Sepia Saturday - Dogs Reactions to Reflections/Shadows

Hi, y'all! Today, I'm going to be sharing a contribution to Sepia Saturday, as well as talking to you formally about the intriguing concept and question - How do dogs react to reflections/shadows?

Its an interesting one, and definitely one we're going to be looking deeply and in detail at, after this amazing photo I am proud to have taken, and captioned with laughs. 

'Nice to meet you Earl - I'm Earl!' says Earl.

First of all, I will ask YOU a question.

If you had never seen yourself before, or never experienced the feeling of another being sharing your household for a very shocking few minutes before, then how would you feel to suddenly walking in a room and seeing just that standing, staring at you back? To be doing exactly what you're doing back to you - would it make you scared, feel trapped, if that makes sense? Possible defensive? 

Imagine how dogs would feel, then! I hate to say this, but you've just got to face it. As intelligent and mind-blow-ing-ly smart seeming our canine partners are, they generally have a lower IQ than us humans!! Would that make it harder for them to face the fact, or be told its just a mirror reflection? Yes! And not only because of the IQ level and brain power capabilities, but the disability dogs have to speak human language. So you CAN'T tell them what it is that's making their cogs whirr out of place, like you can a child or other human being. 

I remember when my Earl was only an 'ickle puppy. About 8 weeks young. The first time he EVER saw his reflection was the time he stood in front of our (OK I'll boast a bit here), immaculately clean and shiny transparent glass door. That puppy he saw was barking back at him, making moves back at him, looking all defensive and alert back at him (simply because the real Earl was looking defensive and alert so, obviously, the reflection copied) and when Earl jumped at the door, both front paws on the glass, the 'other dog' did the exact same thing. So what was Earl thinking? 'This puppy is trying to lunge at me! He's barking at me! Why is he in my house, who is he, and where did he come from? Why can't I get to him? He feels so weird to my paws! I can't see him very clearly, his body language is blurry. I can't 'read' him right, I'm scared! Oh, and he smells of nothing? Who is he? Is he even a male, how can I tell? He's the same size as I am! And worst of all, I can't reach his butt to sniff it!' 

As dogs are social creatures, they 'read' other dogs like books via their body language and smell. They cannot do this to a reflection the same. Maybe an immaculately clean MIRROR, but transparent materiel, such as glass, even the most clean, would just make the 'figure' blurry and even more frustrating to make-out to the real dog. And reflections don't smell. Even more shocking and difficult to understand to the dog. Not only this, but the reflection isn't showing any submission, say, to the real dog, which would, in the real, non-reflective world, mean the dominant dog would be top-dog! So there is just another dog, fighting back, not coming to any conclusions socially whatsoever, with your pet.

It can still happen with reflections of other things, such as you! Your dog may be thinking there is a new human to greet, whether that's friendly, in a wary manner, or, hopefully not, with bad-mamnners or aggression, which should be dealt with if you ever see signs of this in your pet. See a behaviourist. Your vet can help get you referred to one straight away, as this could be a real issue. Anyway, that is besides the point! Try and give the following advice a shot, whatever reflection is spooking your dog out.

If your dog becomes unsure of a reflection, its best to give him a little time to figure it out, and if he doesn't, and just seems to be getting increasingly more stressed, try and take his attention away with a treat after a requested command, such as a simple sit. Make it easy, and relaxing. Or, of course, get out a tuggy toy and launch it in the opposite direction. You then run away and grab the toy, offering to play tug-of-war. Engage in game for a few minuets even after you've got your pet away from the situation. 

This can also apply if your dog gets spooked by a shadow. Having a dark, senseless, moving, 2D object following him/her around continuously and then fading for a short time, can be spooky to a dog who doesn't know why and what it is!

Once you have taught your dog in a positive way how to not be bothered by reflections or shadows, then you will hopefully have a dog who doesn't even look at them! Like now, Earl has gotten used to them (to be honest, it was quite natural for hi, but that is just as a totally individual dog), hence the easy taking of the stunning photograph above!

We hope all this information has been a use to you and your beloved pet(s)!

We're taking part in the Sepia Saturday Blog Hop, hosted by Ruckus The Eskie - woofs and thank yous, pal!