To have gut reaction something's off.

[Carouselfish]

Live rurally. Lane with approx. 30 houses spread out over a mile, leading to small village (no shops) one way and main road the other way. Sunday, high snow banks on sides of road and slush all over. Driving into town, third of way up the lane, had to squeeze past group of 8 men, all about early thirties, very grumpy looking, with collection of dogs, mastiff, couple of lurchers, several little black terriers, making their way down towards the village.
I know it sounds very League of Gentlemen, but they weren't from the area, didn't have guns so not poaching, weren't dressed in wellies or walking boots or anything (I was passenger so had time to look). Would you just say large group of male friends who all have dogs out for a Sunday afternoon stroll somewhere random that was making them all very grumpy or what? It just seemed weird.
DP has suggested dognappers giving their stolen dogs a toilet break! I would have said poachers looking for places to come back to, especially as in the last couple of months have had two late at night incidences in the neighbouring field of people creeping about with dogs. But...they didn't look at all 'countryish'. Maybe those have made me paranoid...
MN verdict?

I suggest speaking to the rural crime unit. Maybe nothing or potentially part of a bigger picture. It's the type of dogs that make me suggest that.
Possibly dog fighting or hare coursing or similar activities. Do you have badgers around?
Think you are right to be a bit wary.

Hunters.

Not happy at being spotted coz they know they're up to no good.

I would have said badger baiting.

They could be dog fighters training their monsters...

Theyll be lamping/ hunting. And or dog fighting.

The naivety of some of the posters on this thread is hilarious, Yep, they really gathered all their dogs together and went to watch the footie

Ratting?

ItsAllABitStrangeReally

What?

Because men with dogs don't watch football?

I honestly despair.

I thought fighting, but more likely hunting.

With fighting, I suppose more people would be there as they have put money on the fight.

Whatever is was they are arseholes.

And thousands do it.

Pengggwn, don't despair , just learn from the posters who have the correct explanation for this. You know those badgers by the side of the road? They didn't walk there, they were tipped out of cars.

Footle

It's not the 'correct' explanation, Footless. It is 'an' explanation, and one of which I am not particularly convinced.

They won’t be fighting dogs. They wouldn’t all be walking along nicely next to each other if they were, as they’re trained to be extremely aggressive to each other. And they wouldn’t be fighting lurchers I can’t imagine.

Sounds like hare coursing. It’s been in the news a lot, around me anyway, & I fear it gives some nasty people ideas so they could be ‘novices’ hence the inappropriate footwear. On the other hand though they could just be returning from the pub. I live in a rural area & quite often groups of men will meet up for a dog walk then finish off at the pub. Particularly if it was heavy snow they might be off work etc.

If OP lives in a rural area, the local force will have a Wildlife Officer, do call them @Carouselfish. They could have been casing the area for a good place to 'Lamp', not a pleasant activity, and illegal.
These were hunting dogs, not fighting dogs.

Well, lamping is legal. But generally people will have yer know... Lamps. And guns.

Hunting is also legal. But generally involves guns.

Ratting or ferreting (both legal) would be my first thought, but both require decent footwear. Similar if they were coursing.

There is no law that says you have to be happy! Especially during crappy weather.

I would file it under 'odd' but ultimately you didn't see any illegal activity and other than inappropriate footwear have no suspicion of such either.

@sugar

Lamping is legal. You need the landowners permission, but very definitely legal.

My guess is some kind of cruelty. Dog fighting. Badger baiting. Something of that kind.

Hare coursing. Bastards.

Hare coursing

Hare coursing was my initial thought.

Either hunters or travellers. Possibly travellers out hunting!

They are the only two groups of people that I've ever seen out with so many dogs.

Niceandwarmandhot

Do you generally ask them whether they're travellers?

They'll be doing this sort of thing (warning - don't click the video links)

www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/gang-men-used-dogs-carry-12283563

Report them on 101 - most forces have a wildlife crime officer.

Please report to the police and the RSPCA. Whether it's badgers, hares or fights it's disgusting behaviour.

They weren't lamping in the middle of the day!
Ferreting would require ferrets.
Wrong mix of dogs for fighting.
Either coursing or innocent.

didofido

Those things are all disgusting. What the men were doing has not been shown to be any of those things. They were walking, with dogs.