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Wednesday 24 July 2013

Thunderbolt and lightning - not very frightening

Happy to report that our first thunderstorm passed without too much incident. It would appear that our nervous Monkey only has one reaction to things - a startled head turn towards the sound. Whether it is bang by the BOTH upstairs or an almighty crash of thunder both are treated with the same behaviour.
Out walking when the thunder was occurring the noise passed unremarked - but when a car driving past went over a smooth patch of wet tarmac we had a jump.
I've given up trying to figure out what causes the various reactions in this greyhound.
Approach a bush, bin, bag (insert whatever the problem is here) from one direction and nothing happens. However, from the opposite direction it results in paws digging in and not moving.
Luckily now we are beginning to spot what causes problems and can cross the road or stop and have our ears scratched until the nuisance has passed.
 I'm not sure just who is training who anymore.

Now what do I do?
We finally found something that Monkey will interact with.
A filled bone.


 I can see something in there
This is a bit too much like hard work
 
He finds it so tiring having to poke his tongue into it that he needs a nap after a few minutes. But if I loosen some more of the filling he will attack it again the next day.                          

13 comments:

What Remains Now said...

Oh, Monkey...you're a funny boy. Handsome though, so you can get by on goodlooks.

houndstooth said...

He's such a sweet character! Bunny reacts differently to thunder inside than she does outside, too!

genji said...

That does look like hard work

Unknown said...

Glad Monkey is OK with the storms. Hard work indeed licking that bone LOL. Have a wonderful Wednesday.
Best wishes Molly

Anonymous said...

Monkey keep working at it, you doing great at getting them trained. Yep we are the same never know what will set one of us off!

The Mad Scots

Frankie Furter and Ernie said...

Keep them guessing, Monkey!!

Sue said...

I wonder if Monkey might have reduced vision in one eye and that's why he get's spooked as he can't see the object clearly. Just a thought, but then again we know how weird Greys can be:)

Love the photo of him asleep.

Bella Roxy & Macdui said...

Bella hates noises, too. Hope you can work it out, we can't.

XXXOOODaisy, Bella & Roxy

Ziggy Stardust said...

Monkey those bones are very hard work, but they are pretty yummy. I rest in between also.


Loveys Sasha

Kari in Alaska said...

Glad it went smoothly!

Stop on by for a visit
Kari
http://dogisgodinreverse.com/

jet said...

Barbie used to be a nervous girl on walks and go into statue mode, sometimes for no apparent reason. I found that scratches behind the ears and tasty smelly cheese bought her out of it. She hardly ever freezes up anymore though she is still very dubious about the safety of crossing the train line.

Unknown said...

Thanks for your lovely comments. I think smell may play a part in Monkey's sometime reluctance to pass familiar things Sue as today it was noticeable that not all bins needed to be avoided. Strange though that it is the glass and cardboard recycling bins rather than the ones that have had food and garden refuse in. Ones that you would expect to smell stronger. Scratches behind the ear do help Jet but Monkey is very reticent about taking treats from the hand when out.

Eileen H said...

Well he is retired now ya know :-)