The Terrifying Feather Threat

[Nik]

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.

 

[Nik]

So the bird that was responsible for the scary feather stopped by the yard this morning and the dogs couldn't care less about the bird. Apparently the bird is not a threat but his feathers are definitely a huge threat.

Weirdest thing ever.

 

[Jakesmum]

Funny the things they find terrifying. Mine nearly ran me straight into traffic one day because of grass clippings on the sidewalk.

 

[Nik]

Funny the things they find terrifying. Mine nearly ran me straight into traffic one day because of grass clippings on the sidewalk.

Grass clippings? I wonder what was scary about the grass clippings.

 

[Bailey's Mom]

Yep, I'd call them chickens, but then they get all powerful and assertive...it's a roll of the dice. But...feathers? Wow! I've had Bailey freak over a decorative topiary blue spruce that was about three feet tall. I've had the grand-puppy go all "eek, it's looking at me" over a statue of a deer. Bailey growled and got all protective over a stone angel. It's just that it's new and they have to add it to their dossier of things that don't matter. Next week Kahlua will be picking her teeth with that feather and going, "What is that crazy woman laughing about?"

 

[Nik]

Yep, I'd call them chickens, but then they get all powerful and assertive...it's a roll of the dice. But...feathers? Wow! I've had Bailey freak over a decorative topiary blue spruce that was about three feet tall. I've had the grand-puppy go all "eek, it's looking at me" over a statue of a deer. Bailey growled and got all protective over a stone angel. It's just that it's new and they have to add it to their dossier of things that don't matter. Next week Kahlua will be picking her teeth with that feather and going, "What is that crazy woman laughing about?"

The weird thing is both dogs felt the feather was a threat only Diesel was ready to attack it while kahlua wanted to stay far away from it.

Husband was curious if it was just that particular feather so showed them a peacock feather we had in a vase and they also reacted to the peacock feather like it was a super scary threat so it seems it is all feathers.

 

[Bailey's Mom]

Ghosts of chickens they've eaten? Fowl play?

 

[Smokeycat]

Jiggers was terrified of snowmen his first winter. He would freeze and not move. Once I could get him to move he would bark at it from the far side of me until we were about a house away. He was fine with them his second winter.

 

[Nik]

Ghosts of chickens they've eaten? Fowl play?

ROFL!

 

[Nik]

Jiggers was terrified of snowmen his first winter. He would freeze and not move. Once I could get him to move he would bark at it from the far side of me until we were about a house away. He was fine with them his second winter.

I kind of understand snowmen and statues... But, good to know they can overcome this feather fear. It is so silly!