strange behaviour

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Goya

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When I took the girls for their walk yesterday afternoon Skye displayed strange out of character behaviour.
We had just started the walk when she stopped dead. Then she lay down and absolutely refused to move.
I spoke enouragingly,tugged a little on her long line (yes, she is still on this sadly) then I got a ball out and tempted her with that, also threw another ball for the other 2 to try and inspire her to move.
After about 2-3 minutes she just got up and continued the walk as if nothing had happened and was "as normal" chased and caught her ball etc.
There was nothing different about the walk. It was somewhere we go often, no shooting in the vicinity, no fireworks, nothing.
Anyone any ideas about a reason and what I should have done?
 
Some dogs (mine included) can be freaked by things we neither know, see, sense or understand - or she could have been a bit tired?
Don't sweat the long line, I have to stick B on sporadically when he decides he is SuperDog and he CAN get that hare
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Thanks for replying--I was feeling like billy no-mates.
She definitely wasn't tired as I had been out to a meeting and they had been home alone for a couple of hours previously.
Re the long line. I just daren't let her off except either when I'm throwing a ball and she chases and catches then brings it back to me or when we are in an enclosed place.
At the training field, where I go twice a week, I let her off but she still isn't 100% consistent at coming back to me, sadly. I use treats, toy, ball etc but it seems she sometimes just switches off completely. Obviously she gets swamped with praise when she does come to me.
Also I have found that she doesn't like mixing with other dogs. She is a real loner. Doesn't play with the other 2 at all.If I throw the ball for all 3 she just ignores it. If I throw a ball for the other 2 then throw hers in a different direction she chases it and brings it back.
Very strange. I personally have never met a dog like Skye.
If anyone is in my area I'd love to meet up to show you what she is like.
 
Goya, it took me months and months with the long line - my dog has a massive prey drive and even now I have to watch him like a hawk, if his ears go forward and he starts prancing on his front feet I have to yell HEEEERE! and put him back on - if he gets a scent, he is off!

With his sister, I can only let her off in certain places or she will bugger off (her trigger is fear/insecurity)

It's still early days for you guys, so don't worry
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She sounds like a character, that's the thing with dogs, I wish they could talk so we knew what went on in their heads.
 
Animals do the weirdest things, I would just forget about it unless she does it again. She may have seen, smelt or heard something, who knows?

Hang in there with the washing line, it does take a while but it can work very well for many dogs!
 
Hi everyone. Apologies for not replying but my internet crashed yesterday, just as I had finished typing a post. B*** computers!
Anyway I just wanted to say thank you for the help and support and to say that yesterday and today Skye has behaved quite normal on her walks.
Mind you, I still would love to know what was going on in her head the other day.
 
Goya - you don't say how old she is but there is the teeniest, tiniest possibility that it could have been epilepsy. Some dogs do just suddenly stop dead when having an episode. I should stress that this is certainly not the most likely explanation though but if she does it again I would just mention it to the vet next time you go.
 
She sounds VERY similar to Otto, he has absolutely NO interest in other dogs, he will say hello to them and then ignore them completely. I'm not too concerned, he is well socialised, will play with one of the dogs on the farm and it means that I don't have problems with him running off after other dogs.
He was on the Long Line for about 5/6 months. I honestly thought he would never get off it! My Dad and I were talking about it the other day, Otto had no recognition of humans and no fear whatsoever, my Dad didn't think we would ever get anywhere with him! No toys, treats, silly noises, or hiding would create any difference in him.
Through sheer determination to prove my Dad wrong, I refused to give up and bit by bit we slowly got through to him, until we decided to try him loose (with the lunge line still attached so we could grab him), he continued improving until finally we bit the bullet and let him off completely!
The biggest thing was learning to trust him, if we take him somewhere new I tend to be a bit on edge and he is always horrendously behaved! If I relax and trust him, he will be 100 times better!
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Good luck, you're not alone!
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She is 3-4years old. Not sure if you know but she is a rehome. I've had her since July this year.
I am off to the vet shortly (with Jess who has had an ear infection) so will mention it. Hope it's not obviously but better to know than not.
Thanks for your thoughts.
 
Thanks Henmeister. I had just typed the previous post when I returned to the forum I saw yours. Like you, I'm sure I need to relax and trust but it is sooooo difficult as you just wonder where she would end up if she ran. When we were on Anglesey she ran off and swam acros a small river, then panicked and ran along the opposite bank for about half an hour before we could persuade her to come back. Since then I've obviously ben VERY careful.
She is microchipped, which does give me sonme small comfort.
 
I spoke to the vet who is an excellent "dog" vet. He said that it could be, but that it is difficult to tell unless it is observed by him or that the episodes are frequent. If infrequent, then not to worry too much as the medication for Epilepsy can cause more problems.
I have to just keep an eye on her and record any times this may happen.
Thank you again though. Although worrying it is best to be aware than not imo.
 
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