Fifteen year old JR that was attacked - 2009-02-04

Question

I have a fifteen year old jack rusell who was attacked by two pit bulls seven years ago, since then when she meets a dog she wags her tail but if it tries to sniff her or puts its head near her she arches her neck then starts snapping at it. There has only been one dog she met and would play with he was a very gentle male. Please help as I worry about her.

Answer

Dogs learn by experience and your little girl has had a bad one – so now anything that comes too close she will not take a risk and as a good JR she gets in first. It is her way of self preservation. At this age I would say given that it happened 7 years ago it will be a hard struggle to get her right again and this would take some very slow desensitisation with the right dogs / people before this engrained behaviour would change. I would guess be careful and watchful but she is using this to tell others not to come too close. If you are really worried about it get a good dog trainer to help you.