My lad Snoop has been rested up since August with a neck injury so has not been out and about on walks for 3 months. I have been letting him decide how far he wants to go on our strolls. Since he has hit 9 years in February has calmed down considerably or so I thought!

I took him out as normal yesterday on his own [my son had taken our two 4 year old's out on his bike]. Snoop was very up for it, so went up to a favourite spot a field and let him off for 10 minutes to have a play about and he started charging for me- in his bully way all very happy and back on form. After started walking home and met a border collie off lead coming towards us, we were going downhill this dog coming up- this dog went into a prey sort of walk towards us- fixated stare, head low and Snoop was looking at him back so me wanting to defuse the stare of this dog said hello..he instantly stopped looking at Snoop like he was a sheep but as I said hello Snoop flew at this dog and lunged about 6 foot-[think it helped him being up hill] slammed right into this collie making it yelp- more in fear I think then in pain- but still very unlike him!
I dragged Snoop off him he had his heckles all raised and was growling- so I told him to pack it in and walked off rather embarressed by his sudden aggression.

I would like to know if this is due to him being out with only me and without the other 2 or the fact he's feeling better and this will be the beginning of having an untrustworthy dog all over again had major trouble with him when he was 4/5. My son takes him out and says that Snoop will greet dogs with a waggly tail- so how come he is like this with me what am I doing wrong!!

Hi magica,

I'm glad that Snoop's health seems to be improving :)

Re the behaviour -

> this dog went into a prey sort of walk towards us- fixated stare, head low

This type of approach by BCs and my own breed for that matter is not abnormal - it is a breed thing, ready to herd, round up and chase etc and can be misconstrued as a prelude to attack.  Did you perhaps anticipate that the collie would 'have a go' and in doing so send a signal to Snoop that you were tense/concerned/apprehensive etc?  It's easily done and we don't often know that we're doing it :)

IMO if this dog had wanted to scrap it wouldn't have been put off it's mission by you speaking to it.  Equally, had Snoop really wanted to do damage to this dog, it would have been injured - not just a yelp :)

It's great that you're trying to keep on top of things etc but maybe on this occasion you've been a little too aware of small things which has caused them to seem more significant than they are. 

On top of all of this Snoop will naturally have been on a high having been confined for so long and he was probably bursting with unspent energy and excitement so more reactive than he would be normally had his exercise and outings not been so limited for so long.

This of course is my take on things - you may feel differently and other posters too :)

regards Teri

I know exactly where you are coming from.  Kai can be funny with other dogs, he has only had a go at them when they have ran at him into his space, he was attacked at 8 months old by two collies whilst on his lead and I dont think that I have ever got over that.  We do agility and compete regularly and he never bats an eyelid about another dog and I trust him wholeheartedly yet get me out on a walk with the general public and its a different matter.  I think it is because other dogs that the GP have tend to be unpredictable and will run at you, get in your dogs face and have less manners than those that I meet at agility so hence when we are out on a walk I am always on my guard.