A Dog's Life, Chapter Two-"Quoth the Raven"

 
Living in the desert gives us a pretty clear view of many species of birds, large and small. As our house is very close to open desert, we have the opportunity to see varieties which ordinarily stay away from populated areas, and we can also observe the distinctions which our dogs make between birds of prey and birds that are prey.
 One evening some years ago, we heard our big dog barking quite furiously in the back yard, but found it curious that our little terrier was not.  Of the two, the big dog was generally the quiet one and so we hurried to the back, a bit concerned. At first, her barking seemed to be indiscriminate but after looking around
awhile, we finally realized that she was aiming her protests up towards the rooftop. There sat a very large Great Horned owl.
 The terrier was uncharacteristically silent, sheltered underneath the big dog as though pretending she couldn't be seen. This is a dog who usually behaves as though she were 100 pounds, standing up to any other neighborhood dog, regardless of it's size. How does a domesticated animal with no prior exposure to such a bird know that it is a danger? A rattlesnake's rattle is clearly an alarm, but how did she know that this particular creature was to be avoided? Can an animal sense intent?
  The big dog is fascinated by ravens. On our walks we will occasionally see one sitting atop a light pole, cackling and clicking away, and she will stare up at it intently. No barking, no raised hackles, but there is a definite curiosity.  Last week we were relaxing in front of the t.v. with the dogs on the floor at our feet, watching a program about the Tower of London. The story turned to the ravens which are kept at the Tower, and suddenly, the big dog's head lifted from her sleep, ears forward. She watched the birds on the screen through the entire segment, as if she were listening to the narrator's words. Afterward, she became quite excited when  I imitated the raven's call....
  Roadrunners are fairly large birds, and she will respond with similar interest if we happen to see one on our walks, although she seems to be conflicted as to whether or not she should chase it. As a largely ground-dwelling bird, I would think she'd want to, although she has never been too interested in the flocks of quail which scatter across our path. I guess rabbits and squirrels smell much more promising! The ravens, though......I can imagine her dreaming about them. If she were an artist, she would most assuredly paint them!