Lola lost it today :-(

I'm sorry I haven't been on here for a while but really need some advice. we have 2 staffies - lola 3.5 and chloe 3. we've had them both since they were 8 weeks old, and have never had any trouble. today, we were at their favourite lake and I was throwing the ball in and out of the water. an elderly man stopped to talk to us with a small terrier who was very friendly and quiet, just standing there at the water's edge with us all. lola then shot out of the water and tore into this little dog............. I was so shocked, I went to grab her collar and my husband grabbed her back legs and we pulled her off. the elderly man was soooooo lovely about it all and said no harm done, but I can't quite get over it. I think lola might have hurt it if we hadn't got her away. does anyone have any ideas what could have sparked this?

Has there been any changes lately either in your or the dogs lives, is lola due to go into season shortly? Has lola been like this with any other dogs?.

hi mia, thanks for replying. both lola and chloe are spayed, and no they have never, ever done anything like this. feeling so dismayed

Oh well could be a case of she took a dislike to the other dog may be a one off perhaps you could practice your recall again with lola then do on lead introductions with another dog owner .

thanks mia :-) husband is saying it's probably a one-off - I do hope so. he's had far more dog experience than me. poor little thing was only a small female wire-haired terrier though, hardly a threat

Hopefully a one off Jo, as someone said to me here a little while back sometimes even us humans take a dislike to someone we have never met before so this could be the same.

Sometimes you just can't fathom it

Were you or your husband petting the dog, or very close to it? I've seen dogs flip out suddenly because they don't like other dogs near their humans. Probably, like Ian says she just took a dislike to it.

Hey! Oh no what a horrible experience! It was Chloe that was dog aggressive right? Do you think she has picked up on her behaviour/seen anything with her recently?

could have been a number of things, may have even interpreted a stance by the other dog as being aggressive towards either of you. It happens unfortunately, my boy marley is great with 99.999% of dogs yet he hates this one dog in the park with a passion going nuts at it. poor thing looks terrified so nothing to do with aggression. I like to think I know what makes him tick but this stumps me

I would think it is simply a one off. There are times that body posture, the handler paying too much attention to another dog, or something else just sets them off. Suki is very well socialized but there are still a few dogs that she simply does not like and will go after if given a chance.

We always make sure to introduce her on lead to see how she reacts and avoid the dogs we know she does not like. She fine 99% of the time but it never hurts to be careful

Thanks everyone :-) Really appreciate your comments. Yes Rachel, you're right, it was Chloe that was the one that could be a tad grumpy, never Lola. Thinking back, hubby was stroking the little terrier while Lola was swimming back with the ball. Maybe she took exception to that.

could have maybe just been an excitement build up with the ball x

we went back today to the same place and just as we putting ours back into the car, the elderly man and his dog came toddling over, all happy. he said his doggie had a very slight scratch on his nose but 'nothing to worry about'. I think we were very lucky......... I think it was just one of those very wrong moments - ie lola swimming back with the ball and hubby petting another dog. they're just so very strong and very vocal when aggressive that it can really scare you, well it did me! thank you so much everyone, you're brilliant, so appreciate you taking the time to comment

So glad you met them again with a positive outcome.