Dogs and Cougars

[MLHSN]

Interested in input from those that have both dog and cougar experience. Yesterday I was hiking down the Eagle Creek trail (Twisp river area) with my dog (wirehaired pointing griffon). Tuck ranges about 15' ahead of me most the time. I came around the corner and saw a cat about 15' ahead of him in the trail. The second I saw it, I called Tuck to me. He turned immediately and was trotting back to me. At the sound of my voice the cougar turned and ran up trail away from me. I don't think my Dog ever saw it. Wind was at my back.

I think if he had seen it he might have chased. How does that normally work out? I know dogs are used to tree cats, but I also know cats pick off a lot of dogs at the edge of town. What's the deciding difference? Why do cats run during hound hunts but attack at other times? Do most of you keep your dogs closer? Only my third interaction with a cat and my first with a dog. Wondering If I need to take additional precautions/training in cougar/bear country with my dog.

[Timberstalker]

That’s tough. I had a run in with a large bear years ago with my current pup, who was a year old.

The only risk I’d see is you getting a ticket for dog training out of season.

My approach has always been to pack a gun for the cats or bears. But your suggested training may be worth while.

Curious to see other’s  responses.

[Humptulips]

Mostly when you're hound hunting you have more then one dog. Even two dogs are going to seem too much to handle for the average cougar.
That being said I used to have only one hound and he never was attacked. I'm sure though he was not as brave as if he had other hounds with him.
Also I think most of the pets taken by cougar are small breeds. Pointer ought to be big enough to intimidate almost all cougars IMO.

[Skyvalhunter]

PM sent don't under estimate if you will run into another cougar again but when. Will you be ready to dispatch it?

[idaho guy]

Mostly when you're hound hunting you have more then one dog. Even two dogs are going to seem too much to handle for the average cougar.
That being said I used to have only one hound and he never was attacked. I'm sure though he was not as brave as if he had other hounds with him.
Also I think most of the pets taken by cougar are small breeds. Pointer ought to be big enough to intimidate almost all cougars IMO.

Agreed I have treed lots of lions with one hound  I usually always start track with 2 hounds. Most lions will run but a small percentage will fight and they will wreck your dog. I have had hound buddies get dogs killed by Cougar’s. It has never happened to me but have ran into some fighters in the rocks. Depends on the dog to wether he just jumps in and starts grabbing fur or not too. I don’t think your dog is at great risk but depends on the cat and your dogs mentality I do wonder if Washington cats wouldn’t be more aggressive and bold since they haven’t been ran by dogs for years. Idaho cats are pretty conditioned I think to run just at a dog bark.

[kselkhunter]

I've had a number of interactions with my dogs and mountain lions.  I get mountain lions on my property occasionally, and we've run into them while hiking and hunting in the woods.   I have hunting dogs, a GSP and a lab.  Usually off leash most of the time.   Every time we've come into contact with a mountain lion, with either one or both dogs.....both the wild animal and the dog freeze in a stand off stare down.  My dogs don't bark, and have yet to chase the mountain lion.  My GSP actually goes on point on the mountain lion.   In every instance, I've walked up grabbed my dogs and backed away.  But the mountain lion always stays there staring at us until I yell at it and throw a rock at it...then it runs away.   I've never had a mountain lion or bear advance on my dogs, and they have always ran away.  The bears usually want no part of the dog.  The lions always get in a stair down and won't move until I yell and throw something at them.

But that is just my dogs. So, I can't advise what would happen with your dog if it noticed the lion.  The odd part is my GSP WILL chase a deer or elk if he sees it, as much as a pisses me off that he does it, but after a handful of lion and bear encounters he's never once left his point position.....not sure if he's preparing to defend me from the lion or why he freezes in his point position.   Maybe lions smell like pheasant. 

I get bear, mountain lion, bobcat, and coyote on my property regularly.  Always have a can of bear spray near the door and look out the door before I open it (had a bear standing 6 feet from the door one day), and a gun nearby as well.  Have never had to use either weapon though.   In the spring and summer, the bear spray is usually in my hand or on my body when I let the dogs out in the morning and evening. 

[KFhunter]

I had one stalk me and the dog out for almost a mile, my dog was pretty young still and she went on point, then she wanted to run up there where the cat was.  She didn't see it, only smelled it, which I did too cause it had just sprayed a tree.

I know of a cat that killed 4 hounds, an outfitter in canada had a client and it killed all the dogs he turned loose, he made some phone calls and other outfitter/s put out a whole pile of dogs on it and they got the cat but it holed up and fought.  It was a big tom with a puncture hole in its skull from an even larger tom.


There's just no guessing what a Cougar will do.  They typically run from hounds because the dogs are making so much racket and aggressive it shocks the cat into fleeing, a quiet dog and it might not flee, they have a chance to study the situation.

[Jim/WA]

A year and a half ago I was hunting grouse near Silver Star outside of Vancouver USA. My GSP was circling through a tangle of vine maple about 50 yards above me when he started yapping like he does when a deer jumps up in front of him. Next thing I know, a big Tom comes gliding through the brush right past me with the dog not too far behind but out of sight. The cat stopped twice and looked back but didn't seem to show any indication of aggression -- more like he was trying to figure out what was happening. About 20 seconds after the cat disappeared, along comes the dog in hot pursuit until an E-collar put a stop to it.

[MLHSN]

Thanks for the input guys. Your input makes me feel better about continuing to hike with my dog in bear/cougar country.

[jagermiester]

That emaciated cat in North Bend acted in a way that was not normal when he attacked 2 grown men on bikes. You should really think about some protection if you are seeing cats on your walks. My 

[KFhunter]

That emaciated cat in North Bend acted in a way that was not normal when he attacked 2 grown men on bikes. You should really think about some protection if you are seeing cats on your walks. My 

That was pretty well debunked on HW

[jagermiester]

That emaciated cat in North Bend acted in a way that was not normal when he attacked 2 grown men on bikes. You should really think about some protection if you are seeing cats on your walks. My 

That was pretty well debunked on HW

What was debunked?

[MLHSN]

That emaciated cat in North Bend acted in a way that was not normal when he attacked 2 grown men on bikes. You should really think about some protection if you are seeing cats on your walks. My 

I often do carry. The problem is, if my dog chases, they might be out of site. I can't shoot what I can't see.

[runamuk]

That emaciated cat in North Bend acted in a way that was not normal when he attacked 2 grown men on bikes. You should really think about some protection if you are seeing cats on your walks. My 

That was pretty well debunked on HW

What was debunked?

That the cat acted out of the ordinary.  Its a good sales pitch but not really accurate.

[catdog]

The cat in north bend was out of the ordinary the way it acted with the mnt bikers but it acted normal as far as being scared of the dogs. Cat ran and treed like most do.  I think 99% of the time cats will walk away even from lab , bird dog ect but there is always that chance with any wildlife.