That's true I suppose Jon. Pumas have very flat faces, whereas a dog has a definite snout.

I wonder if, since wolves lived in Britain up until the mid eighteenth century, people were very frightened of them and if one was spotted, a 'legend' might have developed around it?

The 'big cat' in Hainford was spotted by some people sitting outside the Chequers pub. Maybe they'd had a little too much Old Speckled Hen?