A stroll through the New Forest wasn't quite what I'd anticipated!
Cows and Radio 4
Having listened to a Radio 4 programme about a couple who had walked into a field of grazing cows that then went on to attack them, I hadn't realised that the information was still rolling around in the back of my mind.
New Pet Sit - Day One
A few weeks later on a pet sit in the New Forest, I had my own experience. Whilst it is funny to recount, at the time it was terrifying! I had arrived at a new sit in the New Forest to look after a beautiful country cottage and a gorgeous Weimaraner.
On our first day together, George and I traversed the fields at the back of his house, and as we hopped from one field to another, I noticed a small herd of cows right down the far end in our current field with the stile we needed to go across nearby. Thinking there was oodles of time, George and I got to the said stile, where he suddenly dug his paws in and came to a halt. So I tried to cajole him to climb over or go underneath when I felt a presence behind me. I turned around and saw the herd of cows breathing down my neck! How the heck had they got there so quickly? All I could think about was that Radio 4 programme, so, beginning to panic a wee bit, I picked up this large dog and encouraged him over the stile.
Udders and Uber
Once on the other side, we continued with our walk while I surreptitiously levelled out from feeling slightly traumatised by the event. An hour later walking back the way we came, I hoped to the Angel of Pet Sitters that the cows had moved. They hadn't! They were waiting and we were stuck...
So, we walked back to the nearest landmark where I called and waited for an Uber. I felt so relieved to see the car but then the driver was completely intimidated by the size of the dog and wasn't going to let us in. Thankfully, we were minutes away from the house by car, but it was completely impossible to get to walking on the roads. Once again, I inserted dear George into the car and insisted that we couldn't walk on the busy main road with no pavement and we were just moments away by car. We were getting into that car and that was that! Thankfully, we were home within 5 minutes - that was day one of this pet sit!
Bullocks!
But then... the next day the farmer had moved the cows into the field directly at the back of the house I was sitting, and this is the view I had in the morning...
George meets and greets each cow with licks and wags. He dutifully went up and down the line while the cows took their turn, and I ever so slightly panicked until I realised that this was his life living with these cows as next-door neighbours. It was with this close-up view, safely behind a fence I saw that girls weren't cows but boys - young bullocks! Yesterday then felt even more of a close shave!
Cows and the New Forest
The following adventure the next day was getting lost in the New Forest, which is easy to do. I think had taken some cow energy with me as there was a particular one that honed in on me and went for the chase.
Round and round the gorse bush we went while I summoned up the courage to make a massive dash with big ol' George in hand, on his lead, and together we pelted up the track.
These adventures are not from a lack of experience but rather create experience wisdom, and a memory! These memories I shall keep, along with the bond they create with my darling pet sits!
Cows and bullocks are gorgeous creatures who can run very quickly and stealthily! Even if your dog is well-behaved and you are keeping to the edge of their field, please don't assume that 'it will be ok'.
Walking with Cattle
A word to the wise - treat cows respectfully. Even if you are quietly going about your business, you are in their field and they may feel otherwise. If you are in a field of cattle who are approaching you, raise your voice but not to a shout. Lift your arms to make yourself look bigger but don't wave them about. Do not use a stick to scare them as this will come across as aggressive. Walk briskly away maintaining eye contact with the cattle to help keep them at a distance. Do not ever attempt to walk between a cow and her calf. Remember to keep your dogs on a short lead and note that if you start panicking, so will they. Remain grounded, vigilant, and efficient! (This is my takeaway from personal experience!).
Here are a couple of links relating to cow attacks, how to avoid them and what to do should you get caught with cows:
https://killercows.co.uk/2023/06/21/libby-talking-on-pm-radio-4/
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/Hlm4HpS3yJ31C9yJ73f40l/a-country-walk-that-nearly-killed-me