The first fight

Well, it was bound to happen...

Sunday morning we took Cimbi and Taira to the park. Taira rarely comes with us because she gets tired very quickly and her leg often hurts, she is afraid of other dogs and she does not enjoy walks so much.
We met a lady with 2 dogs, a beagle and a German Shepherd mix. The German Shepherd was very interested in Taira and wanted to smell her. As soon as he came too close to us, Cimbi growled, the dog backed away but then he returned again, Cimbi growled again - he warned the other dog not to come close to me and Taira.
We decided to change direction and leave the lady and her dogs but her dog followed us, she could not call him back. She said that her dog does not attack. We said, OK, Cimbi is also very peaceful, it never happenned before that he protected Taira (or me, as a matter of fact). This time however he kept warning the other dog to keep away. But the other dog did not listen and came to Taira... Cimbi then growled and showed his teeth - in the next second the 2 dogs were engaged in fight.It is hard to stay who started it. We managed to separate them quickly, because Cimbi is very obedient, no injury happenned. We quickly walked away. From this incident on, Cimbi walked in a different manner: he was less playful, les involved in smelling, he walked close to us watching into every direction, ready to protect.
Cimbi obviosuly changed during this week when we were away. He behaves like an adult dog, he is more obedient, he stays closer and is less interested in other dogs.
He will be 2 years old in September so it was time for him to become and adult dog. We have to be more careful during the walks and watch his reactions more closely.