https://www.dropbox.com/s/0ljh02195iflb4u/20141018_151132000_iOS.jpg?dl=0 I took this photo yesterday after Cupar was convinced that the scary log was not going to attack him. I have never seen him react like this before. He barked, he never barks, he growled and the hairs on his back were up. I had taken him to a park that he had never been to before. I was so aware of all the other distractions, like teenagers , dogs roaming free while owner was on the phone, I didn't check for scary objects just lying there. Poor boy was so scared it took him a few seconds before he realised treats were raining from the sky. He dived in and got treat and dived back a couple of times before it dawned on him that the scary thing had food all over it. I apologise for the really bad photos, I can't seem to take good ones using my phone?
Re: Cupar and The scary log For some reason I can't access the photos at the min Harley can get 'barky' when hubby brings new tools into the house, also when he gets the metal tape measure out ??? Don't know why! We have to put it on the floor for her to investigate before he can use anything ;D
Re: Cupar and The scary log [quote author=Naya link=topic=8367.msg118308#msg118308 date=1413746230] For some reason I can't access the photos at the min Harley can get 'barky' when hubby brings new tools into the house, also when he gets the metal tape measure out ??? Don't know why! We have to put it on the floor for her to investigate before he can use anything ;D [/quote] The tape measure! I can't help laughing, at least the log did look kind of creepy.
Re: Cupar and The scary log They are so funny, aren't they! When we took Somba down to the river this summer we went for a walk and he suddenly stopped dead, hackles up, and started to growl and bark. We were a little alarmed, he has never done this before and there are bears in the area so we wondered if he could smell something. Quickly realized he was growling and barking at the log lying near the path...It had been cut down by a beaver which I don't think he had ever smelled before so the whole thing was a bit alarming to him. Took him a minute or two before he would approach it. :
Re: Cupar and The scary log Can't see the picture on my phone, but it is funny how they get very wary of seemingly ordinary things! Mira also goes a bit funny when she hears the metal retractable tape measure ;D
Re: Cupar and The scary log Lilly found a small manhole cover painted YELLOW whilst she has been on holiday for a week. Very scary! Needed some hard stares and crouching and a little growl. Somehow that scared it into submission as she was fine when she next passed it. The worst for us was a bird scarer close to a field entrance we walked past. It wasn't making a noise at the time. It needed a good barking at and VERY hard stares indeed.
Re: Cupar and The scary log Our cardboard recycling box had a proper telling off the other day. Poor box, didn't do anything at all. Sadly it wasn't as prepared as the clever treat dispensing scary log and just sat there and got growled at.
Re: Cupar and The scary log A very scary log! Good job you had a big brave dog with you who knows what could have happened. We have very scary waste bin near us Lemmy has to make sure it gets the paddington bear stare and a pounce kapow. X
Re: Cupar and The scary log Cooper (7 months) froze at the sight of a scarecrow on a lamp post (for Halloween), barked at it and would not move past it until I went up to it, patted it, and had him sniff it and then, all was OK. Yes, they are funny! He has also barked at the TV if an animal shows up that he has never seen before. Guess "firsts" are scary for them!
Re: Cupar and The scary log It's a big scary world out there, better safe than sorry in their minds....
Re: Cupar and The scary log Mine were scared of a black poo bag left on the grass verge this morning, it looked a bit like a bird
Re: Cupar and The scary log It makes me wonder - all dogs seem to spook, and be wary of things from time to time. So I wonder whether a measure of a well socialised dog is not that they never, ever, find new things scary, but that they are able to be wary and then realise the thing is ok after all? Whereas a poorly socialised dog isn't able to realise the new thing is, after all, perfectly ok?
Re: Cupar and The scary log I think it is a genetic thing, they should be aware/scared of anything threatening, ie snake, alligator (which the log looked like) etc. A well socialised dog should recover quickly once they realise the scary thing is not going to kill them.
Re: Cupar and The scary log [quote author=JulieT link=topic=8367.msg118505#msg118505 date=1413815269] It makes me wonder - all dogs seem to spook, and be wary of things from time to time. So I wonder whether a measure of a well socialised dog is not that they never, ever, find new things scary, but that they are able to be wary and then realise the thing is ok after all? Whereas a poorly socialised dog isn't able to realise the new thing is, after all, perfectly ok? [/quote] Aha!! This is partly what our 'Wesenstest' (Character Test) was about at the weekend. It's not so important that a dog is never wary of a new thing (that would be foolish and possibly dangerous), but that they are able to take a look at whatever it is that has frightened them, and then possibly with the encouragement of their owner, be able to see that it is in fact only a funny-looking log or scarecrow or whatever. As you say Julie, a poorly-socialized dog, or one that is by nature excessively jumpy and nervous, would not be able to calm itself enough to trust its owner's judgement.
Re: Cupar and The scary log [quote author=Lisa link=topic=8367.msg118339#msg118339 date=1413749802] They are so funny, aren't they! When we took Somba down to the river this summer we went for a walk and he suddenly stopped dead, hackles up, and started to growl and bark. We were a little alarmed, he has never done this before and there are bears in the area so we wondered if he could smell something. Quickly realized he was growling and barking at the log lying near the path...It had been cut down by a beaver which I don't think he had ever smelled before so the whole thing was a bit alarming to him. Took him a minute or two before he would approach it. : [/quote] lisa a bear? Now that is scary. I think Somba had every reason to be wary. The most dangerous animal in Scotland is probably humans. All your comments are reassuring. I have had a dog that was scared from its own shadow, and we were determined never to have another dog so worried. It is unpleasant for both dog and owner. So Cupar was picked from a litter of pups with confident parents, reared in a house with children. A couple of the comments regarding socialisation are so right. I really believe that socialisation must continue throughout a dogs life. We live in a small village, so not much opportunity to meet lots of different people and things. So I make it a priority that he gets taken out of the village every other week. I like reading about other dogs that have found the weirdest things to be scared from. I can rest assured my dogs are normal after all.
