Sparkly's true story about the fictional imaginary dog

During the run-up to Christmas, while my son and I were on our way to a local out-of-town supermarket, I decided to have a little fun. In my right hand, I was carrying a shopping bag. There was nothing in my left hand, but this is not the impression I had suddenly chosen to give my son. As we walked, I occasionally slowed my pace of walking and glanced toward the ground, almost as though I was waiting for an imaginary dog with an imaginary lead, which I was (of course) holding with my empty hand.

As one might expect, my son thought I had completely lost the plot. He had certainly never heard of any post-menopausal women suddenly having an imaginary pet, whilst on the way to a supermarket, but then again, I think he's come to realise that absolutely anything is possible with me. Either way, my son opted not to protest when I stopped at various lamp posts because the fictional imaginary dog needed to wee.

In the distance, there was a man walking towards us with a dog (a real one). To err on the side of caution, I decided it wise to switch the hand I was carrying the shopping bag with, with the empty hand carrying the fictional imaginary dog lead.

What I had not anticipated was that this man's dog would stop and start having a good sniff around where my fictional imaginary dog was. I kid you not, the real dog sensed the presence of my fictional imaginary dog.

So, the question I ask is this? Between a woman who knew she had no pet dog, and a real dog that clearly thought she did have a pet dog, which one of us was actually barking mad?

Parents

Deleted User over 2 years ago

Neither was mad in that scenario, in my opinion.

You had a good reason for doing what you were doing with the imaginary dog - it was entertaining for you and your son.

The dog had a good reason to stop and smell at the post........the dog would have been able to smell markers from an untold number of dogs - probably in the dozens, who would have "posted" at that location over the past few hours and days.

Never underestimate the ability and brains of a dog - nor indeed their absolute disinterest in our behaviours with imaginary dogs.

CONFESSION......I occasionally do that thing where I look up high at a building as if there is something interesting up there....general members of the public often look up in the same way, presumably for reasons of FOMO - I have never seen a dog fall for it !

You are a good & fun mum Sparkly !

Reply

Deleted User over 2 years ago

Neither was mad in that scenario, in my opinion.

You had a good reason for doing what you were doing with the imaginary dog - it was entertaining for you and your son.

The dog had a good reason to stop and smell at the post........the dog would have been able to smell markers from an untold number of dogs - probably in the dozens, who would have "posted" at that location over the past few hours and days.

Never underestimate the ability and brains of a dog - nor indeed their absolute disinterest in our behaviours with imaginary dogs.

CONFESSION......I occasionally do that thing where I look up high at a building as if there is something interesting up there....general members of the public often look up in the same way, presumably for reasons of FOMO - I have never seen a dog fall for it !

You are a good & fun mum Sparkly !

Children

Sporadic Sparkly over 2 years ago in reply to Deleted User

Unknown said:
Neither was mad in that scenario, in my opinion.

Thank you for your diplomatic response Number.

Perhaps it should be noted that when the real dog had stopped to have a good old sniff, it had been between lamp posts.

The only occasions I have witnessed dogs come remotely close to 'falling for it' is when trying to give the impression that a dog toy or ball will be thrown in a different direction to the one the object is actually thrown in.

Anyway yes, it was all good fun that made an otherwise dull and boring walk entertaining.
AuTriker over 2 years ago in reply to Deleted User

Unknown said:
I occasionally do that thing where I look up high at a building as if there is something interesting up there....general members of the public often look up in the same way, presumably for reasons of FOMO - I have never seen a dog fall for it !

Have you actually tried it with a dog? Because that is how animals without hands point. My cat does not understand human pointing, but does sometimes look where I look if I do it in a pointed manner, especially if it is actually at something. Like if I gave him a treat but he didn't notice where it went, I might point at it with my eyes and then he goes to look and finds it. (Their eyesight is optimised for hunting so they don't see a small unmoving close object very well).

Dogs being more social than cats I would expect them to be be quite sensitive to the idea of looking where others look, as it might be at prey or a threat. In fact animals probably do all tend to look where anyone looks if they do it in a manner suggesting it might be a threat. But dogs probably would if it might be prey or even just something that smells interesting.