Hiking, dog and cows

Family, Education, Health and Pets
1
Hello everybody

We're coming to Martigny/Bourg-St-Pierre/Gd.-St.Bernard Pass to do some hiking. We plan to take our St.Bernard dog to some of the hikes. The thing that worries me is the cows. We'll have to cross their pastures. I'm not sure if it is safe for our dog My dog looks like a calf in size and in color Last year the cows were paying attention at him, they were coming closer to the electric fence. I keep my dog on leash and he doesn't bark on cows or something...

I'm even a bit affraid of cows myself. Last June we went for a short walk without a dog. We met some huge black bulls on the track. They were looking at us, later started coming closer and we got off that pasture. There was no other track and we got back to the hotel That was on Via Francigena, the beginning of section between Bourg-St-Pierre and the monastery.

Please share your experience in crossing the pastures with dog.

2
We had a group hike up in Kanton Schwyz over the summer and one of the walkers brought his dog, although the cattle did become wary of the canine's presence, nothing really happened apart from younger calves making mock run ups towards the dog, playful stuff.

With regards to actual attacks on hikers there was an article about this in the Tages Anzeiger in spring, but I couldn't find it listed on their website. The recommendations were not to make eye contact with them and also to give them a wide berth if they have calves with the herd. I wouldn't suggest that you run close to cows as they tend to follow.

3
In that case, it would a very sensible idea for you to avoid hanging a large bell from the collar of your dog otherwise the disguise would be complete and there's no knowing what would happen.

4
First rule of hiking: Keep your dog under control at all times.*

Second rule of hiking: You are in the cows' territory - treat them with respect.

In general, I give cows a wide berth - they deserve a quiet afternoon of grass munching as much as I deserve a quiet afternoon of hiking with my mutts. It is up to me to ensure that my dogs do not disturb the cows.

Generally, cows are pretty docile, and most who graze in public hiking areas are accustomed to humans and dogs. When I must cross an open field with cows grazing, I skirt around the edges, keeping my dogs to the outside - I am always between the cows and the dogs. Walk calmly and confidently, and don't make too much noise. If I come into a clearing, find a cow right in my path and have no option to go around, I put the dogs into a sit or down behind me and just stand there calmly - the cow generally wanders off. I've only once had a cow seriously interested in the dogs - probably a calf, quite playful. She persisted for a while, but as my dogs and I stayed calm and non-reactive, eventually she got bored following us and wandered off.

The important thing is that my dogs know I will deal with the situation, they do not have to get excited. Towards that end we do a lot of 'cow practice' on our daily walks. The cows around our house are behind fences, but we practice the drill nonetheless. The dogs know that the sight of a cow means change to the outside, wait for instructions.

If in an open field with mother cows and young calves, I turn and go another way even if it means a longer hike. I do not mess with the mothering instinct - and never get between a mother cow and her calf. I've never come across a bull in 12 years of hiking here - but I'd give one of those a very wide berth indeed.

*For some dogs/owners, 'under control' means on lead. Mine have almost solid recall, but almost is not good enough in an emergency - so they stay on lead when out hiking. If your dog's recall is 100% absolutely rock-solid and distraction proof, then off lead (unless otherwise signed, in forests during the spring or during hunting season, or in Kt SZ) is allowed, indeed encouraged - but your dog must be in sight and under voice control at all times. Oh, and do be sure you pick up after your dog, especially when in a cow pasture.

This applies to encounters with not only cows, but also other hikers, joggers, cyclists and other dogs. Be aware that we all share the hiking trails; respect others, make way for them when possible. (My dogs are trained to step off the path and sit nicely when other hikers pass - mostly a PR exercise in an increasingly dog-intolerant world.) Keep your dogs under control at all times, do not allow them to approach anyone or any critter without first asking permission.

Happy hiking!

5
Here's the Tagi link (in German) from June, and was specifically about mothers protecting their calves. The recommendations are at the very bottom, and are mostly common sense: first, there is a very low incidence of cows attacking, so don't be too afraid.

Basically, Tagi says keep your dog leashed, but unleash them if need be (unclear what that means - but I'm not a dog owner), don't come between a calf and mother, don't pet the calves, and don't scare the cows or look them directly in the eyes. If they move closer to you, stand your ground and don't turn your back to them.

6
Here's a Swisster piece that references the Tagi article you mention:

http://www.swisster.ch/news/society/...-concerns.html

ETA: Bartholemew and Longbyt: snap

7
This is from an article on the subject in the Rega magazine. Says the same sort of thing basically.

8
It means, if the cows start rearing up and attacking let the dog go, let it off the lead.

That way you won't get stamped on and the dog has a chance of getting out of the field alive.

9
Our first Newf had a (for her) traumatic cow experience when she was about 18 months old. We had taken her hiking and she ran straight into one of those electrified cow fences. The cow field was empty (which was why we had unleashed her) but obviously the cow scent was still very strong. Anyway, for the rest of her life the smell of cows meant DANGER for her.

Some years later I was hiking with her alone in the lower Piz Kesch region of Graubünden and we came across a cow herd wandering all over the hiking trail. I'd had her on the leash and wanted to slowly walk past and through the cow herd, keeping to the trail, but she wouldn't budge an inch. Try convincing a 50 kg dog to move when it really, really doesn't want to. The cows were getting neverous because the dog was nervous, which made me nervous The only solution was to unleash her and let her make a huge detour down the gravel slope and up the other side, whilst I stayed on the trail and very gently made my way through the herd. I have to laugh now thinking back on it, but it really wasn't very funny at the time.

10
I want to thank everybody for the answers. You've helped me a lot. It will be easier to decide to take my dog with me or not, depending on the hiking trails we choose. I believe there will be no cows high in the mountains.

11
Contrary to what the "experts" say (had this debate with Longbyt earlier on the hiking stiky thread too), I think what your dog did was the most sensible thing, at least that is what i would do in such conditions.

This is easy to say on internet. Ok, knowing Assassin personally, maybe I can imagine him "standing his ground" when a 500 kg horned feature is approaching you, but lesser mortals and fragile hikers doing that? ha ha, makes me laugh as I mentally picture that happening.

Sorry, no offense meant, but it is just not practical for most hikers that I know in real life. I have had too many close calls with these animals to treat it lightly.

12
And those of you who are recommending that, can you explain to me how you will "stand your ground" "without making eye contact" or "turning your back to the animal"?

Has someone actually done it?

AFIK it requires superhuman nerves and ocular skills to be able to keep a bunch of cows approaching you within your sight, without making eye contact with any of them.

13
It's easy - wear dark sunglasses so the cows can't see your eyes.

14
Agreed, once we had a situation where only I was wearing dark glasses, so I asked my friend to look front while I would keep an eye on the cows...

Good point, often overlooked.

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er, yes I have and no, I'm not superhuman. C'mon Niranjan, we're not talking Pamplona here - they're just dairy cows who are grazing on some grass in the mountains. You're making it sound like some sort of bovine horror movie, cows lined up lying in wait for some hapless hiker to come along....

Too many close calls? Do tell.

But like I said, a bit of common sense goes a long way: I don't get too close, as I assume they are spooked easily because they don't see people very often.

16
Ok, maybe slight exaggeration because now I have to argue alone vs. 10 people and the "experts" are on your side

Actually this is not funny. Things have actually changed in Switzerland, due to changed animal husbandry practices i.e. more family friendly) that these encounters have risen perceptibly lately. Nowadays the local bodies even put up signs clearly stating you are entering cow territory (and I am talking of very popular hiking routes), that you do so at your own risk, and they bear no liability for what happens... sounds scary to me. They wouldn't bother putting that without reason.

Personally the closest I have come to bodily injury in my mountain adventures until now have involved cows, don't want to tell my stories in detail, but believe me.

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But Bartholemew, that's exactly what they do! They pick a nice bit of hiking path and the biggest one lies down on it while two others, one to the left and one to the right cut off any detour.

Seriously, one bunch were standing around the 'stile' between two fields - we really had to go through them; scariest was a group of young whatever they are called careering round a field in England and suddenly turning to come after us. I could hear in my mind someone saying 'don't bother, they won't hurt you, they are only playing'...

18
hah hah I never met an attack cow!

Cows are very used to humans and they trust us...perhaps more than they should

19
My Mother grew up on a dairy farm, so I spent Summers working/playing around cows on the family farms. For the most part, you can make some noise, clap and slap them on the rear and they will move out...but they are big animals with horns...so I would not 'bet the farm' that you won't meet one that challenges back. And watch out for a swift kick!

Was out among the Swiss cows with Assassin and my Labrador, and was a bit careful, as I was not sure how the animals would react together. And I would not look forward to getting between any 'animals of size' that want to mix it up.

And if I ever saw a bull in the wild...I would be going the other way as fast as possible!

fduvall

20
Cows are curious and friendly animals. Don't worry about them.