courtnek Posted February 17, 2004 Posted February 17, 2004 Laurel, the shy, timid, scared-of-her-own-shadow dog went ballistic tonight. She was running back and forth between the back door and the living room, never making a sound but not settled like usual. I let her out three times, she came back in and still paced and ran...She even ran right up to my son (who scares her) and nudged and griped and GRABBED HIS FOOT!!! She has NEVER done anything like this...he yelled at her for it, and she didnt budge..also very unusual...she didnt bite, but did put her teeth on his foot and PULLED!!! Like "Get UP!!" He yelled again, she came to me and whined and paced...I put her on her leash and took her outside..this whole time Freebee was antsy and pacing, but not making any noise...not growling or showing any fear, just nervous, also not like her... I walked Laurel around the whole property, found that the garage door was open and closed and locked it. Nothing appears to be missing. I know their noses are better than most other dogs, but in a closed house with no windows open? Could she have smelled something through that? (she's a Foxhound by the way, for anyone who didnt know) I am uneasy now...I dont know what caused her to react, Kyle may have left the garage door open, and it wouldnt be the first time...she is all settled in now and sleeping...her rounds around the house settled her...but WHAT set her off? and WHAT made her approach my son and NOT be afraid? I am SOOO not good with a fearful dog.... Quote
imported_Kat Posted February 17, 2004 Posted February 17, 2004 Trust her instincts Court. Dogs are so much sharper than us humans are. It could be maybe that there was an intruder or maybe just an animal, but you have a good dog that will alert you to anything and that is reassuring in itself. Quote
mouseatthebusstop Posted February 17, 2004 Posted February 17, 2004 Their hearing is much better than ours. Laurel could have heard something Quote
Guest Anonymous Posted February 17, 2004 Posted February 17, 2004 A few times my dogs have been set off in a similar way. I have no idea what they either see, hear or smell. But sometimes for no reason at all, they are suddenly on alert. Ears perked up, pacing and an occasional bark. Makes me uneasy also because I can't figure out what set them off. I do exactly what you did which is to take them on the rounds of the house and yard and they usually calm down. I've learned to trust my dogs instincts. They're much better than mine! :) Quote
courtnek Posted February 18, 2004 Author Posted February 18, 2004 The more I think about this, the more I think she was reacting to something heard/smelled/seen, and she responded with pack instinct. She was raised as a field trial dog, she had little human contact and is used to being around dogs, who respond the same way. I think she was trying to get my son off his duff and up to see what was going on...trying to protect her Alpha, which is me...of course, he did not get up, so she came back to me...I think she was guarding me, she does it all the time even in little circumstances (like when my sons friends come around, she's fine if I'm not there but goes into Bay-mode when I am). I think she sees him as another pack member, but one who should protect the Alpha...she is not a people orientated dog at all...getting there, and better, but it's taking a long time to undo six years of field trialing... Besides, I think he should protect his Alpha as well!! :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: Quote
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