What is this deer doing?

[kenny]

I can't tell if it is playing, defending itself or attacking the dog.
Watch all 4 minutes before deciding.

I assume the deer is not trapped and could easily jump over that fence.

Click

 

[swingirl]

How cute! The dog wants the deer to chase him and play ball. The fawn doesn''t do ball so well.

 

[Kismet]

Playing. I bet it''s not a wild deer and was raised with the dog.

 

[MissMina]

Both seem to be enjoying themselves.

 

[lyra]

Deer was being defensive IMO. It seemed territorial over that piece of the yard. It didn''t look like it was playing.

 

[yssie]

Oh, thank you for the laugh!!


That''s brilliant. Poor dog is trying to play, and its new friend is just not getting it

 

[zoebartlett]

It looked like the deer was playing with the dog. I''ve never seen a deer interact with anything other than another deer though -- that surprised me!

 

[movie zombie]

i''ve seen young deer play like this with each other.....racing across the hillside chasing each other and then rising with hoofs in the air. seems to me the dog and this young deer have known each other for awhile or they wouldn''t do this. i note that the cat sits sensibly on the railing watching it all.....which tells me that this was nothing new in this yard.

mz

 

[AGBF]

Date: 5/24/2010 4:31:16 PM
Author: Kismet

Playing. I bet it's not a wild deer and was raised with the dog.

I was sorry to see that there was someone else who was so on her toes! I thought I was going to be the hotshot who came in with all the insight! As a longtime dog owner, I am sure that not only was the deer

playing, but that the deer has played with the dog many times before. The deer is playing like a dog! All the moves that the deer makes are classic moves that dogs make when they play. At no time does the deer

try to run away. We often have deer on our property in Virginia (and, unfortunately, even on our small suburban lot in Connecticut since the deer are being pushed out of their usual habitat). Deer will run if they are

afraid. That deer kept coming back to play! I think s/he was the family pet!


AGBF

 

[radiantquest]

Before I read anyone elses response I want to say that I think they are playing. First of all if it felt threatened it wouldnt continue, it would stay away. The deer only put its head down in a bucking manner which could be a sign of aggression twice. The head thing can go either way. The dog is clearly playing. I think the dog would sense aggression and not be as playful if the deer were giving off those signals.

I think it is very cool. That would be awesome to go on in my back yard.

 

[somethingshiny]

Another vote for the deer being a pet. The deer has his tail raised when watching the dog played but becomes slightly defensive when the dog is really close. The deer doesn''t become aggressive, that would entail lowering his head to use it as a battering ram when threatened.

 

[kenny]

Yeah, I agree the cats on the right side near the end of the video being blase about it all indicates this has been going on for a while.
I'd guess the deer was raised with the dog.

Funny, when deer rough house/play they lean back on their hind legs and hit with their front hooves.
Dogs don't do that as much, rather they play/bite.
Both are playing but it also trains them for battles later in life.

When the dog bit the deer the human scolded the dog.

 

[AGBF]

Date: 5/24/2010 8:51:13 PM
Author: kenny

Funny, when deer rough house/play they lean back on their hind legs and hit with their front hooves.
Dogs don't do that as much, rather they play/bite.

Dogs do a lot of crouching down and then springing up as part of their play, however. That, also, is something that involves using the entire body and balance in play.

AGBF

 

[PumpkinPie]

I''m pretty sure they''re both playing and have done so before.. a neat video

 

[risingsun]

It was as if the dog kept trying to teach the deer how to play with the ball and the deer wanted the dog to stand up with his paws in the air. These two are old friends, IMO, having a good time. I enjoyed watching them

DH and I were staying at a B&B in the country. We took a hike with one of the dogs in residence. He kept running ahead and coming back with sticks. We weren't dog owners, at the time, and it took us awhile to catch on that he wanted us to toss the sticks and play with him. He was ever so pleased that we finally learned and we all had a great time!! The B&B was a llama farm and the llamas also taught us a thing or two

 

[Tuckins1]

This was too cute!

 

[dragonfly411]

I finally got to watch this last night and they are so cute playing together! It''s amazing the bonds animals can form.

 

[that_someone_special]

SO CUTE!!! Absolutely playing with the dog

 

[that_someone_special]

I also really love how the deer is like, "I may not be able to get that ball in my mouth, but I do have these really long legs to kick you with! muhaha"

 

[dragonfly411]

I also love how the back legs of deer are cow hocked. I think it looks graceful on them. Like this >< but longer of course.