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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

Original poster

My dog has just done the worst thing

711 replies

93sdb · 09/02/2021 15:53

Hes just chased a sheep into a pond in the snow. Im heartbroken.

When he was younger he chased sheep before and he has ALWAYS been on a lead since then. Sheep or not.

We were walking down a field a walk through daily that has never had sheep in in the 20 years I've lived here. He was on his extendable lead and it was on loose but he was right next to me. I opened the gate to go through and felt him pull on the lead. Saw the sheep and put the clip on so he couldn't get any closer and the lead snapped. He chased the sheep and would not come back. One jumped into a pond and I finally got him back.

Another girl from the house nearby helped me get the sheep out but it went into shock but was still breathing. I put my coat around it and sat with her whilst she called the farmer and another lad came over and said the farmer was going to be furious as this had happened earlier this morning. I gave them my number said I would pay any vet bills etc and left it with my coat wrapped around it.

The farmer has just called and spoken to my dad as I was too upset. He's shouted at my dad (understandably) and is threatening to get the police involved and wants immediate compensation and threatened to come and shoot my dog. The sheep is alive and is warming back up in this man's house and is expected to make a full recovery and I am going to walk up there later (WITHOUT THE DOG) to check on it.

I just wanted somewhere to write and be devestated. Im upset how the farmer spoke to my dad as it was a complete and utter accident but I understand his frustration. I wouldn't of even walked in the field with my dog if I had any clue there was going to be sheep in there. He hasn't got excited around them since the first time but I would never risk it.

OP posts:
IAmongstTheWorld · 09/02/2021 17:17

I also wouldn't tell the farmer where you live... pay the compensation in cash if possible.

Original poster
93sdb · 09/02/2021 17:17

Please don't make assumptions on my dogs training.Just to confirm on Joeys recall...

He has got recall in every other situation. Horses, cows, cats- he lives with rabbits he will be at your side in a second. I don't believe the best trainer in the world would of been able to recall him from sheep. He gets tunnel vision. I keep him on a lead because it is the right thing to do just in case something like this was to happen. Now lessons learned-- short rope lead, longer walks . Im in the process of buying one now.

Again thank you everyone with your kind comments. I've asked the farmer to keep me up to date with the sheeps progress.

OP posts:
violetcobra · 09/02/2021 17:17

The farmer does not have any rights to shoot or hurt OP's dog.

Dogs are counted as property so shooting a dog could trigger a criminal damage charge.
In order for a shooting to be legal, you would have to show that you acted in the belief that your property (i.e. the sheep) was in immediate danger and that your actions were reasonable under the circumstances. What counts as ‘reasonable’ can differ in individual cases, depending on the situation. If, for example, you have had problems with a particular dog before and the owner has ignored requests to keep it under control, this would be a relevant factor. It is important to remember that you are not entitled to shoot the dog if it has already left the vicinity and is no longer a direct danger to your sheep, even if you fear it might come back and pose a threat in the future.

Bisquiteen · 09/02/2021 17:18

FFS, it’s the farmer’s fault? I don’t bl**dy think so 😖

OP, you know your dog could worry sheep, it’s done it before and ALL dogs can do it, even without having prior form. Are you dreadfully short-sighted? I can’t see why on earth you would take a dog, any dog, into a field containing sheep. You’re lucky that it wasn’t a pregnant ewe but, seriously, YOU are 100% to blame here and I hope you learn your lesson.

Yes, I am a sheep farmer before any of you ‘experts’ start having a go 😡 If I’d caught your dog in the act of worrying my sheep you wouldn’t have that dog by now. The attitude of some of you on here sickens me, it really does.

bigbluebus · 09/02/2021 17:18

This is exactly why dog walkers have now been banned from farmland in Ireland from yesterday and I should imagine that there'll be pressure for England to follow suit - there's certainly an appetite for it to happen around the rural area where I live. Every day local Facebook has tales of irresponsible dog owners in fields of sheep.
I'm sorry OP but knowing your dog's behaviour around sheep, you should have turned around and gone back when you saw sheep in that field.

ThePlantsitter · 09/02/2021 17:18

'I'd report the farmer to the police for threatening to shoot your dog
He is within his rights to do so.'

The farmer is absolutely not within his rights to threaten to come to your house and shoot your dog, how ridiculous.

Idontlikethatnameanymore · 09/02/2021 17:18

I hope you report yourself to the police and save the farmer that trouble at least.

Blubell281 · 09/02/2021 17:19

MintyMabel a farmer is within their rights to shoot a dog actively worrying or attacking their sheep. They're not within their rights to go to someone's house and shoot a dog after the event as revenge or as a preventative measure.

WombatChocolate · 09/02/2021 17:19

I don't think it's possible to say what happened with e dog was acceptable or to excuse it really. The farmer was rightfully really angry.

However, there is being angry and saying he thinks the dog should be shot or could be shot for what it has done (correct) and there is intimidation and threatening behaviour by saying they will hunt down your house and shoot the dog. That is a serious thing to say, even in the heat of the moment if not actually serious.

The fact he said those things doesn't mean what OP's dog did is any less serious or that Op should be any less sorry or take any less action to avoid it happening in future, or be willing for her insurance to pay....two wrongs don't make a right. But I think he was foolish to say such a thing because by doing so, on one level he lost the moral high ground to some considerable degree. And of course, if any of this all got followed up, a very dim view would be taken of such threats towards a person. Such comments could be truly terrifying and if Op has spoken to him on the phone, could have been scared witless. That isn't acceptable behaviour from the farmer. But it's not to suggest in any way what happened with the dog was acceptable even though it was an accident.

joystir59 · 09/02/2021 17:19

My dog chased a neighbour's very elderly cat under a car when his extendable lead snapped. No more extendable leads for me. It was an accident OP, and hopefully the farmer will accept your explanation and apology when you go up to see him.

thedancingbear · 09/02/2021 17:19

@sunflowersandbuttercups

This. Absolutely agree - threatening other people/their dogs (as 'revenge' for an accident) is not on, it's violent and unacceptable.

If the farmer had caught the dog in action, he would have had the right to shoot and kill.

Farmers are well within their rights to shoot dogs "at large" amongst their livestock.

But that's not what happened. He has threatened to come round their house with a gun and shoot their family pet

He is right to be cross. He's no right to do that, or to make that kind of threat. He sounds like a fucking psycho tbh. I'd be reporting this threat to the police.

joystir59 · 09/02/2021 17:20

I would take someone with you as a witness when you go to see the farmer, don't go alone.

Fieldofyellowflowers · 09/02/2021 17:20

@trappedsincesundaymorn @Fuckitsstillraining

If it was a public right of way then the OP wasn't doing anything wrong by being there. She put the dog on the lead as soon as she saw that there was sheep, as you are supposed to do. No reason to turn around. But unfortunately the lead snapped.

HalfTermHalfTerm · 09/02/2021 17:21

@sunflowersandbuttercups

This. Absolutely agree - threatening other people/their dogs (as 'revenge' for an accident) is not on, it's violent and unacceptable.

If the farmer had caught the dog in action, he would have had the right to shoot and kill.

Farmers are well within their rights to shoot dogs "at large" amongst their livestock.

It wasn’t at large though. He was threatening to find the OPs dog and shoot it after the event which would have been purely for revenge.
violetcobra · 09/02/2021 17:21

I can't believe some people are excusing the farmer's violent threats and intimidation. He is threatening to kill a family pet as revenge.

PracticingPerson · 09/02/2021 17:22

arguably the farmer should learn from this that putting sheep in a field that had never had sheep in it before requires signage up to warn unsuspecting dog owners. Erm, wtf?

Obviously it was unintended, but dogs who chase sheep should not be walked off lead anywhere where sheep could be - i.e. the countryside.

I don't blame the farmer for being livid although of course he shouldn't have shouted.

Savethewhales · 09/02/2021 17:23

As far as I was aware the farmer has the right to shoot any animals that put his livestock at risk if on his land. That's his livelihood people fgs... Why are people walking through fields for anyway, its private land. And for people saying the farmer was rude, wouldn't you all equally be rude if dog walkers walked through your garden, I'll bet you all would be livid.
The lesson here is just because you can doesn't mean you should

Clymene · 09/02/2021 17:23

OP - glad the sheep is okay and wasn't pregnant! Hopefully there will be no lasting damage. You might consider a harness with a chest and back D ring. You can then keep your dog on a super short lead if needed by attaching to chest and back or just on his back to give him a bit more sniff distance.

As for recall - pfft. My dog has great recall but a very strong prey drive so he will absolutely come back if there's nothing to chase but livestock? Forget it.

sunflowersandbuttercups · 09/02/2021 17:23

@violetcobra

The farmer does not have any rights to shoot or hurt OP's dog.

Dogs are counted as property so shooting a dog could trigger a criminal damage charge.
In order for a shooting to be legal, you would have to show that you acted in the belief that your property (i.e. the sheep) was in immediate danger and that your actions were reasonable under the circumstances. What counts as ‘reasonable’ can differ in individual cases, depending on the situation. If, for example, you have had problems with a particular dog before and the owner has ignored requests to keep it under control, this would be a relevant factor. It is important to remember that you are not entitled to shoot the dog if it has already left the vicinity and is no longer a direct danger to your sheep, even if you fear it might come back and pose a threat in the future.

The farmer would absolutely have been entitled to shoot the dog if he saw it chasing his sheep. Even if the farmer was then found to be "wrong" - what help is that when the dog is dead?

You're right that he's not entitled to come to the house and threaten the dog or the OP, though.

Bunnybigears · 09/02/2021 17:23

Oh dear, my dog also has tunnel vision when it comes to sheep. Luckily we live in the city so only encounter them on holiday. I would advise getting rid of the extendable lead they are awful inventions and as you have discovered not fit for purpose.

AgentProvocateur · 09/02/2021 17:24

If you do go to visit, take your dad with you in case the man is nasty again and tries to force you into handing over money he isn’t entitled to

Seriously? Presumably the OP is a grown woman who is perfectly capable of handling situations without her dad Hmm

Eckhart · 09/02/2021 17:24

No responsible owner of sheep would put them in a field with a public path regularly used by dog walkers, without putting signs up. Whatever the rules are about whether or not you have to put up signs, if he cares about the sheep, he wouldn't have done that. It's a reasonable precaution.

Like if you leave your bike unlocked in the middle of town and it gets stolen. Of course, it's the thief's fault, but the owner also should have taken the precaution of locking it. I imagine that a lot of his sheep have been distressed by dogs, but most won't have had the misfortune to fall into water, or the luck to have encountered a dog owner with a conscience.

You've done your best, OP. Life chucked you a lemon. Well, it chucked the sheep a lemon, poor thing. It was an accident. Let yourself off the hook, and keep out of his path for a bit. We've all had the feeling you have now at some point. Pobody's nerfect, as they say.

thosetalesofunexpected · 09/02/2021 17:24

@93sdb

I feel sorry for the sheep who must have terrified, why on earth do you carry on using extendable lead that is so loose that you can not control at all.?

My friend was telling how sheep pregnant with unborn Lambs end up having spontenious still born (giving birth to dead baby lambs or having a miscarriage Cause of the shock of being Terrified/shocked of dogs or being attacked by dogs.

The farmer is within his rights to ask for Compensation and to shoot dogs who injury or kill his sheep.

sunflowersandbuttercups · 09/02/2021 17:24

It wasn’t at large though. He was threatening to find the OPs dog and shoot it after the event which would have been purely for revenge.

Yes, I know. Which is why I pre-faced my post with "if the farmer had caught the dog in action".

MrsHusky · 09/02/2021 17:25

@Bisquiteen

FFS, it’s the farmer’s fault? I don’t bl**dy think so 😖

OP, you know your dog could worry sheep, it’s done it before and ALL dogs can do it, even without having prior form. Are you dreadfully short-sighted? I can’t see why on earth you would take a dog, any dog, into a field containing sheep. You’re lucky that it wasn’t a pregnant ewe but, seriously, YOU are 100% to blame here and I hope you learn your lesson.

Yes, I am a sheep farmer before any of you ‘experts’ start having a go 😡 If I’d caught your dog in the act of worrying my sheep you wouldn’t have that dog by now. The attitude of some of you on here sickens me, it really does.

Did you miss the part where she stated she walks in that field EVERY day and there isn't usually sheep in there, and its a public footpath that crosses the farmers land.

Its not like she deliberately walked her dog into the field knowing there were sheep in it.

You need to calm down.