Milo's first bad experience on a walk.

It was bound to happen sooner or later so we made it to nearly 7 months! Took Milo on his evening walk tonight and there were several dogs in the area so I kept him on his lead as his recall isn't 100% around other dogs.

Walking along and a cocker spaniel comes trotting over the owner following who starts asking some questions about Milo whilst the dogs have a sniff. All of a sudden her dog jumps on Milo snarling and barking, Milo tried to hide behind me but the dog jumped on his head making lots of noise and the owner pulled him off and apologised. No harm done it was just a lot of noise and the fact he grabbed Milo's head as if to mate I think it was a male thing? However Milo was a bit iffy afterwards towards the other dogs he met, tail between his legs and body lowered a bit, even with a dog he's played with before. I'm hoping if I take him out tomorrow and we see the Hungarian Vizsla bitch he usually has a good play with in the mornings he'll be back to normal

I know it was nothing really but it shook him up poor thing

I've been dreading something like this happening that's why I'm always so careful to have him on a lead if I see another dog in case he decides to play deaf I have him under control. But the other dog wasn't on his lead and the owner seemed happy for them to interact so I assumed the dog was friendly.

I hope he's back to his happy little self tomorrow

Oh dear-glad it wasn't worse than it was but poor Milo!

I would have gone a bit crabby if someone had let their off-lead dog approach my on-lead one as Cherry has issues about other dogs that she doesn't know and something like this happening can set her back quite a bit.

At least the other dog owner didn't blame you-that's what they usually do! Especially with yours being a Staffy. I get people saying stupid things like it's because Cherry is on a lead and if she was off-lead there wouldn't be a problem! (this from the owner of a black lab that has bitten 2 other dogs and knocked someone over but was still off-lead!).

I think it is like falling off a bike -you just have to pick yourself up and get on again metaphorically speaking. Make sure you try and meet some of Milo's usual canine chums and try not to be tense as it will travel down the lead so to speak, when you meet other dogs.

Poor Milo hopefully it'll all be forgotten tomorrow

From what I understand when there is one leashed dog, and one off leash, there can be issues like this. I have to keep Dexter leashed most of the time as his recall is not good enough yet. So I empathise

Don't know if this helps, but our trainer has told me to stand between Dexter and any approaching dog until I've asked the owner to confirm the dog is definitely friendly - even then, it's no guarantee. No doubt the owner of the dog who went for yours would swear happily that his fellow was 'definitely friendly'........!

i dont think you can guarantee how a dog will react to another my am bull x is very friendly wants to play but she also has her moments when shell decide she doesnt like a dog usually a leashed dog i hope milo is ok but id def get him socialising again while hes young i got my staffie at 1 and a half never been walked etc he was friendly to other dogs but attacked 3 times in as many months this has made him unprodictable with other dogs and he will try and get in first i hope you dont have any more bad experiences