what does your dog do when it sees something strange?

Aww! BRAVE BUGS!! LMBO about the snowmen massacre!!

Nik cautiously approaches it to sniff it... if it dares move she turns tail and RUNS! (such as a tarp in he wind... etc.)  If it doesn't she gets up to it and sniffs it and usually declares it safe. lol

Logan... oye.  He stalks it... occasionally pointing it.  If it dares move he BARKS at it... but, doesn't back down.  Once he makes it up to it, if it smells like it's safe, his entire demeanor changes and you can tell we are now safe, no longer ready to launch missiles :o)  lol If it's just an odd formation, he'll likely pee on it. But if it's something "human" (like a sweater draped over something) he has learned (with much sweat and tears) NOT to mark it.  

Dogs crack me up.  

Oh! And i've noticed as Logan matures.  Before he'd let Nik check it out and follow her, now she kinda sits back and let's him take the lead.  He's quite protective of his sister. 

Sera_J

Aww! BRAVE BUGS!! LMBO about the snowmen massacre!!

Sera_J

But if it's something "human" (like a sweater draped over something) he has learned (with much sweat and tears) NOT to mark it.  

Logan it sounds like you are taken this big little brother thing to heart now - good boy!

When Morrison sees, or senses, something new he freezes and does his own version of a point.  If it doesn't move at all after quite a few moments he'll trot right in for an inspection.  If it does move he either pounces or play bows.

Monroe goes on alert with head up, ears erect and standing still.  After a few moments he will bark at it, look at me, bark at it again and then, maybe, chase it down or turn away and ignore it.

Jamison at first tries to run in the other direction.  Then maybe after a few minutes he'll look at me and if I give him the nod that its ok - he'll run by said strange item really fast.  If the strange item stays in the same place for a couple of days he will eventually work up the nerve to pee on it.

Deb W.

Heidi can sometimes get a bit spooked when she sees something new and different on our walks.  She will stop in her tracks, get this look of fright on her face...then look up at me.  I'll usually put her in a sit so she can study it for a few minutes, all the while I'm reassuring her that its no big deal.  Then if it is reachable, I'll walk her up to it (at her own pace) and show her that it means no harm.

Bruder will spot something and his ears will perk and he will stand taller, but he wants to continue walking on by.  He doesn't really want to check it out, he just wants to get past it.  Most recently it was a dead palm tree of one of the neighbors.  It was too far for us to walk up to it.  He has finally realized that it means no harm...he pays it no mind any more.

This morning, we came across some ducks just on the other side of the fence.  Bruder heard them quacking and got that look on his face...although this one was more of a "oooh boy i could chase that if mom would let me."  I just gave him a "not for you" and we walked on by.  I was pretty proud.

Buddy isn't affected by much anymore...he's seen it all. 

Here's Bruder the first time he saw the pool:

He's still not quite sure what to make of the pool...even though Heidi has shown him its fun to swim.  But, his confidence has built enough for him to walk all the way up to the edge and look in.  He just doesn't know what to think of the pool vacuum, named Cruise.  It walks around the bottom of the pool...very strange to him.

Wow!  Looking at this picture again (taken in early October) makes me realize how BIG Bruder has gotten! 

 Emma approaches with caution. If it moves, she points. If it dares to move again, she'll bark at it. She does check everything out.

Ena will generally just go over and sniff it, or ignore it completely. Nothing excites her LOL.

Whew - I feel really good after reading this thread. My older girl, Buffy, doesn't spook at anything. She has no fear at all. Sassy spooks at everything though. She won't totally run away, but she'll keep a safe distance until she's really checked it out. I went outside one day to see what she was barking at and it was a paper bag that I'd put some clippings in

 Cheyanne doesnt pay attention to anything strange unless it's an animal. Then she will look at me to see if Im bothered by it.

Lillie will come walk by my side and get reassurance from me that it's ok and then go on her way. Now if Cheyanne is around she will do what Cheyanne does.

Kujo does the typical little dog thing and barks at whatever it is then go see what it is.

Joker HAS to go see what stange things are in case they might make a potiental friend or a tasty snack.

Fynn doesnt notice anything at all. I guess attending dog shows before coming to live with me he has seen his share of strange things.

Rex will stop and study.  Then he will slowly move toward whatever it is until he can get close enough to sniff it. He moves very slowly at first and as he gets closer he gains confidence.  If it happens to move, like a flapping piece of odd shaped cloth or plastic, he will freeze and look at me.  If I tell him lets go, he will move toward it again. If I tell him leave it, he's willing to move on.

Belle just charges in to investigate but if the seemingly still, inanimate object moves while she is moving towards it, she will slam on the brakes and look at Rex (she doesn't think I'm a reliable source of info or defense, lol) to see if he's coming to help check it out.  Safety in numbers, you know. LOL

Twister is pretty nonchalant with most things.  He will look and go forward to investigate and then pee if it needs peeing on. LOL

Mine check my reaction for possible information about the "something", first.

I think part of Social Learning is a constant information exchange about the environment...such as who is friend, foe, food, or danger.

All things being equal and the relationship between dog and owner a well organized and healthy one, the leader is looked to for both information and direction, IMO.

If you're seen as a follower by the dog, your behavior still counts...but it's usually recognised as an alert to danger over decision making and the direction of activities.

Just another perspective.

Angelique

Just another perspective.

Bugsy has never looked to humans for directions - its our training challenge since day 1 LOL

However his behavior towards 'new' things isn't due to a lack of leadership on my or DH's part - Bugsy spends most of his days checking everything out.  He is inquisitive and notices everything, he wanders our yard for hours sniffing and inspecting - it is his "raison d'etre" 

To me the fact that something new is on our walk or where ever and he needs to check it out is just how he assembles his world