Doodle....Scream....Panic Attack!!

[Tina, Clover, Plus 5 More]

Some traits a dog passes on to another can be endearing and then there's some .......................

 

Living in the country in Iowa you can expect to see a snake or two, usually a bull or garter snake and we have more than I care too.  I am scared to death of snakes, but have gotten used to the fact we coexist here on the farm.  Some of you probably already know where this is going and for the rest I will explain.

Clover decided to bring me a gift, yes I said gift, not 1, not 2, but 3SNAKES, all at once.  I thought I was going to have a ....... heart attack. 

Now this is something I expect to happen with Apollo.  Apollo learned this from Weiner, which was taught how to do this by my sweet boy Woody.  Woody loved to hunt snakes and I blame this on myself.  When he was 6 months old, Woody caught one and being so proud of himself, decided to bring it to me.  The thing is he didn't just drop it at my feet.  Woody was doing the head shake, let go and it hit me right in the chest.  Of course I screamed because I thought I was DYING from heart failure.  So naturally Woody thought it was a good thing just look how excited mom is.  When Woody taught Weiner and Weiner taught Apollo, it wasn't enough for them to just show each other how to catch a snake.  They actually taught each other it was more fun to toss them at mom.  Over the years I have gotten very, very good at dodging them.

So yesterday when I saw Apollo coming at me being the first one of the year I knew.  Apollo throw it, I moved to the side, turned around and there was Clover.  Not realizing Clover was there, because I was to worried about Apollo, I was caught off gaurd.  When Clover let go, one hit me in the stomach, one on the leg and the other I don't know where it landed.  It took me more than 30 minutes to stop shaking.  I was so drenched in sweat or maybe I peed my pants.  No I didn't pee, but probably could have.

If Clover and Apollo are going to tag team me.  What am I going to do?  I know I need to lose a few pounds, but running from the dogs is not how I would like to get my exercise. 

Does your doodle or dog bring you things that make you scream?

 

[Jennifer Tramell]

Oh my!  Bringing snakes is bad enough but passing the tradition down from dog to dog?  And then tossing them to you?!?!  I don't know whether to laugh or cry!  I'm not afraid of snakes but if I were, I would be paranoid every time my dog came trotting in from a hunt.  Really something!!

 

Webster brought me a fresh deer head.  He was so proud of himself that he trotted up to the front door with it dangling.  I did not scream - I am not a screamer and I was in shock - but I did give a very sharp intake of breath and stumbled backwards several steps.  As I was regaining my composure, I pointed away from the house so Webster dropped on the front sidewalk, about 15 ft from the front porch where it remained until my husband came home.

[Tina, Clover, Plus 5 More]

Jennifer it's okay to laugh.  Snakes are the only time I scream.  When I was little my brothers would catch snakes and chase me.  If it was just one snake, deer head or other dead animal I be okay.  Clover has the need to carry more than one thing at a time, even with her toys.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

This story is my worst nightmare...well, no, the worst nightmare would be if they bought the snakes to you inside the house!

I truly hate snakes, and I'm very grateful that there don't seem to be any in my neighborhood. (Watch, now there will be one in my yard because I just said that.)

I don't know what I would do if I were in your shoes, Tina! I think I might never leave the house again, lol!  I've seen ads in dog magazines for some kind of electronic snake repellent devices, don't know if they work.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Are you really being serious about this? you have GOT to be kidding me that they taught Clover this. I would freak freak freak freak out.  Oh my dood. Worst nightmare, worst ever. 

I have no advice except get it on video somehow so I actually believe this!! :) :)

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Right, two big dogs are running at you with snakes in their mouths, about to throw them at you, and you think "I've got to get a video of this!"

ROFL!

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Maybe DH???  That's what I'm thinking!

[Tina, Clover, Plus 5 More]

ROFLAO!  That's exactly what I thought.  But instead gave Allyson an explanation on how it was possible.

[Tina, Clover, Plus 5 More]

Allyson I wish it was a joke.  Being scared of snakes and after the first incident with Woody.  I decided to train him with a command "Hunt em up" to kill them.  If I said that command Woody's nose with hit the ground and he would start zig zagging.  I never taught the other dogs the command it's just something Woody taught them.  The first couple caught each summer they get so excited and pround they find the need to bring them to me.  Throwing them is just like they do with a toy.  We have a rock quarry and river within 1/8 of a mile of our house.  Garter snakes hibernate in environments like rock quarries and it can be hundreds at a time.  The only reason I know this is one of my DH's cousins told me and I thought he was trying to scare me so I looked it up.  So if Clover and Apollo found a hibernation spot, it doesn't surprise me that Clover would catch more than one.  Since she tries to carry more than one toy at a time.  As for her throwing them at me it probably just happened, but my reaction to it made it exciting for her.  What I thought was a good idea in 1995 with Woody has come back to haunt me, lol.   

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

Oh Tina, I can't even imagine it.  It's just too awful to even think about.  I am terrified of snakes!  My DS just loves that movie "Snakes On A Plane" and watches it all the time.  I have to run past his room when it's on, and he's never allowed to watch it on the other TVs in the house.  I'll probably have nightmares tonight, just reading this.  Getting hit with one snake would be horrific enough...but three!  OMD!  I'm so sorry, and I would definitely have peed my pants.

[Jennifer and Jack]

I would have to say that I most likely would have passed out. That is horrible, as much as I hate snakes, I don't know what to say or to to repel them, but holy crow. I feel for you.. My worst fear is alligators and unfortunately, I know I don't have to worry about Jack bringing me one of those because it would be the other way around.

 

If I was an inventor, I would invent something that repelled alligators and snakes that we humans and dogs could wear around our necks to keep them away!!!

[Yvonne N]

I probably would have peed my pants for sure.  I have seen/heard some owners do snake avoidance training.  Dogs should think all snakes are BAD and not to touch.  You don't want them to make the mistake of going after one that might hurt them.

[Adina P]

All I can say is AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!  I would react the SAME way.  Makes me shudder!