When a dog knows better

  • When a dog knows better

    Posted by Tommy on June 11, 2021 at 2:43 PM

    Some years ago I was traveling up the (gudbrandals lågen) river with a small dog team, the river is fine for going fast. Suddenly my lead dog named Kyrre stopped in his tracks and started to pull in a different direction not following the old tracks from earlier trips. I had a bit of a discussion with him trying to get him to follow the old tracks. I pushed hard on him and Kyrre finally gave me the “look ” saying I will f….ing fight you 0wer this. Kyrre was of the old school sleddogs. I decided I wanted all of my body parts intact, and to fix this obedience thing another day. Kyrre made a big half circle to the right and back in to the old tracks and Kyrre,myself and the rest of the team continued the trip. On the way back Kyrre turned to follow his new half circle. That was when I understood why Kyrre had done what he did. My old tracks was gone and open water was occupying that space. If Kyrre had not stopped and not stood his ground my team and myself would have gone trug the bad is and drowned. I felt like a idiot. I was ashamed to look Kyrre in the eyes. Hi had saved my life and the life of the other dog’s and I had given him a hard time about it. I have never felt so stupid. Kyrre slept in my bed that night.

    Some times you just have to trust your dog

    Anyone who has experienced something similar

    Tommy replied 3 years ago 3 Members · 4 Replies
  • 4 Replies
  • Gerard

    Member
    October 12, 2021 at 10:11 AM

    I bet you will respect him a little more from now on huh .

    • Tommy

      Member
      October 12, 2021 at 11:41 AM

      I already respected him a lot and I did know that Kyrre was a smart dog but I just wasn’t humble enough.

      You can be sure I will remember that episode for as long as I live.

      What makes this so shameful too me is that I already had enough experience to know better I just let pride and stupidity get the better of me.

      Kyrre was with me for several years after this as a sleddog, hunting dog and back packing dog, and ofcourse a excellent friend.

      His son Charlie is still with me and I can see a lot of Kyrre in him.

  • melvin

    Member
    October 13, 2021 at 9:36 AM

    Amazing that your dog stood up to you in this way and saved your lives!!

    My story is a little less dramatic: during the morning training, my little female working GSD started barking like crazy at a closed locker room on an open soccer field, it was 6 a.m. and still fairly dark outside. The locker was about 30/40 meters from where we stood.

    She was only 4 mo at the time and I told her to shut up!

    10min later, a strange and aggressive guy came out of the locker, and she had already sensed that he was behind that door from far away… The guy finally left away without incident.

    It is amazing what instincts and acute senses they have, just unbelievable.

  • Tommy

    Member
    October 13, 2021 at 10:04 AM

    Hei Melvin

    Think how important this instinct and abilitys have been to people back when we lived in caves an had to deal with danger all the time

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