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

[Circletime27]

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).

[WellErrr]

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

Well I’m not a moron. We’re currently lambing our 800 sheep and I have absolutely no issues with people walking dogs on leads along footpaths.

If the sheep are in the path they’ll move. If they’re terrified of the mere sight of a dog on a lead (unlikely) they’ll run to the other side of the field and eat grass there instead.
As long as the dog is on a short lead and therefore doesn’t follow - it’s fine.

They’re not Faberge eggs, sheep are really quite tough and do not abort by looking at dogs.

[PleasantVille]

Love that two farmers have now posted exactly the views of my local sheep farmer, come on nothingcanhurtme and explain to them how they are morons

[JasonPollack]

They’re not Faberge eggs, sheep are really quite tough and do not abort by looking at dogs.

I wonder if half the people on this thread with their outrage in fact live in London...

[LilacTree1]

I’m not a countryside dweller and I thought this was illegal?

[Canyoutellilikrchocolate]

No
No
No
No
No!!

[BruceAndNosh]

I'm shocked by the number of people who think it's ok to take a dog through a field of sheep during lambing season.
Mindless stupidity no matter how good you think your dog is.

[drinkingwineoutofamug]

Yes on a short lead. Do it daily here now as sheep and cows all out in the fields .We stick to the path and styles. Use your common sense.
And Jesus all these judgy posters

[WellErrr]

I'm shocked by the number of people who think it's ok to take a dog through a field of sheep during lambing season.
Mindless stupidity no matter how good you think your dog is.

Really not stupidity. It’s fine as long as the dog is on a short lead.

Really.

[JasonPollack]

Exactly @pleasantville And people keep coming on not RTFT and being outraged. Fuck Mumsnet needs a chill pill at the moment.

[JasonPollack]

Really @BruceAndNosh you're going to argue with a sheep farmer about it...

[WellErrr]

Mumsnet has needed a chill pill for years now. It’s absolutely ridiculous and I’m sure it does all these people no good to froth about hypothetical situations all day long.

I used to be on here all the time in the baby days and I turned into a right judgey cow, I dip in and out now every few days and I’m so much calmer 😂

[Tulipstulips]

Only if I wanted it shot by a farmer.

[cookingmywaythroughlockdown]

No

[WellErrr]

Only if I wanted it shot by a farmer.

No ones going to shoot a dog on a lead, it’s not the Wild West.

[Mlou32]

Absolutely not, the poor livestock will be terrified.

[NotYourHolidayDick]

Actually, us farming lot should stop arguing our educated cases.

The less people in the fields, the better. Leave them for us

[okiedokieme]

@wellerr

Thankfully somebody who actually can confirm this! The only issue I've had is sheep head butting my dog and charging at us (he's a collie and doesn't bark, always on a short lead) they are pretty feisty sheep in my experience!

[JasonPollack]

Lord it's no wonder people are disconnected from their food supply if they think farmers are running around taking pot shots at them 😂

You'd have to be pretty confident in your shot to get a dog on a short lead! And not so worried about your license.

Also really tickled by the poster upthread who thinks sheep worrying is what happens when sheep get a bit stressed. They do have a tendency to worry the poor dears

[flowerycurtain]

No no no no no no no no no

Sheep farmer.

[WellErrr]

Are you flowery?

Really though?

[Wolfiefan]

I’ve done it once. With a sensible adult dog on lead. A circuit walk and I didn’t know the sheep were in the small field we needed to enter to make our way back to the beginning.
The alternative was retracing our steps. A loooong way. I kept the dog on a VERY short lead and walked around and about to avoid getting anywhere near sheep.
I won’t lie. I was worried. Dog was calm but I didn’t want giant dog to startle sheep!
I wouldn’t.

[Honeyroar]

Do all you shouting no really think that a sheep farmer would actually put an animal that was going to collapse and die at the mere sight of a dog in a field with a footpath if that were the case? I mean i guess it’s better that people are over cautious than reckless, but some people on here sound much more panicky than the sheep themselves.

I mean look of the photo I posted of my dogs sitting watching sheep previously- none of the sheep are running away or remotely bothered, and a lot have lambs with them. They’ll look and move away, but then settle if the dog doesn’t follow them. Obviously a dog following them, or chasing them is totally different.

[Peopleshouses]

OP please don't be too upset by some of the replies. There's something about dogs and sheep that turn people into complete fuckwits on here. I had a vaguely similar thread running about six years ago and it was just awful. I hid it and stopped responding. You have done the right thing by giving it consideration. I think it's fine if you walk through slowly with the dog on a short lead, let the sheep move away from you quietly if they're close by, obviously make sure you close all the gates behind you.

[wheresthehope]

I’m in New Zealand and I don’t think there would be to many walkways through farms here but I’m sure there would be some.
I’m also from a farm and I would say it would be ok as long as dogs are kept on a lead and I would possibly walk the long way round the sheep if possible ie the fence line away from newborn lambs.
Also is it possible to talk to the owner of the sheep to check? I’m sure if the farmer has put them where people are likely to walk he/she must be ok with responsible people walking through. I’d be more worried about sick bastards that got kicks out of hurting them for laughs than a dog walker going by her daily exercise

[derxa]

I'd rather you didn't. However, I must say dog walkers have been very sensible this weekend. They've walked at speed in the show field next to our fields. You sound responsible OP