Why do sheep and cattle fear sheepdogs but not people?

Question

In general when I approach a cow or ewe in a field or in a shed

they do not charge for me and try to butt me but when my dog is any way near them they would become aggresive, fearfull,

and try to attack the dog by butting it? Why is that?

No smart *** comments I want a reasonable answer O.K.

Answer 1

This instinct they got from their ancestors. In Ancient times both cattle's and dogs  were in forest, the dog used to eat sheep and cow.( Dog's ancestors are wolf). Its same as,when  a cat cross the road it will hide and watch the road like tiger.

Answer 2

Most animals have these instincts way back from their ancestors. They just fear dogs because they thought they are like their predator which is the wolf (bears and the like). So, it is but natural for them to defend themselves from these animals. And not to Humans because we herd them and take care of them and feed them. That's all I can contribute for this question.

Answer 3

I live in Idaho.  There are a LOT of sheep here.  Flocks can be a over a thousand head.  

They are on rangeland, in the late spring, summer, and early fall.  The sheep live with their Basque sheperd, Great Pyrenees to guard the flock, and varrious herding dogs.  Also a horse or two the sheperd rides.  

The sheep are moved every few days, to week, so they do not over graze a certain area.

When the sheep are at their destination and just grazing, they tend to totally ignore the dogs.  The Great Pyrenees can charge through the flock to address something that might be a threat to the sheep.

The sheep will just scoot out of their way, and continue to graze, or sometimes watch, if it's a spectacular threat (we do have wolves, gizzly, black bear, and cougar that prey on sheep around here).

The herding dogs they almost completely ignore when they are at a camp/grazing area.

However when it's time to move the flock, it's a whole different story.  Then the herding dogs switch to "on" mode, and the sheep pay attention to them....because the dogs BODY LANGUAGE changed.  The dogs went from sniffing around and walking in amoung the sheep herd, to patrolling the outer edges of the flock.  The herding dogs entire body language screams to the sheep "PREDATOR, " and "we are being HUNTED."  

That's how herding dogs work...they mimic the hutting patterns of wolves, which triggers the sheep to react with instinctive knowledge that this dog is dangerous.  As the dog watches them, that tells the sheep the dog is trying to pick out the weakest member...so them mill about, never trying to be the sheep on the outside closest to the dog.  

As the dog creeps forward, it tells the sheep the dog is getting ready to attack, better move away, or become dinner.

If the dog charges, it tells the sheep, selection made!  Someone is going to be dinner!

Sheep are not smart enough (most of them) to realize the dog never does pull down one of the flock members and have them for dinner.  Of course that is partly because of man.  If a sheep does become smart enough to completely ignore the dog, and do as it pleases, it becomes a thorn in the humans side.  That sheep is probably going off to market and not being allowed to pass on it's genes.

Sometimes sheep will try and butt the dog.  Especially sheep that are kept in the same pasture, day in and day out.  The sheep become somewhat territorial, and certainly use to the daily farm routine.  Sheep in smaller flocks become somewhat bolder also.  In a large flock, it's much, much easier to simply mill in, do what all the other sheep are doing, and allow someone else to become the prey item.

If sheep are kept alone, or in small flocks, they are a bit bolder, and more likely to butt.

By the way, the entire time the herding dogs are working the flock to get it moving toward its new sheep camp, the Great Pyrenees will be in amoung the sheep, walking with the herd.  The sheep pay no attention at all tot he Great Pyrs, because their body language is not saying, "I'm hunting you."

~Garnet

Homesteading/Farming over 20 years

P.S.  It's a very good thing for sheep to be around dogs as far as I'm concerned.  My sheep were very use to their guardian dogs, and completely ignored them.  I watched one older lamb (about100 pound) being licked on the face by a coyote!!!!!!!   Not kidding at all!  The coyote was a youngster, about one year old.  It had no idea how to deal with a sheep that wouldn't run from it.  The lamb was laying in the shade, and didn't want to be bothered.  The coyote was l*****g it's face.  The sheep was tossing it's head in annoyance, like the coyote was a fly.  

If the sheep was not use to dogs, it would have been terrified of even a young inexperienced coyote and run from it...the coyote would have then killed, or tired to kill it.

It saved the sheeps life to be use to dogs.

Answer 4

they know that dogs are preditors.. cattle are raised with humans in ways that they are not fearful.. but most sheep are somewhat warry of people...

I own sheep.. unless I have oats in my hand they are somewhat fearful.. they dont just come up for a pat on the head..

Answer 5

Most domesticated animals have regular contact with humans and therefore are acclimated to them.  In their minds, two-leggers can generally be safely ignored.  They also do not have an instinctive reaction to humans as predators.  Exceptions to this policy of ignoring humans would be females protecting young, which may become aggressive if approached too closely, or a male animal guarding females or territory.

A dog is a recognized predator, known instinctively. Dogs are very similar in form to wolves, which preyed on the wild forms of sheep and cattle for millenia.  Many cows and sheep do not encounter dogs regularly, unless they are frequently herded by one.  They will therefore become aggressive with the dog in an attempt to drive it off.  

Experienced herding dogs know how to deal with this reaction and how to push past the aggressive and/or responses to nip at heels and herd the animals.  Herding dog pups learn this from their parents.  Your dog doesn't know how to intimidate sheep or cattle, most likely, and will retreat from the aggression - provoking more of it.

Answer 6

They are herd animals. As we humans are.  Herd animals follow a leader.  You lead them, and your dog.  They know this.

Your dog is only second banana.  

The fear comes from genetic memory.

Wolves being their pursuers since the beginning of time.

Your herd animals not being afraid of you,   they are imprinted as you being their care giver.  They do not try to bite the hand that feeds them.  Your dog just demands respect without providing for them.