Both of my boys can be found chasing flies inside the house and out. They have done this for years. It's not like we are swarmed with them, occasionally one may get into the house and both of them go after the same fly. When outside they each just go wild trying to chase and catch them all. Do your dogs do this? And if so do you know why?
I have not seen any dogs trying to catch a fly. They usually just ignore the insects all together.
In my opinion, your dogs are just bored. To the dogs, catching fly could be fun, it is for playing around.
You might want to increase playing objects for your dogs, get some dog toys, or better yet playing with them yourself.
My dog does this to flies, bees or any type of bug that moves. I think it is annoying for them to have something buzzing around them, so they try to snap at them to get rid of them. My dog hasn't ever gotten one I don't think. I couldn't imagine her snapping at a bee and actually getting it! Ouch!
(08-02-2012, 09:02 AM)Ram Wrote: I have not seen any dogs trying to catch a fly. They usually just ignore the insects all together.
In my opinion, your dogs are just bored. To the dogs, catching fly could be fun, it is for playing around.
You might want to increase playing objects for your dogs, get some dog toys, or better yet playing with them yourself.
I'm not sure how they could be bored, both are very active and we have a lot of playtime together, they have tons of toys, not to mention the long walks, but it could be a possibility.
My small dog chases flies and any other type of insect. She'll actually stop playing with me to chase a bug at times. I think it's just because it's fun to her. She doesn't act upset or annoyed, just excited like she does when chasing a ball. It seems like just some sort of game that she loves to play. I think some of it is fueled by curiosity of "what the heck is this thing" and some just "it's moving...I want to catch it!" I think it might be a small dog thing. I had a cat in the past who would do this, too, but this is the first small dog I've owned and also the first dog I've seen who loves chasing bugs. (I have to keep her away from wasps though, she goes after those, too)
I think generally they do it because it's a fun thing to do. Most dogs love chasing things, and the faster they move, the better they like it. After all, there isn't much in the living world that can move faster than a dog. If they should catch a bee or a wasp, they'll probably avoid them in future. My neighbour's dog used to chase flies and anything else that moved above ground level, but since he was stung by a wasp some time ago, he gives anything with wings a wide berth.
Pocs, my Lab used to do this and Misha does, too! I think part of it has to do with hearing. For insects, flies are pretty loud when they are flying around. Dogs pick that up easily with their good hearing abilities.
I remember once my Lab was in bed. The lights were off. A fly was in the room. I could hear her teeth as she chomped down trying to catch it.
Misha is even more serious about it. She'll follow a fly around the house. Then, out of nowhere you'll see a 10 lb. Jack Russell leap straight up in the air. I think she would be pretty surprised if she ever caught one.
Our Maltese used to catch houseflies. He caught them occasionally and ate them. EW! Our other dog was an Alaskan Spitz and he was an outdoor dog for the most part (came in at night and slept in laundry room.) He was enamored of flying birds. Unfortunately, he was pretty good at snatching them from mid-air. Especially the blue jays which loved to dive bomb him.
I think it's just instinctive for dogs to chase things. It doesn't matter whether it's a stick, ball, frisbee or a flying insect. It's in their genes to chase. I haven't seen Gigi try to catch a fly in the house yet, but I have no doubt that she would try it one got in. My cats used to do this at our old house. It was fun to watch them jump up in the air to try to catch them. Of course, them rarely ever caught one.
