I had a really odd couple of incidents with Connor over the last couple of weeks.

He's settling in really well, getting much more confident around people and places and his toys and bitework is coming on lovely.

However, we walked past a Butchers shop with him in the high street twice now - ooh I'll pop in and see if they have any bones! As we got close, Connor froze. Tail tucked, wide eyed, ears back - full on scared. WTF?!?

Looked around, absolutely nothing else to freak him out, and Teagan was completely unfazed. This has happened twice outside 2 different Butchers in 2 different towns, so it's not the place.

I spoke to the breeder in case there were any previous issues or encounters. Nothing.

She did say however, that one of her old Police dogs had a similar experience. This dog was tough, afraid of nothing, but did exactly the same thing once passing a Butchers shop. (This was a GSD, not a Rottie). Weird.

Has anyone had a similar experience, or have any idea why he might be scared of a Butchers? I'd have thought they loved the smell of fresh meat (I do! )

A wild guess but maybe it's sensory overload...all that blood and meat smells like too much death concentrated in one small place???

I honestly have no idea but I'll be interested to see what others say.

Can any of the regular experts give me an idea on this?

It's a bit strange so I'm not sure if it's something I should be concerned about, or just train through as normal.

No-one I've spoken to so far has any idea

I would say I agree with Sarah Morris. Dogs have strong sense of smell and I believe they can smell corpses nearby. Especially the meat, abandoned odor skin/fur, and blood. If you watch slaughter house videos on youtube, you can see horses, cows, and pigs try to avoid going in a slaughter room. I believe animals do know when they smell dead bodies around.

I think that Sarah's right, too. I'm going by the reaction that some dogs have to the vet's office, even if they have never been through a procedure or had any unpleasant experience there.

I do think that the smell of blood and death figures into it, although of course the smell of fear and just the presence of so many other animal smells are probably part of the vet reaction.

Would that be true in carnivores/predators though?

At least here, animals aren't actually slaughtered at the butchers, so I can't see there be an issue with the smell of fear.

Rob, how does Connor react to meat at home? I'm assuming normally.

I agree as well. Not only does a butcher reek of animal carcass and entrails in a way that no other location would, but if it's actually a kill site, the air might also contain fear induced pheromones from the animals who met their demise there. These smells would be absolutely invisible to humans, but it's one of the reasons (as mentioned) that slaughterhouse animals balk and refuse to walk down a line that they can tell petrified the animals in front of them.

I'd work on this just like any other intense distraction...
Poor boy I'd be a little freaked out too if I had his nose...

~Natalya

 Quote: jennifer mullen

Would that be true in carnivores/predators though?

Many species have been found to emit fear pheromones, mainly prey animals looking to inform other members of their species to stay away from specific areas known to be inhabited by predators. However, there is some research to suggest that some PREDATOR species also make use of these scents by ORIENTING to them, as opposed to avoiding them. It would be like sitting at the top of a blocked off trailhead, right behind a "trail closed due to washout" sign and waiting for passersby to walk up and read the sign, before turning around... either way, these smells definitely register with a lot of animals, and for those who've never experienced them, I bet it's a little spooky or confusing.

~Natalya

 Quote: Jennifer Mullen

Would that be true in carnivores/predators though?

Remember how many dogs and cats you hear of that have no idea what to do with a chicken when being switched to a raw diet.

 Quote: Michael_Wise

 Quote: Jennifer Mullen

Would that be true in carnivores/predators though?

Remember how many dogs and cats you hear of that have no idea what to do with a chicken when being switched to a raw diet.

Yeah, that's a good point.

I have had to poke a hole in an egg to keep it from being used as a toy until it was finally shattered, say, under the couch. I betcha that a wild canid would not need that hint.