Protection dogs, such as the patou but not only, are new players in the mountains. Faced with the return of certain predators such as the wolf, shepherds have adopted these new work companions.
But here it is, this big furry stuffed animal, adorable at first glance, can be very impressive! And our reaction to it is inappropriate..
It is known that fear breeds fear, aggression breeds aggression. Because when faced with you, the dog is wary and lives your arrival as an intrusion.
You should know that the protection dog has lived within the herd since its first months. Its mission is to protect the sheep, his family, and to act if a threat arises.
He then reacts by displaying warning behaviors towards you (barking, coming closer, growling) to dissuade you from getting any closer to the herd, first he must ensure that you do not represent a particular danger.
If, despite his warnings, you don't stop when he approaches, you continue to approach the herd and you even seem to want to pass right through the middle, warning signals are increasing : the dog may see you as a real threat.
In the story everyone feels attacked and is afraid... Not good... But good news, in this situation you can act.
What is pastoralism?
More and more of us are visiting the mountains in summer and we sometimes don't know what pastoralism is. To raise awareness among as many people as possible, overcome preconceived ideas and share high-altitude spaces peacefully, we invite you to discover www.pasto-kezako.fr, the first information and awareness site on pastoralism. Enjoy your trip!
How to behave when faced with a patou?
A well-crafted comic strip and videos by ethologist Jean-Marc Landry are better than a long text!
Reflexes to adopt when faced with a patou
In short
- Report yourself : when approaching the herd, make a little noise, speak loudly “Hey, we’re coming” so that the dog spots you. He works mainly at night, when the predators are active and during the day he rests. If he spots you a little late, too close, he can have a virulent reaction.
- stop, and let the dog identify you. He needs to come close to distinguish you, to smell you. And do not enter the herd.
- Stay calm, even if the patou can be impressive, he is only doing his job and if he trots towards you, it is to identify you and get his message across "don't touch my sheep!"
- Don't try to impress him, aggression breeds aggression. So don't see hostility in his ardor but apprehension for his sheep.
- Keep your distance as much as possible with the herd, go around it as much as possible. Then act as if everything was normal, look at the dog from the side, not in the eyes, talk to him calmly, as if you were congratulating him, and resume your discussion while letting him follow you. He will get tired once you are at a good distance from the herd.
- If he's a little too close or doesn't seem to be calming down, put an object between you and the dog : your backpack, your bike (from which you will get off as soon as you have spotted the herd of course) or a jacket. But do not threaten the dog with it, you will only make the situation worse.
- If the situation does not seem to calm down the best thing is to turn around, it's frustrating for sure but it's much more reasonable.
Now that you are warned: Have a good hike!
Good reflexes in the mountains
Or how to protect nature and prepare yourself