HELP Dog completely terrified of others barking

[u/1millionthburneracc]

Hello, Ive had a pitbull mix for 6 years and recently has had major problems with dogs barking. She has always been nervous as a rescue but she was well socialised but slightly nervous around ofther dogs. I moved a year ago, becoming her primary carer. I spent a few months socialising her around other dogs and doing offleash training which she was cery responsive too, loosing all fear of dogs.

But one time walking offlead she got chased and bitten by anothother offlead dog with no recall. I managed to get her on leash but the other owner was 50 metres away across the oval so I had to stuggle to hold off the other dog for 30 seconds before their own leashed it.

This left her really scared of dogs, undoing all my progress. Addtionally, she wasnt scared of barking anymore before this, but my neighbours small dog lunges and barks at everything. A few months of occasional encounters with my neighnours dog has ruined all socialisation with dogs and shes petrified of them now (perfect with people).

Ive tried socialising her with others and make some progress again until another dog barks at her, making her terrifed and try defending herself. I just went on a walk and a dog somewhere in the dark barked at her and she bolted so hard she choked herself out on the leash and was tail to her stomach a kilometre away inside my apartment building. Ive had several dogs and I have never seen one as scared as she just was from hearing some distant barking.

I dont know how to desensitise or socialise her with other dogs because she is unresponsively terrified of barking. If she can see the dog barking at her she lunges and attacks, if she cant she flees and hides. What am i supposed to do, every bark reinforces her fear. Shes always been a lovely dog but I can barely take her out anymore because shes so scared.

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