Corgi Gets Totally Spooked by Golden Retriever Statue and Pure Hilarity Ensues
When I was younger my family had a life-sized cardboard cut out of Han Solo posing with his blaster pistol that we kept in the corner of our spare room, along with our desktop computer and gaming system. We thought it added a bit of cute, dorky decor. Our family Newfoundland, however, thought it was an intruder. It didn’t matter how long it sat there, inert, against the wall. Every time he entered the room, his hackles would rise and he’d growl in warning at the life-sized figure with the gun lurking in in the shadows where his people dwelt. What a good boy.
All of which is to say I have a lot of sympathy for the Corgi in this video. He may not fully understand what this dog like shape is on the patio, but he knows it’s not right.
In this clip, a Corgi in a doggie stroller is in no way pleased to be wheeled past a large stone statue of what appears to be a Golden Retriever. The figure is put next to an actual water dish, perhaps as an invitation and indication that it’s a dog-friendly establishment.
Related: Corgi Boldly Demands to Wear 'His Scarf' Every Day in Hilarious Video
But this dog does not find it friendly in the least. He growls and tries to shy away from the stone abomination, even when his mom pets the statue and says “good dog.”
No, the Corgi seems to be saying. It is not a good dog. It’s not a dog at all.
That Feeling When Something’s Just Not Right
There is, in fact, a particular term meant to describe that particular sense of dread and unease that one feels when an object looks a lot like something living, but isn’t, and it’s called “the uncanny.” Freud wrote about it, and explained why it underscores so many human fears, such as fear of corpses, statues, mannequins and dolls. Today, digital animators bemoan an “uncanny valley,” a phenomenon by which, as their work gets closer and closer to resembling actual live action, it actually appears creepier and less engaging than more cartoonish versions.
But I don’t know if Freud knew that this sense of innate fear and distrust of non-living objects that ape the shape of living things is something that animals have too. My dog hated cardboard cut-outs. This one hates statues.
What would Sigmund have to say about that?
How to Help a Frightened Dog
In the case of Ollie the Corgi, the sudden appearance of this statue really caught him off guard. When his mom lifted him down out of his stroller and allowed him to approach and sniff the figure, he quickly realized that it was made of stone, no flesh and fur. As soon as he realized that the statue was nothing to worry about, he settled down and even took a drink out of the water dish.
Many times, when dogs are nervous or scared around new things, allowing them an opportunity to explore it with their senses in a safe, controlled environment (like Ollie being on a leash) is the best way to relieve any tension. Smell is one of a canine’s best senses, so that is why this dog was able to calm down as soon as he smelled the statue.
In scenarios where your dog is meeting new people or pets, giving them a chance to smell the newcomers (or even blankets or clothing items that belong to them) can go a long way in accustoming your dog to new and possibly scary things in their environment.
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