don't laugh but do you think dogs can hallucinate?

[PrincessSnowLife]

He's an outdoor dog and lives in a kennel. He's a rescue from a farm and it's how he has always lived, just in case anyone thinks we are cruel . Part husky, part tornjak, about 3 yrs old. I've be going to check on him a lot this morning because he's been doing funny barks, as if he wants to get at something. He keeps bouncing around and barking at (seemingly) nothing in front of him. There's really nothing there, nothing on the ground (there's snow on the ground so it is easy to tell) and nothing/no-one around. It is quite odd. I'm quite sensible and I wouldn't start a thread like this unless I really thought it looked like my dog was seeing things.

Seriously, is it possible?

He may be barking at the snow itself? Or a smell? I don't know if they can hallucinate, sorry.

I suppose he could be barking at the snow, but it would be strange of him to suddenly do that. I've tried googling this type of behaviour but naturally there are way too many entries and nothing quite close enough to my question.

Very kind of you to answer though. I so know it was a random post!

Possibly more likely to be barking at a smell? Something that was there but moved? Something covered by the snow? Frog? Toad? Hedgehog?

Our dog often goes and pesters at a place in the garden where she once saw a frog about 7 months ago.

But they do dream, so maybe...

you're probably right

he's stopped now but I am keeping an eye on him

Is he bored? I read they act weird when they are very bored!

lol - don't we all?!
maybe that too, but he has plenty of space to roam and gets lots of exercise...

DOGS ARE STUPID.
HAR HAR HAR
CATS ARE GRATE
I AM THE GRATEST CAT IN THE WORLD
I GAVE YOUR DOG SOME CHRISTMAS BEER AND HE DRANK IT AND NOW HE CAN'T THINK STRAIGHT
HEHEHEHE

Yes dogs can hullucinate but usually only if on some medication.

IT WAS BEER I TELL YA

yup

just found the empty beer can

and cat prints in the snow

yu better cover up better in future, you freaky cat!

Perhaps he can hear a mole or something under the ground

Our husky always went mental when it snowed ... don't know where you are, but if snow is unusual, it could just be that.

surely they can hallucinate.. they have brains so i dont see why not

ah now, there is a mole around (which has really amazed me - if I was a mole there is no way I would be active at minus 5 degrees ). But then he is used moles around here. And used to snow. However, maybe not the combination of moles in snow . Oh dear.

how did your husky mental in snow, coolyule? the first winter we had this one he used to howl at night once the snow arrived, and used to dig a deep hole to sleep in! This year he isn't howling but has still dug the hole.

Good point santababy. Makes sense.

(go mental in the snow)
stupid keyboard

and just because I wrote that earlier... he is now howling his head off LOL

he must be just having an off day, bless him

Oh, he would get TOTALLY overexcitable - barking (not normally a barker at all), leaping about, running off - basically just saying 'look, LOOK - this is what I ordered - why can't you arrange this every flippin' day'