Off the lead doesn’t necessarily mean out of control

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I have 2 dogs who are very much under control when off the lead.

I live in the Lakes. I work in the mountains and spend a lot of time in the mountains with my dogs.

There are sheep around, dotted on the hillside. My dogs are off the lead and do not acknowledge these sheep. They don’t exist as far as my dogs are concerned.

It’s much safer for all to not have to contend with a a dog on a lead on steep rocky terrain. I have trained my dogs so we can enjoy the mountains together.

I spent 6hrs in the mountains yesterday with my dogs off the lead. It was snowy under foot and there were other people out walking.

My dogs did not go up to any one or any sheep. They wandered around, mooching near me at all times.

I got in to the valley at the end of the day and walked through a couple of fields. There were sheep in one of the fields. My dogs walked alongside me, not on a lead but under control. They were walking to heel.

Some guy with a dog on a lead came towards me and gave me a bollocking for having my dog off a lead in a field. Apparently I was breaking the law.

I’ve owned dogs for 20 odd years, always lived in the mountains and near farm land. I have always known that sheep worrying is an offence and dogs should be kept under control.

Does that mean on a lead? What are your thoughts?

Off lead could be out of control, dog might chase a rabbit, get scared by a gun shot, who knows what might happen. It's fine until it isn't.

However much I trusted my dogs - and my last two labradors never left my side - I would never risk walking in a field with sheep with them off lead.

With the strengthened legislation coming in soon, it's probably in your best interests to keep your dogs on a lead near to livestock.

Surely you realise that there are so many selfish and irresponsible dog owners out there that his response is quite understandable. I know some dippy woman whose dog raced off and frightened a sheep off a cliff top. Air sea rescue were involved. It’s the pathetic “ooops soooo-reee” dog owners that make everyone else on edge and mistrusting.

If your dogs are that well behaved then it won’t be an issue to put them on a lead 🤷‍♀️

It's fine until it isn't.

exactly

We also live in a hilly/ mountainous area, dog is off lead and much better at navigating the landscape than us humans as long as there are no cows/ sheep around.

I’ve seen a few dog owners walk their dogs off leaves. I think it’s silly. You have no idea what the dog will run after, a squirrel, cat or something else.

I’ve done some reading. Farmers Weekly. The New Act that’s being updated. The LDNP website.

All say keep dogs on a lead or under
close control.

There is a huge difference between walking a rocky hillside and through a sheep field.
Put your dogs on lead when walking through a field of animals that are someone else’s entire livelihood. Some farmers will shoot them on sight. Can’t believe that a person who’s lived in farming communities their whole life even needs to ask this question .

A benchmark of how well trained my dogs are - I can get them to flying down (going from full tilt run to laying down in an instant) at 50 meters away. I've never had any issues with their recall.

Still, my dogs don't go off lead in fields with lifestock. Not because they're not impeccably trained, but because I would never put them in a situation where they were at risk.

Arrogance and pride are the two worst traits in dog ownership.

I’m sure your dogs are extremely well-trained and as reliable as an animal can be, but ANY dog can do something sudden and out of character. That is why all dogs should be on leads around livestock. Your post shows exactly why this needs to be enshrined in legislation and backed up by penalties - because there is always an owner who insists “but not MY dogs”. Yes. Even your dogs.

I do.

One chases his ball and has no interest in anything else.

The other will stand and watch a pheasant or a hare zoom past. But other than that he is not bothered about anything except jumping about in long grass like a cat

My dog has perfect recall. Perfect.

I still put him on a lead if we are out and come across anything potentially problematic.

That could be horses, sheep, someone walking with more dogs than any human can control, a dog with aggressive body language, etc.

I do this in order to protect my dog.

I’m not asking a question. I’n wondering if others are similar.

I will not change my ways as I don’t think I need to… certainly not with these dogs.

When I look after my friend’s dog I put him on a lead as I don’t trust him.

why would there be any problem with putting well trained and well behaved dogs on lead when walking through valley fields surrounded by livestock? If they are as well behaved as you say, there should be no issue.

Why would they be at risk?

Nail on the head. Things tend to be fine until they're not due to some unusual/freak circumstances.

I owned a dog for 14yrs… before these ones. And he never chased. So yes. Not my dogs.

I do all of this.

But if I’m in a field with sheep and I can give them a wide berth, the. i’d prefer to do that.

Nothing is ever 100% your being completely selfish to take the absolute (from what you say) minuscule risk when there an easy and obvious solution to eliminate that risk

Full credit to the guy for pulling you up on it

Im also shocked that you have lived among farming communities for so long and dont understand your dog should be on a lead around livestock, its completely standard practice here (also rural farming) and understood to be out of respect to the farmer as that livestock is their livelihood, as well as for safety!

They could be at risk because if a farmer sees an off-lead dog in the same field as their livestock, they could and might SHOOT IT DEAD.

Use a lead while you go through the fields of sheep, FFS.

Fair enough.

I would prefer not to have my dog shot.

My point is… it’s not in the rules.

Why is it not in the rules? Why does it say ‘or under close control’ if that is not acceptable?