We had a retriever who walked up to a possum who was ambling by. The possum “played possum” and our dog took a sniff at it and thought “Well, this is no fun.” and walked away. So it DOES work.
Also I’ve read that possums give off an odor like rotting meat when they do this.
We still have a resident possum. We keep her around because she eats all kinds of insects we don’t like.
I had a springer spaniel who walked right by an opossum “playing possum” in the middle of a sports field. She was a GREAT bird dog, but she neither saw nor smelt that animal at all.
Believe you me, if that opossum had smelt like rotting meat, that dog would’ve rolled in it to get the perfume all over her. She was good at that, too!
We have a possum family that apparently lives nearby. Every now and then it and our dog (about the same size) have a tiff. This causes us some worry, because it has a really nasty-looking set of teeth.
Ratkin Premium Member over 2 years ago
C’mon, that’s impossumble.
zathb Premium Member over 2 years ago
Best of the day today!
backyardcowboy over 2 years ago
They used to play “one, two, three…Red Light!” till they realized they were all color blind.
dflak over 2 years ago
We had a retriever who walked up to a possum who was ambling by. The possum “played possum” and our dog took a sniff at it and thought “Well, this is no fun.” and walked away. So it DOES work.
Also I’ve read that possums give off an odor like rotting meat when they do this.
We still have a resident possum. We keep her around because she eats all kinds of insects we don’t like.
Zebrastripes over 2 years ago
Playing dead has advantages at times…
Ken Norris Premium Member over 2 years ago
I came across one while walking my dog. It was lying on its side. I flipped it over and it flipped itself back…
backyardcowboy over 2 years ago
dflak: your dog needs therapy. It smelled like rotten meat and your dog didn’t roll in it? Get it therapy ASAP!!
Lablubber over 2 years ago
Pogo’s family reunion.
ekke over 2 years ago
I had a springer spaniel who walked right by an opossum “playing possum” in the middle of a sports field. She was a GREAT bird dog, but she neither saw nor smelt that animal at all.
Believe you me, if that opossum had smelt like rotting meat, that dog would’ve rolled in it to get the perfume all over her. She was good at that, too!
Boise Ed Premium Member over 2 years ago
We have a possum family that apparently lives nearby. Every now and then it and our dog (about the same size) have a tiff. This causes us some worry, because it has a really nasty-looking set of teeth.