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?

Wonder no longer….. the responses are clear: other people aren’t dicks.

'Under close control' might mean, for example, in a vehicle or dog pushchair? So not on a lead, but physically unable to go near livestock even if they had a mad moment and forgot their training.

I’ve also read that shooting a dog has huge implications for the farmer that may not be worth it. Shooting should only happen if sheep worrying is witnessed and there is no one around to try to control the dog 1st.

I do see your point, it'd be better to define the rules more clearly or just say that dogs MUST be on lead at all times in fields with livestock. No exceptions.

But until that happens, honestly just use a lead or avoid fields containing livestock. It's safer for your dogs. And sets a better example to other walkers, whose dogs are not as well trained as yours but who might then think they can also stop using a lead.

I’m not a dick either.

Just because you think your dog is under control, doesn't mean a farmer or bystander will. It's entirely up to the individual.

As I said, arrogance and pride are the two worst traits in dog ownership. You put your dog at unnecessary risk because of your pride and arrogance.

The fact that it hasn’t happened to you in 14 years means nothing; the dogs are still dogs and still have the potential to do something unpredictable. It only has to happen once for the consequences to be devastating. That is why we need a legal framework with penalties for non-compliance - because, thankfully, it’s not your personal assessment of the risk that’s pertinent. You may feel that you and your dogs should be the exception, but nobody else has any reason to accept that.

It would be better to define it.

If a farmer asks me to put my dog on the lead then i will happily do so…. A bystander or another walker… nope.

It would you your word against his and the fact a dog was off lead by cattle doesn’t really give the impression of a responsible dog owner so I wouldn’t rate you chances

tbh I think you need to accept the overwhelming consensus is your being unreasonable
but you seem convinced you right even though the majority think you are wrong

whats the difference between a bystander and a farmer it’s all for the same reason to protect cattle don’t be so entitled and selfish

From The Countryside Code:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-countryside-code/the-countryside-code-advice-for-countryside-visitors

Always keep dogs under control and in sight
The countryside, parks and the coast are great places to exercise your dog but you need to consider other users and wildlife.
Keep your dog under effective control to make sure it stays away from wildlife, livestock, horses and other people unless invited. You should:

• always keep your dog on a lead or in sight
• be confident your dog will return on command
• make sure your dog does not stray from the path or area where you have right of access

Always check local signs as there are situations when you must keep your dog on a lead for all or part of the year. Local areas may also ban dogs completely, except for assistance dogs. Signs will tell you about these local restrictions. It is good practice wherever you are to keep your dog on a lead around livestock. 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. A farmer can shoot a dog that is attacking or chasing livestock. They may not be liable to compensate the dog’s owner. Let your dog off the lead if you feel threatened by livestock or horses. Do not risk getting hurt protecting your dog. Releasing your dog will make it easier for you both to reach safety.

They would be on a lead around cattle.

I knew how this thread would go, which furthers my point on why isn’t it a legal requirement?

So depending on whether it is Open Access land or not, you MUST use a lead from 1st March to 31st July.

(I appreciate it's still February right now, though.)

This is interesting, too:

https://defrafarming.blog.gov.uk/2025/12/18/law-changes-strengthen-protection-for-livestock/

My dog does all these things

Okay look at it this way.

You buy a classic car, and invest time and money into restoring it so you can sell it for a profit.
You park that car in a field you own but other people have right of way on. You can only park your car in that field.
Some people drive their cars down the path at the opposite end to your car. But some people drive all over the field, do donuts, occasionally clip your car.

How would you feel? Would you want everyone to drive down the path to keep your investment safe given it doesn't put them out at all?

That's your choice.

14 years of dog ownership is really nothing in the grand scheme of things. I hope your dogs don't suffer from your negligence

But honestly I think the biggest risk is that you are giving the impression that it's optional to use a lead while walking through a field containing sheep, in lambing season! There are many, many dickhead dog owners out there who don't have dogs with bulletproof recall, whose dogs WILL cause harm to the sheep even if just by 'worrying' them, and who will use the presence of you and your off-lead dogs to convince themselves that it's fine for them to also not use a lead.

Result: dead lambs, possibly dead sheep, dogs possibly getting shot.

Those of us who are actually decent dog owners need to model best practice to everyone else.

Does it really matter if it’s legal or not gave some respect and common decency

I'm bowing out as it’s pointless hell will freeze over before you think your wrong

YABU and entitled.

25yrs of dog ownership. My last dog was 14 when he died. We had no issues, ever, with him off the lead.

I have two more now. And 5yrs in, so far so good.

My very much under control dog, was shot by a farmer because he was in a field with sheep. It was dark, it was the field at the back of our house. I was with him, also dressed in black. The field was about 2/3 of an acre, the sheep were at one end, we were at the other. This is in Scotland where there are no laws of trespass. The vet took 36 pellets out of our dog, 8 or which came out of his head. He lost an eye. We reported the farmer to the police, but aside from a conviction for one of his guns which were unlicensed, he faced no charges for shooting the dog (nor for endangering a kid dressed in black, in the dark) The law is clear, a farmer can shoot an unleashed dog for being near sheep, if he believes there is a risk. The fact the risk is minescule is irrelevant, in law there is a risk. It is called “worrying” and is defined as “attacking, chasing, or being at large in a field with sheep.” Even if you were able to prove your case in a court, that the farmer acted unlawfully, your dogs have already been shot by then.

You can be as unconcerned about the sheep as you wish, but you are putting your dogs at risk by having them off lead in a field where there is livestock. I would never put my dogs at that risk.

All animals are unpredictable. I’m sick of dog owners who think theirs aren’t.

This is a fair point.

Great.

Your dogs are probably nowhere near as trained as mine, or half the dog owners on mumsnet, and yet we would never put our dogs in that position. Your needlessly arrogant and one day your dogs will come a cropper and it will be your fault.