What happened today?

[Tumbler]

Took Toby, my seven month old Cocker Spaniel, out for his walk today, first part on the lead as normal, then off the leash on scrub land, he was walking happily, a little ahead, then a little behind responding to recall no problem, it was busier than he is used to, but he did well not bothering any children or cyclist, was good with other dogs, then suddenly he raced back to where we had come from, nose to the ground, across a road, he was too fast for me to catch, so I chose to stand still, I could see him in the distance, he got so far, stopped and turned around racing back, he did this twice, always going back on himself, after which I put him back on the lead.

What happened, and why? What do I do moving forward?

Edited by Tumbler on Saturday 24th March 19:36

[welshjohn]

He probably caught a wiff of a interesting scent.he's fine

[AdiT]

I'd guess he picked up a strong scent (fox or bh on heat) and his hunting/breedinbg instincts kicked in. Then his training brought him back but still with the instincts tugging at him, hense the return to the scent.

[anonymous-user]

My spaniel does this when shes on a scent! fox squirel, rabbit, pheseant etc

[saleen836]

He is at the 'teen' stage in his life and is starting to act out against you, had this with my labrador, took a few months to work through but thankfully everything worked out for the good.

(Or, I'm waffling and as others have said he picked up a scent)