[LitFan]

Is that confusing or damaging to the animal?

Do they perceive the "stops existing" as dying? Should the handler remove the sock puppet out of view of the animal?

[sudhirj]

Not a biologist, but I've always found my dog interesting if I step on him by mistake. He barks and snaps at my shoes, trying to attack them. Stops if I take them off, and it doesn't alter his relationship with me in any way. It's like the shoe on me is a distinct animal from the shoe off me, and neither of them is related to me in any way.

[anigbrowl]

Which kind of dog? Mine are curious when I get new shoes or clothes but seem to appreciate that this related to my fur deficiency.

[sudhirj]

West Highland Terrier. And yeah, he's curious about clothes, but footwear stepping on him seems very different.