We hired a field today!!

[Aprilwasverywet]

And saw our Husky running free for the first time!!
Took all 4 of our ddogs and saw a whole new bond. After the initial zoomies they set off round the edge. 2 slightly more ahead... Newest ddog in the middle hanging back waiting for the slacker!! All 4 enjoyed it so much. Only £8 an hour. Can't recommend it enough.
Stress free ddoggy walking was so great!!

The thing is, I’ve walked ex racing greyhounds off lead fine, the only Akita I’ve looked after is completely food obsessed and as long as you have something in your pocket has perfect recall.

But equally I’ve known collie lurchers who’ve always been pets who by rights should have been trainable enough and had a low enough prey drive to be off and couldn’t.

I’ve owned and fostered dogs who were never off lead - for a variety of reasons.

If an owner has an on lead dog because they’ve decided it’s the most responsible thing to do, then it probably is.

If a husky is bored and underexercised this would have had a very different OP, because huskies will soon find something to do under their own steam if that’s the case.

@BFrazzled who said my dog is aggressive? He just doesn't like small, impolite and untrained dogs jumping at him. Just as we wouldn't like that from a dog or a child. He loves children.

As someone has said before spitz breeds have an extremely high prey drive that has been bred into them for centuries and it would be irresponsible for me to have him off lead. His recall is great but that one time it isn't would have significant consequences for all involved and as a responsible dog owner I won't have that.

It is also irresponsible for other owners to allow untrained dogs off lead, aggressive or not. Unfortunately, they are the majority.

Out of interest @BFrazzled, what dog do you have?

I know someone who keeps quite a few huskies - when the youngster escaped and took off, he let the rest out to go after her. Being pack animals they rounded her up and brought her home. Fascinating. Very knowledgeable guy.

@AyyMacarena

We currently have a border collie mix, but we used to have a rescue husky in the past, as well as a few other breeds.

@AyyMacarena

Also, dogs are fine not going off lead. I have a 30ft lead and in the right area, my dog is happy sniffing and running around. A dog does not need to be further away from you than that. Owners of dogs like this know what they are doing.

A dog needs to be safe and under control. I am fed up of off lead dogs coming up to my dog with zero recall or manners. Some of the responses here are quite concerning to be honest.

I totally agree.

I'm a dog walker and also use a 30ft longline for several of my dogs - they can quite easily run, play, jump, chase and socialise but I still have control over them.

I walk an ex-working sprocker who has such a high prey-drive that she's injured herself trying to get to birds in the past. If she spots prey, her ears switch off and nothing I can do, say or offer will get her back until she's ready to return. It's just not safe to put her in a situation like that.

A 30ft longline still means she can run, swim and play with other dogs, but it also means I can stamp on the line and keep her safe. It doesn't change her playing style to have a longline attached to her harness!

As a sheep farmer,I don't agree that a smaller dog is no threat to livestock. As a pp said,livestock don't care about the size or breed of the dog,or if it's owner says 'its only playing'. A prey animal will react regardless of the size of the dog concerned,and it isn't necessarily mauling that causes the damage. A small dog running sheep can cause broken limbs,suffocation,heart attacks and loss of lambs.
Whenever I read on here,or on social media about dogs running off and not being found or coming back for hours,I automatically wonder if the owners comprehend the damage that they could have done in that time. We don't let our own sheep dogs near our sheep during lambing,so we damn sure don't want a dog that they don't even know running through the flock.

Respectfully, @TheFnozwhowasmirage - I find it hard to imagine a maltese say running the sheep flock and causing miscarriage and heart attacks. Moreover the chance of it leaving its owner is so low that I think they can be safely left off leash even in areas with lifestock. They would be a better choice for a prospective dog owner living in such area than getting a dog with prey drive and exercising it on lead believing that such exercise is adequate.

(My own dog who I mentioned up thread that used to escape on occasion was in an area with no livestock safe for occasional cow herd that presented if anything danger to said dog.)

I find it hard to imagine a maltese say running the sheep flock and causing miscarriage and heart attacks. Moreover the chance of it leaving its owner is so low that I think they can be safely left off leash even in areas with lifestock.

If a dog was seen off-lead in an area with sheep here, it would be shot on sight - regardless of breed.

Respectfully, @BFrazzled- If you find it hard to imagine a maltese say running the sheep flock and causing miscarriage and heart attacks.
You should listen to the sheep farmer.

Also

You must keep your dog on a lead no more than 2 metres long on open access land:
Between 1 March and 31 July - to protect ground-nesting birds
At all times around livestock

Even little fluffy white ones

We have a 25k fine sign here. Nesting birds.. I watched a couple with 3 ddogs walking round the entire coned edge. On a part of the beach ddogs aren't allowed on May to Sept.. Some people are so reckless and entitled
And twats.

The law doesn’t allow to shoot of leash dog on sight however.
Only if the owner is not present/not able to restrain the dog and of the dog is actually attacking.

[quote BFrazzled]@Sitdowncupoftea sorry, I don’t believe it is a good life for any breed to spend their life on a long line.
If you have a dog you probably know how different their behavior eg with other dogs is when on leash vs off. This is just a small reflection of how different they feel when off leash and free to explore and exercise their own agenda. I don’t think anyone disagrees with that, that’s the reason why op hired a field after all. It’s not about physical exercise.
They are quite intelligent and social animals, no matter the breed and they need to interact with other dogs and their surroundings in a natural way, and not run for hours after the scooter.
Sled dogs often roam free around the camp in the evening. Not that there is much at all in common between them and the husky breed - honestly most huskies have only looks in common with sled dogs…[/quote]
That's your opinion and obviously a judgemental one at that. Not all dogs need to be off leash that's what long lines are for. Dogs can get exercise in many other ways and forms other than let of a leash to their own devices. Letting a dog off leash to exercise itself is not the answer. Thats what dog parkours are for. As for huskies they are sled dogs and I'm not going to waste my time trying to educate you on the breed. Dogs are dogs not all dogs are the same. My dogs definitely don't run after a scooter they pull one and definitely not for hours. . I'm not sure what dog you have. Many dogs take part in canicross , agility , scent training or should they not do that either. I would rather have happy healthy on leash dogs than does lots of activities like above than an off leash dog left to wander any day of the week.

@BFrazzled you might find it hard to believe a little fluffy white Maltese terrier could cause livestock damage. The owner of the little fluffy white Westie that killed these birds in under 2 minutes was similarly perplexed at how her dog could have killed them, in spite of seeing it with her own eyes. A dog owner that thinks their dog is exempt from being kept under control around livestock is an irresponsible dog owner, whatever the breed. As for disagreeing with a sheep farmer about whether your dog needs to be on a lead or not near their flock - are you insane?

As for huskies they are sled dogs and I'm not going to waste my time trying to educate you on the breed.

I owned a husky who had a long happy life including regularly being off lead, with good recall.

What makes you think you are qualified to educate me about the breed? Your experience of owning two particular huskies?

@backinthebox
Respectfully, I disagreed with the usual fear mongering of the farmer-will- shoot-your-dog-on-sight variety. Such farmer will meet the owner in court and he won't walk away a winner. I don't believe in the existence, in the UK, of the entire areas where a dog should be on lead outside of its garden as @cupsofcoffee stipulates. This is fantasy.

This absolutely doesn't mean that I advise to let the dog be off lead in proximity to life stock!

And also Maltese aren't terriers (just to be clear - I don't own a Maltese! Or a terrier. I have a border collie. Who has a 100 percent recall. But is always on leash near livestock. And everywhere else where the law stipulates it. But off leash everywhere else.)

@BFrazzled

The law doesn’t allow to shoot of leash dog on sight however. Only if the owner is not present/not able to restrain the dog and of the dog is actually attacking.

That’s not true. If your dog is not on lead and has entered a sheep field you are putting it at risk. Not sure where you live that is a) rura and b) has no sheep within an hour’s dog running. If it’s off for an hour, what do you think it might be doing and where is it?

You talk of your dog running off for an hour but coming back, as if that’s no big deal. You risk your dog being shot.

Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953 defines worrying livestock as
being at large (that is to say not on a lead or otherwise under close control) in a field or enclosure in which there are livestock.
If you permit this you have committed a summary offence and liable to prosecution.

The law also protects farmers who shoot dogs that are chasing livestock. Our neighbouring farmers are dog lovers butt during lambing they take a gun gun with them. They shoot at least one dog a year as it is in with the sheep and out of control. They don’t like doing it, will try every way not to but the lambs deserve not to be mauled and they are their livelihood.

Respectfully, I disagreed with the usual fear mongering of the farmer-will- shoot-your-dog-on-sight variety. Such farmer will meet the owner in court and he won't walk away a winner.

www.fwi.co.uk/farm-life/law-shooting-dogs-critical-facts-farmers-must-know

To shoot a dog legally, farmers need to demonstrate:
(a) there are no reasonable means of preventing the worrying (or the dog has been worrying livestock);

(b) the dog has not left the vicinity;

(c) the dog is not under an individual’s control; and

(d) There are no practicable means of ascertaining its owner. What constitutes the necessary practical steps will depend on the circumstances, but it could extend to trying to ascertain whether anybody in the immediate vicinity is the owner, and who would have the ability to bring the dog back under control.

So basically, if a dog wanders off on its own for an hour and then proceeds to worry livestock it could legally be shot and the farmer wouldn't see any legal fallout from it.

I've just looked at field hire! What a great idea! My collie cross doesn't like her space being invaded but overly friendly other dogs - this is a perfect solution!

@BFrazzled

The law doesn’t allow to shoot of leash dog on sight however. Only if the owner is not present/not able to restrain the dog and of the dog is actually attacking.

That's not true at all.

A dog "at large" amongst sheep can be shot. That means loose (off the lead) and not directly under the control of the owner. The dog doesn't have to be physically attacking to be shot.

If your dog gets in to a field of sheep and chases, they can be shot. If they are wandering off the path amongst livestock, they could be shot.

Our Husky has great relationships with our other ddogs (sighthounds) she shows absolutely no interest in other ddogs except other huskies! Then she becomes a bit verbal!! Never at any other time at all!

@BFrazzled I don't believe in the existence, in the UK, of the entire areas where a dog should be on lead outside of its garden as @cupsofcoffee stipulates. This is fantasy.

Not fantasy, law. Ignorance of the law is not defense. Your dog must be under control at all times and sometimes that control must include a lead.

I don't believe in the existence, in the UK, of the entire areas where a dog should be on lead outside of its garden as @cupsofcoffee stipulates. This is fantasy.

It's not fantasy at all. It's the law

On Open Access land and at the coast, you must put your dog on a lead around livestock. Between 1 March and 31 July, you must have your dog on a lead on Open Access land, even if there is no livestock on the land. These are legal requirements.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-countryside-code/the-countryside-code-advice-for-countryside-visitors

I think anybody with reasonable reading skills can understand the law as it is indeed detailed in the link provided by @Puntastic (thanks!)

What is written in this link in particular says exactly what I wrote in my previous comment- namely that it is untrue that the dog can be shot just for being off lead. This is dramatic fear mongering that some people like to engage in, not sure why exactly - perhaps because people generally like being dramatic.