What could be doing this to my dogs?

[Buster52]

My dogs have been fighting off a predator or predators of some sort. Three times they have come out of the pasture with faces marked or torn, twice very similar to the below latest attack. Looks like a slash. I have two Great Pyrs and a black lab. The below female and the lab seem to be the ones taking the brunt of the attack and bulk of damage. I'm not sure if that means the big male is a better fighter, or he is letting the females do all the work.

In any case, I just purchased a large coyote size live trap (I'm not much of a hunter, although I can shoot fine). I have personally sighted yotes, bobcats, and a cougar within 5 miles of my place (although cougars don't officially live in Oklahoma).

So, what do you think is causing this? And what should I do to stop it?




I used to have 4 Pyrs and the lab, but since we had no predator problems, I figured I could give away two of them. Silly me. That was probably because I had so dang many dogs. I'm picking up two more large males this weekend.

And for the record, I haven't lost a single bird or goat to a predator for a long long time, so the dogs are certainly doing their jobs. I'm just scared one is going to get seriously injured, and I feel badly for them.

 

[centrarchid]

Seems unlikey coyote or bobcat would be involved in multiple altercations. Either predator would be killed very quickly once your dogs got a hold of it. Is it possible they are fighting with somebody through a fence. This would make so whatever they are fighting with would not actually be contacted firmly and much of damage could be self inflicted on fence.

 

[zazouse]

Bobcats would leave more than one cut i believe if your dog got that close, i vote barb wire cut, seen them on my own animals when they run threw the spaces between the barb wire when they are after something.

 

[Buster52]

But they are always on the snout, always on the left side (like something is leading with its right), and always a downward cut.

And I don't use barbed wire except the top strand of the fence. It is all field fence except chain link across the front of the property. But I'll look around for exceptions. Maybe I missed a section.

It would be quite a relief if it is something that simple, though. I could just replace it with a safer material.

 

[centrarchid]

Are they all defending same pasture or does your ground butt up aganst somebody elses with large dogs? Yours could be standing on hind legs and fighting over barbedwire. The assymetry could be by chance alone.

 

[Back on the Farm]

I just lost a duck to a predator and have been stumped as to what could have done it. I found my duck a few days after he went missing and on his neck were two cuts that look just like those on your dog. I know that a fox or coyote didn't get my duck because I found my duck, his feet and back end were missing - all feathers & wings were in tack. He had two cuts on his neck and his beak was bloody and bruised.

A friend of mine asked me if I thought it could be a snapping turtle... makes sense as it might be the only predator that would attack/eat from under/behind my duck (he was a 12lb pekin). Anything else would have attacked from above, taken him away completely, or taken his head/chest.

Came home early this afternoon and there was a snapping turtle in my yard. It just seems to fit the picture.

Could it be a snapping turtle that is 'getting' your dogs? I'm not sure if you have them in your area or not, but they can be very nasty and they can get quite large. If the dogs came across them while in the pasture, it would explain why only their nose has injury. Even with the dogs getting hurt - they might go back to get 'rid' of or check out what it was a few more times -they are your guard dogs.

Hope your dogs heal quickly. The one in your picture is adorable.

 

[PlatypusPerry]

Could it be something living in a hole? If it's always on the same side they could be sticking their snouts into a hole that they have chased the animal into and then getting scratched on that side.

I would go search and see if you can find any holes on your property that an animal could be living in (be careful!) or could be running in to take cover when they find an animal and chase it into.

 

[calliexw]

x2 on the turtle

 

[geoff40]

If it was a turtle, likely it would be female turtles that have left the water and were on the way or way back from egg laying. It would not be the same turtle twice but 2 different turtles. Is there a body of water nearby that has snapping turtles in it? I've never seen a wound like that, and I'll yield to others here who have.

 

[centrarchid]

I doubt snapping turtle. Dog would learn business end after first bite. If dogs persistant they may also take to killing even a big snapper. Males also move overland and they are generally bigger than females.