Afraid of a Smell???

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

We  live in a suburban area that still serves as a home to many forms of wildlife. Tara has become familiar with the smell of the deer, skunks, raccoons, quail, rabbits, etc. that frequent our property. She has never shown any fear or concern with these animals.

Yesterday we were in our "lower lot" which is a bit of a wild area and she smelled something that absolutely terrified her!  She smelled it and tucked her tail and RAN like the wind!  When she got about 30 feet away she stopped and then crept back for another whiff. Then off she would go again! It reminded me of a child watching a horror movie...terrified but too mesmerized to leave! She kept repeating this cycle until I made her stop and took her inside the house. Then she just wanted to go back outside and be terrified again! WTD?

In the past, and it has been a few years now, we did have a cougar roaming the neighborhood that was snatching cats out of fenced backyards and killed a horse about 1/2 mile from my house. I certainly hope we are not going to repeat that experience...

I can't recall ever having a dog do this before. Do your doodles react this way to certain smells? What in the world could it be? Would it have to be some type of predator to cause this amount of fear? Any ideas?

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

I like blogaphobia. I think you need to go back to the area and crawl around on your hands and knees until you locate the source of the smell, or better yet, get your DH to do it. LOL

[Katie and Sophie]

The only thing that has gotten this type of a reaction from my girls is when we had a run in with a black bear that hangs out in the woods behind my parents golf course.  They smelled it right away, especially Soph's sister Jade (shes a Weimaraner from field lines, so maybe that has something to do with it) and then I heard/saw it in the distance.  We beat cheeks out of there!  But thats the only thing so far that has gotten them really wound up and protective of me.  

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

 Your girls are smart!  We have had black bears pass through the neighborhood at times too so it could be that but I hope not!!

I took my cat to the scary area today to see what type of reaction she would have to the smell. She gave it a thorough cat scan and was interested but not afraid at all. I saw her in the backyard last night about to kick rear on a raccoon about 3 times her size so...just sayin'...she either has no fear or no brains...so I'm not sure her opinion can be trusted.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Yes, this has happened to Fudge and Vern. Once, they accidentally entered the bathroom after my husband had just vacated the premises, and they backed out so quickly that they almost knocked each other down. LOL

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

LOL

[Janie, Jackson and Jilly]

lol - I figured it was just a matter of time!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

ROFLMAO

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

Let me see if the wind is blowing from the east...

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

Tell Tara that Vern is on the way. As long as it is not a man in a lawn chair passing gas, he is there for her protection :)

[Ricki and Tara (doodle)]

I told her that Vern is on the way but she is a little concerned because our neighbor has a lawn chair and does eat a lot of spicy foods.

[Laurie, Fudge, and Vern]

LOL

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

ROFL to this little exchange!