Tommy's let me down!

I was out walking with Tommy this evening when Tommy showed his ugly side!
Tommy has always played brilliantly with all dogs. Admittedly they're always bigger than him. He's never even so much as growled at another dog. However I always put him on the lead when I see dogs that he's not familiar with. I've done this mainly to protect him from them as he's only 6 months old. But when the owners say that their dog is ok I let Tommy off and a good run and play generally ensues.
Anyway a fella approached us with a pug and I put Tommy on the lead, he asked if tommy was ok and I replied that he was great. We both let the dogs off their leads and they run over to each other for a quick sniff. Without warning Tommy was on it, the poor little thing. I managed to get him off before any harm was done but I was absolutely mortified. I'm gutted and wondering if I can trust him now with other dogs.
What would you all do? I'd hate to not let him run with his doggy mates but I need to be responsible.

Did he really attack it, or did he just pin it down?

Staffs do play rough. Try not to let it upset you Xx

The reason I ask is that if the pug eyeballed him, he may have decided to teach it a lesson - simple dominance.

Sounds maybe like he was just trying to be dominant or maybe a bit over excited play. Don't let it annoy you, if they were fighting you would know, it isn't pretty.

Keep socialising as much as possible and try not to be nervous or aprehensive because it'll rub off on Tommy.

Sounds like he was being a bit dominant or was playing too rough. If he's used to playing with big dogs, maybe he didn't realise he can't play the same with small ones. I wouldn't be too worried, just keep an eye on him and if he's getting too over-the-top, particularly with small dogs, move him away to calm down for a moment.

Agree with what has already been said. Just keep socializing and he should be fine

Agree totally with what has already been said Steff started doing this at around 7 months, just keep initial intros on lead as it is always within the first few minutes of an intro that she will growl and pin them down if she doesn't like the looks of the other dog It sounds horrific like she is really attacking it but it's all a show, no teeth have ever made contact even though she shows them. Keep him onlead until they have a sniff etc.. And don't panic about it, Steff still plays great with all her doggy friends there are just a few dogs that she "needs" to put in their place and remind them of who is the boss every now and then

Cheers folks.
It was definitely more than play. When he plays he gives a paw on the shoulder, friendly nip at the ear and then turns to be chased. This was more of a teeth out, head shake, growling, full on, enough to upset me, show of aggression.

Bloomooner wrote:Cheers folks.
It was definitely more than play. When he plays he gives a paw on the shoulder, friendly nip at the ear and then turns to be chased. This was more of a teeth out, head shake, growling, full on, enough to upset me, show of aggression.

Sounds exactly what Steff does It sounds and looks horrific and it is not play.. It is just a telling off though Perhaps that dog didn't smell quite right or maybe looked at Tommy the wrong way. After all they are not going to like every dog they meet and as they grow they establish their dominance within a group, I think it is normal and some of the dogs Steff tells off she will then happily play with afterwards as long as the dog knows who boss and submits to her Steff can be a real diva sometimes

Have the same issue with Bacchus if another dog shows submissive behaviour. He pounces on them snarling and it sounds alarming but he doesn't actually bite. We use a huge off-lead area where we know most of the dogs but I put him on the lead if I see a strange dog just in case.

Don't be too hard on your self or tommy, it sounds like he just pinned the dog who perhaps was submissive, hes showing his dominance.

This is what worries me incase Zeke does it. I really want Zeke to be friendly. What age do they start doing that?

Robyn2202 wrote:This is what worries me incase Zeke does it. I really want Zeke to be friendly. What age do they start doing that?

Steff started around 6 or 7 months showing her dominant side.. She is really friendly with most dogs but if they give her the wrong signal she will growl and pin.. She has never bitten another dog though it is more a little power struggle.. Some she wins some she loses