Helicopter rescues hiker in Alps after ‘patou’ dogs attack

Update: The Connexion has spoken to the family that owns the dogs. They say they only have five dogs. We have updated our article to reflect this.

A hiker in the Alps needed to be rescued by helicopter after she claimed she was attacked by 'around 10' Patou dogs this weekend.

The 32-year-old woman was hiking in the Vercors massif area (in the Rhône Valley), and bivouacking (camping without a tent) on the Sornin plateau when she was attacked on the morning of July 21.

One dog bit her rucksack several times, before beginning to chase her as she tried to escape. She says nine more dogs followed this first one, however the family that owns the dogs disputes this number.

The woman called the emergency services, who advised her to take refuge in a tree while awaiting their arrival. They managed to locate and rescue her by helicopter. 

The woman was physically unharmed, but shocked and scared, said rescuers CRS Alpes.

Puppy attack

It comes just a week after an owner and his small dog were attacked by Patou dogs near the col de l’Izoard (Hautes-Alpes, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur) as the two were preparing for a walk on July 11. The puppy, named Wendy, was on a lead.

The nine-month old bichon frisé was left with life-threatening injuries and had to be rushed to the nearest vet for treatment, with the care cost totalling more than €800.

Pet owner Michel Gobet said that he was not off the usual tourist route, and had not in any way provoked the dogs which were protecting a flock of sheep between Queyras and Briançon. 

Read also: Patou guard dogs attack tourist and puppy in Alps car park 

The farmer and owner of the Patou dogs in this case said he felt terrible for the owner and his puppy, but suggested that the dogs may have become overwhelmed due to the influx of tourists in the area.

“When there are a lot of people in the mountains, they get too much information all at once. That is perhaps what happened,” he said.

What are ‘Patou’ dogs?

‘Patou’ is the nickname given to Great Pyrenees Mountain Dogs, also known as the Pyrenean Mountain Dog, or Chien de Montagne des Pyrénées. They are usually white and very large, and typically trained to defend sheep from wolves and other predators in France. 

They can be affectionate family pets, but can also become very strong-willed and aggressive in the role of protection dogs if they sense that their flock or farmland is in danger.

Tourism tension

There has long been tension between farmers and tourism in France, as farmers seek to protect their animals from wild predators without increasing the danger for visitors.

In October 2021, a farmer from Ceillac (also in Hautes-Alpes) was fined €2,500 by the Gap criminal court because his Patous had bitten four walkers a few months earlier.

Read also: Shepherd's guard dogs attack hiker on French Alpine route 

"Frankly, we have had more problems between Patous and tourists than wolf attacks since the start of the season,” said a local authority, after the attack on Wendy the bichon frisé.

How to avoid issues with ‘Patou’ dogs

Visitors to the mountains are warned to: 

• Avoid any flocks of sheep or goats, and stay far away from any Patous. 

• Keep your dogs on a short lead, and go far around any flocks. 

• Do not let children approach or run.

• If a Patou does appear, try to stay calm and avoid sudden movements. 

• Do not shout. 

• You could even yawn, as this is seen as a sign of appeasement to dogs. 

• Avoid staring at or threatening the dog with a stick or other object, as these could be seen as aggression.

• Gradually move away, without running, and avoid any signs of confrontation.

Read also: Farmers and hikers given safety tips on French Pyrenean Mountain Dogs