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The doghouse

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Original poster

Would you take your dog into a field with sheep and lambs in?

190 replies

Circletime27 · 13/04/2020 18:38

We have some lovely countryside accessible from our home, all with public rights of way through them. However, the fields now have sheep and lambs in. We’re new to dog ownership (pup is 7 months old). Our friends frequently walk their dog (on lead of course) through these fields. Our puppy is good around livestock ie.he won’t bark at them. We walked through 2 of the fields today as they were empty. We got to the 3rd field which had sheep and lambs in and I couldn’t bring myself to go in there, it didn’t feel right so we came home. I don’t know if we’re being silly or not. Our pup is from a farm and I know his mum and brother are always in the fields with the sheep (that’s where our pup has had his experience with livestock from as we take him back their to play).

OP posts:
ScorpionQueen · 13/04/2020 20:03

Yes, I live rurally and my dog ignores them. Never off the lead though. The local sheep are used to us, we know their owners and stick to the path unless they're on the path, then we skirt around the edge of the field so they don't have to get up.

JasonPollack · 13/04/2020 20:04

On a short lead under control, yes. Not any other way.

ScorpionQueen · 13/04/2020 20:05

I would also never enter a field with a loose dog, you never know if there will be livestock, deer or other walkers.

Paddingtonthebear · 13/04/2020 20:05

No

TheWordmeister · 13/04/2020 20:07

A walk we often do has a definitive footpath through a field with sheep and at the moment, lambs.

We walk through it with the dog (oblivious) on a lead.

thedogisinmychair · 13/04/2020 20:09

No.

Amber0685 · 13/04/2020 20:10

Dogs can worry sheep, don't do it.

nothingcanhurtmewithmyeyesshut · 13/04/2020 20:12

No, you'd have to be a complete moron to think it's ok. Dogs worry sheep. Worried sheep miscarry and you could be sued for any damages. Sheep doesn't know it's on a lead ffs. A lot of farmers will shoot dogs in their fields without a second glance.

Cozytoesandtoast00 · 13/04/2020 20:18

This thread has made me realise how most people do not have a clue what they are talking about!
Sheep farmers have said that it is ok to walk your dog on a short lead, on a foot path and to use your common sense.
Still the majority of mumsnetters say "no" or insult the OP.
I shall never listen to majority "advice" on here again.
It has given me a good laugh though!

Booboostwo · 13/04/2020 20:18

A dog that doesn’t bark, on a short lead is fine. And no, farmers do not shoot dogs on short leads right next to their owners, that would be insanely dangerous. And sheep worrying involves loose dogs chasing sheep, not in lead dogs walking through a field at a reasonable distance from the sheep.

And yes, I do know about sheep, we’ve had farmers keep their sheep on our fields with the horses for years.

VivaLeBeaver · 13/04/2020 20:18

I go to the Lake District a lot including this time of year and most fields with pubLic rights of way have sheep in them. I always walk through them with dog on a lead. Along with hundreds of other people and dogs every day.

Dog shows no interest and sheep don’t bat an eyelid.

VivaLeBeaver · 13/04/2020 20:20

I used to live on a sheep farm and it’s never crossed my mind that it’s not ok to do. Really don’t see a problem as long as dog is on a short lead.

RedRiverHog · 13/04/2020 20:22

Lots of footpaths and bridleways go through fields with sheep in them around here. My dogs have seen countless sheep and are only interested in the poo. So yes, I will walk through a field with sheep in. Keeping to the footpath, dogs on short leads. Giving the sheep time to walk away or stand and watch like they normally do! I don't walk these ways everyday but they are part of longer walks.

However there is one footpath I avoid this time of year as the sign-posted path goes right through the middle of the field. Always has lots of lambs and nowhere for them to go away from the path. That doesn't seem fair on them.

Lefkosia · 13/04/2020 20:27

No, you'd have to be a complete moron to think it's ok. Dogs worry sheep. Worried sheep miscarry and you could be sued for any damages. Sheep doesn't know it's on a lead ffs. A lot of farmers will shoot dogs in their fields without a second glance.

You'd have to be a complete moron to think this advice is right.

Don't be so fucking rude. If you use common sense there's no reason you shouldn't walk a dog through a field on a lead

PleasantVille · 13/04/2020 20:28

Take your dog somewhere else, and not into a field full of animals. Why do people think it is ok to do this?

I don't speak for all people but my local farmer is fine with dogs being walked on the public paths on his land as long as they are on a lead and poo is picked up even in the fields with lambs in. Are you saying he's wrong?

PleasantVille · 13/04/2020 20:31

No, you'd have to be a complete moron to think it's ok

And further to me post above, shall I speak to the farmer or do you want to tell him that despite his decades of farming he's a moron and clearly doesn't know how to do his job?

He can be a bit grumpy so maybe say it nicely.

Staypositivepeople · 13/04/2020 20:31

How do you not know the answer to this
No ,never ,just NO

RedRiverHog · 13/04/2020 20:33

Do people really think a farmer will shoot a dog walking on a lead, next to its owner?

Hope he/she has good aim!

JKScot4 · 13/04/2020 20:35

Absolutely not. I cannot believe pp are saying yes 😡

Plenty other places to walk. Even on a lead sheep can be frightened/startled and can miscarry their lambs.
NO NO NO

NotYourHolidayDick · 13/04/2020 20:38

Eh??! I can't believe what I'm reading.

I live on the side of a pig farm. Surrounded by sheep.

I have whippets. We walk through fields of sheep literally every day. Dogs on a lead, on the footpath, dogs have zero interest in sheep, sheep dont even stop grazing to notice us.

You're all fucking mental.

Just keep your hounds on leads Confused

RedRiverHog · 13/04/2020 20:46

At the end of my road there is a field of sheep. Not a right of way, just a field of sheep. They are always eating near the gate. Everyone has to pass the gate to leave the road. Cars, dogs, bikes. They haven't died yet.

Nobody should be going a field that isn't part of a footpath at all unless given permission from the owner.

Madcats · 13/04/2020 20:47

I live in a town, but have plenty of National Trust land and livestock around. I've avoided the livestock areas recently (primarily because there are too many people up there), but normally the farmers have notices with comments about access and their mobile numbers on during lambing etc.

Can you phone the farm owners to ask for advice, if local? Maybe you could walk there - hey, you have an hour?

Scrowy · 13/04/2020 20:51

I'm a sheep farmer

Happy for you to walk a calm dog on a short lead through a field of sheep and lambs as long as you stick to the footpath, pick up poo and leave gates how you found them.

Wouldn't be happy if there was a dog going crazy on a lead or a dog not on a lead at all

We try and keep our vulnerable younger lambs away from fields with footpaths and move them into the ones with footpaths when they are a few days older.

Sadly the vast majority of people don't seem to keep dogs on leads or stick to footpaths or pick up poo which makes farmers very cross at this time of year.

MrsTerryPratchett · 13/04/2020 20:53

No. But my dog is a skittish rescue and I think he'd make the sheep nervous.

WhoWants2Know · 13/04/2020 20:59

OP, your timing is a little unfortunate in that there's another thread with strenuous debate about the way people behave in the countryside. It's possibly ruffled a few feathers before you asked the question, so people are being harsh.

Swipe left for the next trending thread