It's possible! The way Dahlia often chases the ducks actually looks very herding behavior to me -- she creeps up on them and then doesn't run right at them but rather AROUND the them. Granted, they fly away from her in the process!
Being part retriever and part herding dog I think she's confused. "Do I catch them Mom or herd them back to you and when can I eat one?" lol
It's so much fun to watch them doing it isn't it? Dahlia has chased ducks, geese (Canadian geese! I'm amazed they fly away and don't come after her! lol), pigeons and seagulls so far.
There's a lot down the bike trail that we take our pups to. Last time we took them, the place was filled with crows, ground squirrels and wild rabbits.
Well, Maggie loved the rabbits! But, they're too good at going to ground.
Emma was running after a crow. But, the crow stood it's ground. About 6 feet from the bird, Emma stopped are reassessed the situation. It was as if she suddenly realized, "Oh crap! What am I doing!? This bird is bigger than me!" So, Maggie trotted up next to Emma and went into the classic "pointing hunting dog" stance... you know, with her nose straight out and one paw lifted up. Then, after about 10 seconds of "The Stare Down" game... Maggie BOLTED after the crow.
kimbo has had a squeaky duck toy that flew straight through the air that was his FAVORITE toy in the WHOLE WORLD. he destroyed it (not very much gun-dog in him i guess)--but even though the wings/stuffing/squeaker/everything is gone and all that's left is a rope with a bungee cord and a little duck head with a broken beak--it's still his favorite and he will chase it anywhere.
i wish we had more of a rural area close by here so kimbo could run free and chase ducks.
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branchandroot
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Date: 2010-04-01 03:00 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-04-01 03:03 pm (UTC)Being part retriever and part herding dog I think she's confused. "Do I catch them Mom or herd them back to you and when can I eat one?" lol
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Date: 2010-04-01 03:06 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-04-01 03:07 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2010-04-01 03:15 pm (UTC)Well, Maggie loved the rabbits! But, they're too good at going to ground.
Emma was running after a crow. But, the crow stood it's ground. About 6 feet from the bird, Emma stopped are reassessed the situation. It was as if she suddenly realized, "Oh crap! What am I doing!? This bird is bigger than me!" So, Maggie trotted up next to Emma and went into the classic "pointing hunting dog" stance... you know, with her nose straight out and one paw lifted up. Then, after about 10 seconds of "The Stare Down" game... Maggie BOLTED after the crow.
The crow got away. But, it was a lot of fun! XD
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Date: 2010-04-02 10:31 am (UTC)hashad a squeaky duck toy that flew straight through the air that was his FAVORITE toy in the WHOLE WORLD. he destroyed it (not very much gun-dog in him i guess)--but even though the wings/stuffing/squeaker/everything is gone and all that's left is a rope with a bungee cord and a little duck head with a broken beak--it's still his favorite and he will chase it anywhere.i wish we had more of a rural area close by here so kimbo could run free and chase ducks.