Told by the farmer to keep dog on a lead?

[mudstuck]

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..

From a legal pov loose pheasant are not livestock (they cease to be when released)

Regardless, dogs on leads across farmland seems very sensible to me - regardless of how well behaved the dog is.

Yes, yes yabu.
If your dog is shot it’s on you.
It’s the farmer’s land, he’s giving you fair warning.

I'm sure you could probably argue in court if the pheasant counts as livestock and whether chasing one counts as worrying but it'll do your dog no good when it's dead.

My ex's neighbours dog used to get in the field and worry ex's sheep. Ex was never quick enough to shoot it so poisoned it instead. Ex got prosecuted as you're not allowed to. But he didn't give a shit, he got fined which he said was worth it to have the dog dead. So don't rely on farmers always abiding by the rules either.

It’s basic manners and countryside etiquette

Wtf.. my dog was off lead but walking to heel with me in an empty field. She hasn't attacked any animals or rushed up to any children. We had very right to be in that field. I already agreed to keep her on a lead. This pile on is unhelpful. I was just looking for some advice

I'm a farmers wife in very rural hill ground Scotland. Hand on heart gamekeepers at rearing time are on a par with farmers at lambing time. I live here and I wouldn't walk myself near the rearing pens around here. They asked you to keep the dog on a lead, could be multiple reasons why, but I would respect that.

We have now got signs up (which are a pain in the ass because we have to move them when we move stock) but essentially they say

No dogs, any entering will be shot ( sheep would be actually giving birth in that field)

Dogs on lead round edge only please

No stock, go for it dogs.

If it was an empty field, do you mean a grass field? Perhaps he also doesn't want dogs running over a field that will have cattle in it shortly. Dog poo can contain a parasite that can cause abortion in cattle. If a dog does it's business in the middle of the field perhaps some dog owners are less likely to pick it up, whilst also needing to trespass further from the footpath to do so. Also there are many types of ground nesting birds at this time of year that shouldn't be disturbed unnecessarily.

I don’t believe you don’t know you should keep your dog on a lead when crossing farmland. I think you’ve just asked this to be goady.

The farmer has probably raised the pheasants for shoots/game meat. No different from a dog taking a lamb from a farmers perspective. Also disturbs nesting birds, and dog poo on his land..

I didn't realise that about pheasants. We have wild peasants who often visit our garden and the dogs go crazy! They'd never catch one though.

A dog was shot in a field here last week! There were sheep in the field lambing... the dog was off the lead despite signs everywhere... farmer said he'd had enough of dogs off leads.
Fair enough....

No, you've had it pointed out to you that you're a moron for even doubting what you'd been told and you don't like it.

People like you give responsible dog owners a bad name and make it harder to justify public access to land that just so happens to have the primary purpose of providing a livelihood for someone, not so little Poppet can run off and poo where she feels most comfortable and have the occasional buzz of chasing a squirrel.

Obviously slightly different in Scotland as you wouldn't necessarily have a footpath to follow.

Of course he is in the right to ask you to keep your dog on lead. If you don't want to do that then don't go on his field. My goodness, if the person whose land you are walking on asks you to do something, you do it. I actually can't believe the cheek of your question!

Of course YABU just because he was walking to heel, doesn't mean the farmer hasn't had a lot of people who have dogs not under control.
He'll be worried about his livestock, his income can be affected.
Dog poo left in fields is toxic to other animals

@AgentProvocateur

I don’t believe you don’t know you should keep your dog on a lead when crossing farmland. I think you’ve just asked this to be goady.

It was an empty field with no livestock in sight. Why would I keep her on a lead if I didn't know about the pheasants? 🤷🏼‍♀️

Farmer is in the right but people are being a little harsh on you here. You did as the farmer asked and didn’t make a fuss. No harm done

YANBU to keep a well-behaved dog off lead on a footpath you know when there is no livestock around. Farmer asking you to put dog on lead is also fine. You behaved just fine, OP, most of the responses here are bloody nuts.

Can the farmer shoot my dog for being off her lead?

Take your dog into the field off it's lead a few more times and you'll probably find out.

It's his land, just do as he's told you and he won't shoot it.

@LizzieMacQueen

I didn't realise that about pheasants. We have wild peasants who often visit our garden and the dogs go crazy! They'd never catch one though.

Do you live in the Middle Ages?

Sorry. Made me chuckle.

I'm responding as I am because of the OP questioning the obviously valid instruction to put the dog on the lead, not that she didn't know beforehand.

In Scotland you have a 'right to responsible access' not a 'right to roam'. It is a complete misconception. Please keep your dog on a lead.

@Dora26

His land - his rules ( and he was nice about it)

From a dog owner!

His/her (reasonable) rules which do not contravene ALL THE OTHER ONES RE FOOTPATHS CROSSING FARMLAND.

The dog should be on the right of way not running around the whole field. Also the dog could poo somewhere that you don't see - toxocara risk to pregnant sheep that are in the field in the future.

@bitheby Ha ha, yes little men and women dressed in odd sackcloths all over the garden.

Peasants/pheasants - I blame autocorrect.