At first, Ragnar did not identify it as canine for the curve of the creature's spine was to him. He didn't pin it as aquatic per say but initially Ragnar mistook it as a meal. A gift of meat from the Gods that had washed up upon their shore. As he slowed his approach, sensing no danger, he had began to plan out how much of the creature he would ration for Julooke, wanting to offer the heavily pregnant woman something as her Jarl. To let her know that he hadn't forgotten about her and that he anticipated the arrival of her family with Verrine. Ragnar liked children, only, he wasn't exactly sure how to best deal with small ones which was his present issue with his own, currently.
The closer Ragnar drew his mistake began to dawn on him as the dark mass began to take the form of a canine. For a dark instant the Viking considered dining upon it anyway, but dispelled those thoughts quickly. He wasn't that desperate, and was in no rush to add 'cannibal' to his growing list of names he'd been called in his life. Is it dead? Ragnar asked his wife without feeling, ready to let the sea claim it once more if it was.