My dog attacked by another dog

Question
I have a fourteen-month-old spayed, female, Wire Fox Terrier that was attacked three days ago by a Greyhound at my local off-leash dog park. While my dog was running, the Greyhound chased her, picked her up in its jaws and shook my dog.  I took my dog to the vet and she has many abrasions and two puncture wounds on hind quarters. I'm taking care of her physically, but I'm very concerned about the trauma this has caused my pet.  She truly was the most happy, friendly dog I've ever come across.  She loved to interact both with other dogs and with people.  Since the attack, she's frightened to go outside the house, crouches while on leash and is generally acting very differently than she acted before the attack.  She's probably still in pain which, understandably, would affect her behavior. But how can I best support her to return to the fun-loving dog she was before?  Practical advice would be helpful.  Should I take her to her doggie day care where she once felt comfortable to interact with other dogs, or will this scare her? I've been letting her interact with dogs which I trust in the neighborhood, but she becomes passive and rolls over on her back, when before she would play.  Please help me.  I really want her to return to the fun-loving, playful and trusting puppy she was before the attack.  Thanks.
-Kevin

Answer
Greyhounds (especially RACE TRACK rescues, which I presume that dog was) are PREY driven; that dog behaved in a totally inappropriate manner in a dog park and its owner should have been able to determine the dog's propensity for this outrageous interaction.  SUE THE OWNER.  Go to small claims court and file a law suit for veterinary bills and pain and suffering.  Find out who this person is.  Ask around; go to the dog park and look for the dog and locate its owner.  Racetrack rescue organizations SHOULD WARN ADOPTERS that the dogs have been TRAINED to chase/grab small furry objects (like other DOGS and CATS) but THEY DO NOT DO THIS. (A successful racing Greyhound has a deliberately BRED high prey drive and is trained to chase/grab a small object.) There is NO EXCUSE for this dog's owner to be free of financial liability.

I am so sorry this happened to your happy little dog.  Yes, you should take her back to her doggie day care but FIRST you need to advise the owner/handler of this day care regarding what has happened and the behavior your dog is now exhibiting, and you must REMAIN with her in doggie day care the first time she goes there.  MOST (most!!) doggie day care providers are vigilant of dogs' interactions and will not accept any dog that exhibits aggression or outright lack of socialization to other dogs, and most (most!) should know enough about dog behavior to be able to help you rehabituate your dog to normal (playful) interaction.  If your dog exhibits abject submission OFF LEASH in doggie day care (remember that ON leash she can't run, she has to either submit or fight, but off leash she is free to run) allow her to do so; if she runs away, allow her to do so.  Observe her carefully, do not force her to interact off leash, but allow her enough time (this may take more than two or three sessions or it may happen the first time) to begin to feel more confident and begin to interact with the other dogs in the day care.  This SHOULD happen.  At fourteen months of age, she has had heavy socialization and interaction with other dogs, successfully.  This behavior is very recent and a direct result of serious emotional (and physical!) trauma, but she SHOULD recover.  Give her a week or two before going back to doggie daycare, plenty of time for her to forget.  Until then, DO NOT EXPOSE HER TO OTHER DOGS deliberately.  while walking her, if another dog approaches, go quickly in the other direction for a few seconds (long enough for her to visibly be calmer and give you direct attention); reward her direct attention and then go BACK toward the other dog.  Every time she exhibits any fear (watch her body language) go quickly in the opposite direction and get her attention, reward her and go back toward the dog.  What you want here is to redirect her immediate fear response by changing her cognition, getting her attention, rewarding her confidence, and then going back toward the other dog so she can slowly begin to re-learn that other dogs are a source of reward, not fear. You have reintroduced her to other dogs (with a purely good motive) far too soon.  Avoid direct interaction for at least two weeks while following the above advice.

Meanwhile, ignore her fear and unwillingness to go out.  Don't DRAG her out but reward every step she takes, no matter how long it takes her.  Carry special treats (tiny tidbits of cheese) and give her one every time she goes forward (but not if she's cringing, do NOT reward fear.)  You may need the help of an in person behaviorist for this, but because this incident occurred so recently I can't say that for sure.  REPOST IN TWO WEEKS.  And DO NOT let that dog's owner get away with this!  Your dog will NOT be the last one.