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The doghouse

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Original poster

Told by the farmer to keep dog on a lead?

634 replies

mudstuck · 26/04/2021 13:19

I was walking my dog through a field and the farmer came up on his tractor and complained that he had seen my dog off the lead. There are no sheep or livestock around, and I would always always put her on a lead if I there was any chance of encountering any livestock.I did raise the fact that the field was empty with him and he said there are young pheasants going about... I apologised and agreed to keep her on a lead in future. However on reflection I am wondering if he is in the right to ask that of us? My dog doesn't have a very high prey drive at all and lives happily with three house cats. I don't allow her to chase wildlife although her recall, even though it's good, is not 100% and we have had the very occasional chase of a squirrel or deer. She probably would chase a pheasant if she saw one running away but she would never catch it. What do you think? Like I said I am happy to keep her on a lead just for an easy life. I live close to the farmer and don't want the trouble/conflict. Just wondering who is in the right..

OP posts:
DoubleTweenQueen · 26/04/2021 18:14

I made a thread about this myself. I have a training line, not an extendable lead.

I am sticking to wide open bridleways and higher traffic areas around and through worked fields, and keeping away from grassland and out of the woods - anywhere there is likely to be nesting birds. She potter's ahead of me and is not allowed to veer off.

My dog is under control, she doesn't bark when out and about, and is a working Springer in training. Try taking one of those on a 2m lead!

Everyone else I see has their dogs off-lead and they do as they please.

KOKOagainandagain · 26/04/2021 18:15

I'm pretty sure that I don't live in the Middle Ages but due to lockdown and the cessation of shoots there are lots of pheasants in my garden every day. Lots. Waking me a 4 am. Males doing stand-off fights through out the day. Every day. Place rather than time is relevant here.

DoubleTweenQueen · 26/04/2021 18:17

Apologies- I made a thread about the. law regarding ground nesting birds, asking about it's scope - not a thread about broken leads. And I always have two with me - short and training :)

XelaM · 26/04/2021 18:18

@KOKOagainandagain your original post said "peasants" Smile

caringcarer · 26/04/2021 18:19

Just keep your dog on a lead. It is not hard.

FindingMeno · 26/04/2021 18:20

If there are young pheasants it might be helpful if there are signs if you are on a public right of way advising you as such and to keep your dog on a lead.
Sometimes these things are really tucked away and you wouldn't know they're there until you stumble on them.

Planttrees · 26/04/2021 18:21

@DoubleTweenQueen

Apologies- I made a thread about the. law regarding ground nesting birds, asking about it's scope - not a thread about broken leads. And I always have two with me - short and training :)
Sounds like you are a responsible owner - I just wish there were more around!
Enough4me · 26/04/2021 18:24

Of course he is right to ask you to use a lead.

SchadenfreudePersonified · 26/04/2021 18:26

@KOKOagainandagain

I'm pretty sure that I don't live in the Middle Ages but due to lockdown and the cessation of shoots there are lots of pheasants in my garden every day. Lots. Waking me a 4 am. Males doing stand-off fights through out the day. Every day. Place rather than time is relevant here.
I think you missed the typo!
SueSaid · 26/04/2021 18:33

'The difference between a sheep being savaged by a dog and despatched quickly in an abattoir is quite considerable.'

'Despatched quickly'. Oh yes, no distressing journeys without food or water, manhandled at slaughterhouses, stood in line hearing the distressed 'bleats' of others. All very lovely. Despatched quickly my arse. They suffer and you know it. Of course being savaged by a dog is not preferable but that didn't actually happen here did it?

Blinkingbotheration · 26/04/2021 18:37

@MiaChia I live next to one too...just interested that people think dogs shouldn’t chase birds but actually it’s what’s done before they then get shot. Not my circus but I don’t see how the situation differs hugely🤷🏼‍♀️

Operasinger · 26/04/2021 18:40

Gosh the dog haters are out in force on this thread!

sunflowersandbuttercups

I haven't seen any dog haters on here whatsoever

www.specsavers.co.uk/?

Ineedaneasteregg · 26/04/2021 18:42

Because the ground nesting birds that are legally protected are not the pheasants, they are not shot at any point.

OP being in Scotland has to keep her dog on a leash or at her heel on grassland because of ground nesting birds.

The farmer may wish his pheasants not to be chased but it is other wild nesting ground birds that have legal protection.

( The pheasants are protected when caged I believe)

notalwaysalondoner · 26/04/2021 18:42

There does seem to be a real trend on MN for people to aggressively suggest that dogs are never to be let off the lead at any time, ever, no matter how few livestock are about or how good their recall.

I do appreciate that there are horrible incidents with dogs attacking animals, and it's easy to make a mistake thinking there are no livestock and be wrong/your dog gets into the next field where there are livestock etc., but I live rurally and literally nobody I know keeps their dog on a lead when they are in empty fields. Nobody.

But of course he was reasonable to ask you - it's his land, it's his right. And you responded appropriately.

KOKOagainandagain · 26/04/2021 18:44

I still can't see the typo!!!

For 'peasants' please read 'pheasant'. My comments are about pheasants, not peasants.

I don't have peasants running around in my garden.

CoastAlong · 26/04/2021 18:45

I'd like to hear the farmer's story. I bet it's very different.

derxa · 26/04/2021 18:47

@JaniieJones

'The difference between a sheep being savaged by a dog and despatched quickly in an abattoir is quite considerable.'

'Despatched quickly'. Oh yes, no distressing journeys without food or water, manhandled at slaughterhouses, stood in line hearing the distressed 'bleats' of others. All very lovely. Despatched quickly my arse. They suffer and you know it. Of course being savaged by a dog is not preferable but that didn't actually happen here did it?

You've never seen a sheep with its face torn off have you?
Susannahmoody · 26/04/2021 18:47

You've had the question answered op, so stop goading for more.

Peasants Grin

KOKOagainandagain · 26/04/2021 18:51

Now I'm thinking about pretty but stupid peasants running around my garden! Stop.

Original poster
mudstuck · 26/04/2021 19:01

I absolutely do not think it's okay for my dog to harm ground nesting birds in anyway. Just wanted to clarify that.

OP posts:
RavingAnnie · 26/04/2021 19:03

Why are people so bloody horrible. The OP was only asking a question. Not everyone knows everything all the time. She did as she was asked and then asked on here why it was needed no need at all for the nastiness and pile on.

JackieLavertysWeirdVoice · 26/04/2021 19:05

Anarcho-syndicalists, the lot of them.

wetotter · 26/04/2021 19:06

The OP was only asking a question

Have you read all of OP's posts?

DooleySpooley · 26/04/2021 19:11

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