Will invest in a ruffwear instead.

Thanks for advice.

[DogInATent]

Wishing her a speedy recovery.

+1 for the Ruffwear Front Range harness, we've just got a second one to allow for one being washed/dried over winter. £40 from Amazon was the best deal I could find. Just watch how you attach your lead clip on the back - always have the thumb-slide facing forwards.

[PsychicPam]

Would I be crazy for asking if considering a 2nd dog is a stupid idea?

If she had a dog friend she may be more relaxed? A confident older dog maybe? I don't know

[BiteyShark]

Introducing a second dog to calm your first would not be the solution. Some dogs aren't that bothered by other dogs and just want their humans. A second dog could also come with their own issues.

However, if you know some friends with older calmer dogs you could suggest going for a few walks with them. The other thing to look at is any training groups where you can introduce other dogs in a controlled fashion.

[PsychicPam]

I don't know anyone with a dog. My family all have cats and small animals. No dogs at all. Which makes it very hard.

[BiteyShark]

Training groups?

[Ngaio2]

She may yet get more confidence around other dogs. Our 4 yo Rescue was initially very frightened of other dogs, esp large dogs. Now a few months later is ok with all but the very large dogs. If the weather walker sits in park with dog on long lead and allows him to putter around, introduce himself to other dogs. Seems to take comfort security from our presence.
Don’t make a fuss of her if she sees a big dog and starts to get stressed. Hide your own anxiety and talk calming about the weather etc
Cross the road and walk on by.
Use the same strategy re anything she finds frighteningsuch as fireworks and heavy vehicles. Give her the idea that you are unafraid and that naturally she shouldn’t be either.
I read this advice by a well known dog trainer and it works for us. If we are surprised by fireworks while out the dear boy just stops, turns round and makes tracks for home, so not terrified, just avoidant in a way acceptable to us. Guess we could insist on continuing but that has been unnecessary.
Reserve your cuddles for when you get home and your girl is no longer stressed

[PoisonousSmurf]

Dog training classes?

[PsychicPam]

She's has 121 training and was also taken by a dog walker but she was so scared of other dogs they said they couldn't walk her any more.

It was only for the socialization.

[PsychicPam]

It's embarrassing. A tiny Chihuahua could come over and she's pulling away like it's a lion

[anniehm]

Training is key, it's takes until 9-12 months to fully train. Try and get to know other dog owners with compatible dogs (it's nice to walk with others too))

[BiteyShark]

At 5 months she is still young so I am not surprised the dog walker didn't want to continue. Mine went to daycare but it was a while before he went on walks with other dogs as it was a gradual process of introductions, especially as they can't walk far anyway when young.

Maybe contact trainers again and specifically mention you need to work on yours dogs confidence around other dogs. They may use their own or know other dogs that they could 'borrow' to meet up with yours.

[Lovewineandchocolate]

Pam

That sounds like a dreadful thing to have had to watch. So pleased she is OK though.

Like others have said, she is still a pup and has a lot to learn. I had a very nervous rescue dog who hated other dogs to start with. You could consider a much slower desensitisation process. So, to start, go somewhere she can see dogs from afar, far enough away for her to be comfortable. Once she is OK with that, start to get closer (I used to go to a forest that was popular with dog walkers) and I would just sit on a bench so they would go past quite closely, but still well out of reach. Eventually she became less and less bothered and took other dogs in her stride.

This took me months and months, and sometimes we had to go back a step, so patience is key here. It is worth the effort at this very young age for her otherwise her behaviour will become ingrained, then it gets really hard to break.

Good luck

[puppymouse]

Ohh OP I could cry for you. Mine ran off from a park - following another dog I think - when he was younger. Went straight across a main road and I remember running after him screaming. Luckily he didn't get hit. He's now 6 and still a little naive as he isn't massively bright but good as gold... he comes out with me loose on the lanes when I ride my horse out.