It’s Just a Hot Air Balloon?!

If you have ever spoken these words to a canine friend, you aren’t seeing it from their perspective as they seem to go barking mad as it floats through the sky. While watching a new friend this past week, I was shocked when I saw him race across the yard in a very defensive mode and barking for the first time in the thirteen visits, I had with him. I stood up to see what had held his attention. It wasn’t the neighbor dogs to the left of us who were jumping up and down and trying to climb over the fence to have a look at us, it was the hot air balloon that was coming into sight.

Now what I noticed about this kid was he was very aware of the sounds of things flying overhead, like one who hadn’t ever seen one before which knowing a little of his background is entirely possible. As he observed the various planes, I would confirm it was an airplane, or helicopter, or the sound of an eighteen-wheeler in the background and he would relax then lay down.

The hot air balloon which to our ears and nose doesn’t have an effect, does so for them. They can hear the fuel being turned on/off to keep the balloon afloat and can smell the gases of the fuel. For him, after yelling at it to not come any closer and it did, he ran for safety inside the house. We also must remember that what is in our normal repertoire of experiences may not be in theirs.

I came across this once before with a pup who had been initially raised with cats, any insecurities including strange to her noises, vibrations, and things that flew into the yard were responded to in the way of an insecure feline – hide first, ask questions much later. So, I did what I had done with this girl, everything I observed him take notice of, I shared what it was and that it was okay.

With another canine friend, she had ultra-sensitive hearing and sensing abilities. When we lived through a house renovation project together, she barked the whole time a nail gun was being used – and I can honestly say I did not blame, these things are very loud. However, when I tuned in to where I was feeling it – which was my heart and said to her, I feel it here – do you? As soon as I acknowledged it, she focused in on me, I said this is what it is and it is going to be okay, she laid down and went to sleep.

Know from the animal perspective, it isn’t just anything! It’s like us seeing something for the first time and not having the internet, YouTube, Wikipedia or anything else to look it up. Sometimes the best thing we can do for them is to tune in to what has stopped them in their tracks, become observant to what we are hearing and feeling while confirming with them what we are experiencing. Like us, they want to know they are being heard and understood.