The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Pets & Working Animals => Dogs => Topic started by: arobwk on September 22, 2020, 10:14:25 pm

Title: Primitive eagle ?
Post by: arobwk on September 22, 2020, 10:14:25 pm

I was doing some gardening near Whitsands Bay, East Cornwall which is a good site for para-gliders.

First time my pair have ever seen one (a para-glider) in the air and they were so panicked - yelping and trying to get close to me, but hindered by tethers.  Luckily I sussed the problem in quick time:  however, "dad's" reassurance was not good enough to settle them as the 'glider circled round so I put them in the car where they settled soon enough. 

They are not fazed by buzzards, for example, or planes, but I wonder whether the huge slow para-glider triggered some sort of primal/innate fear of large raptors.  (I've seen - TV/web - Golden Eagles take foxes and even larger mountain sheep.)

Anyone else experienced similar doggy distress ?

Title: Re: Primitive eagle ?
Post by: harmony on September 23, 2020, 09:32:04 am

Not the dogs but have had some near misses with the horses. It would seem to me that dogs could easily see them as a large, airborne predator. Also had a very lucky escape with horses when a hot air balloon landed in the field next to the bridleway.

Title: Re: Primitive eagle ?
Post by: Fleecewife on September 23, 2020, 01:26:15 pm

Dogs and sheep here go berserk at balloons but we've not had any paragliders low over our place, just microlights and they don't bat an eyelid at those.  No reaction to flying raptors other than by the hens, which vanish instantly under foliage. Raptors sitting on fence posts are seen as chums  ::)

Title: Re: Primitive eagle ?
Post by: in the hills on September 24, 2020, 02:39:12 pm

Our dogs show no concern at raptors.


They are alarmed though by very low military planes and helicopters. But then so am I!!!!!!!!


Not sure whether they would link para gliders etc to raptors or just be concerned because they haven't encountered them before??????

Title: Re: Primitive eagle ?
Post by: Buttermilk on September 24, 2020, 02:45:16 pm

Could it be the silence of them that caused the distress?

Title: Re: Primitive eagle ?
Post by: arobwk on September 24, 2020, 11:06:57 pm

I wonder, but I'm beginning to wonder also whether these silent flying things are not so silent to dogs' ears !?

Title: Re: Primitive eagle ?
Post by: Fleecewife on September 25, 2020, 02:07:31 am

It's certainly the noise of balloons that terrifies dogs - all that whooshing of the burners. Paragliders will alomost certainly make sounds such as whistles and whooshes that we can't hear so you are probably right