Please don't hurt me!!!
By makingpots
@makingpots (11915)
United States
September 7, 2008 11:09am CST
I have the world's sweetest, most loving, playful sheltie-mix mutt dog, named Mocha. She has been in my life for 13 years. She was rescued from a shelter so we don't actually know her real age. Suffice it to say she is OLD. The poor thing can't hear well and I'm not sure of her eyesight these days either.
This week while playing in my back yard with my son, Mocha and I had a crazy collision with each other. She was running after a baby rabbitt. I was being silly, trying to make my son laugh and walking rather quickly to unroll my garden hose. The poor thing just never heard or saw me. It was bizarre how we just tumbled together both landing on our backs with our feet in the air. ......... my son was laughing hysterically - success!!
I checked her over for injuries. Then just rolled around and played with her in the grass until another baby rabbitt won her attention. All seemed fine.
Now,
when I try to love on her, walk near her favorite chair or even just enter the room, she flinches as if to say "Please don't hurt me!!!". It is breaking my heart!!!
Please myLot friends send me any ideas you have to help me get her over this apparent post traumatic stress.
6 people like this
11 responses
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
8 Sep 08
That's so sad. I think it will just take a bit of time. She will soon forget about your collision and go back to being her normal self. All animals do get over it in time.
I have a cat, about 7 years old now. When we first got him, it was obvious he was abused. He was terrified of everything, and he would usually stay well hidden all day. He finally settled into our home after a few weeks, but would still run from most sudden noises, and feet. You couldn't walk anywhere near him or he'd run and hide. We never once hurt him, but as I said, it was obvious someone had. After about six months he finally calmed down a little and became a good, loving cat, but would still run away when you walked near him or made loud sudden noises.
Now we've had him 7 years, and he's finally not afraid of anything anymore. We can walk within inches of him and he won't budge. He sits still through a vacuuming session and doesn't mind the rattle of plastic bags.
1 person likes this
@makingpots (11915)
• United States
8 Sep 08
Oh, that is sad about your cat.
I went through that phase with Mocha in the beginning. She obviously had been mistreated by a man with a deep voice. My father has a voice that sounds like God coming from the top of a mountain. He would speak a word and Mocha would just pee whereever she was standing. One time she was standing on my new couch. 
Dad was not asked over for visits very often while we got her through that phase.
Dad was not asked over for visits very often while we got her through that phase. 2 people like this
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
8 Sep 08
Don't be sad for my cat. He has a good life now. He has a great life now. We once went through a phase where we were finding new homes for our cats, as we realized we couldn't afford them when our twins were born, but this one was the one cat we would not get rid of due to his skiddishness. I'm glad we kept him, because now we're in a better place financially and I wish I'd kept my other 2 cats. I'm very sad for them every day.
And I'm glad your dog has found a better life as well. I wish all the animals of the world were as lucky.
1 person likes this
@shana123 (2095)
• India
8 Sep 08
Your dog has got more hurts so its very scaring and seriously i feel sorry for your dog and you that happens with animals we cannot just go and explain them by saying that we love them more and not actually going to hurt them it was all just mistake that it happened to be collided .i really dont have any proper ideas for it you can try by feeding her with the most favourite foods and take her to walk daily outside many such things.. it might help you and her to rebuild the love
1 person likes this
@makingpots (11915)
• United States
8 Sep 08
I bought her some of her favorite treats this weekend. I'm sneaking them to her when our other dog doesn't know it. They are like siblings in this regard and I really think she notices when she's getting something her sister is not getting.
1 person likes this
@carolbee (16230)
• United States
8 Sep 08
Aw, I am so sorry. Can you pick her up and just pet her for awhile? If she can't hear or see well, your touch might be enough to let her know you love her. Maybe give her a special treat also. If she's a larger dog, can you sit on the floor next to her and pet her? She needs reassurance. Good luck and hope she responds to your touch.
1 person likes this
@makingpots (11915)
• United States
8 Sep 08
Yes, thank goodness. She will let me pet her for a while once she gets past the initial touch.
1 person likes this
@winterose (39887)
• Canada
8 Sep 08
oh that is so sad,
you just have to approach her very softly and lovingly never fast and let her smell your hand again before you try to pet her, she may eventually forgive and forget, the poor old girl.
1 person likes this
@makingpots (11915)
• United States
8 Sep 08
that is a great idea letting her smell my hand. I'm pretty sure she is going by scent with her reactions because she only flinches when I enter a room... no one else.
1 person likes this
@jillmalitz (5131)
• United States
8 Sep 08
I hope she gets better soon. I am guessing that it may take some time for her to get over the shock. Just take it easy and give her lots of love and support. Lots of soothing petting and rubbing.
1 person likes this
@makingpots (11915)
• United States
8 Sep 08
I am really enjoying the part of needing to give her extra loving. I think I'm seeing some improvement.
1 person likes this
@animeniak (425)
• United States
8 Sep 08
wow... i wonder how bad the collision was that would actually make your dog to fear your appearance;; i think you just doing something usual that made your dog to play with you a little more, just doing the usual to love your dog should do it...
p.s. i have a dog who just hates me so much that if i try to get my PINKY on him, he just barks at me lol but then again, whenever i pick up the dog collar, he just jumps on me that he knows im gonna take him out for a walk... i dunno my dog's is just so random lol
and im sorry that you accidentally traumatized your dog :(
@makingpots (11915)
• United States
8 Sep 08
Lol
my other dog gets so excited about going for walks that she almost hyperventilates. It is so funny.
1 person likes this
@makingpots (11915)
• United States
8 Sep 08
Oh, so you've met Mocha?? Hehe
She definitely works on me for extra treats with those sweet brown eyes she has.
2 people like this
@CatsandDogs (13963)
• United States
7 Sep 08
Awwww poor thing!! Don't beat yourself up over it for it happens to the best of people and pets. It's happened to me more times than I can count because like your dog, I can't hear much at all. Your dog's senses are heightened since the collision and is more careful as well as fearful of getting hurt. What I did with mine is every time I was to pass them, I'd stop and pet them on the head and talk sweet words to them and moved on to what it was that I was doing. That helps them to understand that the collision wasn't done on purpose and that you won't hurt her. Doing that several times and then every other time and slacking off a little at a time til she gets the understanding. Lots of patience and love and you'll prevail!!
1 person likes this
@makingpots (11915)
• United States
7 Sep 08
Lol
Thanks for the reassurance, CatsandDogs. I am doing exactly as you suggest.
I don't even care about trying to slack off eventually. I get more benefit out of petty her and speaking sweetly than she does. The beautiful thing about dogs!!!
4 people like this
@Hatley (163772)
• Garden Grove, California
8 Sep 08
making pots I would try just gently holding Mocha, while'
slowly petting her and murmuring soft words in her ears.
jUst be gentle and stroke her softly, talk a little louder in necessary but make contact. Keep doing this as you would
a hurt little child which I guess in a way she is, a dog child grown old, but still a little child.she will get over her fear if you are consistent in this. It works for kids so should work
for dogs too.
1 person likes this
@makingpots (11915)
• United States
8 Sep 08
Thanks, Hatley. Yes, that should work.
2 people like this
@magna86 (1786)
• India
8 Sep 08
oh my god!!! i dont know what to say!! you have pretty much scared your own pupppy!! i know you didn do that willingly!! but still they dont understand it!! if i was in your situation i would stay with her all the time!! hold her in my arms all day.. still she gets out of the trauma! and i would do that until she becomes comfortable with me!! again!
1 person likes this
@makingpots (11915)
• United States
8 Sep 08
I knoooow!! It is just breaking my heart.
Giving her a little extra loving is definitely not the worst thing I've had to do.
1 person likes this
@Sam334 (125)
• Singapore
8 Sep 08
Well, I won't add on, since there are more than enough suggestions.
You need to know that the only thing that affects besides your care and concerns. It needs time. Let it have time...
Don't get impatient, it's what really cause things to go wrong most of the time.
1 person likes this
@makingpots (11915)
• United States
8 Sep 08
thanks for the input same. I will for sure try not to get impatient.
1 person likes this
