Poor Spacely just had a bad fright at the bus stop
For those not in the know, he has been with us about a month and we have no idea of his history. He lives with our 43 lb dog fine, they just ignore each other in the house but walk side by side easily when we go out walking, share the backyard and will sit side by side while I cook or load dishes.
We walk the kids to the bus stop and back each day, there are 2-4 other dogs of various sizes also at the bus stop. All the dogs at the bus stop are fairly well mannered (except one dachshund who is a barker and no one really likes) and after showing initial interest the first day he came with us, the other dogs don't pay him any attention. Spacely will approach other dogs but it has to be on his terms...meaning they don't move or even look at him. This means Tinsel is the only dog he approaches since she has already met him and has no interest in smelling him.
Today, as we waited, the door across the street banged open and a small black shape came flying out, a woman in hot pursuit. In just a second, before I could scoop him up, a toy poodle is whizzing circles around Spacely, darting her head forward to smell him, making noises and wagging. For me, it was clear that she just was overly excited puppy, wanted to say hi but is totally socialized.
Spacely, I am sure, saw a 300 lb black monster snapping at him, intent on severe bodily harm. He is trying to get away, I am trying to hold on to my second dog (who is pretty well ignoring the poodle other than trying to get out of the way so her leash doesn't tangle with Spacely's) while shooing the poodle away and picking up Spacely, making sure he realizes it is ME about to touch him since he is so freaky at that point, it would not have surprised me to have him nip.
I got the dog moved back, scooped him up and the owner got the poodle. Tinsel thought it was great fun but poor Spacely trembled in my arms and jumped about a foot in the air when I went to kiss him.
The owner apologized several times, assured me the dog was friendly but really, that was not my worry, my worry was Spacely was going to die of fright on the spot.
After the bus arrived, I carried him down about a house and then set him down to walk. His tail was up in the happy position but I did notice he was jumping at things that he normally ignores (leaves crunching, Tinsel whining at a squirrel, a kid yelling...that kind of thing)
It seriously has to be scary to be a Chihuahua in a non-Chihuahua sized world.
