What could be doing this to my dogs?

[GhostRider65]

I was thinking coon also...I'm not sure why you keep sending your dogs out to be hurt.  I would have used the trap.  That gash could have used some stitches.  I'm not saying this to belittle you or tell you what to do, I'm just a little confused.

These are guardian dogs, doing there job, there absolute purpose in life is protecting the OP's pastured animals, it is what they are bought and kept for, and can take much more beating up than say a chicken, or goat...........
They would be very unhappy dogs if they were kept locked up until the predator is caught. Alot of people would say the same as you, but for those that know these kind of working dogs.
4 large dogs could easily kill a cougar, or even a bear if they are threatening there charges anatolians (SP) were once known as wolf killers I think.
I do not however think either of these is the culprit, I'm seriously thinking a coon who is escaping though the fence..

 

[leadwolf1]

I wasn't meaning to say to keep them locked up..just to give them a hand when one is available.

 

[Beekissed]

Dogs get hurt sometimes in the line of duty and that's what they are there for. Working dogs are just that, meant for keeping predators off the livestock. I can't imagine how they could continue to do their jobs if they weren't allowed to get hurt now and again. No couch ornaments, these dogs...just real dogs doing what real dogs are supposed to be doing.

Sounds like Buster has some great dogs that are working as a team against a persistent predatory threat. The chances of helping them in that goal would be slim~catching or shooting a large predator at night is a tough thing to do and requires stake outs at the right place at the right time with the right equipment and few are the people who would be successful at that.

For my guess at a predator that would make that kind of a wound on a dog that big? That definitely looks like a large claw slash mark, such as a large cat would make if backed into a corner. Which kind of large cat is anyone's guess but if it takes three dogs and they didn't get rid of it the first time out, I'd be guessing a cougar..maybe denned up with kits.

 

[Buster52]

Thanks, Bee. Pretty much my thinking on the dogs doing their job. And they are doing it well considering the lack of losses. The reinforcements are to act as a further deterrent. Critters can count.

And Baby did get stitches. I was at the vet when I took the pic.

What I do know, it wasn't a coon. If it was, I would have found a dead one the next morning.

ETA
Unless it was on the other side of the fence as suggested, I guess, or in the culvert. Face on against those three dogs, though... it's dinner.

I once saw our big male get a 60 pound stray that strayed too close to our chickens, took him by the throat and shook him like a little rag doll.

 

[mmktdox]

We do not have them here either.................Just ask our Dept. of Nat. Res.

Same crap up here in Ontario Canada . . . gov't has been insisting the eastern cougar is extinct for years but more and more farmers and outdoorsmen are reporting sightings. Finally just a few months back the Ministry of Natural Resources issued a statement admitting that they're back. Duhh, thanks for the heads up!!

 

[Gallus Sapien]

Wisconsin DNR had to release a statement after they were getting hit by cars! Before that ALL livestock injurys were from coyotes or wolves. Some farmers even had video... A new law is now in affect.....You can shoot to protect your livestock. However, the Wisconsin DNR is......Well.....Kinda-like a Neo-Nazi group. So I really cannot see anyone testing out the new law to learn their house is now gone due to some "fine-line" in the DNR's legal discription of the law.

 

[leadwolf1]

Thanks everyone for not jumping down my throat for asking the question. I love hearing about these livestock guardians and how they do their work. They are incredible animals, to say the least. I'm also glad to see that Baby went to the vet. I just see so much of the bad stuff that I guess I just wanted a little assurance that these dogs were just 'acting in the line of duty' but were also cared for.

Thanks again for letting me ask the question and for the great responses!

 

[Getoutside]

my money is on a raccoon, or a fence, but raccoon is my guess, they can get away from dogs very easily but if cornered they can be some very mean critters!

 

[vickiw]

mean critters?

my hubby live trapped a coon last year that was raiding our sweetcorn. Thought we would be kind and just relocate him far away on state land but every time my hubby tried to get near the cage to pick it up and put it in the truck, the coon tried it's best to EAT him! (did I mention this thing was so big we couldn't figure out how it even got into the cage).

As for cougars, saw first one in winter/spring of 97. It was coming in to eat the critters (supposed to be deer but also bunnies, etc.) that were coming to the feed pile we were putting out. Took our old puppy out to do his duty before bed and caught it in the flashlight. It was beautiful. Didn't bother telling the DNR. After all, they were extinct in WI, right? This past winter one was spotted by our neighbor strolling across a plowed field across from his house in broad daylight. When talking to our next door neighbor about it, they spotted tracks right by his house!

Oh yea, and the "extinct" moose are showing up everywhere! Had one young bull stand right next to the road and stare at us as we stopped to stare at him, pretty cool

BUT wouldn't want it in my garden!

 

[criagj1187]

my dogs get cuts like this all the time, but they are hog dogs and i would say thats what got yours too