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).

ErrolTheDragon in parts of Yorkshire the word is Rig-welted. I use to know another word for it (also Yorkshire) but for the life of me can't remember it.

I like to know other words for it if anyone else knows?

NewTwat the word you are looking for is most likely kessend.

Based on Errols posts that's also the word the farmers in her area are most likely to understand too

@Cozytoeaandtoast00 which sheep farmers have said this is ok? Because our neighbour, a sheep farmer, certainly doesn't think it's ok. Maybe it's not a case of 'people not having a clue what they're on about'. Maybe you've just come across different opinions...

No very irresponsible

which sheep farmers have said this is ok?

Me 🙋🏻‍♀️
Dog on short lead = absolutely fine.

My attempts to research alternative dialect terms for this phenomenon lead me to this:

www.blacksheepbrewery.com/news/riggwelters-new-look/

So it seems fitting at this point to raise a metaphorical glass to farmers keeping their stock safe and us fed, and to responsible walkers for not buggering up their efforts.

I wonder if there are geographical differences between the opinions of farmers and walkers on this thread? Terrain, proximity to cities....

Thanks Scrowy I like kessend as a word, but it doesn't ring any bells.

Errol Riggwelters is a very fine beer! I've been round the black sheep brewery and Theakstons. I'll raise a glass of Theastons Old Peculiar in one hand and riggwelter in the other, "to the farmer!"

*farmers

Theastons Old Peculiar

Theakstons Old Peculier used to be my local brew... a glass in each hand sounds equitable.

I wonder if there are geographical differences between the opinions of farmers and walkers on this thread? Terrain, proximity to cities...

I suspect so.

We're rural and up north. There are sheep everywhere - if you go off pavements it's pretty much impossible to avoid them. Hell, they even end up ON the pavements half the time

No signs here to say no dogs are allowed - the only request is to keep them on a short lead around livestock.

One of the worst hangovers I’ve ever had was from Theakston’s Old Peculier.

I walk my dog through fields of sheep daily. He is on a lead, and completely disinterested in them. I regularly chat to the farmer who has no issue with me or my dog. The sheep aren't bothered either. It probably helps that the fields are huge so the sheep can keep well away from walkers.

If my dog reacted to sheep it would be different. I wouldn't take an adolescent dog near pregnant ewes or lambs as it would probably bounce around and get over excited.

aye I get an itchy arse sitting on fences Errol

Nope, I wouldn't.

I would walk my dog through a field of adult sheep in some circumstances. On a short lead, never on the run up to lambing season because I would asusme they were pregnant and at other times only assuming I could take a route that kept us at some distance from them - e.g. if the sheep in the local field are all huddled around the gate then I take a different route but if they are further into the field I walk in there and we keep our distance.

I would not take him through a field of mothers and lambs at all.

He's pretty good at ignoring sheep, tbh, but I still wouldn't do it.