My Dog Was Attacked by an Off-Leash Dog. Here's How We Found Our Way Back.

Shoshana grew up as the child of two dog trainers. When the time came to bring a dog into her adult life, she was excited about the opportunity to raise a puppy of her own! She did her research and settled on a Shiloh shepherd: a breed with German shepherd and malamute ancestry selected for a gentle nature. (“I loved the idea of a large, fluffy dog who didn’t drool,” she said.)

Her new best friend Griffin fit the bill perfectly.

He was everything Shoshana wanted and on track to be a highly socialized companion. By the time he was one year old, he’d already attended multiple training classes, won a bundle of conformation show ribbons, and was on his way to earning his Canine Good Citizen title, but an attack by two off-leash dogs in an on-leash area shook everyone’s confidence.

One Experience Can Have a Lasting Impact

Griffin wasn’t all that bold from the beginning (as a young dog he spent some of his puppy classes hiding from the other attendees underneath the counter) but his attack tipped the scale clearly towards anxiety. He and Shoshana were taking an on-leash walk through a public park when two unknown dogs approached without warning.

While the large shepherd didn’t suffer lasting physical effects from the confrontation, he became wary of unfamiliar dogs and struggled to relax in public environments. “I could watch him tense up seeing a person and then relax when he realized they didn’t have a dog with them,” Shoshana said.

When the two started working with a trainer to heal Griffin’s anxiety, she recommended Sniffspot as a way to continue safely exploring new places and having novel experiences. Since then, it’s become a regular part of their weekly routine!

Griffin Can Enjoy New Adventures Thanks to Sniffspot and His Owner’s Dedication

When visiting a Sniffspot, Griffin isn’t fixated on the environment. He’s able to relax in a secure, private space, and the neutral locations make the perfect opportunity to hang out with other dogs that Shoshana trusts! (As long as he feels safe, Griffin will still play with low-key friends even after being attacked.)

Sniffspots also give the Shiloh shepherd plenty of calm, uneventful exposure to new things. He’s gotten to meet livestock and horses who are completely unbothered by his presence, which allows him to settle in and be neutral to theirs as well.

Shoshana shared one favorite story about Griffin happily bouncing after some quacking ducks at one particular Sniffspot’s pond. He enjoys the water and listening to the world around him. “I think a pig would be his perfect creature,” Shoshana said about Griffin’s affinity for other animals and their strange sounds. “I’d love for him to meet one someday.”

Shoshana also appreciates the “absolute kindness” of the Sniffspot site owners. “They’re so considerate,” she said, talking about the ways they make sure Griffin has a great experience. It’s wonderful to connect with such an understanding, caring dog community.

Beyond weekly Sniffspot visits, Shoshana and Griffin share relaxed regular walks (they drive to a peaceful spot nearby) and plenty of couch snuggles. The huge shepherd also loves to lounge in the garage with the door mostly closed, he can relax in a cool, safe space to just watch the world go by.

What to Do When Your Dog Is Attacked by an Off-Leash Dog

First: breathe. What happened to Griffin (an on-leash dog approached and attacked without warning in a space where that shouldn't have happened) is more common than it should be, and it is not your fault. In fact, reports of dog bites and attacks is on the rise since 2020.

Here's what to do in the immediate aftermath and the weeks that follow.

Right after the attack:

Check for injuries first. Even if your dog seems okay, dog bites can cause deeper puncture wounds than they appear. If there's any swelling, bleeding, or your dog is favoring a limb, get to a vet the same day. Document everything: photos of any wounds, the location, and if possible, the other owner's contact information.

Give your dog space to decompress. Skip the rest of the walk. Go home, let them settle in a quiet space, and resist the urge to flood them with reassurance and attention. Calm and neutral is what they need from you right now.

Other than seeking medical attention, don't make a big deal around your dog. It's completely normal to feel shaken up, but keep these feelings away fro your pet. Dogs can literally smell your stress, and you want to keep them from adding negativity to this experience.

In the days and weeks that follow:

Watch for behavioral changes. A dog who is normally confident and social becoming suddenly wary of other dogs, tense on walks, or reactive on leash is showing you that the attack had an emotional impact. This is not a character flaw. It is a normal response to a scary experience, and it is workable.

Don't rush back to normal. The instinct to get back out there quickly and "prove" that not all dogs are scary is understandable, but it can backfire. Give your dog time to stabilize before reintroducing the situations that now feel threatening.

Find a certified trainer who specializes in fear and reactivity. This is the single most important step. A good trainer will help you understand where your dog is and build a desensitization plan that actually fits them. Look for someone using positive reinforcement methods. Here's how to find a reactive dog trainer near you.

Swap unpredictable environments for controlled ones. This is exactly what Shoshana did for Griffin. Instead of walks through busy public parks where unknown dogs can approach without warning, find spaces where you control the variables. Private Sniffspot locations let you give your dog outdoor time and new experiences without the exposure risk that public spaces carry right now.

Be patient with yourself too. Shoshana tried so hard to do everything right and the actions of someone else still affected Griffin's development. That grief is real. Channeling it into understanding rather than anger, as she did, is one of the harder and more generous things a dog owner can do.

Frequently Asked Questions

Griffin Isn't Alone, and Neither Are You

At times Shoshana’s journey with Griffin has been difficult: She’d grown up with a dog-aggressive dog as a child and tried so hard to do everything right for her new puppy only to have the actions of someone else deeply affect his development.

But working through her shepherd’s anxiety has also been a valuable learning experience.

Shoshana now thinks more deeply about the way other dog owners see the world. Instead of being angry, she tries to empathize and understand they might not realize the impact their pets could have in a public space.

When it comes to life with Griffin, she’s moved from thinking about what he can handle or tolerate to considering what really helps him thrive. “I want him to be happy,” she said, “to do things because he enjoys them.”  While he was able to complete his Canine Good Citizen title despite his bad experience, it wasn’t a relaxed accomplishment. In contrast, Sniffspot adventures are what bring him joy.

It’s been two and a half years since Griffin was attacked, and life is wonderful — he has dog friends he can play with in safe spaces, gets regular opportunities to decompress, and always makes Shoshana laugh when he rests his chin on the table (he really is that tall).