What the heck is that?

[tlbradford]

Anatomical there is no way it could be a cougar. Cats do not have a "rump" because they have 5 or 6 muscles that control the movement of the back leg. Dogs have 3 or 4, and that is why they appear to have a "rump". This dog clearly has a rump as well as a busy tail, and the definite long hairs on the legs.  

DOG all the way!

Brandon  
 

Nicely described.

Except for the fact that he used the words "clearly".  If that is what you think you are seeing great.  However, saying you see definate long hairs on the legs, and clearly see a rump, isn't really an accurate statement since the picture isn't clear at all.  

I still lean on the side of cougar, but Michelle's explanation on the high and shorter tail and your arguement for a "busy" tail is better proof of a dog than telling me it has a rump and long leg hairs.  

I would still like to hear how close to houses or farms this photo was taken.  There are only a couple of dogs that I can think of that would have that coloring, tail length, and that length of hair, and to my eye, it just doesn't match up with any of those breeds.  

[tlbradford]

BTW, I just don't see the rounded ears others are claiming since it's head is behind sapling.

[sivart33]

how close to a house, that is the determining factor, if he is 3 hours from the closest house, i dought its a dog, but 5 min ya prob.  now you also have to look at if there is a lot of traffic of people that may bring there dog.  it looks like it could be a bad pic of a coug, or just a weird pic of a dog, its hard to say cause its a ass shot of the animal. and well rounded tail looks like cat and the round ears but dogs do not all look the same. the tail also has a curve to it that i don't see in dogs to often.
leaning toward coug, leave the camera out there some more then will tend to be in the area again and looking for that mineral lick

[hogtiefly]

Okay everyone this was taken in one of the clear cuts in the tree farm almost up to the spur 10 gate.

[pat riotic]

dogs can have blunt tails for whatever reasons, but that tail is definatley a cat tail through my eyes also the round ears  which is a possibility of a dog also but...with those two items combined i am sure its a cougar but thats my opinion