I'm writing this because my wife was a bit freaked out today (not to just waste server and forum resource).

My GSD was sitting in the backyard around 50 feet from the house. He was sitting up as if at attention, his favorite bally at his feet.

My wife was in the house and went to the door. She found him at sitting at attention, and staring off into space. She thought it odd that he was motionless. She opened the screen door. This would have normally prompted some response. Still our faithful GSD sat motionless.

She called his name, still nothing. Then she stepped out and called louder. Yet he remained dead still as if in a trance.

This freaked her out a bit and she put on her shoes and stared to move towards him. Just as she stepped off the patio, he slowly perked up as if coming out of a slumber and came to her. Since then, he's been back to normal.

Hearing, check. Sight, check. His disposition seems perfect as normal. Since then everything has been check.

Has anyone ever had a similar experience? Do dogs "zone out" like people do sometimes?

Thanks for any replies.
David C

PS - this is the only time this (or anything like it) has every happened.

I would definately bring him to the vet. It sounds like a sort of seizure from the way u described it....I have seen it in dogs and humans alike. They just stare into outer space and it takes a little to snap themn out of it. Then they never even knew that they were doing it...(well, at least the humans didn't know....no way to know if the dogs knew or not <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> ) My friends dog started out like that and it progressively got worse.
Wouldnt hurt to be on the safe side.

Pat

What happened to your friend's dog?

How often did it happen? Was there some treatment?
Was it caused by head injury? Or by genetics?

Just wondering.
MDHZ

It was a genetic thing. He was put on a medication (I don't know what), but it only slowed the progress down. It got to the point that he had to put him down before 3 or 4 years of age.
Get him checked out at least to rule it out...always better safe than sorry. Don't get too stressed though until u find out what it is....could be nothing at all. It just sounds like the exact same thing from how you described it. If you have a vet in the area that specializes in this or has delt with it before then that would be better.
I don't know how often exaclty...I know they got worse (to the point where he would convulse on the floor) as time went on and more frequent....not a pretty sight.


Pat