Squirrel-hunting German shepherd has viewers cracking up with his hilariously stealthy moves
He is a shadow, a quiet wind, a force unseen, a bane for squirrels – or at least that’s what this big goofus thinks.
A video featuring a German shepherd was posted on Reddit and has been leaving people in stitches.
The barely-a-minute-long clip shows a slow creeping German shepherd approaching the length of a wooden fence.
You won’t see it at first but right on the foot of the fence, you’ll see small skittering movements. If one would ask a German shepherd, they’ll explain to you that stalking these animals requires intense amount of subtlety, stealth, and precision.
If this dog possesses those qualities, that’s an argument for another time.
All we know is we’re all rooting for our big guy who is, as one commenter puts it, “as stealthy as a Harley motorcycle”.
He stops in his tracks every so often when he feels like the squirrel is sensing his approach.
We don’t know if this guy is aware of how big he is but we’re pretty sure it’s the same as us sensing if a truck is approaching.
Meanwhile, another German shepherd watches the whole sting operation. If he’s assessing the skills of his brother, we’ll never know.
At one point, he even lunged a bit but quickly regained composure when he realized that he’s not yet compromised. Talk about amazing reflexes!
But why do dogs love chasing after critters so much?
If it moves, dogs will most likely chase after it, most especially with herding dogs and sighthounds. German shepherds, in particular, have a penchant for hunting smaller animals.
According to the American Kennel Club, chasing after prey is a highly self-rewarding behavior. But it can also put them at risk of other threats if they run after things instinctively.
They might fall into dangerous terrain or get hit by vehicles if they suddenly sprint across the road. While letting them run around in your yard is okay, just like our stealthy buddy over here, dog owners should be more careful when outside protected boundaries.
They can also get into trouble with local authorities if they start chasing after park animals so it’s best to train them to calm when needed.
One way to do this is by rechanneling their natural desire to training games like fetch, tug, or hide and seek. Leash training is also important as it can keep your dog focused when you’re outside walking or exercising.
So is chasing a bad thing?
No, this is just their natural response to an instinctive urge. The good thing about it is that you can make these activities safer for you, your dog, and the local squirrel population.
Besides, this adorable goofus won’t get any closer than he is.
It’s just another day of spent energy and satisfying curiosities.
Just look at how proud he is in his celebratory trot!
And before anyone asks, there are no squirrels hurt in this crafty sting operation.
Watch the adorable video below!
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Source: Reddit, Daily Star, American Kennel Club