My friend Betsy had a long-ago dog (named “Dog”) who had one mortal enemy: cows.
I guess I should have termed that “bovine enemy” to stay within the confines of correctness.
Dog would bark from the car at every single cow they passed in the fields of rural Pennsylvania. His parents, believing at the time that it was cute, encouraged the behavior. It reached the point that one had only to look out the kitchen window and casually utter the single word “cow” to bring on a frenzy of Dog’s ferocious barking and pawing to get out.
Dog would not have been a good walker at Rady Park where Grace the beagle/foxhound and I walk daily. A long edge of Rady is adjacent to one of several fields where the neighboring farmer lets his cows graze. Often the cows will come close to the fence to peer down into the park to see what’s going on.
Grace did bark a bit at the cows when we first adopted her two+ years ago, but I reinforced the phrase “good cows/no barking” as I stood beside her and patted her flank. Now she hardly gives them a second glance UNLESS a particular circumstance occurs.
Grace tenses up and growls when a cow stares at her and starts moving toward her at a cow’s pace, continuing to stare the entire time. It IS creepy, I admit. But cows stare at us and walk toward us because 1) the cows are curious and 2) they are attempting to determine whether or not we are a threat to them.
This morning Grace was ignoring the cows roaming the pasture but tensing and growling at a stand of trees. It was only when I looked more closely that I saw some medium size calves were camouflaged behind some hay bales in front of the trees. And yes, they were staring. They had even stopped chewing. They were no threat to anyone but it sure as heck made Grace feel uncomfortable.
Sometimes we’re like Grace. Afraid of something, but not quite knowing what or why. We get nervous about a situation without being able to identify what’s causing the reaction.
I don’t recommend living a life of fear, and yet I’ve learned that when those feelings appear I need to consider what’s going on instead of just admonishing myself with a “Are you kidding? Grow up, you baby,” response.
Gavin de Becker’s 1997 book “The Gift of Fear: Survival Signals That Protect Us from Violence” is as relevant today as it was 25 years ago. It’s likely even MORE relevant today with the craziness that goes on in our world.
So while it’s highly unlikely you will ever need to protect yourself from a staring cow (even though it’s the epitome of creepiness), de Becker’s advice may someday save your life as it did mine.
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Is there meaning to a cow who stares at you?
The Gift of Fear: Survival Signals That Protect Us from Violence
Thanks for the memories, Norma! Dog was quite the rascal. He would go out the back door and race all over the fenced in yard looking for those elusive cows!!!
Dog, a rascal? Surely you exaggerate!
Norma, while watching television….as we don’t like our little girl pug Eloise watch too much television as it is not good for her health as she is often a coach pugatato…we want her to get outside to frolic and play.! But often watching television is her fav! She overindulges her time watching television, and has memorized every television commercials with animals especially dogs. Often when she doses off to sleep we think she is sound asleep thinking “Oh we are going to have some quiet time” her little (snorts and snores are a bit comical i might add) as soon as the music to the commercials come on she recognizes( the ones with the dogs) and boy oh boy everyone in the house knows what Eloise is barking too! It is so hilarious…. she recognizes the music first; and she goes into a frenzy letting everyone aware that the commercial has a dog in it! It is amazing to see that she has no fear in what she sees on television…but when she is encountered by a cow or a horse on our family farm she bolts! Runs for her life! Amazing that she can overcompensate what she views on television with no fear but knows the real deal on the farm! How amazing and smart our little pets can be and to know how much love they bring to all of us. It amazing to see that all of us have some fear in one thing or another. Fear is good to some degree as it can motivate a person to strive harder and make positive accomplishments often setting goals and standards. So …yes fear can be a gift! God often gives the gift of fear in order to motivate oneself!
I had to pick myself up off the floor after reading this hysterical post! Give Eloise a pat for me, and I’d love to see this action in person some day!!!
This story was delightful. I giggled, being a dog owner myself. And when I imagined the cows staring it was pictured in my mind like some from an episode of South Park, a very funny picture. Many folks have feelings of fear, I pray for those I know and remind them that God does not give us the spirit of fear.. so try to walk that feeling back, find the cause and work to eliminate. Look for Joy in life .. little things like your story .. Thanks Norma
Ann, it was SO good to hear from you! May 2022 be a banner year for you.
Simple—–Don’t COW DOWN to fear<3<3<3
Happy Holiday and a Very Merry Christmas,
love you lots!!!!!!!
Judy and Greg
Oh you punster, you! Made me laugh!!!