There are plenty of places to walk around here, we don't have to stick to country lanes, or walk along the side of roads. It is possible to walk for miles through farmland, ancient woodland and the like. Sometimes we are spoilt for choice. The dog and I have a great time, mixing and matching our walking routes, well I do, he simply trots along at my side...
...normally.
There are two routes where his behaviour changes. One is a very quiet country lane and the other is a big expanse of barley field.
There is no traffic to speak of, no gas guns to scare the birds, nothing different, that I can perceive, from anywhere else - and yet his behaviour changes. He stops and digs his heels in, is reluctant to move forward. He looks at me, and pulls backwards on his lead, sometimes jumping backwards and tugging me to follow.
We make very slow progress for a few yards and then our walks progress at normal, happy pace.
This happens every time I choose to take those particular routes. They are only a quarter of a mile or so from home, so when I do them 'in reverse', so to speak, his pace is much faster, he pulls hard and moves quickly, but that could be because home is not too far away and he knows it.
These are the only two pathways where it happens, always in the same places.
Some of my favourite walks have to be accessed this way, so I persist in using them occasionally...
Don't "they say" that dogs sense things, which we do not...?
ReplyDeleteAnother mystery, for you to delve into. What is the history, of the areas, where he is not comfortable???????????
Betcha' something quite awful, happened there, many, many years ago.
Miss Read... Would she remember some old tale, about these areas???????? Or be able to point you in a direction, to find out more?????????
You have the most interesting blog!!! Really! Full of lovely photos, and delightful village happenings, and *Mysteries*!!!!!! :-))))
Elaine,
ReplyDeleteWhat a poser! We all know, dogs' sense of smell goes beyond our imaginations, and the range of wavelengths they can hear is much greater than ours. But those don't explain why Toby isn't troubled on your way home.
Enigma!
And I concur with wisps of words, above, "You have the most interesting blog!"
I agree with Wisps....dogs senses are greater than ours. Poor pooch. He knows something awful about those spots that we mere humans can't easily discern...
ReplyDeleteThere are many happenings which we cannot explain, and yet your dog is on a different wavelength to you and is uneasy about something at these two spots. Perhaps there is, in a different dimension, a logical explanation for his reluctance to pass through these areas. He can pick it up, but it is beyond our ken. I have had some odd experiences too down the years. Weird ain't it?
ReplyDeleteHello Luna, Brett, Silver Willow, and Jennie, Since I wrote the post I have been doing a little research. One of the areas which upsets Toby is approximately 15-20 feet east of the old railway line bridge which crosses the lane. So, following your comments I have done a very quick bit of research and discovered that back in the 1860-1880's there were at least three fatalities along that stretch of line. Of course that doesn't mean anything, but I don't believe that time is linear, so who knows? There is certainly something about it which upsets him.
ReplyDeleteThe barley field also runs along the side of the old railway line and the area which upsets him is where there was once a gated pedestrian crossing.
You know my thoughts on dogs Elaine. Their sense of smell, hearing and general acceptance or not of folk are a good litmus test. Rely on a dog over man any day, they tell it like it is without a hidden agenda.
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Hello Lettice, Luckily, these spots are quite open, otherwise I would be reluctant to walk on. I'm going to take his ball with me next time I cut through that barley field, see if I can distract him, make it easier for him.
DeleteAhhhh yes, in the 1800's, there were fatalities. And betcha' something dire happened, at that gated pedestrian crossing, tooooo.
ReplyDeleteMore sleuthing, perhaps????
My daughter in law had a very interesting happening, in an old local home, converted into offices. She brought her dog to work, when she did some weekend work there. And the dog would nottttt go into the room, where her office was. Waited outside, but would not go in.
And my daughter in law is very level headed and not into "Whooo-whooooo" things. So I fully believe her. And her dog.
Hello Luna, Goodness! Does she still work there?
DeleteI'll definitely be doing more research, so far all I have are a couple of vague, printed, reports, so they may or may not be connected with those particular spots, although they were certainly within that short stretch. More, if I manage to discover anything.
Does my daughter-in-law still work in that old house/offices? Not now, this happened quite a while ago. But it did not stop her, from working there, then. :-) Of course, during regular work days, she was not the only person there. And even when her big Black Lab, would not enter that back former bedroom, she did. Guess she figured she had her, to protect her. :-)))
DeleteBut I don't know, that dog abilities extend, to protection against things from the past.
My feeling about these things... Only a possibility, of course... That something traumatic happened, at these sites. Where dogs are 'spooked.' And dogs, and some people, are able to sense the remaining "vibrations" of that traumatic long-ago experience.
I didn't think of this, myself. The idea was in a book I read. Where the heroine, was able to feel such, in an old, old house. And feel as if, it was happening to her. So I liked the remaining traumatic vibrations idea. It would explain other things, I have read about.
Years ago, we visited Wookey Hole and took the tour of the caves. At the time, well-behaved dogs were allowed inside, so our Alsatian was with us. As we approached a little dog-shaped rock, the guide explained that this was the witch's dog which had been turned to stone. Our boys were thrilled with all of this talk about witches and suchlike. But our dog dug his heels in and refused to go past this dog rock; he was literally terrified. We wrapped one of the boy's anoraks around his head, turned hoim round a few times and in order to continue with the group, dragged him between us. Even though his eyes were covered, once past the 'dog' he shot forward, away from it. We had exactly the same problem on the return journey. Spooky Wookey Hole!!!
ReplyDeleteThat was spooky! So much history attached to that place, I guess he must have picked up on some of it. Did you ever see that 1970's series, "The Stone Tape"? it basically put forward the theory that events especially traumatic ones, were recorded into the rock/stones...
DeleteOh no I didn't see that series. I must see if I can find it online somewhere. YES!!! Described as a sci-fi horror, which is probably why I never watched it previously. I think I might be brave enough to watch it now. Thank you - I think!!!
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