Aroura Posted August 11, 2003 Posted August 11, 2003 This is crazy. I've got this bag that was given to me by my Uncle, its old and leather and for the first time the other day, the dogs saw it. Donna saw it first when Lily and Donna were on my bed, as was the bag. I picked up the bag to move it and Donna just went crazy!!! She was barking and carrying on so much that she woke Lily up. Lily saw it and just went off her tree!!! So there I was, in my room with a bag in my hands with two dogs going mental, growling, barking, tail between their legs. So I brought the bag out to the loungroom where Puddles saw it and quick as a flash was under the chair, barking and quivering. Long story short, with cheese and coaxing I got Puddles and Donna to explore the bag and now it doesn't bother them... but Lily!!! No way, all she would do for the next hour despite all the coaxing in the world was sit under the table with this low menacing growl, her hackles up and her tail between her legs until I brought her back in my room and closed the door. That happend the other day and since then I've spent hours trying to convince her it isn't going to hurt her but the look in her eyes and that hound from hell bark she does every time she see's in is just un explainable. I would just put the bag away and leave it at that but I know that fear of that sort is unhealthy for a dog and I just want her to know its ok. She saw it through the window about two hours ago, and despite taking it out of her view she is still sitting outside with a low growl. How can I show her that it isn't going to hurt her? I've never seen anything like the way she is right now, its almost scary... :scared: Quote
Malamum Posted August 11, 2003 Posted August 11, 2003 Weird.... the only thing I can't think of is that it may have some sort of funny smell that the dogs can pick up but you can't. Quote
Aroura Posted August 11, 2003 Author Posted August 11, 2003 Thats what I was thinking. Its just so weird!!! Lily isn't scared of anything, but this bag!!! It didn't phase Tessa and I could even get shy little Puddles to get over it. Maybe its Lilys protective instincts coming through, being a guard dog breed, maybe it makes her more determined when she does find something she doesn't like?? :watpliwy: Quote
courtnek Posted August 11, 2003 Posted August 11, 2003 Aurora, the dogs smell something on it you cant detect. I dont know what it is, but it tells them "STAY AWAY!! BE AFRAID!!" what was it used for? did he hunt? something about it frightens them...I would suggest just keeping it away from them..... and finding out what the story behind it is.... Quote
Aroura Posted August 11, 2003 Author Posted August 11, 2003 I think it was his school bag, though I've heard storys of them hunting rabbits and foxes, maybe they did it after school? LOL, its kinda freakin me out! I think I'll put it away whenever Lilys around, the other dogs aren't phased by it anymore though :-? Quote
Guest Anonymous Posted August 11, 2003 Posted August 11, 2003 That is so freaky!! I had an eraser that was like all good, for my sketching, and Hazel would just FREAK as soon as it was around. I have to admit, I even thought it smelled funny, but she would just want to eat it!! There was no stopping her, I always had to put her in a diff room when I used it!!! :o And I'd have to hide it in my room where she couldn't get it! That's weird how dogs are like that... I would suggest just keeping it away from her too... Quote
Peng1zrule Posted August 11, 2003 Posted August 11, 2003 I think it's the leather...if you've got a fur coat or a very realistic looking plush animal (the eerily realistic ones are made out of -gag- actual cat and dog fur) animals will react differently to it. I do beleive they just then realized you had a bag made out of an animal in your hands, and it freaked them out. Quote
courtnek Posted August 12, 2003 Posted August 12, 2003 I talked to some hunting friends of mine - they said they have seen dogs react this way when there was the smell of human blood on the bag, like a hunting accident of some sort. Maybe he cut himself and bled on the bag, may have wiped it off but the smell doesnt go away completely. If you want to try it, they suggested having it professionally cleaned by a leather restoration place. And then see how they react.... Quote
Aroura Posted August 12, 2003 Author Posted August 12, 2003 Thats interesting Courtneck, I don't think I'll pay to get it cleaned though, its real 60's and kinda, uh, unique? so I'm not sure if I'll really ever wear it, or at least not enough to worry about paying to clean it. Peng1z, I've seen those "toys" in those discount shops here, I'd never get one!!!! That is the sickest idea, the worst thing is alot of the people who make this type of thing actually catch and kill peoples beloved family pets, so they can make it look like the same thing, only deader and sell it for a couple of bucks. I know what you mean about the rubber hazel, I have the same thing with my rattie, if he smell something he wants he will go to any length to get it! Its funny because he's so small, yet so persistant... :lol: Despite everything, its kinda cool having a "mysterie" bag in the house! :lol: :wink: Quote
gooeydog Posted August 12, 2003 Posted August 12, 2003 If you want to keep the bag around and not have her freak everytime she sees it, you can slowly desensitize her to it, the same as you would with a dog that was afraid of a broom, vacuum, or a certain room of the house. Start with it far away from the feeding area, and just pretend it's not even there (if you expect her to react, she's that much more likely to do so). When you feed her, feed her as close to it as you can without her carrying on and not eating. The next morning, move the bag closer to the feeding area (you may not want her to watch this :wink: ), and again, ignore it. Feed her in the same place as you did the night before, but the bag will be closer since you moved it already. Next day, same routine. Keep doing this until you have the bag hanging/laying right beside the bowl and her eating out of it. If at any point, she refuses to go to the food bowl because of the bag, you can either ignore her reaction (if she gets hungry enough, she'll brave it and eat) or get her out of the room, move the bag further back, wait a while (1/2 hr or so), then let her back in. You don't want to just move the bag while she's standing there, or she might get it into her head that if she throws down a little defensive show, you make the scary thing go away. If she does hesitate for a while before going to eat, don't move the bag the next day, wait until she's comfortable with it at that distance before moving it again. You can also leave tasty treats on the bag to entice her to check it out (it might take her days if she's afraid enough, though). All that obedience work you've been doing with her could be a big help, too. Put the bag out in the middle of the yard, bring her out on leash. Start at a distance, working through various commands, and move closer as she becomes comfortable with the bag at whatever distance it is from her. Try to keep her focused on you so she doesn't have a chance to act out. Don't work her to the point where she's frustrated or tired of doing it. Keep it fun, maybe only 15-20 minute sessions, 2 or 3 times a day. It's probably a lot easier to just keep the bag where Lily can't see it, but if you decide you want to work through her fear, it could most likely be done with time and patience :wink: Quote
Rowie-the-Pooh Posted August 12, 2003 Posted August 12, 2003 That is really eerie. :-? I think there might have been blood (like Courtnek said) on it... and the dogs could smell it and it frightened them... I have never heard of somthing so weird...!! :-? Quote
Aroura Posted August 12, 2003 Author Posted August 12, 2003 Thanks Goo, some very good suggestions there :) I havn't been feeding her near the bag, as the dogs all get chained up in the yard at meal times to eat their bones, but what I have been doing is just having the bag in the room, distracting her attention from it and if she does see it, she sees it. It doesn't go away and it doesn't hurt her either, she's free to either approach it or leave it and go to my bed and sleep. Its always in a different spot and I havn't been trying to get her to approach it with treats since the first time she saw it and freaked out so badly but I think she's getting used to its presence now. It seems so silly trying to desensitise a big buff boxer from a little brown bag! :lol: She did go and sniff it last night, after running in and it was in the loungroom between the chairs. Thats a good start. She is progressing and honestly, I would rather her to get used to it than put it away, its one of those fears she should be able to get over and I want her to know that she is safe and the bag wont hurt her. As they say here in aus, "she'll be right mate!" :lol: :drinking: Quote
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