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What to do about local dog walker

176 replies

OnedayIshall · 06/10/2022 14:07

As I live in a cottage with a small brick yard I bought a field locally a couple of years back which I basically treat like a garden for my dog. He’s recall is pretty shocking, but this isn’t a training field it’s where he can go relax and chill or blow off steam, what your dog would do in your garden really. We do train in their sometimes, but often when he’s in there he isn’t in a training mind.

it has a standard 5 bar gate on it which I keep locked, and a sign on saying private, left over from the previous owner. I was in there last week and a woman appeared in my field with her dog. She’d climbed over the gate and her dog had gone underneath. My dog went running over, not a hope of stopping him (so I am annoyed about that). I asked her to leave as she was on private land, she gave me a bit of verbal but left when I unlocked the gate for her and she could see it was my field.

I then came across her in my field at the start of the week and asked her to leave again. She told me she we were welcome to join her but she was there first and I would have to wait my turn if I wanted to have it to myself.

on Tuesday I put a run of barbed wire along the top and bottom and I’ve just come back and it’s all been bent out of shape where she’s obviously been in again.

i believe trespass isn’t something that the police are interested in, and I don’t want to waste their time, but what can I do to keep her off my property? I don’t think I can do anything privately as I don’t know her details

OP posts:
HotDogKetchup · 06/10/2022 14:09

It is trespass - could you find out her name and write to her asking her to stop and threaten legal action if not?

If she’s damaging boundary features to gain entry that’s criminal damage and worth reporting to the police in an effort to discourage her.

HotDogKetchup · 06/10/2022 14:10

What about vandal paint on the gate?

squashyhat · 06/10/2022 14:12

Security camera with a big sign saying it's active and trespassers will be prosecuted? Even if you don't.

TequilaNights · 06/10/2022 14:22

fit the barbed wire properly with the correct twists so it cannot be removed, with signs and a wildlife camera.

TequilaNights · 06/10/2022 14:26

Could also attached a run of electric tape across to top/in front of the gate (with appropriate signage and not to low as to zap the dog)

HotDogKetchup · 06/10/2022 14:30

Excellent idea.

TabithaTittlemouse · 06/10/2022 14:32

Maybe a sign saying ‘not a dog field’ or ‘warning! livestock’

Billybagpuss · 06/10/2022 14:51

How big is the dog,could you block the access under the gate so it can’t get in, or is he small enough to lift?

Billybagpuss · 06/10/2022 14:52

I then came across her in my field at the start of the week and asked her to leave again. She told me she we were welcome to join her but she was there first and I would have to wait my turn if I wanted to have it to myself

what did she say when you pointed out it’s your field

2bazookas · 06/10/2022 14:53

Is she always with the same dog? If not, she may be a paid dog walker who is using your private ground for off-lead excercise.

Either way, she has no right to be in or run a dog in your garden. I would immediately label the land "Private garden, keep out" and if she ignores that, collect photo evidence and inform police.

Look to see if she arrives by car (take the number). If she arrives on foot, follow her home to get address.

Stressybetty · 06/10/2022 14:54

Told you to wait your turn! I'd have the ownership papers on me next time ready to whip out in her face, cheeky cow.

Bikeybikeface · 06/10/2022 14:55

Take a photo of her next time and threaten her with police. Hopefully that’s enough to keep her away x

GottaGetOutofDairy · 06/10/2022 14:55

She told me she we were welcome to join her but she was there first and I would have to wait my turn if I wanted to have it to myself.

Assuming she is clear it is your field, I am in a kind of awe about her sheer nerve!

Anti climb paint on the fence and underneath it so the dog gets smeared?

Or something fixed to the bottom of the gate to prevent the dog being able to get underneath?

WingingItSince1973 · 06/10/2022 14:57

Goodness me she has some front. I echo suggestions already made but I would have told her on the second visit this was not a public field and she is trespassing. You have most likely spent a small fortune on that piece of land and she's taking advantage.

Lu901 · 06/10/2022 15:00

I think the private garden sign is a great shout some people just don't get it when it comes to fields. Also a camera and making it more secure would be good too.

2bazookas · 06/10/2022 15:02

A re you in Scotland? If so, you have met someone who has misinterpreted "freedom to roam". It does NOT entitle strangers to enter the private ground around a domestic home or let their dog run loose among livestock. Or to damage stock fences/gates.

aSpanielintheworks · 06/10/2022 15:09

With her comment, she clearly thinks it's a private dog exercise field, we have one close to us that you hire for an hour, ours give out keys to clients to allow them access. A sign saying 'private' may simply be being read as 'private exercise field'
Forget the barbed wire/ electric fence etc, just talk to her and explain it is your personal field/garden. It's not a public place.
I can only see crossed wires in this post.

Billybagpuss · 06/10/2022 15:12

aSpanielintheworks · 06/10/2022 15:09

With her comment, she clearly thinks it's a private dog exercise field, we have one close to us that you hire for an hour, ours give out keys to clients to allow them access. A sign saying 'private' may simply be being read as 'private exercise field'
Forget the barbed wire/ electric fence etc, just talk to her and explain it is your personal field/garden. It's not a public place.
I can only see crossed wires in this post.

There’s no crossed wires, op told her day 1 it was private and surely the barbed wire would be a subtle enough hint

Pumpkinpatchlookinggood · 06/10/2022 15:14

Trespassers will be shot signage?
Cf isn't she?

FuckingHateRats · 06/10/2022 15:14

I have no advice but the sheer nerve 😮

StressedToTheMaxxx · 06/10/2022 15:15

Vandal paint. I believe that you need to advertise the paint (in Scotland anyway). I would confront her though, look her in the eye and ask her why she feels that she is entitled to trespass on your private property. Don't break eye contact. If she tries so bluster her way out of it, say no, I have bought this land, it is private property much in the same way your garden is your private property. Why do you feel that you have the right to trespass?

MaybeSomeDay7 · 06/10/2022 15:19

Follow her home and start having a picnic in her garden.

momtoboys · 06/10/2022 15:22

How cheeky! I would be furious.

viques · 06/10/2022 15:24

If she wants to use your field then tell her she will need to pay for the privilege and that the current daily fee is £12 per dog which entitles her to an hour a day between the hours of 11.00 am and 2.00 pm payable monthly in advance .She is responsibly for picking up her dog mess and disposing of it off site. You accept no responsibility for her or her dogs welfare while she is on site. If you catch her in the field outside the hours specified , or using it for other dogs,or allowing other people to use the field then she forfeits that months fees and is barred from using it again.

OnedayIshall · 06/10/2022 15:29

Thanks all. I think I’ll look at some higher palisade style gates that go to the ground and get a new sign. It’s bloody annoying as I don’t really want to spend money on new gates etc.

either way it’s going to cost me a bit of money to sort it out, even if I can find her details and get a solicitors letter sent. I think that’s why she feels confident doing it.

OP posts: