Chased by cows

[Clodagh]

I admit I’m scared of cows. Not just respectful, way past that. I will walk in the dairy farmers field (footpath goes through) as long as they are the other side but I plan my walk there around milking so never actually have to.
Coming home this morning, only two dogs thankfully, to find out he has turned out the young heifers in the big hay field. I didn’t see them until I was nearly at the top of the hill. They just came over at a gallop. I managed to get to a rough corner with a dumped bathtub in it (this is Devon, there’s always a rough corner) before they got up to me. Tawny was sensibly pressed against my legs but Scout had the nervous dithers. They were definitely going for the dogs, not me. Much head lowering and shaking.
I took my jacket off and ran at them screaming like a banshee and they retreated enough for me to get next to the bank/hedge combo that runs to the gate. With many sound effects and jacket flicking like a toreador I made it to the gate, which TBTG has an inset footpath gate which opens out of the field. We all made it safely out.
I’ve remembered why I’m scared of them now!

 

[AmyMay]

It’s one of my worse fears when walking the dogs. Well done for quick thinking and a hasty escape. And thank goodness you’re all ok.

 

[CorvusCorax]

Glad you got out.

My grandmother had her leg snapped by a bullock as she tried to get over a gate to escape and my father was injured several times at work when taking blood samples.
Also been to too many inquests of farmers crushed to death.
I won't go anywhere near cows, especially the French breeds.
The farmer near me is crap at hedge/fence maintenance and we have sometimes come face to face with young beasts on a narrow path. I just nope the hell out of there.

 

[Clodagh]

I was only brave and confrontational because they weren’t having my dogs. I’m not sure if there’s a better way to retreat? Thankfully they were Holsteins and the farmer has a young family so only keeps placid cows so genetically they didn’t want to kill me. It would have been accidental if they had but not much help to me.
The other side there is a suckler herd of Belgian Blues. I never go in with them.

 

[Clodagh]

Glad you got out.

My grandmother had her leg snapped by a bullock as she tried to get over a gate to escape and my father was injured several times at work when taking blood samples.
Also been to too many inquests of farmers crushed to death.
I won't go anywhere near cows, especially the French breeds.
The farmer near me is crap at hedge/fence maintenance and we have sometimes come face to face with young beasts on a narrow path. I just nope the hell out of there.

Would your dog bark at them? Apparently they do back off if a dog stands up to them but mine decided I was the go to safe space.

 

[CorvusCorax]

Would your dog bark at them? Apparently they do back off if a dog stands up to them but mine decided I was the go to safe space.

I've never thought about that, actually, they wouldn't of their own volition but I am sure they would if I asked them to, my quandary would be that I don't generally want them to show interest/go off at livestock.

 

[Rokele55]

I am a complete wuss when it comes to cattle, just avoid them like the plague on my feet. Worst nightmare to come over the brow of a hill and find them in front of you and no escape route. I once traversed a really bad bog (I knew the cattle couldn't follow as it was totally unridable on a horse) and climbed a very steep bank to get away from some very excited frenchie bullocks in the middle of a common. I could not have done it without the fear driver The blasted terrier was utterly unfazed by them and possibly goading the things. On the other hand, rarely worried by them when on a horse, even when a grumpy bull charged.

 

[Tiddlypom]

It’s one of my worse fears when walking the dogs. Well done for quick thinking and a hasty escape. And thank goodness you’re all ok.

Same here. Young cattle hoofering around are ruddy dangerous, and add dogs to the mix and it becomes potentially lethal.

Been caught out before like Clodagh when crossing what I thought was a cattle free field.

 

[fiwen30]

Would your dog bark at them? Apparently they do back off if a dog stands up to them but mine decided I was the go to safe space.

That sounds terrifying, I’m glad you’re all alright.

Cattle dogs are a thing though? I’ve seen videos where a couple of cows in a herd will turn and lowered heads at a cattle dog, but then scarper when the dog vocalises or bites at them.

Is it maybe the fear that regular dogs show, which would make a cow bold? Perhaps in sticky situations, if you had a dog that will step up vocalisations or ‘keep away’ behaviour when asked, it could help?

 

[Moobli]

Thank goodness you escaped unscathed!
I also have a very, very healthy respect for cattle. Instilled by my grandparents who kept cows when I was a kid, and I’ve also had too many near misses over the years. I now avoid cattle like the plague.
We had a highland fold here for 20 years but one by one they died or were culled and despite being absolutely beautiful I don’t miss them I would never go in their fields. Even with hand-reared Ruby I keep my distance.

 

[Moobli]

Would your dog bark at them? Apparently they do back off if a dog stands up to them but mine decided I was the go to safe space.

I was once cornered by a young Holstein heifer herd. They were just curious and in high spirits but I couldn’t get away. My GSD at the time (a usually gentle bitch) went mental at them when they got too close. I kept her on a lead (for fear of her being injured too) and they did retreat a little bit but then came straight back at us. It was really scary! I seem to remember I ripped my trousers clambering over barbed wire to escape the b*stards!

 

[FestiveG]

My late mum was scared of cattle and I can remember that when we walked down to her mums, she would let the dog(lab) off the lead and send him across the field first. He would then wait on the footbridge, while mum walked us as near to the wall as she could get. She'd grown up about 200 yards away from that field, but never trusted the cows. Our current bunch would hide behind us, I'm sure!

 

[Moobli]

Another cow story. My sister and I were on holiday in the highlands. We’d walked 9/10 miles or so on a circular walk but as we were reaching the end of the walk, there were a herd of cows and calves (the worst scenario!) blocking the gate we needed to get through to reach the end of the walk and the car. I would have honestly retraced my steps all the way back rather than pass them but my sister refused! She only has a small dog which she picks up and has never felt really threatened by them before (she had the same advice from our grandparents but her post experiences with cows obviously weren’t as traumatic as mine!). I had my large GSD male so no chance of picking him up! Sister went first and the cows were a little aggressive - heads down, advancing towards her, but she made it through. I tried to follow but they got really aggressive towards my dog and one cow in particular (with calf at foot) , head down and battered towards us! She caught my shoulder, but thankfully my dog had a loose collar on and he pulled out of it and ran and they all chased him, bellowing like mental beasts! So while I was a bit dazed, I managed to make it to the gate. I was then obviously terrified for my dog. He had the presence of mind/intelligence/whatever-it-was to slip through the various gorse bushes and made it to the gate to join us. My legs were shaking so much I had to have a wee sit down before we could walk the rest of the way back to the car.

 

[Tracking_up]

Not being a dog owner, I don't have the same experiences [and probably therefore not qualified to post on this thread, so I apologise in advance], but I've always been told by my farmer friends that the best thing to do if a herd of cows approach when you have dogs, is to let the dog(s) off the lead, as the cows will see the dogs as the threat, not you. And generally dogs are better at getting out the way. But I'm sure that doesn't stop any 'heart in the mouth' moment

 

[Rokele55]

I know the official advice is to let your dog go, and seeing Moobli 's post above that seems to reinforce it, but are dogs (obviously fit, healthy do gs) not tethered to their humans ever killed? When you see reports of dog walkers killed by cattle it seems the dogs usually get away. And cattle do chase humans without dogs

 

[Spotherisk]

I was chased by an angry black heifer on Dartmoor and I didn’t even have a dog with me! It was an out and back walk and cattle were well away from the path when I went, but on the way back I ended up kind of funnelled between them - no calves, just narky. I yelled and whizzed my walking poles around violently and she kept back but I was very glad to reach the gate.

 

[Moobli]

Another encounter that springs to mind (there are too many! ?) was again in the highlands. Myself and a friend and my GSD bitch had to walk through a large Highland fold to try to resume our long distance walk. The cattle had calves and at one point I actually feared for our lives, which sounds dramatic, but it really felt like a dangerous situation. One “lead cow” bellowed for others and more and more came careering down the sides of the hill to run at us. My friend, being chivalrous, tried to fight them off but they knocked him down and I thought they were going to trample him ?. He managed to scramble up while I moved as quickly as possible (without actually running!) to get as far away as I could. It seemed an endless amount of time before we got over a cattle grid to safety!
We were then miles off our route and ended up helping a shepherd catch a blind sheep (don’t ask ?) and asking for a lift back towards our route in return. It was funny looking back now as we travelled down this rough single track road in the middle of nowhere in the back of a pick up truck with a blind sheep, soaked to the skin and feeling lucky to be alive.

 

[Rowreach]

I've been around cattle my entire life and I have a very healthy respect for them. I would never ever walk a dog through a field of cattle (I appreciate it can be done accidentally) and would be wary walking through them without a dog, but have done it often enough.

It was a total pita, but when we had a farm with a RoW across it, we just never put cattle in that field, ever. Simply not worth risking anyone's life for it.

 

[ArklePig]

This is honestly up there in my top 5 worst nightmares. I'm glad you are all okay.

 

[CorvusCorax]

My ex and I were cornered once by a herd of Holsteins when rough shooting and he actually let off a couple of shots in the air and that gave us enough time to make it to the gate, no dog with us.

 

[Clodagh]

Not being a dog owner, I don't have the same experiences [and probably therefore not qualified to post on this thread, so I apologise in advance], but I've always been told by my farmer friends that the best thing to do if a herd of cows approach when you have dogs, is to let the dog(s) off the lead, as the cows will see the dogs as the threat, not you. And generally dogs are better at getting out the way. But I'm sure that doesn't stop any 'heart in the mouth' moment

Mine were off lead (and I have no problem with you posting). But Tawny was pressed against me anyway, Scout was more scared of me shouting until he was under their noses them he decided I was his best bet.
My mums dog was terrified of cows and used to lie down! So as well as scarpering you had to carry a 25kg limp Labrador ?

 

[Clodagh]

I am a complete wuss when it comes to cattle, just avoid them like the plague on my feet. Worst nightmare to come over the brow of a hill and find them in front of you and no escape route. I once traversed a really bad bog (I knew the cattle couldn't follow as it was totally unridable on a horse) and climbed a very steep bank to get away from some very excited frenchie bullocks in the middle of a common. I could not have done it without the fear driver The blasted terrier was utterly unfazed by them and possibly goading the things. On the other hand, rarely worried by them when on a horse, even when a grumpy bull charged.

I once jumped an enormous ditch (on foot) when a newly calved Highland cow chased me. Fear gave me wings.

 

[Clodagh]

That sounds terrifying, I’m glad you’re all alright.

Cattle dogs are a thing though? I’ve seen videos where a couple of cows in a herd will turn and lowered heads at a cattle dog, but then scarper when the dog vocalises or bites at them.

Is it maybe the fear that regular dogs show, which would make a cow bold? Perhaps in sticky situations, if you had a dog that will step up vocalisations or ‘keep away’ behaviour when asked, it could help?

I think if you watch a cattle dog work they know when to nip and when to move. And they are proper hard dogs.

 

[Clodagh]

Another cow story. My sister and I were on holiday in the highlands. We’d walked 9/10 miles or so on a circular walk but as we were reaching the end of the walk, there were a herd of cows and calves (the worst scenario!) blocking the gate we needed to get through to reach the end of the walk and the car. I would have honestly retraced my steps all the way back rather than pass them but my sister refused! She only has a small dog which she picks up and has never felt really threatened by them before (she had the same advice from our grandparents but her post experiences with cows obviously weren’t as traumatic as mine!). I had my large GSD male so no chance of picking him up! Sister went first and the cows were a little aggressive - heads down, advancing towards her, but she made it through. I tried to follow but they got really aggressive towards my dog and one cow in particular (with calf at foot) , head down and battered towards us! She caught my shoulder, but thankfully my dog had a loose collar on and he pulled out of it and ran and they all chased him, bellowing like mental beasts! So while I was a bit dazed, I managed to make it to the gate. I was then obviously terrified for my dog. He had the presence of mind/intelligence/whatever-it-was to slip through the various gorse bushes and made it to the gate to join us. My legs were shaking so much I had to have a wee sit down before we could walk the rest of the way back to the car.

Terrifying. You were lucky!

 

[Clodagh]

My ex and I were cornered once by a herd of Holsteins when rough shooting and he actually let off a couple of shots in the air and that gave us enough time to make it to the gate, no dog with us.

Less radical then a gun, I wonder if you had a stick and hit the lead ones nose? Not sure I’d want to test the theory.

 

[Clodagh]

I know the official advice is to let your dog go, and seeing Moobli 's post above that seems to reinforce it, but are dogs (obviously fit, healthy do gs) not tethered to their humans ever killed? When you see reports of dog walkers killed by cattle it seems the dogs usually get away. And cattle do chase humans without dogs

Mine were loose anyway but of course ran to me as they look at me as the person who makes decisions. I assume if the cattle had flattened me they would have run off. I can’t see any heroics from them as being likely. (And wouldn’t want them to). I agree it never says if the dogs are hurt, SFAIAA.

 

[AmyMay]

Not being a dog owner, I don't have the same experiences [and probably therefore not qualified to post on this thread, so I apologise in advance], but I've always been told by my farmer friends that the best thing to do if a herd of cows approach when you have dogs, is to let the dog(s) off the lead, as the cows will see the dogs as the threat, not you. And generally dogs are better at getting out the way. But I'm sure that doesn't stop any 'heart in the mouth' moment

You’re absolutely right. I’m not sure I could with my little dog though. I think I’d rather scoop her up and run. I don’t think she’d have the wherewithal to run in to a bush, and would be easily killed.

 

[Morwenna]

The most scared I’ve ever been was when we encountered a herd of cows while waking my sisters old dog. Luckily we were near enough the field exit to get out unscathed but they were crowding in on us much too close and quickly for my liking. I know it’s not a popular opinion but I really wish farmers wouldn’t put cattle in fields with footpaths running through them unless they can fence off the pathway. This is a really popular circular walk that is used by families as well as dog walkers but I wouldn’t go there again until the cows had been moved.

 

[TheresaW]

I used to get nervous of them when they were turned out in Epping Forest, but haven't had any bad experiences with them thankfully. Bo would definitely go into herding mode if loose, not sure what the huskies would do.

I am sure there was a poster on here a few years ago who's partner was seriously injured, and their dog killed.

Glad all ended ok.

 

[Archangel]

You’re absolutely right. I’m not sure I could with my little dog though. I think I’d rather scoop her up and run. I don’t think she’d have the wherewithal to run in to a bush, and would be easily killed.

I think my dog would dither and I don't think there is any dithering time when cows are after you.