Aibu to think I should be ok to exercise my well behaved dog wherever I like in fields

[Scrowy]

I'm not BU because my dog is a farm dog and the fields are my fields.

Sadly however the local dog owners seem to think that our fields (some with footpaths, some without) are fair game and that they have an equal right to use them as they see fit.

This week we have politely asked 6 people with loose dogs to remove themselves from the pasture we have just separated some lambs into. There is no footpath in that field but it has a nice view.

During lambing time this year we lost 4 lambs and 1 sheep to sheep worrying. About 5 years ago one dog killed 24 lambs in one go. Every week we are aware of minor incidents of sheep worrying, fortunatly most don't result in death but do always result in stress on the animals.

Also this week we have sent some older sheep to slaughter. Out of 30 of them 24 of them were condemned due to Echinococcosis, a disease passed on to sheep from dog poo and only identifiable at slaughter.

Neosporosis is another disease passed on from dog poo do cattle. It causes the cattle to abort their calves.

Letting your dogs poo on farmland is directly putting farms out of business.

Letting your dogs 'play' with sheep causes death, even if your dog doesn't actually maul something at the time.

You wouldn't walk into a shop, knock down a display and break stuff without expecting to have to pay for damages. Why do people think that the countryside is fair game?

I'm all for live and let live, I want people to enjoy the countryside and support it. I also want people to realise that it's not just there for their amusement, that some people are trying to make (an increasingly small and desperate) living from it.

cheesecakesunflowers....oh yes, I wasn't complaining ...and I do work in a land based company...but have been chased one time too many! I understand you have to put the heifers/cows and calves on the fields as that's why you have the fields! I just avoid walking through them as being charged at by 30 young heifers is not my idea of a nice walk..and I know they are young, high spirited and curious (as are most young animals) but these particular ones would have found it difficult to stop in time to avoid trampling me! (thank god for a handy fence!) This was before I owned a dog too. Now I walk my dog I am wary, especially as he is stupid (loyal) and just walks next to me even if I drop the lead so the cattle are super interested in me too! Mind you...it is mainly certain breeds I notice..though that could be coincidence.
So please don't think I was moaning etc...I quite understand the cattle have to go in the fields..I just stick to moorland and different paths when it's the "frisky" time of year!

I would expect any dog to be on a lead through farmland or fields for the reasons you stated. I don't think you can stop them on public footpaths but you could have a sign that asks for them to be kept on a lead due to working farm. There are plenty of commons and parks where dogs are allowed off leads. What you do with your dog on your own land is up to you. You could do what the Prime Minister does. Chequers has a public footpath with a temporary fence on either side (electric) so you daren't stray or take your dog off a lead!

I think vegetarians also benefit from farmers, do they not?

Why should your money-making ventures as a farmer who grows and slaughters innocent animals have precedence over the rest of the population out for a walk with or without their pet?

Because unless the dog walker is one of the commoners of the land in question, it's the farmers land, not the dog walkers. Common does not mean public - it means that several people own it in common.

The land being used by the farmer (fell) for free (but to make money from slaughter) is not their own but common land.

Common land is not public land. It is land owned by several people (generally several farms) in common.

YANBU, we have a problem with campers and their dogs who fail to understand that post and rail with weld mesh is as much to keep people out as much as our horses, goats & dogs in. We run electric along the top of all our fences but it's only live in the paddocks that are in use. Now after several run ins this summer everything is live. We even had one couple climb over with their dog and laughed whilst it was snapping at my daughter's pony, apparently it was only playing! It then turned it's attention to my chickens before being chased off by one of our dogs. We had to ask them to leave 3 times before they actually went and then only after their dog crapped on our lawn and they gave us a lecture about all property ownership being theft! Feckin idiots.

YANBU

We have similar issues. I am growing weary of the ignorance, arrogance and utter stupidity of a significant minority of people. The countryside is not your personal playground, in many cases it is a working environment. Locally, there has also been issues with local woodland (rare bluebell woodland- people trampling all over/picking the flowers etc- despite signs telling people not to).

So many people do not seem to be able to understand that right of way through pasture is that- right of way ON THE RIGHT OF WAY, but not over whatever tract of land they feel like wandering over. They drop litter, especially when they've decided to have a "lovely picnic". Not to mention the issues with people not closing gates properly, going over locked gates (they are usually locked for a reason)- and like OP it would not be 1st time someone has cut through padlocks. Similar to OP, we have problems with owners not controlling dogs around livestock, not picking up poo (or better yet, putting into poo bags and then leaving said bags on the ground or in hedges). It would not be the first time that we've found dirty nappies and related paraphernalia. And don't get me started on the parents who seem to think that the livestock or the horses are part of a petting zoo.

I know I sound like a grumpy old bag, and I know it's not everyone but it is far too common. My perception is it is getting worse.

I also know that some landowners put obstacles in the way and don't play fair. But I am beginning to see why some might do so out of frustration. We spend time and money maintaining the right of way and access to it, but so many people just don't use it appropriately. We are seriously considering doing the bare minimum we have to do with the right of way- i.e. making sure it's not fenced off- to try and put people off.

I have no experience or advice but I just want to say I honestly am disgusted to read people stating that they don't pick up after their dogs, like just because it's a field it's not revolting to leave dog shit behind. Even if there are no cows or sheep around, no matter what, pick it up and take it home. You ought to be very ashamed. What on earth makes anyone think it's ok to leave dog shit.

"Common" land or not, why do people think it's acceptable to let their dogs chase livestock? We keep cows (as pets/lawn mowers) and have sheep on tack, one of our dogs can't be trusted near the livestock so he is only allowed to go into their fields on a lead.

OP I would definitely put up lots of signs to say that dogs seen worrying sheep will be shot, I'd imagine that would make most people think twice.

YANBU
In th evillage I used to live in, there were several footpaths through field etc.
One path was a field of horses.
The owner put HUGE notices up, asking people to keep their dogs on leads and keep on the path.
It is a very clear notice, and it says your dog is in danger of getting kicked.

But still, there are regularly dogs chasing the horses across the field.

In my softy south England world, have found that most people don't want the countryside to be 'real' countryside. They moved out of a city and prefer it to be clean and pretty. They don't understand it. horses on road are a nuisance, they do messy poo and slow things down. Or worse, get scared by their roaring cars. Pigs stink, silage worse. Cows on the road being moved to a farm. And sheep are just click bait for their dogs.

YANBU!

You may find it helpful though to get a press release out about all the diseases that can be passed on from dog poo to cattle or sheep.

I would take the matter to your local MP - Good luck

\Put up a sign saying dogs entering the fields might become infected with echinoccosis and that you are not responsible for any dogs so affected. That'll keep most of them out.

Hang a few of these around the wood. That should keep the buggers out

One of these might also help. Whose to know there isn't a bull hiding behind the sheep

Maybe idiot dog owners don't also realise humans can pick diseases up from dog and cat poo.

You can shoot dogs on your land that worry animals and I have a friend who has done this. It killed two of his lambs. People were up in arms.

It should be a legal requirement that all dogs regardless of where you are must be kept on a lead. Owners should have to have a yearly license which should be payable.

I am sick of other people and their dogs, we can't go for a walk without them running at us or our children, "oh he's friendly" will not wash the muddy coat my son now has because your mutt has jumped up, or buy the new shoes now covering in shit.

Cubtrouble - My dog is very well trained thank you and does not randomly approach people so no not all dogs need to be on leads if they have had the correct training and we always pick up our dog poo so I can assure you it's not ours that is covering your shoes. I actually do agree about the licenses as there are a number of people who are completely unsuitable to have dogs but do not tar us all with the same brush.

I would actually like idiot parents to stop their kids from running up to our dog and assuming they can stroke them with out asking if it's ok first and then when you tell them it's completely inappropriate they are very offended as there DCs should be able to do what ever they want.

This thread has absolutely shocked me tbh I never realised people actually thought it was ok to let their dog chase animals or not pick up their dogs poo.

Cubtrouble my dog is better behaved than most kids I come across. Perhaps all kids should be kept on leads? At least then you wouldn't have to worry about your son ever coming into contact with mud?

Ditto raizel

And for the record, farmers shooting dogs is rare, and not done lightly. Or as punishment after the crime, it can only be done whilst they are worrying and when there is no alternative. And the rl accounts I've heard, either where the dog was shot, or would have been if there was a clear shot, were very distressing for the farmers too because it's hardly a pleasant task.

We farm and although the side of the road with cattle grazing on has never been a problem with walkers. The other side of the road is arable land. We have 2 footpaths and a permissive footpath joining the 2. I know it is no where near as bad as your problem with animals but it still makes me cross when people come off the footpath and walk diagonally across a field of newly growing oil rape. We saw a family of 5 walking right across on Saturday. Then yesterday when at a neighbours 2 walkers walked right behind their hedge, it's nowhere near the footpath. It makes me cross that people think they can go anywhere. They wouldn't like it if I walked through their garden and trod on the flowers. We had a local vet who kept riding the footpath on her horse. My other half approached her and said it isn't actually a bridleway, to which she said "I have a right to ride wherever I choose" mind you...she didn't ride up there again.
I feel for you op. It's all these people that think they have a right to roam. With animals involved it makes it so much worse.

Well this thread has inspired me. I am going to make some posters explaining about the neosporosis in dog poo and the dangers it poses to cattle. Some can go along the footpath and I will ask our vet to display one too. Am also going to post on the village social media page to further spread the word.

What about game cameras with a sign saying that dog owners will be held responsible for the loss? Also, although i detest trespassers and they always remove our signs, maybe a few signs with your iinformation in flat kiosks, plexiglass enshrined maps and info? Cemented into the side of the path with poo bags? It would be less money than sheep. I'm sorry about your difficulty. People who think that they have the freedom to be on other's property are equal to shop thieves.

I have a field that is near me which is privately owned, but had allowed people to walk through with or without their dogs, just as long as you keep to the path. The owner now has 4 large dogs of their own and has fenced off the field so they can run them off in the field. They obviously had some people complaining about these dogs, so now they have put chains and number padlocks on them with a note to contact them for the access number if you are happy for your dogs to be in the same field. Maybe somthing like this? It would give you a mobile number of the dog walker should something happen. (Not sure this is allowed by the way.)
I for one would not let my dog off in a field with sheep and it really saddens me that owners do this. I would not only be worried for the sheep, but also I would not want to risk my dog getting shot by a farmer or landowner.

I think you need to arm your sheep!

Yanbu. We have the same problem and it drives me fucking nuts. People seem to think that their pet's desire for a run around trumps our right to manage and use our own land. There also seems to be this idea that you don't have to pick up after dogs if it's not on a path - our verges stink in the summer. Also we're in Scotland so unfortunately don't even have the right ask people to leave as long as they aren't trampling crops or actively worrying the livestock.