Vintage
Well-Known Member
Okay this might be long, apologies beforehand,
BG history; My Lab is 5 years of age. He is well trained (Passed his Gun Dog Grade 2) and has spent the majority of the time with my herd of horses. Usually being 8am-8pm on the yard (often with varying breaks, trips during the day) He has a bed, plenty of amusement (namely being pinecones) Prefers to hang around the front of the stables. He's been best friends with my Welsh (who equally adores him)
His "job" is to open the gates when taking the horses out. He's been doing this a year now, and when the headcollars come out, he gets agitated, pacing around anxious. He knows which horse goes out first and waits by the door while everyone else gets 'dressed'. Once the horses come out, he walks infront seemingly leading the way, opening the gates. Then 'leads' me back to the yard to get the next. (Getting there, sorry)
Often in the field, my veteran will roll quite lose to the gate. The second he is more than knees on the ground, my dog will become agitated and begin pacing. I'm unsure how to describe this fully. But he either walks in an 8-12 foot circle or figure of 8. He grumbles, grunts and almost mini 'barks' holding a pinecone, I ask him to quiet or settle and he will, but still seems upset. This goes on till my veteran has got up and wandered/run off, then is eager to lead me back to get the next horse.
I hae a purpose built turnout-area next to the stables for rainy days & for my oldest veteran to have a stretch if needed. Often if the horses are on here, my dog will see them going to roll, and this same pattern will happen, however he will pace up and down on the yard in a 20ft or so circle or figure of 8 making the same noises. Gradually he's been getting closer to them and seemed more upset. It's mainly been with my veteran, and slightly with my biggest horse. He doesn't do it for my Welsh who he's "best-friended".
Tonight, on the yard, he became agitated when my veteran went for a roll. He went up to about 10 feet away seeming upset. As my veteran got up and switched sides, my dog went straight to him and got in the way. Not "attacking" him, but he was grumbling and quietly 'barking' at him. My veteran got up and seemed a bit surprised but wandered off.
I'm very puzzled by this behaviour - those who've seen it have guessed that because he's spent all his time around horses and likes to "lead" them, he sees it's his job to make sure they're okay, and rolling perhaps seems not "normal" or worrying to him.. They don't seem upset by him, they're all very used to him and accept him being around, he's never been kicked, bitten or hurt around them, and often used to sleep with the Welsh if given the chance.
Any thoughts?
BG history; My Lab is 5 years of age. He is well trained (Passed his Gun Dog Grade 2) and has spent the majority of the time with my herd of horses. Usually being 8am-8pm on the yard (often with varying breaks, trips during the day) He has a bed, plenty of amusement (namely being pinecones) Prefers to hang around the front of the stables. He's been best friends with my Welsh (who equally adores him)
His "job" is to open the gates when taking the horses out. He's been doing this a year now, and when the headcollars come out, he gets agitated, pacing around anxious. He knows which horse goes out first and waits by the door while everyone else gets 'dressed'. Once the horses come out, he walks infront seemingly leading the way, opening the gates. Then 'leads' me back to the yard to get the next. (Getting there, sorry)
Often in the field, my veteran will roll quite lose to the gate. The second he is more than knees on the ground, my dog will become agitated and begin pacing. I'm unsure how to describe this fully. But he either walks in an 8-12 foot circle or figure of 8. He grumbles, grunts and almost mini 'barks' holding a pinecone, I ask him to quiet or settle and he will, but still seems upset. This goes on till my veteran has got up and wandered/run off, then is eager to lead me back to get the next horse.
I hae a purpose built turnout-area next to the stables for rainy days & for my oldest veteran to have a stretch if needed. Often if the horses are on here, my dog will see them going to roll, and this same pattern will happen, however he will pace up and down on the yard in a 20ft or so circle or figure of 8 making the same noises. Gradually he's been getting closer to them and seemed more upset. It's mainly been with my veteran, and slightly with my biggest horse. He doesn't do it for my Welsh who he's "best-friended".
Tonight, on the yard, he became agitated when my veteran went for a roll. He went up to about 10 feet away seeming upset. As my veteran got up and switched sides, my dog went straight to him and got in the way. Not "attacking" him, but he was grumbling and quietly 'barking' at him. My veteran got up and seemed a bit surprised but wandered off.
I'm very puzzled by this behaviour - those who've seen it have guessed that because he's spent all his time around horses and likes to "lead" them, he sees it's his job to make sure they're okay, and rolling perhaps seems not "normal" or worrying to him.. They don't seem upset by him, they're all very used to him and accept him being around, he's never been kicked, bitten or hurt around them, and often used to sleep with the Welsh if given the chance.
Any thoughts?
