As I watch my dim cute dog barking ferociously from her position in the middle of the front yard, feet planted firmly, neck hair duly raised in alarm, I can’t help but hang my head in humorous frustration. For you see, it’s Sarah, my daughter, standing by the car in all her yellow-haired innocence that’s causing this canine uproar. Sarah. The one thing Petra loves more than food.
Knowing Sarah was out there, I let Petra out to ummm…you know…and rather than run to Sarah, as expected, when she was finished her business, she instead took up an “I must guard the house from this hitherto unknown and completely strange human person” stance. And I’m left standing here in the doorway thinking WTF? Once she braved the few feet to investigate the offending creature further, Petra was overjoyed to find it was her dear friend and nap pal, the purveyor of French fries.
I’m awed by the fact that Petra was brave enough to check out something that frightened her as she never would’ve done that when we first got her. I’m equally concerned that her eyesight is apparently becoming such that she couldn’t distinguish her friend no more than 10 feet away. Something that wasn’t a concern before.
So now I’m wondering…is it as my mother believes – that Petra was being a tattle-tale and telling on Sarah for being outside when, according to Petra’s sense of the rules, she shouldn’t have been? Or, did Petra really not recognize her? Or perhaps seeing Sarah out of her usual context sort of threw Petra off her game? OR is it more sinister than all of that?
Perhaps Petra saw the shell that we all believe to be Sarah but which has been taken over by an alien spore, demonic entity, or wayward ghost looking for a new home? Maybe I’m underestimating Petra’s keen powers of observation. Is it possible Petra can sense the evil lurking within? Now I just don’t know what to believe.
I mean, isn’t this how all the best horror movies start?
Musings from a Tangled Mind 
your daughter has been kidnapped by space aliens or became a Republican and the dog was warning you.
I had to laugh out loud! We have had young dogs with good eyesight bark furiously at familiar people due to being preoccupied and then, startled into being scared! This is my best “guess.” 😀
That’s kind of what I think too. I think she saw Sarah out of her usual context — she wasn’t expecting her to be there — so, she went in defensive mode.
Yes! It’s funny what Gigi is saying about checking for an alien invasion of the “bodysnatchers.”
Get a skin sample when she’s asleep, take it to a 24 hour lab. Just to make sure, I mean. No sense in taking chances. Dogs are pretty smart…sometimes…once in a while. Well, you know.
Now see, that is a great idea! Better safe than sorry I always say.
Absolutely…in cases such as alien invasion…you just never know.