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guy · Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 6:55 pm Post subject: water boatmen

just took the puppy water retrieving and she was almost to the opposite bank ( seen on the bank) when she jinked and swam wild eyed back to me. Now either she had a fish swim into her legs (and there are some large ones in the pond we use) or it was the water boatmen on the surface. I sent her in to the water close to me but she came out smartish - all I could see were a few water boatmen skating about. I tried a short retrieve and that was OK - but the splash of the dummy had cleared the area of little critters.

Not seen this as a problem before - anyone else suffer that or similar?

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Guy; Ellie Topaz Catja. http://www.epagneulbreton.org.uk

munstyman · Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 8:47 pm Post subject:

Things that spook a dog Question

The list is endless, I think its proof that god must be a woman, she never wants us to fully understand anything Exclamation

peter

windem bang · Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 8:49 pm Post subject:

I've never seen that Guy - not to worry , the little critturs aren't active during the shooting season.

I think perhaps you are getting mixed up between water boatmen and pond skaters ? I think water boatmen are sub surface ?

Fish having a nibble is a possibility though unlikely. We did have dogs that became frightened for no good reason while swimming in a pond on our clubs training grounds. We suspected small perch.

Bill T.

guy · Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 9:17 pm Post subject:

skaters then - they were on the surface.
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Guy; Ellie Topaz Catja. http://www.epagneulbreton.org.uk

BritAnnie · Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 10:18 pm Post subject:

Is it not more likley she got spooked by something she couldn't see and therefore didn't understand? If there's a lot of fair sized fish in that pond that could be the answer. Hope you don't have a problem getting her back in
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Helen · Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2008 9:03 am Post subject:

Hope there aren't any pike in there? Surprised

lol. Seriously, as Peter said, lots of things can spook a dog.

Helen

guy · Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2008 9:18 am Post subject:

my first thought was - fish - there are some fair sized carp? in there; a good 18 inches long. But then when she was near me and saw the skaters she panicked. But that maybe what she saw after the fish brushed her legs.? Who knows - will go back today for another go.
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windem bang · Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2008 10:49 am Post subject:

Personally I think it very unlikely to be fish that scared her. My local pond has carp in it up to 18lbs. in weight and a lot of other fish too. I have yet to see any dog "attacked" by a fish.

I think you were correct the first time - pond skaters worried her for some reason. They do not bite or sting. They have a long needle like probuscus that is used to penetrate then suck the juices from other insects stuck in the surface film. That probuscis could not penetrate a dogs skin even if the insect wanted it to. She must for some reason, have a visual fear of them ?

Bill T.

guy · Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2008 11:35 am Post subject:

May have just been a submerged obstacle.
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Guy; Ellie Topaz Catja. http://www.epagneulbreton.org.uk

windem bang · Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2008 12:59 pm Post subject:

That is the likeliest explanation ,some dogs don't like touching underwater objects. Others like a crackpot lab I bred will dive under to examine or bring up to the surface an object their legs have touched.

Bill T.