Nik
Well-Known Member
Today was a work from home today and during one of our outside potty/play breaks Kahlua discovered a small blue jay feather in the backyard. She would approach cautiously and gingerly but always stop a foot away and jump back quickly like she was afraid it would attack at any moment.
I came up behind her to check it out and she was so intent on the feather that she didn't notice me. When I put my hand on her back to pet her she leapt straight up into the air several feet clearly startled and more frightened.
I tried to tell her safe and get her to sniff it (the feather) but she was having none of it. So I picked the feather to show that it wasn't a danger and held it out to her. She leapt backwards and landed partially on one of her toys which resulted in leaping straight up into the air again.
So I changed strategies and showed the feather to Diesel. Diesel's lip immediately pulled back into a snarl and he showed his teeth to the feather. When the feather didn't respond how he wanted Diesel started angry barking at the feather and lunging at it, teeth bared and snapping. Kahlua hung further back watching this and decided that baring her teeth at the feather was a great idea so she too started baring her teeth at the feather but leaping backwards whenever she felt it was too close.
Eventually I gave up on showing them that the feather was not scary or a threat and I hid it.
Crazy crazy dogs of mine. They are quite happy to be back inside now and far from the scary scary feather.
I came up behind her to check it out and she was so intent on the feather that she didn't notice me. When I put my hand on her back to pet her she leapt straight up into the air several feet clearly startled and more frightened.
I tried to tell her safe and get her to sniff it (the feather) but she was having none of it. So I picked the feather to show that it wasn't a danger and held it out to her. She leapt backwards and landed partially on one of her toys which resulted in leaping straight up into the air again.
So I changed strategies and showed the feather to Diesel. Diesel's lip immediately pulled back into a snarl and he showed his teeth to the feather. When the feather didn't respond how he wanted Diesel started angry barking at the feather and lunging at it, teeth bared and snapping. Kahlua hung further back watching this and decided that baring her teeth at the feather was a great idea so she too started baring her teeth at the feather but leaping backwards whenever she felt it was too close.
Eventually I gave up on showing them that the feather was not scary or a threat and I hid it.
Crazy crazy dogs of mine. They are quite happy to be back inside now and far from the scary scary feather.