Cragar and the Big White Monster

Everyone has irrational fears, right? I mean, I've got a fear of heights and small spaces. Dave has a fear (or strong dislike, as he puts it) of snakes. I wonder, though - what drives a dog to be afraid of something?

I haven't used our breadmaker in several years. This past Saturday, I dragged it out of the junk room so I could make bread for Easter dinner. I thought Cragar was going to have a heart attack. As soon as I plugged the damn thing in and it beeped, he ran out into the kitchen by my feet, wimpering, with his tail tucked. The whole time the bread dough was mixing, he sat on my lap on the sofa, shaking. I figured it was because there was a lot going on - getting the house ready for guests and all.

Nope.

I got another hankering for homemade bread today. So I delve back into the junk room and drag out the breadmaker. As soon as Cragar saw it, he started wimpering. I'm walking across the living room, just carrying it, and he's already got his tail tucked. I carry it to the kitchen, and the whole time I'm adding the ingredients, he's by my feet, shaking. When I plugged it in and it beeped, he actually tried to climb the back door.

I felt so bad for him - so I did the only thing I could think of. I said, "OK, let's take a nap". He bounds into the bedroom, up on the bed, and waits for me. I lay down on the bed, and he curls up in a ball, halfway on my head, still shaking. Slowly, though, he calmed down and slept.

We got up about 20 minutes ago, the bread is baking, and the nice smell of bread is oozing through the house. He walks out to the kitchen, sniffs, and runs into the office to hide. Just now, I heard the beep indicating it's done, and he's now pacing the office, wimpering, tail tucked again. And he's shaking.

This is the same dog that will choke himself on his collar trying to attack the cats in the neighborhood. The same dog who barks like mad anytime he sees someone (or something) in our yard that's not supposed to be there. I don't know where this irrational fear of the bread maker comes from! It's like there's a big white monster in the kitchen, making the house smell good! His fear of thunderstorms, I can understand - but I just don't get this.

Oh my goodness - he's hiding under my desk!! Maybe I should stick to store-bought bread from now on...