I've just been over the local open field for 1/2 walk before I go to bed.When we go over there (apart from in winter...migration) the swallows will fly low to the ground and circle the dogs... the dogs then chase them and the swallows will continue to fly about 2 ft off the floor round in circles often changing direction quickly to fly right in front of the dogs seemingly to encourage them to keep going when they start to flag or loose interest.
Now theres no nests nearby as the nearest appropriate nesting site is too far away to for the birds to be bothered by the dogs and if it was to encourage the dogs away from a nest they wouldn't keep going round in circles and besides swallows nest high off the ground.This is the 2nd year the swallows have done this 'game' with the dogs .
Its wonderful to watch the boys getting a good run and having so much fun and silly as it sounds I sort of think the birds are having 'fun' aggravating my boys! After 10 mins flat out sprinting the boys are knackered....but every time we go over you can see the boys waiting for the first swallow to arrive!
Any one else experienced this?Any ideas why the birds do it?
Archer
 

my mum's dog lives for swallow season, she chases them for hours :)

they swoop low to catch bugs and things to eat, but they do seem to enjoy playing with the dogs too :D

sarah
x

Archer, it's possible that your dogs are disturbing insects in the grass and the swallows are taking advantage of this by flying low and scooping them up.  Sounds like a good way of feeding the birds! :-)

What a lovely picture I have in my head :) as the imaginary swallows buzz the dogs I hear the theme from Dambusters...

Thanks Lorelei, cant get Dambusters theme out of my head now :)