Your little head will come off in my hands

[lizblackdog]

You know, I've worked out what my trouble with Squish is. It's not that he's dumb - far from it. It's not that he's rebellious. It's not that he's batshit insane (he is, but that's not actually a problem). It's not even that he's easily distracted. It's just that his brain, when outdoors, reverts to its default mode of "will only accept input through nose".

The only training aid I really need with that dog is the ability to emit particular odours at will. If I could just master the art of smelling like a squirrel I'd never need to use his long line again.

(he's spent the morning leaping round the flat like a loony trying to catch a fly that came in. I've spent the morning trying to photograph it. I have five or six nice pictures of his tail and one of a blurred white thing that might be a dog.)

Comments

[peaceful-fox.livejournal.com]

I have five or six nice pictures of his tail and one of a blurred white thing that might be a dog.

Thank you for the laugh today. I needed it!

[cottonmanifesto.livejournal.com]

maggie is the EXACT same way. She's always on some kind of personal mission.

the dogs caught a rat trail the other night and they were both somehow under the impression that they could find the rat (nowhere in sight) - you should've seen maggie's tail, it was like up between her shoulderblades....BOINNNNNNNGGGGGG.

[wiccanrocka.livejournal.com]

Sahara is constantly in "will only accept input through nose" mode. Sometimes she won't find something that is right in front of her face until she hones in on it with her nose. I don't know that she was ever taught to use her eyes properly, lol.

[jeneration-why.livejournal.com]

It's just that his brain, when outdoors, reverts to its default mode of "will only accept input through nose".

I think it's a scent hound thing. Our beagles have the same problem. It's why they're never allowed outside a fenced area without being on leash and harness. When the nose goes down, the ears turn off, and no matter how obedient they want to be, it's simply beyond their capability to ignore instinct. Drives my dad mental; he's already sworn our family will never own another beagle again.

It's pretty obnoxious, sure. Will it keep me from owning another beagle, or another scent dog? I don't know. *smooches and hugs to Squishy*