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The doghouse

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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:
yohoheaveho · 09/02/2021 18:31

You did everything you could. He is understandably upset but the sheep didn't die; you didn't leave it to die and you could've done. Hopefully he'll learn from this too

DOGSPLAINER ALERT!!
(wtf eh, no wonder there's so much hate for dogs & their owners right now)

GrumpyMiddleAgedWoman · 09/02/2021 18:31

Haven't RTFT yet but just wanted to say that this year has been horrendous for dog attacks on livestock, which may explain why the farmer was so livid. Around 40 sheep have been killed by dogs in my own local area in the past 3 or 4 months alone.

Extending leads are notoriously terrible. You'd be better off taking your dog to be trained to leave sheep alone. It's something on my list to do with my dogs, and even then I'll still be extremely cautious with them around stock.

In your shoes I'd take the farmer a bottle of whisky. I know a few farmers and IME they genuinely appreciate it when members of the public apologise when something has gone wrong.

ScribblingPixie · 09/02/2021 18:32

I feel for you, OP. And you've done all of us dog owners a favour by demonstrating the fallibility of an expendable lead. I will be taking that on board. All fingers crossed the sheep will be fine.

Heyta · 09/02/2021 18:32

Ah OP, this is every dog owners nightmare (issues with people aside). Get your dog on a non retractable lead and a harness and do all you can for the farmer (sheep are expensive!); but to be honest you’ve had an expensive lesson and people need to get off your case.

I feel for you - it could have been any of us. Deal with it, move on - some responses here are as if you set your dog off in the field for a laugh. Presumably you have insurance if the worst happens. All best, OP.

jerriblank · 09/02/2021 18:34

Get rid of the extension leads please, they're so dangerous.

LunaLula83 · 09/02/2021 18:34

Clearly you have no control over your dog and you both have form

DeusEx · 09/02/2021 18:36

@ScribblingPixie

I feel for you, OP. And you've done all of us dog owners a favour by demonstrating the fallibility of an expendable lead. I will be taking that on board. All fingers crossed the sheep will be fine.
Hear hear. Good public info message on bad leads!
SofiaMichelle · 09/02/2021 18:36

@Impatiens

It may be a public footpath through a field, but dogs are ALWAYS MEANT TO BE ON A LEAD in areas like this.

Is this a law? Because I've never heard of it.

Of course they have to be on a lead!

A public footpath is a path only and must not be deviated from by anyone using it, or their dog. It's trespassing to stray off the path.

Some people on here seem to think the entire field is fair game for any entitled sod and their dog.

Read the legislation if you really think there's no need for a dog to be kept under close control on a footpath through private land.

thriftyhen · 09/02/2021 18:37

I am sorry that this has happened to you. Sometimes bad things happen in life and you just have to take the consequences. Often they are accidents.

Maybe this will be a warning to other dog owners not to use an extending lead. I have seen dogs out of control on an extending lead. As a dog owner, I would never use one.

Hoping things work out for you, the farmer and the sheep. Flowers

Lastbonestanding · 09/02/2021 18:37

It does sound like a bad accident but I don't understand what you were doing in someone's field. We live rurally. I would never open a gate to a field and walk my dog in it. If he maybe admitted about that? That's his private property where he keeps his livestock and you have brought a dog into it uninvited. I would apologise for that part. The lead snapping is very unfortunate and once he knows about that he may calm down. You did run off. You saved his sheep and left your details. He will shortly appreciate that. You could give him compensation for the vet bills and get a stronger rope type lead for walks in the countryside. Round here the farmers would shoot him.

yohoheaveho · 09/02/2021 18:38

OP, is it worth starting a conversation with the farmer about raising awareness to stop these sorts of things from happening?
There is a growing tendancy for dogs to be seen by their owners as equivalent to humans, because of this they just dont believe that a farmer can and will destroy a dog on the spot
to them this is as unthinkable as shooting another human in broad daylight and getting away with it

Lastbonestanding · 09/02/2021 18:38

I meant you did not run off. My phone had changed a few words but you can get the gist.

VinylDetective · 09/02/2021 18:38

@speakout

You did all you could OP,

Rubbish.

What else could she have done @speakout?
jerriblank · 09/02/2021 18:39

@93sdb

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.

So, he has no recall in other words.

sadpapercourtesan · 09/02/2021 18:39

@Lastbonestanding she was on a public footpath, she doesnt need to apologise for that Confused

Snoringmouse · 09/02/2021 18:40

How can you raise awareness about the minuscule risk of a lead snapping on a public footpath?

I had a rope lead snap on me, the leather link had deteriorated and just came apart.

What are you all getting out of giving the op a good kicking?

Adifferentstory2 · 09/02/2021 18:41

Echoing everything said above - totally understand the farmer’s anger (so so many irresponsible dog owners out there and it must be devastating to lose animals, which are ultimately their income). Unfortunately you have been tarnished with the same brush. However, your actions after the incident show your horror and the responsibility you have taken. The farmer might stay angry at you, but you should forgive yourself immediately. A horrible accident. Learn from it and get a better lead x

CakeIsEternal · 09/02/2021 18:41

@sadpapercourtesan

But the dog was on an extendable lead, which means when she uses public footpaths cutting through private land, she allows her dog to wander off the footpath and into the fields. She needs to give her head a wobble because dogs need to be on shirt leads and kept under control. They cant wander off the footpath so extendable keads are totally inappropriate for walks like that.

WinterIsGone · 09/02/2021 18:42

I would imagine that the majority of sheep worrying incidents are due to some accident. eg the dog walker didn't see the sheep, the lead snapped, they dropped the lead etc. I doubt most occur because a dog owner decides they want to kill the sheep.

Thinking about it, I think the main thing is the no recall that's caused the problem. Sad

Lovemusic33 · 09/02/2021 18:43

For those saying it’s totally her fault “how could she had stopped this happening?”, her dog was on a lead, the lead snapped, she wasn’t to know the lead was going to break. People are being stupid blaming OP when she did all she could in the situation. Obviously the farmer is angry as it sounds like his sheep have been attacked by dogs in the past.

ParadiseIsland · 09/02/2021 18:43

So the lead broke. And there wasn’t any sheep there ‘for 20 years’.

And??

The issue here is that the dog has no recall at all and dint do as he was told.

I’m not surprised at the farmers reaction. It’s not just the sheep that is at risk. It’s also the fact we are now every close to lambing season so might well loose the lamb too.

Seeing other threads on here where people have wrecked the farmer’s land because they can’t stay in a footpath, farmers must be tearing their head out atm.

DeusEx · 09/02/2021 18:44

That’s what most threads seem to be now @Snoringmouse. Needless viciousness. :(

Whatifwewereallperfect · 09/02/2021 18:45

Sorry but if there were sheep in the field and your dog had a history of chasing then you shouldn't have gone in. At this time of year sheep are pregnant and can easily go into shock if chased and abort. Personally I hate those extension leads as the are generally not strong and do not allow owners to keep dogs under control. I'm sure you are feeling devastated but this is someone's livlihood

MrsHusky · 09/02/2021 18:45

@Bisquiteen "I just want to educate people (whether they claim to have 'worked on farms' or not)"

Oh... you're one of those posters.

You're the only one who's ever worked on farms/with livestock who's opinions actually matter because clearly your experiences mean you know more than anyone else.

Ok, gotcha.

ParadiseIsland · 09/02/2021 18:46

@93sdb, what are you going to do about your dog recall? Or rather the lack of.

Today he didnt come back when he was after a sheep.
What if it happens again? What if next time, it’s a child, running on the road etc..?