Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

See all MNHQ comments on this thread

Original poster

To think parents should take responsibility if children chase sheep on country walk?

1000 replies

Firethorn · 26/03/2015 18:13

Recently went for a country walk (public right of way across farmland) with SIL, my 2 nieces, and another couple and their 3 kids. Crossing a sheep-field, the 5 kids started chasing sheep, trying to 'round them up' in a flock like they'd seen sheepdogs do on TV. I asked SIL if we should stop them, she said no they always do this it's not doing any harm. Other couple agreed and said the kids are having fun, let them play with the sheep. I was a bit concerned as one child was carrying a stick and waving it around, but respected the parents' decision.
Shortly afterwards an irate farmer marched towards us shouting and swearing! She was really aggressive and had a snarling dog (off the lead), dog was circling us but not approaching. For about 5 minutes mins she yelled and swore at the kids for chasing her sheep. All 3 parents then turned on their kids and told them off, lying that they'd been telling them to stop but they'd disobeyed! (They hadn't told them to stop at any point). My niece burst into tears and hid behind me and I lost my temper with farmer for swearing at kids, told her to back off and stop shouting, and to get dog under control. The dad of one of other kids then threatened to kick the dog if it came near his kids, and after some more shouting we decided to go back way we'd come. She shouted abuse after us until we were out of sight!

I'm annoyed with other parents for letting their kids chase sheep then lying about trying to stop them! Also with farmer for being so intimidating and rude. SIL says we should just have apologised and carried on walking. AIBU?

OP posts:
Mrsjayy · 26/03/2015 19:45

You know when you think you have read every single poxy entitled behaviour regard ing precious children well I've just actually read everything now . Idiotic cowardly parents silly children allowed to worry animals because it's fun jesus wept

bumbleymummy · 26/03/2015 19:48

Just realised that the title of your thread means that I should be saying YANBU. Yes, parents should definitely responsibility - BEFORE their children chase sheep!

bumbleymummy · 26/03/2015 19:48

should definitely TAKE responsibility.

TinLizzie · 26/03/2015 19:48

Everyone, calm down. It's ok. Next time they go for a walk, they're planning on playing in a field full of pregnant cows.

You'll be reading about it in the paper.

grovel · 26/03/2015 19:49

Don't worry, everyone. I suspect that OP's family are really very thoughtful. They probably left a few gates open so that people following would not have to bother with them........

ThankFuckSpringIsHere · 26/03/2015 19:49

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

LaurieFairyCake · 26/03/2015 19:50

I reckon the OP genuinely thought some folk would be on her side because the children were sworn at and a dog growled near them.

Usually people would be much more supportive if the above happened.

I'm so heartened to see no one cares about a working dog growling and a bunch of ten year olds getting properly told off.

PrettyFeet · 26/03/2015 19:51

Off with the kids heads, off with them now! Grin

asmallandnoisymonkey · 26/03/2015 19:52

I think you're right, Laurie. Generally in those circumstances, growling dogs are not on.
However in this circumstance I think they were lucky to get away with JUST a growling dog and a shouting at.

Original poster
Firethorn · 26/03/2015 19:54

I agree the parents' actions were cowardly and they should have told farmer they'd allowed the chasing and taken the flack for it. This shelving of responsibility annoyed me more than the farmer's behaviour. I felt protective of my nieces since in their eyes they had been innocently playing a game (which their parents approved of) then blamed for it. I also agree children should not be chasing animals and I agree I was BU to get angry with farmer.

I also think farmers should not assume everyone using right-of-way knows not to approach sheep, feed animals etc. SIL and her friends are intelligent professional people who are normally very reasonable. I don't think they had any idea the sheep could be pregnant or that children 'herding' them could terrify or harm them. To most non-farming people, a field of sheep is just a field of sheep. A sign on the gate eg 'please stick to path and avoid approaching the sheep' would be beneficial to everyone.

OP posts:
asmallandnoisymonkey · 26/03/2015 19:56

Christ, how much spelling out do you need? They're not intelligent professional people if they need to be told not to let their children chase sheep. What horrible, stupid people.

Humansatnav · 26/03/2015 19:57

Are you on glue, prettyfeet? Your getting quite tiresome now, dear.

LadyGregory · 26/03/2015 19:58

I struggle to believe that anyone, however townie, wouldn't grasp that lambing is around now for many farmers, hence the particular potential disastrousness of letting five children chase heavily pregnant ewes. And that people who supposedly live in the country don't know this, and haven't taught their children the country code? My son isn't even three and has a better grasp on how to behave on farmland.

BaronessEllaSaturday · 26/03/2015 19:59

Do you also think there should be notices at the side of the road explaining to people how to cross? It is up to you to educate yourself if you wish to enjoy the countryside not the people who work it.

ThankFuckSpringIsHere · 26/03/2015 20:00

To most non-farming people, a field of sheep is just a field of sheep. A sign on the gate eg 'please stick to path and avoid approaching the sheep' would be beneficial to everyone.

I don't give a fuck if they're professional people or not. A field of sheep is NOT a field to allow children to go in and chase them "like on the tv". Fuck sake we have around 150 gates so do you suggest we put signs up for idiots? Most NORMAL people know NOT TO CHASE LIVESTOCK. Most NORMAL people respect the fact you stick to paths. An innocent game is not chasing ANY animal.

miniavenger · 26/03/2015 20:00

OP your anger should have and should still be directed to your SIL and the other parents. Ignorance of the lambing is no excuse, most people wouldn't intentionally distress an animal.

Original poster
Firethorn · 26/03/2015 20:00

Laurie, I don't think a dog growling, snarling and circling a group of frightened kids is EVER acceptable, particularly as they were on footpath by then.
It's natural instinct for a parent to protect their child if a dog attacks. ThankFuckSpring... farmland or not, if a dog bit one of my nieces, I would not hesitate to kick the dog as hard as I could! If your dog attacks any child in any situation you can expect the parent to injure dog with anything they have to hand, before the dog inflicts more damage!

OP posts:
willbillycome · 26/03/2015 20:00

Yes, the parents should have taken responsibility and stopped the situation occuring in first place but as they obviously lent the brain cell they share to someone else that day YOU should have stopped the children and told the adults it was wrong.

Thankfully there was a responsible adult there (the farmer) who has hopefully now taught the children not to terrorise animals.

As for the father threatening an dog who had done nothing wrong, well obvious where the children got the impression there behaviour was appropriate.

ilovesooty · 26/03/2015 20:01

Oh they're intelligent...
And professional...
That makes their behaviour justifiable then? Hmm

LaurieFairyCake · 26/03/2015 20:02

"A field of sheep is just a field of sheep"

Sad you're just not getting it (though im glad you agree now with all the points raised)

If the animals run away it's because they're scared, in what universe is it ok to chase animals and scare them.

A field of sheep are animals going about their sheepy business, they're not fluffy toys to chase. They're not entertainment, they're real animals with the capacity to be scared when they're attacked - and to the sheep children running at them are a threat.

CuntCourtIsInSession · 26/03/2015 20:03

Why are you still trying to justify their behaviour?

Humansatnav · 26/03/2015 20:04

BUT THE DOG DIDN'T BITE ANYONE , DID IT ? Sorry for shouting, but the op doesn't seem to be able to take this in board.

asmallandnoisymonkey · 26/03/2015 20:04

I don't know what people can say to you to get it through your incredibly thick skull.

YOU ARE WRONG. Your family behave abhorrently and you are lucky to get away with a tongue lashing. Your family are horrible, cowardly people unable to take responsibility for something they have done that is WRONG.

YOU ARE WRONG.

LadyGregory · 26/03/2015 20:05

OP, surely toGod you've heard of the countryside code, even if you don't know the ins and outs of it yourself, if you live a purely urban life? It specifies sticking to the path, not encroaching on livestock or crops, bringing your litter home, shutting gates, not damaging fences or walls etc etc. Everyone knows this stuff, even if they choose to ignore it. It's the ABC of living in the country.

I don't believe for a second that your SIL and her friends were unaware that what they were letting their children do was an outrageous abuse of the system of rural rights of way.

LaurieFairyCake · 26/03/2015 20:06

I disagree with you Firethorn

I think a dog growling and circling is most definitely NOT attacking. I think growling and circling is a normal working dog response.

I agree that if the dog actually attacked (instead of just growling) then the parents could take whatever means necessary.

I'm really disappointed that people think that 'growling and circling' is attacking behaviour.

Just like we've moved away from understanding how to be around livestock we have too many people who know nothing about dog behaviour anymore.

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

Join Mumsnet Log In
This thread is not accepting new messages.