I understand they see/hear/smell way beyond our ability! I mean over a month ago I was out there with him, saw nothing, heard nothing, and after about 10 minutes, a large fox/young coyote trotted across the road out front from one neighbors yard into another's. Until it crossed the road, I couldn't see it and would have never known it was there. I DO trust him and give praise even if I don't see what caused the issue.
You know, it is completely different than a "pet" dog. A pet dog barks more or less just to make noise. If you go up to them and put your hand on their neck or head they mostly stop and look up at you wanting praise for their singing. They normally aren't "rigid" and "focused". When Mel is lit off, and even when he's barking like he (knows, I) THINK there's something out there, he is wound up tight like an overloaded spring waiting to be sprung, and focused like nothing I've experienced before. When I finally break his focus, he walks around in circles kind of whining and trying to get back in focus... trying to reacquire whatever it was he was so intent on. I mean, you can almost feel him quivering all over with tension. Like I said, had that fence not been there, he'd have been gone!
He does well in the truck. Takes up the entire back seat. Can't decide if he wants to be on the floor (he can't fit curled up on either side of the center hump anymore) or up on the 3 seat sectional... He does well with other people and doesn't seem to care one way or another about other dogs. It's been a while and I really need to get him out and in contact with other dogs again now that he's more "mature" (becoming a "male"). I took the harness off him months ago so only use it when needed. He does well but he doesn't, and I haven't tried to train him, to "heal". He stays pretty much by my side unless distracted by women... he gravitates toward women... ANY women. If I experience a woman thief, it's all over... I'll lose everything! Wonder why that is Southern?
To let him know it's ok, I've just been focusing on what he's focusing on and scratching his head and neck while telling him "It's OK, that's enough" Until he calms down and relaxes a bit, as I said above. He'll break focus and kinda walk in circles whining and growling... Happened again last night at 3:30 am. After I got him to relax a bit, I went around front and walked that rabbit out of the yard, down the driveway and across the street so he (hopefully) wouldn't lock onto it again. He watched me.
I completely understand where you're coming from Babs... but if he's seriously upset about something, he's all by himself and still young. I want to be there to help him if something goes down and he needs help. Who am I kidding LOL I'd go check even if I had 6 dogs! Call me nosey...
I am extremely happy that I have Mel and very happy with him and his progress!
You know, it is completely different than a "pet" dog. A pet dog barks more or less just to make noise. If you go up to them and put your hand on their neck or head they mostly stop and look up at you wanting praise for their singing. They normally aren't "rigid" and "focused". When Mel is lit off, and even when he's barking like he (knows, I) THINK there's something out there, he is wound up tight like an overloaded spring waiting to be sprung, and focused like nothing I've experienced before. When I finally break his focus, he walks around in circles kind of whining and trying to get back in focus... trying to reacquire whatever it was he was so intent on. I mean, you can almost feel him quivering all over with tension. Like I said, had that fence not been there, he'd have been gone!
He does well in the truck. Takes up the entire back seat. Can't decide if he wants to be on the floor (he can't fit curled up on either side of the center hump anymore) or up on the 3 seat sectional... He does well with other people and doesn't seem to care one way or another about other dogs. It's been a while and I really need to get him out and in contact with other dogs again now that he's more "mature" (becoming a "male"). I took the harness off him months ago so only use it when needed. He does well but he doesn't, and I haven't tried to train him, to "heal". He stays pretty much by my side unless distracted by women... he gravitates toward women... ANY women. If I experience a woman thief, it's all over... I'll lose everything! Wonder why that is Southern?
To let him know it's ok, I've just been focusing on what he's focusing on and scratching his head and neck while telling him "It's OK, that's enough" Until he calms down and relaxes a bit, as I said above. He'll break focus and kinda walk in circles whining and growling... Happened again last night at 3:30 am. After I got him to relax a bit, I went around front and walked that rabbit out of the yard, down the driveway and across the street so he (hopefully) wouldn't lock onto it again. He watched me.
I completely understand where you're coming from Babs... but if he's seriously upset about something, he's all by himself and still young. I want to be there to help him if something goes down and he needs help. Who am I kidding LOL I'd go check even if I had 6 dogs! Call me nosey...
I am extremely happy that I have Mel and very happy with him and his progress!
There may (God forbid) come a time when you will wish that you had. 
nuff said 
