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The doghouse

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Original poster

My dog chased sheep

83 replies

Cath2907 · 12/03/2019 13:41

I am so upset and embarrassed. Was walking my dog yesterday afternoon off lead down a country lane. He is 15 months old and normally very reliable with recall. He is nice with other dogs, comes back when called and disinterested in people. We walk there daily and he's never shown much interest in the adjoining fields and the animals in them. Totally out of the blue he winkled his way through the hedge along the lane and shot into the field and chased the bloody sheep. I was with my Dad and we both went into the field attempting to call the dog back. He was totally oblivious. The farmer turned up (he happened to be passing) and told us off - all the time the dog was belting round the field after his poor sheep. Finally I caught the dog but only once he'd isolated a sheep in the hedge.

He is a small dog and wasn't trying to bite the sheep (he had plenty of opportunity to do so) but I do know that his behavior can still kill the sheep and had they been in lamb he could have caused them to abort.

I am still struggling today to look at the dog. I can't believe he nearly got himself shot and was at risk of killing a poor flock of sheep. I am so upset and ashamed of him and myself for letting him get into this situation.

His walk today was almost entirely on lead as there are so many sheep around here and I can never risk that happening again now he has a passion for sheep.

Not sure there is anything else I can do. I appologised to the farmer, the sheep were ok and the dog will be now treated by me and the family as high sheep risk and never allowed off lead anywhere there is the slightest risk of him coming into contact with sheep.

Anyone had similar? Will I eventually forgive myself for being so stupid?

OP posts:
IncrediblySadToo · 12/03/2019 17:46

I didn’t say it was OK, I said the dog needed training not to ‘play’ with the sheep.

My comment about it not having torn a lamb to shreds was over the OP’s attitude towards her dog. As if he’s supposed to know better without having been trained!

Comments such as I can never risk that happening again now he has a passion for sheep... like he’s some blood thirsty cretin

Heyha · 12/03/2019 17:50

You've clearly had a lucky escape there but you've completey taken it on board so it won't happen again- don't beat yourself up any further.

If you want to make some real good come of the situation please tell anyone you know with dogs about what you've said here- word of mouth is a much more effective way of spreading the message about dogs on leads around livestock than us putting up signs Smile

Pigletpoglet · 12/03/2019 17:51

We successfully taught our dog to 'leave it' with sheep. Just had her on a lead through a field of sheep; we waited til she was looking at sheep, then when she looked back at us we treated. Then added in a 'leave it' command. She is very bright, and it only took a couple of sessions before she lost interest in the sheep. If we're anywhere near sheep now, she comes and walks beautifully to heel in anticipation!
Just to clarify - I would never purposefully walk her off the lead if there was any chance of sheep, but we live near moorland where they aren't necessarily obvious, and it has made me much more confident that she is less likely to take off after a straggler...

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 12/03/2019 17:53

Very embarrassing, but it’s the money farmers are interested in their sheep for, not for sentimental reasons. Not nice for the sheep, but as they’re bred for meat I don’t really get the shock horror reaction.

BiteyShark · 12/03/2019 17:57

Not nice for the sheep, but as they’re bred for meat I don’t really get the shock horror reaction.

I can compensate farmers in money as much as I like but that's no good if they shot my dog which they are legally allowed to do. I care far more for my dog which is why if I think there might be sheep anywhere near us I would put him on a lead. I don't want him shot is the bottom line in this as money is secondary.

OnlineAlienator · 12/03/2019 17:57

This is why dogs should always be on lead near livestock. Quality of recall means bugger all when they get a better idea. Never, ever rely on recall again.

whifflesqueak · 12/03/2019 17:58

Do farmers don’t care about the welfare of their animals? Is that what you’re actually saying? Confused

whifflesqueak · 12/03/2019 17:59

*so, obviously

OnlineAlienator · 12/03/2019 17:59

Thickandthin - what a load of bollocks Angry

Not every sheep in the field IS for meat. Why do farmers put up with long hours, 24/7 callout in ALL weathers and shit pay? Because they dont like sheep? Yes dear. Hmm

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 12/03/2019 18:03

Dogs are companions and mans best friend. Sheep are a money making animal. Tell me what they are kept for if not?

Waterfred · 12/03/2019 18:05

Crikey! Dogs should ALWAYS be on a lead near livestock.

There has been uproar here (sheep farming country) when some absolute fool took his apparently docile lab past a field of sheep and was astounded when it went bezerk. There was no way he could be stopped to the extent that the farmer went back to the house, got the gun and came out and shot it. The dog owner had the audacity to scream at the farmer about thendog’s value. Utter dickhead, entirely his fault.

whifflesqueak · 12/03/2019 18:06

Sooo, they’re less entitled to their comfort and safety than a dog is? I can’t work out if you’re just really bad at explaining your point or actually just a twat.

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 12/03/2019 18:10

I’m sure they are interested in the welfare of their sheep. But for how long. What age are sheep kept on the farm until? Before they’re shipped off for slaughter. I’m sure farmers do care a lot about their flocks, up to a point.

OnlineAlienator · 12/03/2019 18:14

I prefer sheep to dogs any day of the week Hmm

BiteyShark · 12/03/2019 18:15

Not sure why this is becoming a debate about how sentimental a farmer is about sheep.

It's their livelyhood and they can legally shoot dogs worrying their sheep. It doesn't matter how much they care or not in a sentimental way. If a pet owner loves their dog they keep it on a lead near sheep.

Waterfred · 12/03/2019 18:16

Exactly. My toddler loves cakes. That’s not a reason to let her go wild in a bakery is it?

whifflesqueak · 12/03/2019 18:16

I don’t know if you’re being deliberately obtuse thick but you have spectacularly missed the point.

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 12/03/2019 18:17

Yes I know, dogs should be kept on leads around sheep for sure. Sheep being worried is awful. But op is mortified, just pointing out to keep it in perspective.

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 12/03/2019 18:18

What point have I missed whiffle?

10IAR · 12/03/2019 18:19

I’m sure farmers do care a lot about their flocks, up to a point.

Well aye they'd care if an entire year's lambs died because of sheep worrying wouldn't they? They'd be destitute.

whifflesqueak · 12/03/2019 18:22

Okay I see you’re just obtuse.

OnlineAlienator · 12/03/2019 18:24

What you're pointing out is inaccurate for a lot of farmers, fyi.

Quertymcquerty · 12/03/2019 18:26

ThroughThickAndThin01 I understand what you are saying, it’s the sentimentality of some of the uproar.

No one is saying it’s okay to worry sheep but let’s not pretend they are anything other than as a money making exercise.

Having an abattoir near me which processes lamb has made me very sad about how animals get treated in their hours before death.

crazycatgal · 12/03/2019 19:14

Why are you upset and ashamed of your dog? You are the owner. It is up to you to make sure your dogs is in control and on the lead near sheep.

adaline · 12/03/2019 19:30

let’s not pretend they are anything other than as a money making exercise.

Of course they are - they're someones livelihood! But that's all irrelevant - farmers have the right to shoot dogs that worry their stock. If you care about your dog staying alive, keep it on a lead.

I live in Cumbria and there have been several sheep killed by pet dogs already this year. It's not even lambing season yet. I'm not including OP in this but so many people seem to think the rules don't apply to them. They might "just be a money making exercise" but if your dog worries them, it can get killed.