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).

[Spidey66]

No, no, no.

We have a border collie. Their normal behaviour in that situation would be to herd, but it's not been trained to do so, so will only worry them. This can cause miscarriage and as many sheep will be pregnant this would be a real concern. I doubt I'd even let her in on s lead. She may well bark at them. The risk is too high. The only dog near farm animals should be suitably trained ones.

[TARSCOUT]

No

[bodgeitandscarper]

I think that some folk that sheep worrying is something that makes the sheep slightly nervous; sheep worrying is a serious crime, it is when sheep are attacked and chased. There are graphic images if you care to look at what sheep worrying is, and I've personally witnessed sheep savaged by loose dogs (and yes one did end up shot!) It is a world away from walking a dog on a lead!

[Iwantacookie]

OP I think it's a very valid question. I only found out about worrying sheep on here a few years ago. Not that I own a dog but the knowledge was useful.
For people saying your stupid asking what do you expect the op to do if she doesn't know?

[sickofhim]

Ask the farmer if he would be happy about it?

[sickofhim]

He might even show you the gun he'd shoot your dog with

[Iwantacookie]

I forgot to add if theres a particular path you walk why not ask the farmer. They would know what was best for their sheep.

[flowerycurtain]

@WellErrr

Yes I am. Sorry if I was a bit short and abrupt. Long day at work after a long week at work compounded by a lot of public not being considerate users of footpaths and causing problems with livestock.

A previous poster had a great suggestion of introducing the dog in a neutral environment.

Despite my earlier grumpiness if the owner was a local who rang me up I'd chat it through with them.

Good luck with your new puppy. They are lovely. My ds wants one and I can't wait till he's old
Enough.

[OrganTransplant123]

This thread is amazing! Of course fields are full of armed farmers taking pot shots of dogs walking on a short lead with their owners.

Sheep worrying isn’t letting a sheep see a dog.

[TossACoinToYourWitcher]

Intrigued to know if all these posters saying no actually live in a rural area?

Like a PP I'm in Cumbria and the sheep here are even free to roam in some villages. As long as the dog is on a lead it's fine.

[Scrowy]

flowerycurtain and wellerr I think we can all really ask for is that people stick to the countryside code and use common sense.

Like flowery I would really prefer it if people didn't come through at all with dogs purely because so many people are so often nobheads about it, but ultimately if everyone came through with well behaved dogs on leads then we wouldn't get so upset about it. Sheep and lambs that are at least a few days old aren't going to keel over in fright at the sight of a well behaved dog on a lead.

It's not as cut and dried though is it, common sense needs to be used and if people aren't confident that even on a lead their dog will be able to contain their excitement then they probably should try and find a different route during lambing time,

[Wolfiefan]

We live rurally. But I worry about how livestock may react to the presence of a bloody great wolfhound in their field.
I’d rather save them (and me!) that stress.

[JayAlfredPrufrock]

Yes I live fairly rurally but I avoid walking through fields with lambs as I don’t want to scare them. I have a choice. I exercise it. The same reason I don’t walk along the canal with a mad Spanna when ducklings are around.

[lakeswimmer]

Yes - did it today. Dogs on short leads and not interested in sheep. In a couple of places where there were lambs near the footpath we picked the dogs up so they weren't close to them.

I do wonder if the posters expressing outrage here actually live in sheep farming areas? Here in the Lakes the sheep are free range and they are everywhere - in the street, in gardens, hanging around the parking area at the back of our house. Impossible to avoid. I know plenty of farmers and shooting dogs is very rare and only when the dog is off the lead, out of control and killing livestock.

[steppemum]

is there a public footpath?
yes - then walk through with dog on lead and well away from sheep. be very struct about picking up poo
no - then you shouldn't be walking through there anyway.

[ginghamstarfish]

Anyone with more than half a brain cell should NEVER do this. Why would you need to ask?

[WellErrr]

Oh I give in.
Yes, stay clear of the footpaths then, lest ye get beshotten by a ye olde angry farmer.
And don’t even look at the sheep, lest they should keel over instantaneously.

🙄😂

[JasonPollack]

Which rural area do you live in @ginghamstarfish? Is it the home of not RTFT and being rude cow?

[milkysmum]

If you live rurally then it is very common for sheep to be absolutely everywhere! Walking through fields with a dog on a short lead is a very common occurrence and to be honest I'm not sure how you would avoid it in a lot of places. I have never had any problems and have never known any farmers express any concerns.

[Wilson79]

Please don’t. My friend had a huskie puppy attack one of his lambs the other day and the owners were hysterical as they’d no idea how to stop it. It’s not responsible but glad you asked. Countryside deserves respect and it’s a working farm so definitely not your risk to take.

[twoheaped]

It is down right impossible not to walk through fields of sheep up on the folks where I live.
The farmer absolutely knows people will be walking through, he can only hope that the dogs are on a lead. I would say the majority are on leads, only seen one or two off.

That you have asked, shows that you have an awareness and responsibility about you.
Keep pup on short lead and carry on, have some high reward treats to distract if necessary.

[lakeswimmer]

The footpath I was on is part of a long-distance trail, is well used (although not at the mo obviously) and the main path in the area. The farmer chooses to use that field for lambing and knows there will be people walking through.There are signs up about keeping your dog on a lead but that's to be expected.

[twoheaped]

Fells not folks

[MrsHardbroom]

The farmers on here are the people to listen to OP. And FWIW, I live in the middle of farmsville and my dogs and I often cross sheep fields. Dogs on short leads.

[bodgeitandscarper]

This thread has amused me no end, sorry you;ve had a hard time OP, but honestly it's got more hilarious and nutty as its gone on!
We used to have a tup who would quickly sort out any over exuberant dogs and some ewes are pretty bolshy, a dog on a lead won't be an issue.