Advice (scared dogs)

After walking Teagan today, i'd like some advice, if anyone can help!

Teagan has been socialised quite well, we attended obedience classes, and she had lots of friends there, dogs of all sizes (and humans!), and we quite often meet people on walks, and she'll play with their dogs quite happily.

But Teagan was attacked a few months back (By what looked like a lab-cross. The owner did nothing to help, it was all down to me to get her dog off Teagan), and since then she's been very wary of dogs the same size as her, or bigger. Her ears go flat against her head, and she sits down and looks terrified.
Then she starts spinning round, and jumping in the air to get away from them (and knocking into my legs).

A lot of dog owners think she's being vicious.
I have to explain she's scared. Some owners kindly lead their dogs away, but other just let their dogs wind her up more.

Hopefully in the new year, we'll be attending some sort of obedience classes again, but until then, is there anything I can do to help stop her being so scared?

Thanks

Sorry Hevvur I have no advice but Im sure someone will be along soon

In a lot of situations you are supposed to carry on as normal and try not to reassure the animal - not sure if it would be the same in this circumstance though
It also might be necessary to check your own behaviour so that she doesnt pick up any vibes from you ( as in she might be picking your wariness up ??? when you meet others?)

Good luck though and keep us posted how you deal with this

No advice Hevvur, but I just wanted to say I really feel for you and Teagan, I know it can be so upsetting when you see your dog distressed. Fingers crossed you get it sorted.

I'n never scared/apprehensive when I see another person/dog.
I try to just get Teagan to carry on walking, and act normal, but she gets that bad, I have to reassure her

I'm trying to still meet as many new people as possible, as i'm hoping just time will help with her!

can you just walk away from the others and let her go if she wants too?
or ask the owners to put them on a lead and let them meet a few times before they are off to help her trust them again.
i would try going back to basics for a while so she can get her confidence back around dogs or meet up with ines you know she is ok with to build it up again.
i think you will find its just time but at least it hasn't made her nasty with others because of it.
good luck

I'm having to keep her on her lead around other dogs at the moment, or she bolts away from them (and from me)
She's made friends with *some* she's met, and has been off lead, and playing with them.

Yeah, i'm very glad it hasn't made her nasty! We can work on the being scared part

Until you can get to a trainer who can give you advice based on observing Teagan's reactions you could try this. When you see another dog coming that you think Teagan is going to react to try to get her into a sit and stand in front of her facing the other dog. If she won't sit get her behind you as best you can. The idea is that, as leader, you will face up to and protect her from any threat. It is not her job to cope with scarey things, it is yours. Do not reassure her. This will only serve to reinforce her feeling that she is right to panic. If you must say something do it in a confident, NOT soothing, voice so that she knows that you are not at all bothered.

If you know someone with a large, preferably oldish dog, that will just just go about its business & ignore your dog meeting up with them could help Teagan to learn that not every large dog is intent on harming her. Praise any calm reaction on her part.

If these things do not work then it might be best not to expose her to dogs that she is scared of until you ger some observation-based advice. Trying to force her to overcome any apprehension could well deepen the problem.

Thankyou for the help
I'll give it a go

Oh poor Teagan....

Hope you'll get it sorted