[yorkietalkjilly]

I have been around many dogs that were hit and some of them were scarred from it and most were not, depending upon the caregiver they were with. Many dogs are not affected by a hitting incident at all while others insecurities are fed by one incident for a time but they can be brought well past that by a good, unemotional trainer who doesn't feel sorry for them and just treats them with a good rehab behavior modification program that establishes the caregiver as the leader in the family.

But any dog with an insecure owner who takes out their anger on a dog will most likely be deeply affected by hitting because they can sense the caregiver's mental state of rage. Someone who hits out in a state of shock from a biting incident probably is only reflecting what another dog would who he'd just bitten - shock with returned brief aggression. He probably won't hold anything against you as dogs are used to discipline from other dogs and he will likely just look at it as a one-time thing that came from his bite and as you are not a repeat offender - he'll sense that, too. Just work with him to show him who calls the shots in all situations and he will go on his happy way while learning who is the real boss in the family. Best wishes to you.