When Your dog looks like a wolf

Today, while herding, my student’s large German Shepherd ran a sheep into a fence and then grabbed it by the neck. No damage was done.

The owner was of course, horrified. These aren’t her sheep. I always fear for my sheep when they run towards a fence - not because a dog will grab them, but because fences can easily kill a sheep by breaking their neck.

We were all prepared when this happened. We were already on the move, I had my flag up and was trying to get the dog to pause enough to give the sheep an opening to get back with her flock. When she hit the fence, of course my heart stopped - but she hit it low and was caught by the loose netting. No harm done. The dog went straight for her throat. I flapped my flag and scolded, and the dog jumped back and the sheep scrambled up uninjured and returned to her flock.

The owner was shaken.

I get it. I live in a world where dogs are very much creatures governed by instinct. Sometimes that instinct gets scrambled. Emotions run high. My dogs have killed the odd packrat and Dice in his heyday snatched a quail out of the air. Matilda ran a lamb into a pole and we had to euthanize it.

This world is being replaced by a world that infantilizes dogs. Dogs are fur babies, innocents requiring our endless supervision.

Coming from that worldview, seeing a dog act primal and wild is terrifying. It would be like watching a toddler sprout fangs and run down a deer.

I’ve been noodling over this shift for years.  We created it in the veterinary profession. I watched it.  We called owners ‘pet parents’ and every meeting talked about the human animal bond. We wanted people to see value in their pets and the solutions we in the veterinary profession provide.

What started as a push to bring cats indoors, and provide preventive care to pets, has morphed into an upside down world view where pets are surrogate children, and forever seen as innocents.

We both saw the same incident, my student and I. I saw a dog that had previously been unable to leave his owner - frightened of the environment and the sheep - take a chance, and make a mistake that we quickly remedied. I saw a moment in time and a lesson learned. I saw a dog do dog things in a moment of confusion, misplaced drive, and arousal.

The sheep was fine. The dog was fine and looking for direction. I suggested we simply go back to work.

His owner was in tears.

I know how terrifying seeing a sheep run at a fence is. I felt it. I am always terrified for that heartbeat before they choose to crash or veer. My heart stopped for the shortest beat when I saw her choose to hit. But she hit low. She was uninjured.

I reassured his owner. I told her the ewe was fine. No harm done. Dogs make mistakes.

Then I saw. She hadn’t seen the same thing I had.

I cannot speak for what she saw. But I imagine she saw this sweet fluffy dog that is big and powerful and theatrically dog reactive - a big roaring menace when dogs get too close  - reflect her worst fears back to her in real time.

She wasn’t seeing the same dog I was. She was wondering if he had tried to kill the ewe. And if it did, what did that mean when he blew up at strange dogs? She was wondering if he was dangerous.

The dog went for the throat - that’s what she said. And, yes, I saw that too. I saw intent to grip and grip harder. But, with a yell, and a slap of a flag the dog disengaged. That’s the part that matters to me.

Does today’s incident tell me what this dog would do to a kitten, another dog, a kid, my sheep in the future? No. He’s not an innocent who has suddenly gone bad - he’s an apex predator governed by instincts, drive, and a bit of fear. He reacted in the moment with the only tool he had available to him.

There’s an innocence to the worldview that makes dogs into ageless puppies - but there’s a beauty and respect that comes from seeing dogs as I do.

What I saw today from this dog was amazing - a dog testing confidence, and leaning into instinct - then a chase, and a grip. A small blip, a known risk, and thankfully no harm done.

I’m excited about next week’s lesson. I see a dog finding himself in instinct - I’m hoping his mom is excited too.