AIBU all dogs should be kept on a lead outside of specified dog walking areas

[Scrowy]

YES

I am being unreasonable.

I apologise for the deliberately inflammatory title. But this is about groundnesting birds which are in serious decline.

BUT last year we set up some wildlife cameras close to known nesting points for curlews on our farm. What we saw was the parent birds frequently being disturbed by dogs 'playing'.

Year on year curlew numbers have decreased on our farm, despite no changes in farming methods.

What has increased is dog walkers and dogs off leads. Other predator numbers are largely the same or reduced according to Natural England. We can therefore only conclude that the frequent disturbances from domestic dogs are compromising successful curlew breeding.

If you use farmland to walk your dogs please keep them on a lead during groundnesting season (1st March - 31st July). Every countryside guideline and national park also requests this, but most people ignore it.

I know it's a bit shit you can't let your dogs disappear off and enjoy themselves for a bit, but it's really not good for the environment. Feel free to do as you please during winter.

Well as a nature loving family, I have got my responsible dog-owning daughter to share the original post on her social media (which I don't have) and she was quite happy to do to spread the word

That's very kind if you Aand but it might have more impact if the take the lead campaign stuff is shared instead. I'm afraid my OP is a bit waffley.

www.visit-eastern-moors.org.uk/plan-your-visit/take-the-lead-in-the-peak-district/

I have sent her the link

YANBU. Dogs are a menace. Unfortunately dog owners always insist their dog is not and wouldn't harm anything.

Not all dogs are a menace.Not all dog owners are irresponsible.And actually myself and the friends I walk with pick up loads of litter on a daily basis,clear up disposable barbeques left in the fields along with more rubbish in the summer.Last year we called out the fire brigade as a smouldering camp fire in the tinder dry woods was getting out of control.Report stuck sheep to the farmer.Reclocate lost dogs to the vets so they can be scanned and returned to their owner.Report fly tipping.Have even taken a load to the tip myself.Tip off the RSPCA after repeatedly walking past some horses in poor condition.Oh and pick up the bags of shit that some - and not all -dog walkers leave festooned around.
These are just a few things that have happened .
As I said earlier I fully support OP regarding keeping dogs on lead around livestock,in nesting season etc.

I'm a dog owner and I know my young dog can be annoying which is why we are working very hard to train him. Unfortunately it's made even more difficult when other people and other dog owners encourage MY dog to leap up onto them when we are trying to train the dog NOT TO! We've had other dog owners give us dirty looks because we won't allow our dog to leap all over them. One woman told me last week that she loves any dog jumping all over her?!! Oh he's just excited, she said.....?! There are a lot of very very entitled dog owners around and there should be more laws to deal with such entitlement.

YANBU and have a very good reason for your wish. Could it be something that is mentioned on Springwatch?