Just lost ten years off my life

Took Romeo to the cricket field for a run and to play fetch. (Well his version of fetch that requires at least three balls ) The cricket field is the only field light enough to visit after dark as its right by a very busy road and illuminated with street lamps.
I saw something walking across the field and my very first thought was that it was another dog and I was look 'oh good he can play with them.'
Then a millisecond later I realised it was a FOX. I've mentioned this before but Romeo goes completely mental over foxes, the red mist comes down and its near impossible to stop him. Romeo spotted the fox in exactly the same split second as I did and went after it.
Right towards the busy A road.
I ran after him screaming NO STOP LEAVE ROMEO hysterically. He paused, looked round, saw me running towards him and deciding I was joining in (!) carried on running. I screamed even louder (my voice is still hoarse) and managed to get my voice under control to a lower pitch and he finally stopped and I caught his attention.
He came back to me and I was so irate and upset that I'm ashamed to say I smacked him hard on the bum, worse thing I could have done as this will make him reluctant to recall, then I felt horribly guilty and started crying and hugging him.
The whole thing was literally like four seconds long but two more bounds and he would have ended up running straight into the main road. The field is fenced but there are lots of gaps through the hedge.
The only time I've felt that hysterical is when a Labrador attacked him and I couldn't get it off. I think I just aged ten years. That is the most terrifying thing that's ever happened to me with him, what's worse was the feeling of powerless, of seeing an awful situation unfold and being able to do nothing about it.

hope you're Alright babe! So scary when things like that happen. The important thing is your both okay x

im glad your both ok! what a frightful thing to happen! dont beat yourself up about smacking his bum, you were obvisoly in a bit of shock and im sure he wont hold it against you xxx

How terrifying!! I am so happy to hear that it was all ok!! I don't fault you even a little bit for smacking him. Sometimes we know things, but in a panic, we don't think.

OK, deep breaths, close your eyes & breeeeethe!

No, you shouldn't have smacked him & he might remember it for a couple of days, but he'll get past it soon enough. What a fright! Glad he did listen to you (well done with the training!) & didn't go straight into the road!

Phew!

OMG how frightening!! Don't be too hard on yourself, think we would of all done the same in that situation. Glad you are both ok

I have a very sore throat today. The people in the pub opposite must have thought someone was being murdered.
Still surprised he listened, he goes completely deaf when he sees a fox, I think he was a foxhound in a former life.

Glad you'r both O.K.

What a scare you had, As Caryll says, although you should have praised him for the recall, he will get over it. Dont beat yourself up it is hard to react in the correct manner when you are blind with fear. Its kinda like when the kids have a close call with something dangerous and we give them a whack for putting us through a heart stopping moment. Anyone who says they have never experienced this reaction may be fibbing a little

Glad you're both ok, I think most of us have done that at some point, just sheer terror takes over!

so glad you got him to stop! if you are worried about his recall takes some treats out with you and practice his recall

willowthewisp wrote:so glad you got him to stop! if you are worried about his recall takes some treats out with you and practice his recall

trouble is he might ignore treats when out like my two do.

But well done for the recall training glad he's ok

what i do when out is when they are actually heading towards me recall them then give a treat so this re-enforces the recall and i always give a treat when ive called them back to put lead on! i do this often when out it s just also keeping up with recall training

so glad you got him to stop! if you are worried about his recall takes some treats out with you and practice his recall

He's very good at recalling. I did that a lot when he was younger. I never a problem with his recall EXPECT when he sees a fox - he just goes mental like the incredible hulk, even if he's on lead he'll get all hyper and start pulling. He smashed a hole through our garden fence to get to one.
I recognised the fox as well, I've seen it before.Its a really fluffy male that looks like an oversized pomeranian.

willowthewisp wrote:what i do when out is when they are actually heading towards me recall them then give a treat so this re-enforces the recall and i always give a treat when ive called them back to put lead on! i do this often when out it s just also keeping up with recall training

what i mean is me two point blank refuse to eat treats if out of the house no matter what i offer them for

Millie did that yesterday-not over a fox! I dont know what for but a car was coming and she came back straight away. Millie has done this before and I have done this once before and I felt so terrible afterwards but Millie soon forgot. Glad he is okay! Its so frightening!