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The doghouse

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Original poster

What does my dog want me to do when he barks up a tree at a squirrel?

57 replies

MNSEN · 21/07/2021 20:08

Just that really. I'm very curious as to whether he is saying 'Get down here you tiny lunchable, I want to bathe in your blood' or 'Alert! Alert! I have found our pack a rich feast!' Is he talking to me or the squirrel?

He's a 10mo GR if that helps. Squirrel obsessed. Obviously what I actually do is get him to leave it and come with me on our nice walk and let everyone enjoy the peace and quiet - not least the squirrel - but I am just trying to understand where he is coming from IYSWIM?

OP posts:
SunSeaSurfGin · 21/07/2021 23:41

I have no idea what sundog thinks about about squirrels. Not sure if it's small fluffy play thing or food.

I know it sounds cruel for the squirrel but I kinda want ddog to catch one! Because I think she'll be like wtf get this fluff out of my mouth but I'm not 100% sure

DramaAlpaca · 21/07/2021 23:45

I have a springer. He's never actually met a squirrel, but if he did he'd be barking up the tree out of sheer frustration because he'd want it to come down so he could chase it.

Westchesterarms · 21/07/2021 23:58

Mine is saying, “Come down out of the tree, sweet squirrel, where you and I can rub gentle noses and form a beautiful friendship. 😋 ”
Meanwhile the squirrel which by now has shimmied down the back of the tree, is prancing around being my DDog, saying to his mates, “Yeah, he's cute but stupid.”

Maggiesfarm · 22/07/2021 01:30

He thinks you can influence the squirrel to come down from the tree. Just tell him you can't, he'll get the message.

Sparklfairy · 22/07/2021 04:34

Mine would have said "come down, I promise I won't hurt you, I just wanna see if you squeak like my ball at home does" sneaky fucker.

I had a tibetan terrier, and they're fucking fast. I had too many occasions having a nice wander through the woods and suddenly he'd be bolting to the end of his flexi lead nearly ripping my shoulder out of the socket.

Goawaymuppet · 22/07/2021 05:20

If you truly loved him you would climb up the tree and get the squirrel for him.

notthemum · 22/07/2021 06:04

Unfortunately no ddog at present, but I am loving this thread.
Thanks. 🐶🐕🐩🐿 💐💐 😂🤣

rantymcrantface66 · 22/07/2021 06:15

Mine is saying 'run some more little squirrel so I can chase you'. I know from the same reaction to a cat that stands it's ground and the odd startled rabbit or overly brave or distracted pigeon that her prey drive starts and ends with the chase.

rantymcrantface66 · 22/07/2021 06:18

She's a Jack Russell btw. I do think a terrier would be saying different things to a retriever and a lurcher/greyhound something different again

ApolloandDaphne · 22/07/2021 06:26

My Labrador sees so many squirrels she has stopped caring about them. Same with rabbits, pheasants and deer. A fox is a different matter however. She has a special bark just for foxes. I think it says 'you smell so good I must chase you right now even though I have dodgy knees and you will out run me'.

Kayjay2018 · 22/07/2021 06:31

@MNSEN squirrels must think my Doberman is on drugs or something, as she spots a squirrel up a tree and gets so excited she has zoonoses and runs in the opposite direction as if she can't hold the excitement in 🤣

FlyingFlamingo · 22/07/2021 06:58

Not a dog but my cat has a toy squirrel that she likes to present to me in the middle of the night with a large meow, I think she is saying ‘look what I have caught for you! Praise my hunting skills and bravery for I am a master hunter!’
I don’t, I ignore her and go back to sleep Grin

Maggiesgirl · 22/07/2021 07:04

I want to know why my DDog stands looking at me in disgust when I open the door for her to go out and its pouring. I have tried to tell her I cannot turn the rain off. I dont have a switch. Instead, she glares at me and goes and sits with her back to me, occasionally glaring over her shoulder at me, just to remind me I didn't turn it off.

God I have known toddlers that don't sulk with as much drama as a staffy.

GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman · 22/07/2021 09:00

I know for a fact that mine stand at the bottom of the tree shouting 'Die, you cheating scum, die!'

Chemenger · 22/07/2021 09:08

My DD used to walk the laziest Samoyed in the world (most of the time it was more like dragging the laziest Samoyed in the world). The only thing that got him moving was squirrels. There are a lot of squirrels in Boston where we lived at the time. He didn’t bother barking at them that much (too much effort) but one day he barked at a baby squirrel as it climbed a tree and it actually did fall off and he caught it in midair Sad so I think that’s why dogs bark at squirrels. Because they know that it once did work for one of them somewhere. I’ve no idea why he always barked at cars when we waited to cross the road though.

MaryLennoxsScowl · 22/07/2021 09:09

Mine is in the I WANT IT! MAKE IT COME DOWN! category. He gets so excited he bites the tree. He also remembers every tree that once held a squirrel and runs up to stare intently into the branches every time we pass them.

Reallybadidea · 22/07/2021 09:18

I love this thread! We don't have many squirrels around here, but my territorial terrier spends 90% of his time guarding the garden from wood pigeons that have the temerity to sit on the fence. He's very definitely saying "get orf moi laaand"

Original poster
MNSEN · 22/07/2021 12:57

@MaryLennoxsScowl

Mine is in the I WANT IT! MAKE IT COME DOWN! category. He gets so excited he bites the tree. He also remembers every tree that once held a squirrel and runs up to stare intently into the branches every time we pass them.
Yes mine does this. It's clear he feels we are on Squirrel Patrol every morning and evening.

I'd just like it if he would explain my role more fully Confused

OP posts:
YanTanTethera123 · 22/07/2021 13:21

@Hoppinggreen

I have a Goldie Yours is saying “get down here so I can show you who’s boss” While thinking “ please don’t come near me or I will have to hide behind my Mum”
This ^^ for sure! YanTanpup is all mouth and no trousers bless her! She does, however, use the same bark to get us to retrieve her ball from under the sofa/armchair/fresher etc so possibly she’s expecting me or DH to collect the squirrel for her! 🙄😆
Spudlet · 22/07/2021 13:28

Dear old Spuddog didn’t bark at squirrels, but he chased one up a tree once, and got stuck. There is an excellent picture of my DH and DStepdad trying to lift the daft bugger down. Both over 6 feet tall (DStepdad is 6’7!) and they could only just get him… Grin

GertrudeKerfuffle · 22/07/2021 13:37

@MNSEN "tiny lunchable" GrinGrinGrin

With my dearly departed whippet, I'm sure the barking was the age-old howl of the frustrated hunter, probably made up of the worst kind of swearing. He did once catch a squirrel Blush and got upset that it was dead and he could no longer chase it. It wouldn't have been so bad if he'd actually eaten it, but why would he do that when he had me make his tea for him Confused

The new whippet is only four months old and doesn't get it yet. It's only a matter of time before he's got his long snout pointed up the trees and starts rolling round in fox shit for laughs.

GertrudeKerfuffle · 22/07/2021 13:38

@Spudlet

Dear old Spuddog didn’t bark at squirrels, but he chased one up a tree once, and got stuck. There is an excellent picture of my DH and DStepdad trying to lift the daft bugger down. Both over 6 feet tall (DStepdad is 6’7!) and they could only just get him… Grin
I'd love to see that picture GrinGrin
Spudlet · 22/07/2021 13:42

So would I - I don’t know where it ended up, sadly! I might just have another hunt for it. It sums up Spuddog’s attitude to life very well - go for it hard, the humans will pick up the pieces…

Spudlet · 22/07/2021 13:46

Aha!

Herecomesspring1 · 22/07/2021 13:49

@OhDear2200 hahahah! [GRIN]