Following her nose

We took Flo over to her BIG park today as she's only been to the small one all week and ambled down what we call Squirrel alley. The amount of times Flo had her nose down then suddenly dart left or right and chase off into the bushes was countless. On one particular occasion she could obviously smell the Squirrel from quiet some distance and hooked a left, I could see it but she couldn't and was within striking distance before it moved and she finally realised where it was, I laughed so loud that other walkers must have thought I was on something

To be fair to her, she has never actually tried to catch one but does enjoy the chase, she would rather sneak up on them, which I've seen her do, and then watch then scramble up the tree.

I don't know if her sence of smell is greater because she's deaf but she can sniff them from a heck of a distance. Does anyone else's smell them from a distance ?

Ruby does, she has a brilliant nose, she can smell all sorts, its funny watching her especially on the beach for birds or where fish have been haha

no sasha only just see's them and more often than not carries on running as the rabbit has disappeared in the hedge

I guess wee flos sense of smell will increase due to her deafness

i have heard that when one sense has diminshed the others compensate so could well be the case that smell is taking over

Oddly we don't have squirels over here. Suki used to chase birds but doesn't bother now unless they are literally right within a meter or so from her

Stella had a brilliant nose especially for cats.  She adored them and one night saw one walking towards her up by a narrow gap at the side of our garage.  She wouldn't budge and of course the cat just sat and watched her and therefore it was like a standoff. So funny to watch but eventually the cat dashed passed her and Stella missed out. Every night of her life, she had to be taken out to look up that gap for cats

Other times when walking her in built up areas, she would suddenly stop, sniff with her head up and sure enough there was a cat sitting on a high wall. I hadn't seen it but she sure knew one was there.

That made me smile Sheila, my Flo is similar to your Stella in that way. If she's seen a fox or cat on a place then every time we pass it she will check it out thoroughly, strange how they don't forget.

When I've been walking Flo ive been taking her around the really quiet back streets and letting her wander off lead as its that quiet with no traffic but she caught me out one night. Her head went up and the trot was on !... She was off going through several gardens chasing a cat. I woke the street up shouting after her

Flo and Stella do sound similar Ian. Comic capers in the back streets
When Stella did come face to face with a cat she used to 'staffie dance' in front of them..."don't be frightened, please come play with me"

Aww bless her... They are such characters

Great stories. Theia seems to only be able to smell chewing gum and paper towels at the moment!

We had a blind lab in at Danaher last year, who loved to play fetch with a tennis ball. You'd throw it for him, not too far, and he's stick his head in the air, sniff, then go straight for the ball. He'd heard it land so knew roughly where to sniff, but it was his nose that got him there, unfailingly.

So a different sense lost but yes, absolutely, the other senses heightened to compensate.

Our house backs onto miles of countryside and everytime I take Cooper out her chases all the rabbits. He hasn't caught one yet but I'm sure it's just a matter of time. He always sticks his head in the holes as he can smell them but obviously they are well out of reach.

sounds like a ground scenter to me, will most prop wander a bit then perk up and fire off. can make for long sunday strolls with some speedy action inbetween

Be careful of squirrels as they have one nasty bite. Those teeth
have to be extra strong to enable them to crack the nuts they eat
and whilst no match for a staffie they can given an infected bite.

I've heard that a lost sense will be compensated by another. Great stories...my boys useless when it comes to sniffing out anything apart from food. He has no interest in cats or ducks or birds, even the sheep didn't interest him!

Lizzie wrote:Be careful of squirrels as they have one nasty bite.  Those teeth
have to be extra strong to enable them to crack the nuts they eat
and whilst no match for a staffie they can given an infected bite.

There's no chance of her getting nipped Lizzie, she never actually seems to want to catch them. In fact I have seen her with sneak up on one and get within inches before it shot up the nearest tree, she could easily have had it

KITA90 wrote:I've heard that a lost sense will be compensated by another. Great stories...my boys useless when it comes to sniffing out anything apart from food. He has no interest in cats or ducks or birds, even the sheep didn't interest him!

Cats are not safe with Flo and birds don't really interest her either Kita but Sheep !!!... oh yes
Since we have been taking her down to the New Forrest to see her Bloudhound cousins she has lost all interest in horses as she's seen so many just wandering about.

-Ian- wrote:That made me smile Sheila, my Flo is similar to your Stella in that way. If she's seen a fox or cat on a place then every time we pass it she will check it out thoroughly, strange how they don't forget.

When I've been walking Flo ive been taking her around the really quiet back streets and letting her wander off lead as its that quiet with no traffic but she caught me out one night. Her head went up and the trot was on !... She was off going through several gardens chasing a cat. I woke the street up shouting after her

just seen this and made me laugh they can run rings round us when they want

I take the guide dog a walk round the block and on the lookout constant for cats the gd isnt keen on them . Well he seen a cat and near pulled my arm out the socket . My voice isnt as firm as his dads but he stopped none the less. He tries his best to break every rule in guide dogs books with me.

Isnt it a pity for dogs and humans alike if u have sight loss a decent sized ball with a bell or some other alert device inside it . And for hearing loss there should be a ball with lights / light so they can play as well. Ive looked theres only balls with bells inside for cats. my oh cant play football with his son hes blind. Its terrible.