A sad and distressed labradog

[Widgeon]

It was taken off. It was a light hearted post.

Well FWIW I have a very similar photo - actually even better, I would argue, in terms of the Shocked and Appalled facial expression - of our terrier when I first put an LED collar on him. Obviously not going to share it now....He sat on the sofa trying to stare at it over his ruff of neck hair and refusing to move. However as this is the same dog who does a whole body freeze whenever I put his harness on, I persevered with a bit of cheese and now apparently it's Acceptable. As with the harness, as soon as the lead goes on and back door opens all is forgiven and we're off at speed for walkies.

 

[BallyJ]

It was taken off. It was a light hearted post.
This is one of the happiest dogs around, he has a lovely life and is well looked after.
Worse things have happened. I apologise it was obviously a serious error of judgement on my part.
The collar was for his safety and because I thought it meant he could go sniffing round without me calling him back to check in every two seconds. It’s now in the bin. It was a mistake and he wore it for all of a few minutes.

You were trying to do the right thing for your dog, I think we are all aware from your previous posts how much you love and care about your animals. Don't take it to heart, It was worth a try and it didn't work! this happens in life and we're only human!

Maybe worth trying a different colour? Our feed shop had them in so maybe you could nip him there and see how he is? They are handy for late night walks!

 

[poiuytrewq]

You were trying to do the right thing for your dog, I think we are all aware from your previous posts how much you love and care about your animals. Don't take it to heart, It was worth a try and it didn't work! this happens in life and we're only human!

Maybe worth trying a different colour? Our feed shop had them in so maybe you could nip him there and see how he is? They are handy for late night walks!

Thank you, that’s a really kind reply!
I do wonder if a different colour might have been better, even if blue wasn’t a particularly bad colour for dogs this on is far brighter than Cecil my terriers orange one.
Spud-lab couldn’t handle going into a shop, he’d hate that! I might get another orange one, they are cut to size so if he still isn’t happy it can be chopped down to a Cecil size spare.

 

[TheresaW]

I have little light things that clip onto their collars. Only a couple of £’s on eBay.

 

[BallyJ]

You could even leave it on for a while to see if as the battery runs lower it 'dulls' the light a little for him!

 

[poiuytrewq]

I have little light things that clip onto their collars. Only a couple of £’s on eBay.

I’ll have a look, that might be better thanks

 

[skinnydipper]

It was taken off. It was a light hearted post.
This is one of the happiest dogs around, he has a lovely life and is well looked after.
Worse things have happened. I apologise it was obviously a serious error of judgement on my part.
The collar was for his safety and because I thought it meant he could go sniffing round without me calling him back to check in every two seconds. It’s now in the bin. It was a mistake and he wore it for all of a few minutes.

I was pointing out that people seemed to think his obvious distress was amusing.

If he needs to be lit up then red would be a better choice.

Dogs have a larger field of vision compared to humans as their eyes face outward and people's eyes face forward. Is it possible to find something that would not be constantly in his field of vision?

 

[ArklePig]

Does he wear a harness? I have a light that clips onto the back of the harness so I can see her but she can't see it if you see what I mean. He's very cute!

 

[Cortez]

I was pointing out that people seemed to think his obvious distress was amusing.

If he needs to be lit up then red would be a better choice.

Dogs have a larger field of vision compared to humans as their eyes face outward and people's eye face forward. Is it possible to find something that would not be constantly in his field of vision?

Some of my dogs are frightened of silly things (chickens; balloons that float; hats), but get over it with a bit of reassurance (aka: biscuit). If I took a photo you'd see a face like Labradog's, and yes we also laughed at them being daft. We all know this poster isn't horrible to her dog.

 

[Karran]

Current things that scare Mrs Spaniel include a new laminate floorboard on the top of the stairs that replace the one that I cracked. She also finds it impossible to walk past a broom or the mop bucket unless its safely put in the cupboard. I have photos of her pulling the same face when I was lazy and didn't put the mop away and left it in the kitchen corner, in no way obstructing access. She sat there and waited to be rescued.
She also once refused to walk past a wheely bin that the neighbours kids had decorated with stickers.

 

[JJS]

I understand everyone on this forum is an animal lover, and all these opinions come from good places—but does it really hurt to read back what’s been written before pressing “post reply”? For someone who loves their dog, as OP clearly does, certain comments were obviously going to be hurtful. I think we all need to remember there’s a person on the other end of the computer screen and re-read/tweak/soften what we’ve said with that in mind.

For my part, our family Lab Oliver has that same reaction every time the loft door is pulled down - and for some time after! I’m pretty sure he thinks something monstrous is going to emerge from the hole in the sky and eat him ?

 

[skinnydipper]

We all know this poster isn't horrible to her dog.

Please don't put words in my mouth. I didn't say or imply that she was.

 

[Tiddlypom]

Well, please shoot me, I shared this pic on Messenger with the two lads of a highly disgruntled JRT trying out her fancy new cool coat in a heatwave ?.



In the half hour that we kept it on her, she only moved backwards, and then stopped once she'd backed up to the washing machine. Apparently she found it impossible to walk forwards.

Yes, we did find it wryly amusing. She hates getting too hot, so one does one's best and bought this thing so that she could keep cool outdoors. Nope, she declared. We also tried it out later in the garden hoping that she'd soon forget about it, but also nope. She's the same with drying fleeces and winter jackets.

AAD is not known as the scariest board on HHO for nothing ?.

 

[Morwenna]

Oh ok jokey post gone wrong ?

Well I laughed! Some dogs are just drama queens about things and OP said it was taken off pretty much straight away. I was told by a trainer that it’s good to get your dog used to having strange things put on them so it’s not such a big deal if they have to go to the vets and have a cone collar / bandages / tape etc. The first time I put a hi viz coat on Penny she froze then we had the ministry of silly walks until I held out some chicken and she decided she could move in it after all.

 

[skinnydipper]

If anyone would like to use the least intrusive lights then use red. Bright to humans and primates, dim for other mammals and the reason why animal photographers and safaris use red filters on their lights at night.

 

[Barton Bounty]

Look at the face! This face is normally full of Cecil level joy at being outside and allowed to tear around, however I decided it’s dark, hes black, the yard looks black. I know he won’t go far but Cecil has a flashy collar and it’s nice just to look up and locate him instantly, so a quick Amazon delivery later……

He really really hates it! I’ve turned off the flashing but the dispair is real.
Poor chap, he can’t even run in it, I’m not sure what he thinks is going to happen but he appears to think he must stay still, very, very still ??View attachment 103436

I saw the humour in it, he looks like you have stolen his favourite bone ???

 

[poiuytrewq]

You know what, I do completely understand and accept the comments made.
I’m not taking them too personally because I know In my head and heart that he’s fine. He reacts like that to lots of things, football, hoovers any house hold appliance that makes a noise, toys that make noise, it’s him. He is a very expressive faced dog.
I have in the past seen pictures/clips and been a bit annoyed at people laughing or finding humour in an animals fear at something. I didn’t put this on that level but it does give me an understanding and acceptance of the views of some of you have expressed.
I have also learnt that dogs don’t like blue and can use that to my advantage this year when OH again tried for (awful) blue tree lights! ?

 

[poiuytrewq]

Well, please shoot me, I shared this pic on Messenger with the two lads of a highly disgruntled JRT trying out her fancy new cool coat in a heatwave ?.

View attachment 103466

In the half hour that we kept it on her, she only moved backwards, and then stopped once she'd backed up to the washing machine. Apparently she found it impossible to walk forwards.

Yes, we did find it wryly amusing. She hates getting too hot, so one does one's best and bought this thing so that she could keep cool outdoors. Nope, she declared. We also tried it out later in the garden hoping that she'd soon forget about it, but also nope. She's the same with drying fleeces and winter jackets.

AAD is not known as the scariest board on HHO for nothing ?.

The backwards thing is funny! I suppose it’s trying to get away. We once had to cover a dressing on a foreleg and the dog could only walk backwards at first, like you a bit of tempting with treats did the trick but it was a funny reaction, and I laughed.

 

[Barton Bounty]

I have various pictures of my dogs with sunglasses on, pancakes balancing on their heads, gixx has a weatherbeeta coat that makes her walk like shes pooped herself ? gixx took our neck pillow to her bed and put it on, just for fun ?

 

[Cortez]

The hardest I have ever laughed, laughed until I fell over, was when I put some little dog boots on my whippet who had cut her paws running over some hidden discarded barbed wire (not on my farm). Honestly, she'd have put Totillas to shame.

 

[CorvusCorax]

I have also learnt that dogs don’t like blue and can use that to my advantage this year when OH again tried for (awful) blue tree lights! ?

Nooooo it's not that they don't like blue. It's just one of the colours they see most clearly, I use a lot of blue equipment for that reason, balls, poles etc.

 

[poiuytrewq]

Nooooo it's not that they don't like blue. It's just one of the colours they see most clearly, I use a lot of blue equipment for that reason, balls, poles etc.

Still using it as my excuse.
Interestingly then both he and Cecil’s favourite toys of choice are blue (luckily different toys)

 

[NinjaPony]

I did not know that dogs could see blue most clearly, that is very interesting!

My little dog has a flashing pink light clipped to her harness which seems to work well. As a driver, it’s good to see more dogs illuminated at night, particularly on country lanes.

 

[Christmascinnamoncookie]

My OH picked me up from work today, a colleague wanted to see the dogs having met the pups when they were teeny. He brought all 3 in after hours and I could see that Mitch wasn’t thrilled, but given how anti-social we are, it was a good opportunity to carefully introduce him to new people. Some of my Year 9s came to say hello-very gently. The entire English department came to stand and coo at a distance then approach and give treats. Within 2 minutes, Mitch was going to them for more. I want him confident when encountering strangers, not scared of them and cringing away. Bear of course just tried to get on my colleague’s knee, Goose was fine, tail wagging, wandering round happily.

It was taken off. It was a light hearted post.
This is one of the happiest dogs around, he has a lovely life and is well looked after.
Worse things have happened. I apologise it was obviously a serious error of judgement on my part.
The collar was for his safety and because I thought it meant he could go sniffing round without me calling him back to check in every two seconds. It’s now in the bin. It was a mistake and he wore it for all of a few minutes.

I don’t think you have anything to apologise for. I’ll say it again, we all do things that aren’t natural to our dogs/horses. The first time I put travel boots on Beau, he walked like a spider. I’ve seen lots of other horses do the same. Don’t get me started on what we do to horses that puts them outside of their comfort zone.

 

[Clodagh]

It would be dead handy to teach ‘stay’.
Actually I do agree it’s a bit big and bright but I expect he survived the encounter.
Tawny bought herself onto our bed this morning at 6am and was promptly evicted. She was livid. I don’t think there was any lasting harm, but there was much immobile huffing.

 

[TheresaW]

Bo and Luna are blue and red. They look like cops when they’re at the same sniffing spot.

Toby is yelloe, Ellie is green.

 

[EllenJay]

You did nothing wrong.
sometimes for the greater good a little dog gets upset. You were doing the best for your boy to make him visable.

 

[TheOldTrout]

I have little light things that clip onto their collars. Only a couple of £’s on eBay.

Blue has one of these too, it's green.

 

[Red-1]

Gosh, that blew up.

You should have seen Heck when he first wore his raincoat. He was immobile and certainly felt he couldn't pee.

The time he needed boots for sore paws was similar. The raincoat wasn't necessary (he can wear other jackets that don't cover all 4 legs) but the booties were compulsory so, faces or not, he had to learn to wear them!

Heck had ages where he would hide if you used cutlery when we first got him. I'm talking hiding and shivering. We continued to use cutlery and he got over it.

The humour in the OP's picture wasn't that there was a scared dog, it was that the dog was over reacting to something. The dog was safe, but he had his own worries.

I'm sorry you had this reaction.

 

[JoannaC]

Oh bless him, Cyril has one which he had no problem wearing but when I took it off and left it on the side he chewed the plastic connector bits off so he can no longer wear it doh!