joe_lynas 2 Posted June 22, 2009 Report Share Posted June 22, 2009 (edited) - Edited September 28, 2019 by joe_lynas Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Malt 379 Posted June 22, 2009 Report Share Posted June 22, 2009 I got surrounded by cows when walking our ESS when I was a kid. I was stuck in a corner of a field for about 3/4 of an hour, before I summoned up the courage to chase the feckers away. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
TOMO 26,458 Posted June 22, 2009 Report Share Posted June 22, 2009 OLD english shorthorns are real bitches when they have calves Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mushroom 13,186 Posted June 22, 2009 Report Share Posted June 22, 2009 ive seen what cattle can do first hand to dogs on leads so i never have mine on one but my dogs are stock trained. bullocks will be nosey but cows with calves can be very unpredictable, at least a dog off a lead can round on them if need be to scare them away while you leg it :D always have a stick! if they come near arms wide and shout if they get to near quick dink on t'head should do it Quote Link to post Share on other sites
littletimmy 71 Posted June 22, 2009 Report Share Posted June 22, 2009 ive seen what cattle can do first hand to dogs on leads so i never have mine on one but my dogs are stock trained. bullocks will be nosey but cows with calves can be very unpredictable, at least a dog off a lead can round on them if need be to scare them away while you leg it :D always have a stick! if they come near arms wide and shout if they get to near quick dink on t'head should do it f**k off .. i've seen cows stand unentertained while getting hit with hlaf house bricks .. kids can be so cruel Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Jabali 0 Posted June 22, 2009 Report Share Posted June 22, 2009 Joe, Well done for highlighting this perennial hazard in our countryside. This occurrence seems to be ever more common with two or three similar incidents reported every summer. The cows are merely showing maternal instinct and attempting to protect their calves from an age old 'predator' (all domestic dogs are a descendant of the wolf). Nevertheless, I deeply sympathize with the affected ladies surviving family. Your advice to let your dog go off lead if faced with a similar situation is sound as long as your dog(s) is(are) bold enough to look after themselves. Faced with a threatening situation many dogs will seek sanctuary with their master often hiding behind him and thus putting him at the same risk as on lead. The best advice to anyone coming across a field of cows and young dependent calves whilst out with dogs is quite simple. Find a diversionary route. This is obvious, second nature to any genuine rural dweller. Indeed a friend of mine breeds traditional Galloway cattle which can be almost feral in nature at certain times of year and often retreat to heavy cover to calve where they hide their calf for several days. The first thing my friend does at the first sign that a cow has calved down is send his experienced sheepdog on a lap of the field. The first thing the mother does on sight of the dog is go straight to it's calf and adopt an initial defensive stand thus revealing it's whereabouts. My friend is then free to check on the health and the well being of the new born calf AFTER the collie is securely back in the Land Rover. I think DEFRA and it's associated agencies owe the public a greater duty of care and it's about time they embarked on an awareness campaign aimed at the general public to highlight this danger. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mushroom 13,186 Posted June 22, 2009 Report Share Posted June 22, 2009 ive seen what cattle can do first hand to dogs on leads so i never have mine on one but my dogs are stock trained. bullocks will be nosey but cows with calves can be very unpredictable, at least a dog off a lead can round on them if need be to scare them away while you leg it :D always have a stick! if they come near arms wide and shout if they get to near quick dink on t'head should do it f**k off .. i've seen cows stand unentertained while getting hit with hlaf house bricks .. kids can be so cruel the brick just fell out of the sky then i take it?? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stealthy1 3,964 Posted June 22, 2009 Report Share Posted June 22, 2009 Was in a pasture yesterday evening surrounded by cows with calves, the bull was fine, but the cows were edgey, so gave them a wide birth, once they have given you the once over, they normally walk off, but cows with calves cant really be trusted, it only takes one to kick off and they all start. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mushroom 13,186 Posted June 22, 2009 Report Share Posted June 22, 2009 this "stampeding" is a common occurance what most people fail to realize is the majority of the time the cows will bluff and turn at the last minute when encouraged to do so . it's usually noisy or over excited dogs that really set the calving cows off into defensive mode. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
SEAN3513 7 Posted June 22, 2009 Report Share Posted June 22, 2009 when we where farming ....we had belgian blues we had one penned with a 4 day old calf......i went in to change food , bedding etc and the cow took exception to me being there and crushed me against the side of the pen........very badly briused but learned a lesson !!!!! always treat them with the respect they deserve, they are only doing what comes naturally.....protecting their young very sad story. all the best sean Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mushroom 13,186 Posted June 22, 2009 Report Share Posted June 22, 2009 anyone who has been around cows in general knows they can be unpredictable its really sad for this lady and her family Quote Link to post Share on other sites
littletimmy 71 Posted June 22, 2009 Report Share Posted June 22, 2009 ive seen what cattle can do first hand to dogs on leads so i never have mine on one but my dogs are stock trained. bullocks will be nosey but cows with calves can be very unpredictable, at least a dog off a lead can round on them if need be to scare them away while you leg it :D always have a stick! if they come near arms wide and shout if they get to near quick dink on t'head should do it f**k off .. i've seen cows stand unentertained while getting hit with hlaf house bricks .. kids can be so cruel the brick just fell out of the sky then i take it?? Something like that Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mooshka 22 Posted June 22, 2009 Report Share Posted June 22, 2009 I have always been a little 'uncomfortable' around cows anyway. The other week my lad and I were at a usual place to exercise the dogs but a good way in we realised some cows had been turned out. After spotting them.. and them us.. we decided to retreat as they were looking very interested.. dogs were off lead and ONLY interested in hunting up in the gorse bushes. As we got the other side of the gate the cows had already started to run at us... the dogs followed us but was too late for my rough coat who got trampled. lots of yowling and yelping but he came out the other side.... very luckily with just a de-gloved tail.... a lot of grass stains and bruises....he has had 2 tail amputations due to the injury but all healed now. Renamed him 'Stumpy'... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
toplamper 5 Posted June 22, 2009 Report Share Posted June 22, 2009 i was walking my dog and the bull' chased me into a ditch i stayed ther untill i saw a bloke shooting andn he shot the cows hooof i was only 7 crying in the corner lol but when theyu run at me now a runback at Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Guest gaz100604 Posted June 22, 2009 Report Share Posted June 22, 2009 im always nervous around them last week had a herd behind me for ages bucking and kicking like mad kept blinding the, with lamp point blank the gate was 30meters infront i never got over a gate so quickly and glad be on under side tbh. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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