Dog walkers etiquette in a field full of live stock...

[QuietTiger]

When walking on a footpath in a field of live stock, PUT YOUR FUCKING DOG ON A LEAD!! (Apologies to those who do).

DO NOT let your dog chase the live stock and DO NOT get arsey when you get told by the farmer to "Put your fucking dog on a lead". If the farm dogs are loose in the field, IT IS USUALLY FOR A REASON.

Sorry for the rant, but today, after a lovely walk across one of our fields with my (3 working farm) dogs through a field of cattle at lunchtime, all of whom were very chilled and calm, DH had to go back across the same field. There is a heavily used public footpath which dog walkers use through the same field. He found a dog walker letting his fucking dog springer spaniel chase the cattle. All of whom are pregnant. The walker got arsey when DH (who is VERY mild mannered) threatened to shoot his dog if he didn't put him on a lead and informed DH that "he was letting his dog herd and he'd shoot him over his dead body".

MY dogs can run amongst the cattle, because a) they are used to them, b) they work them pretty much daily c) they do what they are told and d) it's our livestock, so my call.

Jo-Average bog standard rambler/dog walker - YOUR DOG IS NOT TRAINED FOR LIVESTOCK WORK. And I don't give a flying fuck if "your dog is only playing/learning". A farmer is well within his rights to shoot your dog if it is worrying livestock, BY LAW, and my DH WILL as will all the other farmers I know in the area.

Now, before people start with "I'll never let anyone shoot my dog, blah, blah", i will say that RESPONSIBLE owners would never put their dog in a position that it was worrying live stock, because it would be UNDER CONTROL, so that argument is, in this case, invalid.

Please, people, keep your dog on a lead or at the very least under very close control when in a field of livestock.

Here endeth the rant.

Re Bulls. They can be in a field with a ROW if they are under 10 months old. After that they should not be in a field with a ROW unless they are with cows and heifers.

It is an offence under the Health and Safety act to have a bull that acts in a way to threaten the safety of the general public. (although I guess it may be too late by then!)

'But... Guess what happened when I taped of a path to the side with electric tape to keep walkers and ponies separate?? The walkers generally ignored it!'

Eve, they are daft blighters! And thank you for at least trying.

That's interesting notmeagain. There are some cows (with udder cows) alongside the young bulls so that must be why they are allowed. What is it about the cows that make the bulls less fightey? I'm sure they're not all copping off after dark are they, and so satiated that they can't be doing with terrorising dog walkers the next day.

Does presence or absence of testicles make a difference legally?

It's a quiet day when you are doing the ironing wondering about bulls 'n' bullocks bollocks.

notme - the news reported that the farmer was surprised at this happening as they were a very docile breed. Clearly not that docile. And the bulls I have seen are proper big bastards! Size of a brick shithouse and with bollocks like potato sacks .

I have a lot of sympathy with landowners - was brought up in the countryside and listened to a lot of farmers whingeing about walkers and the whole hassle of RsoW. And bulls need to be able to run with the cows or where would the little cows come from! But I find it a bit rich when landowers berate walkers when they so often fail to get their own house in order.

i am not very calm on the subject I'm afraid as it was me and my dog that got caught with the electric fence - Harley touched it, spasmed and then got tangled in the two strings and was yelping in pain. I got shocked several times when I was trying to get him out. I reported it to the ROW dept - the query sat there on the webside for ages and then was marked 'closed'. When I rang up about it I was told that the inspector has visited it and found nothing amiss So presumably it had been taken down in the aeons between my complaint and him actually visiting.

May I also add a rant?

If your dog is an over-excited puppy or you know they are liable to jump and/or nip then KEEP THEM ON A BLOODY LEAD ON PUBLIC FOOTPATHS!

I am fed up of my children being jumped all over and mauled by dogs off their leads and their owners who say "Oh she won't harm you, she's only a pup!" Yeah, a bloody huge puppy who has just ruined my dc's school uniforms and made them cry. Thanks a bunch!

Not everyone is a dog lover and not everyone wants to pat and stroke and make a fuss of your dog, just as I would not expect you to pat and stroke and make a fuss over my child. Unless you are on a field (without cattle of course) or common land then keep your puppies and over-excited dogs on a bloody lead. And should they nip at my children's ankles I do have the right to give them a bloody great big kick up their arses which should save you money on castration fees.

Rant over.

ormIrian - I believe I know of the situation where a woman died being trampled by cows - was it the one in Radyr, Cardiff? If it was the one you mention, I know it doesn't help, but the farmer in question is not well thought of by the rural community.

I actually agree with you regarding your rant about electric fence - if you put it across a RoW, you have to give an alternative route, or the means for people to open it to go through (such as an insulated handle to open a gap). You also have to stick signs everywhere saying the fence is electrified, so you are not alone in your rant.

notmeagain - it is common sense not to put a bull in a field with a RoW regardless of whether he is with cows or heifers. If the bull gets nasty you (as the farmer) will not have a leg to stand on in court as you have not taken steps neccessary to protect public safety. Regardless of whether you are allowed to do it or not. I'm not saying it doesn't happen, but the farmers who do it are daft, because it is a lawsuit waiting to happen. Our bull is a complete cunt a bit of a sod, so rather than risk joe-public, DH won't put him anywhere near the footpath. Which actually, is a complete PITA, as it means I loose my horses field... (selfish cow that I am )

Ephiny - Scuttlebutter was joking and it was a joke directed at me more than MN, because we have had more than one conversation about gortex clad walkers and the sterotype ramblers that we get across this particular footpath. The "day ramblers" usually wear stupidly bright colours and have "all the gear but absolutely no idea", wheras sensible "normal" walkers wear sensible "normal" gortex and can read a map.

Abra1d We have a field with mares and foals in exactly the situation you describe at certain times of year. We've solve the problem by providing an alternative route or keep the mares away from the footpath with electric fence. The person you describe is, as you say, totally irresponsible. Again - you can say disregard for public safety.

In my OP, I'm not saying that landowners/farmers are not twats and are perfect, but like many dog walkers, many are responsible, but a % are not and it is these ones which cause friction.

Is it not legal to shoot a dog that is seen harrassing livestock? I think it is in Scotland, not sure if it's the case in England.

Yes, as the OP said.