Being summer and it being light in the early mornings, there are sometimes new dogs in the park that we haven't seen before. One of them is a small terrier, that from a distance looks like a little fox... and I think that's what the dogs think too!
Anyway, yesterday, I was walking across the field in the country park when suddenly this little dog appeared on the field not far from us walking towards us. Dylan and Flash took off to say hello to him, but he got frightened and started to run... with Dylan and Flash in hot pursuit. In his fear, the other dog squealed... He wasn't hurt as my boys are of course muzzled all the time when off lead, but it was still scary for him.
Shortly after that, we came across Monzi, which is a friend's dobermann. He is very timid and frightened of my dogs, and I therefore normally put mine on lead as soon as I spot him. This time however Flash was quicker than I was (Dylan I did manage to grab) and Flash was his usual bully with him. Again, he couldn't hurt Monzi as he is muzzled, but still... It wasn't nice! And I felt like a really bad dog owner (and certainly a useless dog trainer) after yesterday's walk.
So this morning, when I went out, I was super careful, looked around me all the time, called the dogs back before going around corners just to make sure that nothing like yesterday could happen. When we were on the straight path from the field towards the pond, everything was clear and I let Dylan and Flash go. I then had to pick up a poo that Dylan did... and when I looked up, I saw the little dog from yesterday again, and so did Dylan and Flash. They took off at top speed (something they never do with other dogs, only foxes or rabbits etc.), realised shortly before they got to the dog that it was a dog and not a fox, but by that time, the little dog had started to run again - and of course that kept Dylan and Flash going.
Yet again, I appologised to the owner who was of course not amused at all (though didn't say anything other than "It's all right"...).
I then continued on my walk, called Dylan and Flash back on the path that joined the main path again and led them out on lead! Luckily so... as there was that little dog again. Jesse went after him to say hello, but of course the little dog was running again not knowing what Jesse was going to do (and Jesse genuinely only wanted to say hello, he doesn't chase dogs). But Dylan and Flash didn't bat an eyelid and the little dog went past ok. At the same time, the doby Monzi was also approaching and luckily, Dylan and Flash still on lead and Jesse with me!
So that second part of the walk was ok. But I now will have to be so much more careful in the mornings knowing that this little dog is about and will have to get Dylan and Flash back on lead a lot more often than before! I will of course also start working on the recall a bit more again! It isn't acceptable for them to take off after a dog like that! But... roll on, winter... when there is no-one else in the park other than a handful of people/dogs that I know!
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