Exposures in the Dark

At 6am this morning, Faro started to bark. I guessed that there was most likely a fox outside that had startled the rest of the animals who then make warning sounds all at once. However, with no window open I cannot always hear them.. but Faro can.

I wanted to respond to his bark and praise him for alerting me so I got up and took a torch out to check everyone outside were ok. They are all in fox proof enclosures so as I thought, it was no big deal.

However, I took the opportunity to take Faro out on a lead, in the dark to 'investigate'.

He trusted me completely and followed me even though he had not yet set foot out the back - and there is a LOT to see and smell. Quite overwhelming I would think.

First he had to go through a floodlit area smelling strongly of goats, rabbits & guinea pigs. Through a gate and was confronted with lots of clucking startled chickens in coops and the barn owl watching from aloft.
Then I took him past hissing geese and down a path where we stopped so I could call over to the stable and check that Ike the pony was ok. Ike stuck his head out but couldn't get excited about all the commotion.
Faro looked at him and the billy goats and took in all the strangeness in the dark!

We went back up to the lit area and I stood next to the goat shed where they were clambering to get out and looking at Faro through their little window. They made a funny grunting noise toward him that I have never heard them do before. He was interested and not frightened although there was a slight apprehension there again and he took a couple steps back. After that though he lost interest and sat down, waiting for my next cue.

So I let him out front where he toilets and he did his business and went back inside.

He wanted to play quite badly but I put him back in his crate as if he had completed his mission.
I did give him a piece of chicken though as I was feeling very proud of the little fella.
Speaking of chicken, forgot to mention that I have not been giving treat rewards at all - just praise so far.
Will try to incorporate that seeing as he will probably be trained by food reward once done here.

I can hear him now, fidgeting about in his crate and grumbling to himself. I know when he does that he will settle eventually and go quiet until the next time he thinks there might be chance of a new mission or a mini- adventure.