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So, I was outside with Asher this morning for his last potty break before I was off to work. He picked up a scent in the air that completely spooked him. I mean it has him scared. My question... What scent would scare him like that? I live in the burbs in Cleveland. His nose was way up in the air and he was taking some deep breaths and blowing them back out. Just can't figure out what it was? Ideas?
My boy is 10 months old now...
Fire. Squirrel. Cat. Bitch in season. Wild animal in yard the night before. Maybe something died under something. Pick one! :)
That's the thing... Squirrels are above in the tree all the time. Outside kitties sit under my car and he sees them. But you are probably right. Just odd since he have never exhibit that behavior before. He was a scared little boy.Quote:
Originally Posted by Labradorks
Coyote?Quote:
Originally Posted by SamsonsMom
Very possible. I live less than 2 miles from rocky river metro entrance. I just googled it and yikes, I had no idea they have been in border neighborhoods. Nothing recent though. Let's hope it wasn't that scent.
I had the weirdest situation pop up with Linus a few years ago.
There was a murder on the sidewalk on my walking route. Guy got off bus in the middle of the night, was then robbed and shot. Really sad and senseless and not something we see on a regular basis around here. I avoided that area for several weeks on my walks. One day, driving home from work, I noticed that it was back to normal. Flowers and balloons and stuff were all gone, so it had been two to three weeks. I decided I'd go back to our regular walks.
I had the two dogs, Sam and Linus. Linus was probably two. As I was walking by that spot, Linus spooked really hard. More like a horse, because he jumped sideways and was all riled up. I can't remember if his hackles were raised, but with the way he reacted, I would not be surprised. I had actually been distracted (probably by my phone) and it took me a second to realize that we were at the murder scene, so I am certain he did not react to me.
It was probably the smell of gunpowder, blood, cleaners or maybe he could smell the masses of people that had been around that spot somewhat recently. I don't know. He's a very aware dog, a thinker, and he notices stuff.
Another time last year there was an armed and dangerous guy on the run and the cops were all over the neighborhood on foot patrol. I went to bed and about 20 minutes later, Linus went from sleeping to barking aggressively and jumping the wall where the backyard is. Something he'd never done before and hasn't done since. I was semi-awake and didn't hear anything obvious (a knock, for example). Knowing about the guy on the run, I called the police and sure enough, the guy had been in the backyard of the neighbor's house on the other side of a 6 foot privacy fence about 50 feet from my bed. I don't know if Linus heard something (windows were closed, obviously) or smelled something or what. He could not have seen anything as the curtains were drawn and he was curled in a ball asleep on the bed.
Dogs are amazing!
Pretty amazing. Great story.Quote:
Originally Posted by Labradorks
Coyote...used to spook Hershey every time.
Sunnie wants to follow the scent. Danny is interested in whatever the coyotes are chasing....his interest stops at the dead deer...which scares him into wanting to go back in the direction from which we came. (specific episode years ago Dan being walked on the same path) Also....Sunnie is a winder, Dan has his nose to the ground. Sunnie's path of following is a straight line....Dan's zig-zags (and Dan's started farther along the walk than Sunnie's had....she picked it up long before Dan and I got to the place where the coyotes/deer crossed the paved path).
Got home tonight and took the boy out. 100% normal with no spooking him. It was just so out of the ordinary. They are pretty amazing and whatever he picked up on, he did not like it or thought it was coming after him!! I assured him I would always protect him.
Sometimes Thor really hones in on a scent and acts anxious/strange. Locals are convinced the dogs react to coyote females in heat - rumor is the packs will attract dogs with their females and then attack. Of course no actual evidence to back it up, but those are the rumors.
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This was a very interesting thread to read because the same thing has happened with our soon to be 10 month old pup. About a month ago, he went outside, go a good sniff of something, nose went up in the air and then he came to the back door and just stood there to be let in...even though my husband was outside with him. Once let inside, he went into a bathroom to hide for a little while. We also now that we have coyotes in our neck of the woods. Interesting....
Interesting. I had to coax him down from the door 3 times. I really needed him to go potty before I went to work. He half pee'd and ran back up to the door. I did bring him back off the steps and had him sit so I could try to talk to him. He wanted no part of it so we went in. Hasn't happened since.Quote:
Originally Posted by Murphy030813
Eck! Hate the thought of coyotes! When I started Googling found a neighboring burb had a handful of coyote attacks on dogs last year.Quote:
Originally Posted by MightyThor
Happened here just the other night. Let Archie out to potty after dinner and he would not get off the deck. DH caught the faint smell of a skunk, which we have tons of. I don't know if Archie was more concerned about the skunk or the resulting bath if he got too close, LOL.
Haha, very smart boy!! :-)Quote:
Originally Posted by POPTOP
I think Asher discovered the culprit. Two nights ago I took Asher out front for the last potty break before bed. He started acting timid again, nose up in the air. It was dark. He spotted the culprit before I did -- a very big buck!! Asher gave a big, deep bark and growl but then once in full sight, he just stood there and watched. The buck was literally just across the street, one house over, in the neighbor's front lawn enjoying the flowers. He walked across the street and under the street light and his rack was huge! He was huge. Asher's timidness changed once he got sight of what he was smelling. The buck made a sound too -- I wonder if he's calling his girlfriends. I think he was there last night too because I heard a couple sounds like he made the night before. Asher's nose was up last night but he wasn't showing any signs of being scared. I like this scenario much better than a coyote!!
These last two mornings, Sunnie's gotten all hackled up and rarin' to charge after something I haven't seen...but I'd seen a coyote off in the distance just a bit before so I figure there's one or a den near where she's gone off (same area) those two times.
Neither of mine do more than go "oh, it's a deer...ho hum" for does, fawns, or bucks. They just don't register.
Bunnies and squirrels generate interest but no pulling with Dan and only a little leaning away on the leash with Sunnie. Groundhogs and foxes get big interest but no serious negative tension.
That's all for walks off our property. In the yard, everything gets chased by both of them...and Dan is especially fond of chasing chippies.
Your buck could easily have been calling females....rutting season has just started. I'm seeing a lot of bucks in the park in the morning...I always make sure to look for does on the other side of the walkway (I don't want to be walking between them).