Incident on our walk this morning- disturbing..

borzoimom · 06-09-2007, 09:59 AM

I took Galina and Zubin for their morning walk this morning. We are working on " road work" ( alias where you take the dogs for a walk about 1-2 miles, walking fast enough the borzois are at a easy trot..) Normally- they just love this- and trot along side by side ahead bascially looking at the scenery but really just a trotting stride.. With the heat lately, we have been leaving earlier in the morning..
We came around the first bend in the road, when zubin collected himself a bit on his flexi, and slowed down back to me. Galina followed suit, but both kept putting their ears up. ( Borzois keep their ears collected unless highly alert..). Finally as I turned to come back- Zubin stopped and GROWLED! This is only the second growl I have ever heard out of him, and Galina stopped at my side- not wanting to move. I already knew by then something was up- but what?? This car came up the road, and we are just standing there. The lady in the van asked we were okay ( they are use to us by now). And I said I am not sure- but they do not want to walk. Both of us thought this was weird- so I assured the lady we were okay, so she went on ahead. I got them walking again- not forcing the issue as I live in a area with alot of wild life. Entered the next bend- when I saw the van. The lady waved like " stop" out her window. I stopped- when I saw a black bear slowly move from the front of van ( I would guess) to the side standing there. She backed up, blew the horn and as the bear slowly moved off- she continued to back up. she popped the back gate of the van- and said " GET IN".. All 3 of us climbed in the back of the van. Galina seemed almost relieved and the lady dropped us off at home..
My guess now is that Zubin picked up the odor of the bear, knowing what a bear is as we passed the bear going down ... While black bears are basically harmless, they are hunted by dogs around here in " bear season" and if my dogs had barked it might have startled the bear etc.

ScareCrow · 06-09-2007, 10:04 AM

Wow, I bet that was scary good thing that van was there. I don't know if this would work in a rural setting of not, but I know that in the woods some people attach a bell to their clothing to scare off bears.

RonE · 06-09-2007, 10:05 AM

Obviously you need a Plott hound to run point.

borzoimom · 06-09-2007, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScareCrow

Wow, I bet that was scary good thing that van was there. I don't know if this would work in a rural setting of not, but I know that in the woods some people attach a bell to their clothing to scare off bears.

good idea- but I am not sure if the borzois would tolerate a bear- but maybe I could wear one.. lol. Maybe a radio blasting 80's music.. lol. I have seen other wildlife as well- but not a bear on our walk. I see them in the yard at twilight or early am. My husband suggested waiting til later in the morning- but its so hot.. Maybe a trip into town at the race track at the Military acedemy is in order now..
There are only 8 houses up here, and we all know each other. One day I was washing my van and popped the hood to wipe the inside. Walked back into the garage to get another rag- only to find two of my neighbors stopped in our driveway with " you okay??" ... lol ( we are a tight knit group up here.)

RonE · 06-09-2007, 10:14 AM

A black bear showed up in our City Park a few years ago - smack in the middle of town and surrounded by 75,000 people - most of whom had never seen a bear outside of a zoo.

About a month later, a remarkably similar black bear showed up in Two Rivers - the much smaller town, 50 miles away, that I'm moving to.

borzoimom · 06-09-2007, 10:23 AM

We border a National Forrest on 3 sides. I am not surprised they are here- we see them frequently, but have never seen one on our walk in the 4 years we have been here... Even more so surprised Zubin picked it up too...( its like that old song " I always feel like- somebodys watching me.." lol )

SunSiberians · 06-09-2007, 10:28 AM

Wow, what an incredible story. It's comforting knowing our dogs are aware of things we aren't.

RonE · 06-09-2007, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SunSiberians

our dogs are aware of things we aren't.

That's an understatement.

borzoimom · 06-09-2007, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RonE

That's an understatement.

Amen to that one! Zubin knew I was sick last december and it wasnt minor for months.. He kept putting his head in my lap over and over for months! ( I ended up with 3 surgeries... )

iwantmypup · 06-09-2007, 11:01 AM

omg thats scary! good thing you all are safe! eek!!!!!

borzoimom · 06-09-2007, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iwantmypup

omg thats scary! good thing you all are safe! eek!!!!!

Please do not worry - we are fine-. A combination of alert dogs, knowing my dogs, and obviously wonderful neighbors! ( willing to take a person and two very long haired dogs into her van without question for our safety..)

iwantmypup · 06-09-2007, 11:05 AM

yup thats soo great!

!

SunSiberians · 06-09-2007, 11:16 AM

I had a similar experience with Javalina. Unfortunately people think, oh - cute little "piggies" and don't realize how dangerous they are! If surprised, they charge and can do some serious damage...and the boar have enormous tusks!
So anyway...I was hiking out in the desert and the trees and brush were particularly thick so I couldn't see anything. Usually you can smell the musk of a Javalina from a relatively far away distance, but I was completely oblivious. My dogs suddenly stopped - Kapu growled (he's never growled before) and Lakota's guard hair was standing on end. Of course this put the hairs on my neck standing! lol I immediatly turned around and as I looked back, out of the bushes came a huge herd of Javalina (probably about 20!). That could have been....frightening to say the least, if we were to cross paths.

borzoimom · 06-09-2007, 11:20 AM

OH MY GOODNESS!! You are right- wild pigs can be very aggressive- and tear someone or a dog to pieces!
People- please feel free to add you story to your dogs and wild animals..

sillylilykitty · 06-09-2007, 11:49 AM

Wow, thats so amazing!! I love dogs, just another reason I want one.

borzoimom · 06-09-2007, 03:34 PM

I uh think we better figure out a better time to walk .. lol..
I was cutting the grass a few hours later- uh looking over my shoulder.. lol.. ( "good to sleep, go to sleep- close your big bear eyes.. go to sleep.. )

GreyhoundGirl · 06-13-2007, 04:45 PM

Wow. Scary.

Lucky she was going by, really...

Chloef_2799 · 06-13-2007, 04:57 PM

wow...that is scary. Good thing you had your dogs with you to alert you that something was up. I wouldn't want to imagine what would have happened to you if you had been alone and startled the bear. Sure they can be pretty harmless and keep to themselves but they can be SO dangerous.
My family owns a cabin in northern Ontario in Muskoka and there are bears around there. I hate going for walks alone around the trails in the summer. It is literally the middle of nowhere. The nearest town with a hospital is two hours away and even they would have to air lift you to toronto which is another three hours away by helicopter if you were hurt bad enough.
Give your dogs a big hug...they deserve it!! And BTW weren't borzoi's originally used to hunt gazelle and wolves? I don't know to much about them but I think that is what they were training for am I right?

taurus · 06-13-2007, 05:01 PM

i love dogs, make us feel that much more safe and secure

check out this funny video...dog fetches shark

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jkExrrm_sQ&NR=1

russiarulez · 06-13-2007, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by borzoimom

While black bears are basically harmless, they are hunted by dogs around here in " bear season" and if my dogs had barked it might have startled the bear etc.

Not sure where you live, but here in Alaska having dealt with both brown and black bears I'd say that a black bear is more dangerous than a brown one... Both types are pretty dangerous when defending young or food. General rule of thumb if a black bear attacks you, it's attacking to kill you, if a brown bear attacks you, it's just gonna rough you up, but not kill. Especially bears with cubs.. don't want to end up in between them. Bears kill dogs for food here.