Traumatized

[askingyou]

My two year old little Westie loves people, animals and kids.  She would go outside every morning to greet and kiss our steer named Henry.  Henry would lower his head down so she could give him kisses.  We have horses and she got under one horses legs.  The horse got spooked and accidently stepped on little Pugsy, the Westie.  Since then Pugsy will not go to the barn.  She stays up near the house next to the door.
So ,   we decided to get another dog to keep Pugsy company and someone to play with.  Our local paper advertised a young dog for sale. We called, they gave us directions to their home.  We brought Pugsy with us to see how her and the dog would get along.  This home had four dogs kept outside in a kennel to breed and sell dogs.   They had one beagle dog outside the kennel.  I asked if I could bring my dog out of our vehicle and if it was going to be alright with the beagle.  The man said yes it's okay.
I no sooner let Pugsy out on their grass and the beagle came up to her with its hair standing up on its back and started growling at Pugsy. She just stood there.  No sooner like a bolt of lightning, the mans two larger dogs  broke out of their kennel and jumped Pugsy.   One had her whole body up in the air thrashing her, like trying to break her neck.  I ran up to break them, The dog dropped her and the other dog grabbed her , mauling her. It felt like ten minutes of sheer torture.  She was screaming. and terrified.  Finally after 5 violent attacks I was able to swope her up and get her in our vehicle.  The man stood  behind me the whole time doing nothing.  
Rushed her to the Animal hospital and they took xrays.  Puncture wounds around her abdomen and ribs. A partial collapse of the lung.  
After bringing her home she was in shock and traumatized.  She is afraid to sleep and looks towards the windows acting like  the dogs are going to come through the windows to attack her. She is terrified when I take her outside to go to the bathroom.  she sits there looking around like the two dogs are going to jump her again from behind.
Theres more to this story on the other end.  I called the dog warden about this situation, and he investigated it and called back and said,  "You were on his property".  That is what the owner said.
I am not concern about that as much as trying to help Pugsy overcome the tramatic fear  that she is going through.
Any suggestions , to help her overcome what she is going through?  
This happened two days ago.  The animal hospital seemed only concerned about her physical condition. Gave her pain medicine and antibiotics.
Greatly Appreciate any tips.  I want her back that way she was.  Social, friendly and playful.

[txsilver]

I am so sorry your sweet baby has had such a rough time of it.  I have had to work through traumas with my precious one, but not so traumatic as what your baby experienced.  It took lots of time and love to get him through it.  After several years he was as close to normal as he will get.  
I agree with lonewolf, there are times to defy the reigning opinions fo the day.  Pugsy needs to feel safe and secure and a little extra loving will go a long way.  
One thought is that you might want to talk to the vet about some kind of "puppy prozac" so she can settle down and get good sleep which is also important in getting her through this.  
Many wishes for happier days for both of you!  My Max sends his cold-nosed warmhearted best too.

[Jaybay]

The best thing you can do for a dog with a traumatic mental issue is to stay calm yourself.  Do not fuss and coo and constantly "baby" the dog when she is stressed.  All that does is reinforce the very behavior you want to end.  Believe me, I know how hard it is to ignore your dog when she comes to you looking for comfort and wanting to hide behind your legs, but it's not a good thing to do.  

I learned the same thing the hard way with my Maggie.  All the fireworks on her first July 4 celebration scared the liver right out of her.  She ran in the house and practically jumped down my shirt, shaking like a leaf.  I fell into playing Mama to a scared baby.  The next thunderstorm that rolled in resulted in the same thing, so she got more and more and more scared as time went on.  

Once I realized it was MY behavior making hers worse, I changed.  If Maggie comes at me shaking and whingeing, I don't look at her and I don't speak to her.  She'll just lay at my feet and calm herself down - by herself.  It didn't take long before that behavior was gone for good.

In your dog's case, can you describe one problem area - like getting her to go outside to pee - and tell me what you do to try to get her out?  Are you talking, coaxing, begging?  Or are you simply putting on her leash and asking her to walk out beside you?

[lonewolf07]

Hi

It sound like little Pugsy has had an extremely difficult time - first the steer and then the dog attacks  = (

You have already taken her to the vet to treat her body's injuries.  Now you want her back to being social, friendly and playful.  It will take time and a lot of love and reassurance from you and the rest of her "human family".  She is a young dog and this could be beneficial in that you can slowly re-socialize her again.  Is there a puppy play group near you?  Pugsy isn't a puppy but she might feel safer being among non--threatening puppies.

Right now she needs as much attention and affection as you can give her.  It goes against what all the "experts" say but let Pugsy determine the rate at which her emotions can heal.  It almost sounds like PTSD found in humans.  Pugsy, like most dogs, can communicate - especially with you.  She doesn't use words but she is communicating.

Some of what determines your puppy's return to being social, friendly and playful has to do with Pugsy's character and resiliancy and how deep her emotional hurt is.  She'll let you know in her own dog way what she wants.

There are also dog psychologists or behavior specialists that you might consider.

The person who ran this "kennel" and just stood there should be reported to Animal Control or somebody who can hold him accountable for what happened to Pugsy.  This might have happened before and might happen again.

I hope she returns to her usual self.

lonewolf

(and her Akita, Siberian husky, shih tzu and lhasa apso waving their paws and wagging their tails for Pugsy and wishing her to get back to her old self soon)