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The doghouse

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Original poster

Walking holiday in the Lake District....never thought about the sheep.

27 replies

VivaLeBeaver · 14/04/2015 08:27

Sheep everywhere isn't there. I had visions in my head of fell walks while the dogs ran along off lead. Because to be honest they're a pita on lead.

They have both got good recall and come back when called every time. They've never walked through a field of sheep before. They've walked along a path the other side of a wire fence from some sheep and didn't pay the sheep any attention at all even though little lambs were bleating and jumping about right by the fence.

Is the holiday going to be shit? Is there anywhere without sheep? Do I risk having them off lead the first day and put them back on at the first sign of any interest? Both dogs are tiny (4kg) and scared of their own shadow and mostly trot along right behind me.

OP posts:
Georgethesecond · 14/04/2015 08:28

FGS keep them on a lead it's lambing time.

Original poster
VivaLeBeaver · 14/04/2015 08:30

Not sure there's any need for a FGS but thanks.

It'll actually be summer when we're going.

OP posts:
ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 14/04/2015 08:34

TBH I think the responsible thing to do would to be to keep them leashed at all times. Make sure you pick up their shit too...

Also saw this...

"When using the new access rights over open country and common land, you must keep your dog on a short lead between 1 March and 31 July - and all year round near farm animals - and you may not be able to take your dog at all on some areas or at some times. Please follow any official signs."

Original poster
VivaLeBeaver · 14/04/2015 08:38

Thanks, think I'm going to have to investigate some sheep free areas like maybe Grizedale. I'm going on my own with the dogs and tend to use trekking poles which would be carnage with two leashed dogs.

OP posts:
HuggleBear · 14/04/2015 08:44

We have done a lot of walking in the lakes with ours who have good recall but are used to livestock so couldn't care less. I have never had a problem of finding plenty of areas where they can be off lead for a good run, putting them back on for walking through fields of sheep or in areas where ground nesting birds are.
Locals will usually point you in the direction of good exercise spots and tbh if they are getting more than usual time off lead you will prob find they aren't so bad on the lead when they have to be on them as they will be tired!

The lakes is one of the most dog friendly places I have ever visited, most shops accept them. Every other person you meet on walks have at least one dog!

Have a lovely holiday!

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 14/04/2015 08:45

Any use?
www.dogfriendlylakedistrictwalks.co.uk/home/4563944088

wemadeit25 · 14/04/2015 08:53

I am doing Hadrian's Wall in July alone with my dog. She cannot be trusted around livestock so I will always have her on a lead at all times, it will be extendable and clipped around my waist so when there are no livestock close by I can lengthen it so she can have a sniff around and when I see livestock I can shorten it, As we are walking 86 miles in 6 days she will be knackered anyway and doesn't need to run around. I find the smaller the dog the easier it is for them to get through the hedges and walls to the sheep you probably haven't even spotted yet!. Better to be safe than sorry, they will shoot your dog if they are seen to be worrying the sheep.

Bubble2bubble · 14/04/2015 09:15

If you are worried about it but want to walk hands free then a waist belt can be good - you can get ones with a kind of bungee line attached which gives them a bit a freedom but means they won't be tempted to leave you

Mitzi50 · 14/04/2015 09:31

viva going off topic - how have you found holidaying on your own with the dogs? DC aren't interested and I would love to take Ddog1 & 2 away.

CMOTDibbler · 14/04/2015 11:26

You can look at sheep proofing your dogs (though I still wouldn't let them off when I knew sheep were about) - there seem to be a number of people offering one day courses.

Original poster
VivaLeBeaver · 14/04/2015 11:29

Thanks for all the advice, I'm going to order a waist belt. Great idea.

That dog friendly walks has some good advice as well and ive also just ordered a dog friendly walks in the Lakes book which apparantly has some advice about where sheep are likely to be/not likely to be on the walk.

Dh has just reminded me we did once take the older dog for a walk in the Peak District and it was almost alternate fields with sheep, then sheep free. We did put dog on the lead in the sheep fields but one field hadn't seen the sheep as they were hiding and only realised at the last minute and dog still wasn't bothered.

mitzi. Ask me in July! I haven't done it yet. I've gone away on my own but never with the dogs. I get more holiday than Dh so it seems daft not to do something. Especially now ive bought a new caravan and I'm itching to use it. I think the logistics of it all may be a headache at times. I know I can't leave them in the car on their own if it's hot. I wouldn't leave them in the caravan so not sure how I'm going to be able to pop into shops to top up on food, etc. going away for ten days so I will need bread, milk, beer

Will have to take as much as I can I guess and if necessary to mad two minute dashes into shops with them been in the car with the windows open. I've got a large estate car with a proper dog guard so they'd be secure.

OP posts:
lk26 · 14/04/2015 11:33

Please keep them on their leads. I live in the middle of the Lake District and can assure you farmers will shoot dogs who are worrying sheep etc. Not worth the risk.
We are in the muddle of lambing here and tired farmers and tourists letting their dogs off the leads in fields with sheep is not a good mix.
Where abouts are you staying ?

Original poster
VivaLeBeaver · 14/04/2015 11:43

Will be staying near Coniston.

OP posts:
NeitherHereOrThere · 14/04/2015 11:48

Some farmers will shoot dogs that are off lead even if they are not worrying livestock.

Original poster
VivaLeBeaver · 14/04/2015 11:53

surely that's against the law! Shock

I used to live on a sheep farm and the neighbours dog was always coming over and worrying our sheep. Ex DP didn't have time to lie in wait and shoot it so he put poisoned meat down and was prosecuted for this.

OP posts:
lk26 · 14/04/2015 11:53

It is populated by upland sheep farms there to. Sheep are mostly on the fells etc and in fields.
Even though lambing would be finished by the summer I would still be careful about free running dogs.
You could have them on leads if the paths go through sheep fields and then let them off but keep them close.
Have a great time at coniston. It's lovely there.
Ps. There seems to be lots of dogs that go missing here when they are on the holidays as they seem to run off during walks and get disorientated easy. My newsfeed on Facebook seems to have had quite a few recently. Luckily all get reunited but after a stressful few days.

Original poster
VivaLeBeaver · 14/04/2015 12:00

Thanks, hopefully they won't get lost. Like I say they normally bumble along behind me and don't like going off the path. Grin

I remember years ago on top of Helvellyn there was a bloke who'd lost his dog on Striding Edge the previous day and had come back looking for it. Must have been heart breaking for him, Id be frantic.

One of mine does cunningly look like a lamb!

Walking holiday in the Lake District....never thought about the sheep.
OP posts:
ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 14/04/2015 12:00

The definition if worrying is very broad (especially 'c'):

For the purposes of this Act worrying livestock means—

(a)attacking livestock, or
(b)chasing livestock in such a way as may reasonably be expected to cause injury or suffering to the livestock or, in the case of females, abortion, or loss of or diminution in their produce.
or
(c)being at large (that is to say not on a lead or otherwise under close control) in a field or enclosure in which there are sheep

www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Eliz2/1-2/28

CaptainHolt · 14/04/2015 12:01

It is legal to shoot dogs that are worrying sheep. I imagine it would be very hard to prove that your dog wasn't worrying sheep by simply being off leash, and may be a matter of option anyway. Either way, they cannot be un-shot later.

Poisoning would be different matter, I imagine, because you couldn't say the dog who ate the poison was off leash or whatever at the time, similar to self defence vs pre-meditation.

Original poster
VivaLeBeaver · 14/04/2015 12:02

Gosh I didn't realise about 'c'. I thought they actually had to be chasing to be shot.

OP posts:
Original poster
VivaLeBeaver · 14/04/2015 12:11

Right ive actually ordered a bungee lead as I figure I can clip it onto the waist belt bit of my rucksack. The bungee bit should mean they can stretch out a bit without hopefully pulling me sharply. I can attach their double clip thing into the lead so they can both be on the one lead.

OP posts:
lk26 · 14/04/2015 12:25

Am sure you will have a great time. Just out of nosiness which caravan site have you booked.
We are going to coniston in sept as my OH is doing a charity triathlon there and we will be taking out caravan there for a long weekend.

Mypubesarestraight · 14/04/2015 12:33

Seriously keep them on a the lead. My uncle is a farmer in the lakes who WILL shoot a dog for bothering his sheep.

Mypubesarestraight · 14/04/2015 12:33

On a the? Wtf Blush

chemenger · 14/04/2015 12:38

When I was a teenager I worked on a Scottish nature reserve. The wardens there said a few dogs every year were lost on the moors when they were let off the lead and not used to wide open spaces. I remember one woman coming back several times to look for her dog, he had taken off after a rabbit and not come back, really heartbreaking for her.