Don't Laugh, but a Fish Slapped Kirby

[kjwarnold]

Most of you know that Packy is the fisherman in our family and loves to swim and catch fish. He can catch them from the dock, from the shoreline or while he's swimming. Kirby is our duck hunter and loves to chase ducks as we lure them to shore with bread crumbs. If there aren't any ducks around, Kirby will fish with Packy and can also catch them from the dock and shore. He hasn't caught one swimming yet.

Now don't laugh (Packy is doing enough of that), but Kirby was slapped in the face by a fish that jumped up out of the water. That fish just smacked Kirb right upside the head and it scared him to death. Now he isn't excited about going out to the dock, which he used to love. He doesn't want to jump in the water, which he did constantly, and he hardly wants to wade at the shoreline. If he sees fish coming toward him, he backs up and starts barking. Sometimes he runs to me and wants me to hold him.

Now how can I get him to "get back in the saddle" for something that he really enjoyed? We've put him in the water and he's had to swim back to shore, and sometimes he will jump in after that, but we have to force him the first time. We have to lure him to wade with treats. Do you think he'll forget the horrific fish experience by next spring and just start back into fishing and duck hunting like it didn't happen? Or should we keep at him so he learns that a fish really won't hurt him?

Yes, Packy is almost rolling on the floor laughing at Kirby. He'd love it if a fish would slap him in the face, because he'd snap at it and probably catch it! He's really fearless when it comes to the lake and all water activities. He's pretty well-known on our part of the lake; fishermen stop by our dock when they see us out and ask if that's the little dog that catches fish. I might hire him out as a fishing guide...

So, anyway, who's got ideas? And no laughing...

[hheldorfer]

C'mon, how can we NOT laugh at that?

I think that his fear of fish will dissipate over time. Just keep getting him into the water and he'll probably overcome his memory of the dreaded Slapping Fish.

What a hoot!

[pindrop]

Giggling here (but don't let Kirby hear me). It was a great story and even hubby got a chuckle out of it as he knows your pups and has seen the boys various fish catching videos.

I guess all I might do is to keep encouraging him to get back in the water and I'm sure by next year it will be long forgotten (keeping my fingers crossed as I say this.)

[Lynn in TN]

I can't help but laugh. I can just see it and the shocked look on Kirby's face. How funny.

I would keep encouraging him to get in the water also. He will eventually come around.

[Dempsy's Mom]

That fish probably had it in for Packy, but poor Kirby got the slap by mistake. That fish had pretty good timing - he would of been a good match for Packy. I hope Kirby gets back into his outdoor activities, but I bet he won't forget - it's amazing what they remember.

[remltr]

I used to teach swimming and water survival in my younger days and have been wracking my brain trying think what if anything you could apply to Kirby's situation. Well I got nothing. Might I suggest that Kirby start packing a spear gun, I am sure that will make him feel more secure.

[jodi0553]

I think the suggestions for keeping at it with him are great, especially given that when you force him in, he'll go in willingly the next time.

I will add the cautionary tale that Currey got scared by a garbage truck over 4 years ago. We do everything in our power to pretend like life is all cheery whenever there is a truck around, but he's just now reaching the point where he doesn't run scared when the Fed Ex truck comes or when he hears the the back-up beep-beep of a truck even from the next block. Garbage day still sends him under a desk for all AM hours (and garbage day is M-W here) but he at least has gotten over the uncontrollable shaking when he hears the garbage truck. How did this happen? Honestly, I have no clue. DH had him out on the line in the front yard (yes, I blame the hubby!) and the truck came by and spooked the heck out of him. We've never caved to his fear and have stubbornly acted as though nothing is amiss when there is a big bad truck on the loose, doing the Cesar Milan confident walk thing, but it took 2 years till we saw any progress at all and at 4 years he's still a bit nutty about it. He's not fearful about anything else (ok, except drainage grates, but those things are terrifying, right?) and is otherwise confident and spunky.

Good luck getting Kirby back in the water. What a MEAN ol' fishy for slapping him <-- (not me laughing at him!)

[Idaho Cairns]

We have to think dog ego here--it is one thing to get bitch slapped by a bitch, every dog expects that what with all the sniffing and mounting but to get bitch slapped by a fish is just downright embarrassing, especially for Cairn Terrier. Whale of a Tale tho, maybe we Orca think about Pubfishing the story in "Outdoor Dog" , "Field and Barks", or "Pups Life" as a cautionary tail of why Kirby shouldn't angle with the big dogs.

[gt_mustang_gal]

Not laughing here....nope

More like cracking up!

I'm so sorry, I really tried to hold it back, I promise.

As for the answer, only time will tell. I certainly hope he can overcome his fear. However, anytime something like that happened to my Westie, he would never forget. There were SO many things he was terrified of and no matter what I tried, nothing could make him comfortable around those big bad monsters, areas, or noises.

Poor Kirby. I bet he's hoping a duck will attack Packy for laughing at him!

[janis]

Bad ole Fish! Poor Kirby. We had a similar event at the park. My Kirby stuck his nose down a hole next to a tree and ended up swarmed by bees! You should have seen him trying to cover his rear! He avoids that tree now! But, we are back in the park. I'm sure Kirby will come around. Just keep encouraging him.

[Hawkeye]

Poor Kirby how humiliating and to have Packy laughing at him on top of it. We would never laugh at him...snicker...snicker.

I do hope he gets over the "fish that slapped him up side the head" episode by next spring.

[Malcolm's Dad]

Aww poor Kirby. Maybe you can find one of those trout wall plaques, the one that sings and flaps its tail. Let Kirby tear it apart. Next time those fish will know who they are dealing with.

[Rohnda]

Kirby will be back at it with time... Luigi loves to fish. Of course he hasn't been traumatized (yet). This was his first outing last spring. He's not as brave as Kirby, loves the dock, loves going in the water. Providing all his feet are still firmly on the ground. As soon as he becomes bouyant it's back to the shallow water. While in the boat as soon as we get a hit on our fishing pole he's up on his hind feet waiting to see what's reeled in. Keep at it Kirby, your cairn ways will over take your fears.

[kjwarnold]

Good news! We put Kirby in to swim to shore from the dock, then he ran right back out and jumped in all by himself! Once back wading at shore, he caught a fish! He says it was the fish that slapped him and take that, you nasty, mean fish! Looks like the Cairn courage has re-asserted itself. Or he got tired of Packy laughing at him...

[Kathryn]

Glad to hear that Kirby not only caught the fish but, more importantly, regained his cairnly dignity. Well done, Kirby.

[hheldorfer]

Glad to hear Kirby got right back to business and showed Packy that he's not afraid. Take *that* you stinky old fish!

[ScruffynMag]

Well done Kirby, the story really made me laugh. How humiliating for Kirby but I'd have loved to have seen it. I'm glad he's got over it now as he would have missed out on his enjoyment a lot.

[tomatosandwich]

Oh the humiliation! Poor little fella! I'm glad to hear he's bouncing back from it!

[gt_mustang_gal]

YAY! Good job Kirby! Now I'm waiting for a duck to attack Packy so Kirby can explain "karma"....

[kjwarnold]

Packy has no fear of the ducks and before we got Kirby, Pack actually caught one and "rode" it. I mean, he was on top of it riding it like a horse, with the duck jumping around and flapping its wings, quacking loudly. Packy just had all four legs wrapped around it! I could almost hear him yell, "Yee-haw!" The duck finally got away with a flurry of feathers flying and literally ran across the water as fast as he could go. Packy casually walked back to the dock with a smile on his face and went back to swimming. So I'm not sure a duck coming at him would scare him.

[Hawkeye]

Way to go Kirby!! You show those darn fish who's in charge! Apparently Packy has made it very clear that he rules with the ducks. That must have been hilarious to see, wish you caught that on tape. I believe Packy and Kirby are the lake police.

[gt_mustang_gal]

Wow. You seriously need to keep a video camera with you at ALL times! The duck riding incident would have been priceless.

[rtherapy60]

Here, get Kirby this non-slapping Mackerel. It sqeeks and he can get even and overcome his terrifying fish tale..lol