Fearful aggression

Moll has developed fearful aggression not badly but she just seems really scared of other dogs and has snarled at a couple of dogs recently, we went through a period of unfortunately meeting other dogs which were being way too 'forward' and in your face. Now these couple of time there hasn't been any snapping but the growling was not great! (tail between her legs wanting to get away).

Her problem is she really wants to play sometimes but then doesn't seem to know what to do when they try to play with her. So her tail goes down and she tries to avoid the other dog. She let a 10 week old collie puppy take her stick recently (seemed scared!). When scared she runs to me or my other half and jumps.

Any plans on a way forward? I think she really really wants to play with other dogs but just struggles to know how. We got her at 15 weeks or so (rescue which was kept in dire conditions in a tiny crate with siblings and not let out) and then with her jabs she wasn't really meeting dogs until 18 weeks so missed alot of socialisation. People talk on here sometimes about guilt well I suppose I feel that way about her, and worry we did wrong by her and haven't socialised her enough. She also got bitten by a greyhound as a pup, it made puncture wounds on her back leg (I was fuming )

Please help. I love her to bits and just want to do the best by her. If she doesn't like other dogs that would be fair enough I just think she desperately wants to play. I am very much in need of help

Thank you for any replies in advance.

Aw poor Moll bless her heart and you. >< I know plenty are going to come and offer great advice, if it was me, I'd find a few people with calm older dogs, who are happy to just walk on lead, let her settle in around them. If you keep moving they don't interact as intensely with each other as much as if you stand still, as she settles, then let her out on a training lead gently always offering praise and encouragement if she responds with out fear. It takes time and you have to be positive. Draw a line on the past and start afresh. Good luck and I'm sure you'll get some great tips

I've not had this problem but I would agree that if you know anyone with older calm dogs that you can take her out with that would be a good start. I would just take it one step at a time, introducing her slowly, hopefully building her confidence back up.

Sorry I can't offer more advise, I'm sure someone else will be able to

Aww no poor molly >< I agree with ^^^above, if you could find some calm friendly pooches maybe they'll help molly feel at ease & perhaps building her confidence enough for her to interact, good luck, I'm sure some of our members will be along shortly with some more advice

Some dogs, despite all the effort, just don't end up liking other dogs and this is not an uncommon trait in the breed. You can and should work on it but with older and more tolerant dogs. It can be hard work and you have to be ready to accept that it may or may not work out the way you want. It is always good to remember that dog aggression and people aggression have nothing to do with each-other 99.9% of the time.

Need to find some older, calmer dogs I think. I know it will be hard work but am willing to put the effort in.

She played wonderfully with a piglet called Grunty last night (it is a runt rejected by the mother and being hand reared)

Awww bless her

As Ben you need to prepare yourself for the fact that she may just not like other dogs too much, however I dont personally think you are there yet! I would find a calm dog that you can get together with once or twice a week. I would start off just walking them together so Molly can get used to his/her presence. This may help her build up her confidence in stead of every dog she comes in contact with being a complete stranger and getting up in her space when she isn't. I would start with this, see how it goes, and once she is comfortable around that one dog figure out what your next step is going to be! Good luck.