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My Dog Tries to Chase Turkey Vultures

My dog’s nemesis

Baxter loves most things. People. Animals. Soft surfaces—even hard surfaces sometimes. However, there is one thing he despises. Turkey vultures.

Occasionally also known as buzzards, these birds are relatively plentiful around the farm. Every so often they swoop down and perch on the roof of the barn. And Baxter loses his mind.

Hackles go up. There is barking, growling, charging. The only problem is that he is on the ground and they’re on the barn many, many, many feet up in the air.

Yes, my dog is ridiculous.

If he can convince them to take off and leave the barn, he will pursue them. Once again, him on the ground and them in the air.

Watching Baxter run through the fields while looking up at the sky is one of the silliest sights I’ve seen.

Once he’s satisfied the birds are a safe distance away from the barn, he will return to the house, happy to have run off the marauders.

My dog tries to chase turkey vultures

Turkey Vultures

Baxter and turkey vultures

Who is your dog’s nemesis?

Does your dog ever chase anything that’s unattainable?

Julia Thomson is a blogger at Home on 129 Acres where she writes about her adventures of country living and DIY renovating. She writes regularly for That Mutt.

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chessey

Friday 20th of October 2017

I really wish the thing my dog loves to chase the most was an unattainable goal. We have deskunked my mastiff pitt Dane mix five times in the three years of owning him. One time I truly believe he wrapped his humugous jowls around the skunks butt and inhaled, they make mouth wash for dogs, which doesn't really hide the skunk he sucked up into his sinus cavity nor did it help in his saliva glands, it did make me feel better due to the fact that I felt I was at least doing something.

Lindsay Stordahl

Friday 20th of October 2017

Oh my gosh! 3 times!

Julia at Home on 129 Acres

Wednesday 18th of October 2017

I love the, "Didn't I do a good job?" look.

Lindsay Stordahl

Thursday 12th of October 2017

Remy tries to chase all birds, which is no surprise being a bird dog. He also chases rabbits and lizards. He seems to know he can't catch any of these things and thankfully we can have him off leash and he won't actually run off for more than a few yards. He stops and has a look like "Ha! Scared them off." We did have an issue with him chasing our relative's chickens however. He grabbed a mouthful of feathers and now needs to be leashed when the chickens are out. Silly bird dogs.