Bobcat - is a farm collie a good protection?

[Stephine]

A bobcat showed up in broad daylight today! Just before noon we heard ALL the chickens call ground predator alarm, completely frantic. I ran out on the deck and saw a bobcat run away from their pen back down to the creek. I sent my dog after it, but he hadn't seen it and only reached the coop behind me.... Everyone was safe as they were locked in their pen, but we have started letting them free range a bit more under our dog's (and mine, right now as the dog is still in training) supervision. Now my question is, is a farm collie enough of a deterrent for a bob cat? Would a 50 lb dog be able to handle a small to medium sized bobcat (this one was about the size of a larger main coon cat)? Would the cat just flee, like today, or have you experya bobcat fighting back against a dog to get at her meal?

 

[3riverschick]

A bobcat showed up in broad daylight today! Just before noon we heard ALL the chickens call ground predator alarm, completely frantic. I ran out on the deck and saw a bobcat run away from their pen back down to the creek. I sent my dog after it, but he hadn't seen it and only reached the coop behind me.... Everyone was safe as they were locked in their pen, but we have started letting them free range a bit more under our dog's (and mine, right now as the dog is still in training) supervision. Now my question is, is a farm collie enough of a deterrent for a bob cat? Would a 50 lb dog be able to handle a small to medium sized bobcat (this one was about the size of a larger main coon cat)? Would the cat just flee, like today, or have you experya bobcat fighting back against a dog to get at her meal?

Hi,
I wouldn't expect a farm collie to attack and drive off a bob cat. I would expect it to sound the alarm so you could.
I have bred smooth collies which would try to take out a Bob cat if needed. But those collies were specially bred for protection and service They had a much deeper level of intuition and prey drive than a "regular" collie or farm collie. The regular farm collie would be more likely to sound the alarm. if you want to kill the bobcat, get a gun, or a team of Great Pyrenees dogs or and Anatolian sheepdog or a lion hound. Point being some breeds are bred to kill predators and some will only sound the alarm unless they see a danger to their humans. Then I do believe they would attack the danger. I think farm collies fall in the latter category. Yes, I am an expert in collie dog temperament.
Best Regards,
Karen Tewart
Bellwether Collies ( 1995-2009)
Having bred fine working and show rough and smooth collies who excelled in 13 different venues for their owners when we retired the kennel. Breeders of the 1st collie in the breed to attain Ch.s in both Heel To Music and Canine Freestyle Dance. That may sound superfluous until one considers the health, lithe agility, and keen mind needed for that accomplishment.

 

[aart]

Did dog follow cat scent trail?
Is dog a male...scent marking might deter?

I'd make darn sure your pen is sturdy and secure.

Might get some hints by perusing these threads:
advanced search>titles only> bobcat

 

[Stephine]

Hi,
 I wouldn't expect a farm collie to attack and drive off a bob cat. I would expect it to sound the alarm so you could.
I have bred  smooth collies which would try to take out a Bob cat if needed. But those collies were specially bred for protection and service They had a much deeper level of intuition and prey drive than a "regular" collie or farm collie.  The regular farm collie would be more likely to sound the alarm. if you want to kill the bobcat, get a gun, or a team of Great Pyrenees dogs or and Anatolian sheepdog or  a lion hound. Point being some breeds are bred to kill predators and some will only sound the alarm unless they see a danger to their humans.  Then I do believe they would attack the danger. I think farm collies fall in  the latter category. Yes, I am an expert in collie dog temperament.
 Best Regards,
 Karen Tewart
Bellwether Collies ( 1995-2009)
Having bred fine working and show rough and smooth collies who excelled in 13 different venues for their owners when we retired the kennel. Breeders of the 1st collie in the breed to attain Ch.s in both Heel To Music and Canine Freestyle Dance. That may sound superfluous until one considers the health, lithe agility, and keen mind needed for that accomplishment.

Oh, I have no doubt that my dog will go after it - he did try in fact, though the cat had already escaped over the fence when it saw me run out. He is bred to protect all his "pack". I am just wondering if we can always count on the cat high tailing it when the dog comes at it or if it might ever just stand its ground to get a chicken...

 

[Stephine]

Did dog follow cat scent trail?

Yes, he tried to follow it past the fence into the creekbed, but I called him back. He checked out the scents around the coop and to the fenceline.

Is dog a male...scent marking might deter?

Yes, male, neutered late, loves to mark.

I'd make darn sure your pen is sturdy and secure.

Fort Knox. 1/2" hardware cloth all around, sandwiched between wood boards and beams, burried and apron underground, no gaps, built by a professional.

Might get some hints by perusing these threads:
advanced search>titles only> bobcat

Thank you! I'll check them out

 

[BrinaChick]

A bobcat showed up in broad daylight today! Just before noon we heard ALL the chickens call ground predator alarm, completely frantic. I ran out on the deck and saw a bobcat run away from their pen back down to the creek. I sent my dog after it, but he hadn't seen it and only reached the coop behind me.... Everyone was safe as they were locked in their pen, but we have started letting them free range a bit more under our dog's (and mine, right now as the dog is still in training) supervision. Now my question is, is a farm collie enough of a deterrent for a bob cat? Would a 50 lb dog be able to handle a small to medium sized bobcat (this one was about the size of a larger main coon cat)? Would the cat just flee, like today, or have you experya bobcat fighting back against a dog to get at her meal?

I breed and raise Farm collies, and they run off black bears, mt. lions, coyotes, bob cats, and anything smaller they will kill. My intact male makes 'rounds' of his property and marks his scent all around our boundaries, and the females do as well. my website is onegoodfarmdog.wordpress.com did you happen to buy a dog from my 2016 year litter? lol.

 

[Stephine]

Haha! No, Bennie is 3 years old already - we got him from Hickory Hill in Missouri.
Are you in the ES facebook group? Maybe we know each other there...

 

[centrarchid]

I have an ES although he is pushing 70 lbs. Breed not all that important. Problem is getting dog to know bobcat scent is something to react to and try to run off. A couple years back a bobcat as coming up on us to serial kill harem masters as it got three over about a month. Dogs that handled coyotes in down did nothing to run off bobcat. That changed when I saw bobcat lounging in tree. Dogs could pickup scent but had not figured out it was something to chase. To correct I walked with dog towards tree bobcat was in. Once cat realized I was looking at it, the cat bailed and ran off which the dogs could hear. Dogs got excited by my reactions and got really excited when I brought them to point where cat hit ground and took off through the brush. Dogs figured out scent from something we need to run off. From that point on bobcat escorted out by dogs that would chew its butt if they can get to it.

 

[dekel18042]

I breed and raise Farm collies, and they run off black bears, mt. lions, coyotes, bob cats, and anything smaller they will kill. My intact male makes 'rounds' of his property and marks his scent all around our boundaries, and the females do as well. my website is onegoodfarmdog.wordpress.com did you happen to buy a dog from my 2016 year litter? lol.

By farm collie do you mean English Shepherd? I would expect the dog in this case to give a good showing. Bob cats can be vicious but I would expect if challenged, unless rabid, they would run, especially if the dog didn't back down.
Years ago we had a Siberian husky that killed a bobcat but knowing that dog I would expect she did it by sneakiness and I would never recommend a Siberian husky as a protection dog as it would kill your livestock before protecting them.

 

[Stephine]

I have an ES although he is pushing 70 lbs. Breed not all that important. Problem is getting dog to know bobcat scent is something to react to and try to run off. A couple years back a bobcat as coming up on us to serial kill harem masters as it got three over about a month. Dogs that handled coyotes in down did nothing to run off bobcat. That changed when I saw bobcat lounging in tree. Dogs could pickup scent but had not figured out it was something to chase. To correct I walked with dog towards tree bobcat was in. Once cat realized I was looking at it, the cat bailed and ran off which the dogs could hear. Dogs got excited by my reactions and got really excited when I brought them to point where cat hit ground and took off through the brush. Dogs figured out scent from something we need to run off. From that point on bobcat escorted out by dogs that would chew its butt if they can get to it.

I am pretty sure Bennie will run off any intruder, without bothering to learn more about them first. He goes after anything except "birdies", which are a strict "leave it!". Vultures, hawks and turkeys are too big to fall into "birdie" category and are chased off, so are hares and squirrels and the fox. He did go after the bobcat that one time that it showed up here in broad daylight (it had fled over the fence already after seeing me) and asked to be allowed to chase it past the fence along the creek bed (permission not granted), so I have no doubt he will go after it, especially since it's a cat (the resident cats are kept to their own fenced in area at their owners cottage or the barn when Bennie is out).
I was just wondering if a bobcat could be expected to high tail it pretty consistently if you hex a singl farmcollie on it or if it might try and fight for a chicken dinner...