Spaniel is bolting out of fright - help?

[TheLittleNinja]

Hey All,

Ok – Long story short. My family and I have a spaniel of 2 years old, she’s very obedient and has/had great recall. She’s trained on the whistle and would certainly always come back if we had a ball.

We recently moved house 6 weeks ago, to a new area. Walking in the local woods Sky was attacked by another dog – we had rips and puncture wounds everywhere (she’s very submissive and will just roll over if another dog is coming over to boisterous). Anyway a little while after this event we started to let her off the lead again to see how she reacted – low and behold, along comes another boisterous dog, well Sky just took off out of fright and we couldn't get her to come back, or find her anywhere – in the ended we decided we had to go home. When we got back to the van we found Sky waiting outside the backdoor ready to come home with us.

Again today, Dad took her down the local park; it’s within walking distance from home. Well along came two boisterous labs, growling and what not, so off she ran. Dad nearly got her to come back again – but on the way back a playful GSD came running over – that just spooked her and she dived into a pathway we’d never walked before. Well Dad followed her but the path split into three. It was then I got a phone call to come help look. I got outside the house, carrying my whistle and treat bag – only to find Sky trotting round the corner to meet me. We have no idea how she found her way home, as we’d never walked her round the area she ran off into.

We have no idea what to do with her now; she seems to be mentally shook up. Please note though – she’s fine with dogs, as long as they don’t growl or bark or try to herd her. Also if we have her ball we have more of a chance of getting her back – she loves her ball

But what do we do now, we can’t risk losing her near a main road, or when we are on holidays in Wales? Should we see a dog behaviourist? Re-socialise – even though she is fine with friendly dogs? Her recall is genuinely fine – she just blocks everything out in ‘’dangerous’’ circumstances.

There’s certainly no way of getting her back in the agility ring as it stands, one growl outside the ring and she’ll be gone.

Any help would be appreciated
Claire

[Nutty Nat]

i would sugguest seeing a pet behavourist as they will be able to give advice/tips on what should help,my dog is the opposit your dog would run away from mine,hes from the rspca and seems too excited with other dogs so he comes across as been viscous but hes not,apart from if he sees "chavs" or if someone has a walking stick then he can become abit growly and protective.

[TheLittleNinja]

Yea, I have a dog behaviourist as a friend, so I'll send her an email and see what she thinks =]

I'd still appreciate any other comments for what I could try fir the time being.

Thanks xD

[WillO'Wisp]

It sounds like there are alot of aggresive dogs in your area. The poor thing got attacked. I can understand she'd be nervous after that.
Perhaps just let her in the backyard and keep her as sort of an inside dog for awhile, get a leash for her if you are going to take her out for walks, try to just stay around the house and stray away from any houses which may have other dogs around.

[TheLittleNinja]

Thanks for all your responses - I can't really keep her in the back garden, and just walking on lead though as she is working dog. I took her down a friends field yesterday to do dog agility, and she was fine with my friends 4 dogs.

We also came up with some ideas to help train her. So I can use her field and all my friends dogs to train with =]

I have a pretty good idea how to tackle the problem now Thanks for all your advice

[Rosemma]

Aww I just wanted to say thats an awful thing to hear, poor thing I just feel so sorry for her.
I cant imagine how worried you must have been everytime she went missing.
I dont really have any advice, the only thing I can think of is to keep her on the lead or in the backgarden... but its unfair she cant run freely how she used to.
Anyway I hope the other advice works and is a lot more helpful than mine.

[TheLittleNinja]

Thanks for the reply Rosemma :]