Two hikers bitten by sheep protection dogs in mountains near Grenoble

Two young hikers have been hospitalised after being bitten by ‘patou’ sheepdogs while walking in the mountains near Grenoble.

The hikers, aged 27 and 28, were reported to have been bitten ‘deeply’ several times on the legs. 

The Saint-Pierre-de-Chartreuse commune in Isère where the victims were hiking is a popular spot for walkers and especially in summer. They were attacked in the early afternoon, around 13:00.

The two were treated at the scene by local mountain gendarme officers and transported by helicopter to a nearby wing of the Grenoble hospital. 

The exact circumstances of the attack are not yet known.

It is the third recent incident involving patou dogs to make headlines – a hiker in the Rhône valley was rescued by helicopter after taking refuge in a tree when multiple dogs surrounded her in late July, and a man and his puppy were attacked by dogs of the breed in a car park in the Hautes-Alpes department.

Read more: Helicopter rescues hiker in Alps after ‘patou’ dogs attack

Read more: ‘Traumatised’: Patou dogs attack puppy and owner in car park in Alps

Why are more attacks happening? 

Whilst attacks by patou dogs on members of the public have happened in the past, they seem to be multiplying this summer. 

The France Nature Environnement (FNE) association predicts that the wolf population in France has now reached up to 1,000, meaning farmers are having to increase protective measures for their sheep.

This includes using more guard dogs, such as patous, especially in the Alps.

However, the areas where flocks are found are often adjacent to hiking routes, walking paths, or areas of natural beauty, all of which are seeing a general increase in the number of visitors. 

The owner of the dogs involved in the attack in July said many more people are now walking and the dogs are becoming overwhelmed with visual information.

What to do if come across patou dogs on a walk

The first advice is to avoid becoming friendly with the dogs, such as trying to pet them or give them food. Even though the dogs may seem friendly at first, this can change, especially if you are close to the sheep they are protecting. 

Secondly, you should try your best to avoid getting too close to sheep flocks in the first place, which will also keep you away from the dogs. 

PastoRando is a website and app that in summer months shows the location of sheep herds. You can use this to attempt to avoid coming across them, however note that currently it does not show the location of flocks in the Alps. 

The FNE has also set up ‘Alpatous’ programmes in various departments, which provide a crash course for hikers on how to deal with the dogs when on a hike. An example of the programme, for the Ain department, can be found here. 

Finally, you should not bring your dog with you on mountain hikes, as this increases the change of patou dogs attacking, as they may see your pet as a threat to the sheep.