My boy saved me from a scorpion!

[blackandtan]

I was getting into bed last night and my boy had his favorite toy on the bed. Its this stuffed animal thing. I went to give it to him and he was totally avoiding it. He was jumping back. It was the strangest thing. My wife said to show it to him so he doesnt get so freaked out. So I did and he totally would dodge it and avoid it.

I was totally confused. I put it on the floor and my boy would sty near by, but he wouldnt get near it. It was dimly lit in the room so I couldnt see very good and this brown thing falls out into my hand. I dont think anything of it and I actually think its a leaf or something. It falls to the ground and my boy is freaking out. Totally avoiding it. I look down and the brown thing is moving. I hit the lights and its a scorpion!!!

I am looking for an explanation here. Not just "dogs just know" or "they have a sixth sense".

I thought he got bit by it so that is how he knew to avoid it, but he did not get stung by it. He has never seen a scorpion in his life. How did he know it was a bad thing?

Maybe dogs can smell venom or something?

If it wasnt for him, we would have crawled into bed with the scorpion loose in our bed!

[StephanieandToby]

yyyyyiiiiikkkkeeesss!!!!tHERE ARE NO SCORPIONS WHERE i COME FROM, SO THAT STORY IS BEYOND SCARY!!!What a good dog!I think you might be right that your dog might have been bitten at one time and learned to fear the scorpions...by smell probably...who knows what dogs really smell???that story makes me want to shake out my slippers!!Toby has alerted me to 2 rattlesnakes in Okanagen Falls....but that doesn't completely freak me out like a little evil scorpion!

[moondog]

Originally Posted by blackandtan

I am looking for an explanation here. Not just "dogs just know" or "they have a sixth sense".

He could smell it! Many insects have glands that will emit an odor when threatened or disturbed. Don't know what kind of scorpion it was, but for a whip scorpion "there are two glands that open one on each side of the anus and discharge a stream of fluid when the animal is irritated. This fluid has the odor of vinegar and is high in acetic acid content."

I bet he'll give you a heads up for stinkbugs, too! Good Dog!

[Squeaky2004]

Wow what a wonderful guy!!! It is quite amazing what they will keep you away from. There was a really odd coloured centipede outside on one of our walks one time (we were sitting on the grass for a rest). I did not see it but went to move and looked at Squeak to tell her it was time to go. Well she would not let me move, she was standing stalk still at full attention, only when I said her name did she look at me and then right back to the ground then I noticed that ugly thing. I moved the other way and she followed and that was the end of that. I have never seen a centipede look like that before (it was a light yellowish color with black spots). Maybe it was poisonous? I am not sure.

Good thing your boy noticed that before you got stung, give hime big hugs and kisses!!!

[laurlitt]

I have shivers and no 'real' explanation except our dogs are unbelieveable more than we know...

I'm guessing a lot has to do with smell. My husband used to bring home the rattles from rattlesnakes that he'd have to kill on the job and the dogs would freak out... They'd be interested in the rattle sound they make but would avoid and back up away from them... Was it the smell???? Had to be...

Glad you guys didn't get bit...

[MontanaRott]

Wow. That is scary! Good boy, I hope he got a nice cookie for that job!

[Brooke&Ryan]

Geeez, I would be giving that boy mucho cookies. Scorpion, yikes!!!

Brooke

[Patty1231]

Originally Posted by Brooke&Ryan

Scorpion, yikes!!!

Brooke

Makes ya thankful to live in Central PA, doesn't it!

[Brooke&Ryan]

Originally Posted by Patty1231

Makes ya thankful to live in Central PA, doesn't it!

You better believe it!!!!!

[ACERSMOM]

No scorpions in PA, but I live in this old farm house with those nasty 1000 legger things which I hate, along with spiders. I had a boy "Otto" who knew that I hated those things and he would always show them to me if they were on the walls out of his reach. If they were in his reach he would knock them down and stomp them into the carpet. Then he would look at me with this sense of pride for saving me from those nasty buggers. I really miss that big guy....