hope you told her to carry on
Dog attack on sheep - what to do?
- Thread starter Tim G
- Start date
multi power
Member
- Location
- pembrokeshire
The dog MUST be destroyed. No question about it, if not it WILL do it again
CopperBeech
Member
- Location
- A Welsh man lost in England
It is possible to re-train a sheep killer. But it takes a lot more skill than most dog owners possess.
However, most folk who have the ability to do the above, usually also have the ability to train a dog not to be a stock worrier in the first place.
Have been out and seen all manor of dogs hunting and working in and around sheep, not once looking at them. . . . . it aint rocket science!
However, most folk who have the ability to do the above, usually also have the ability to train a dog not to be a stock worrier in the first place.
Have been out and seen all manor of dogs hunting and working in and around sheep, not once looking at them. . . . . it aint rocket science!
Yes I agree. My first reply was a bit short.
It's all very well the owner being sorry and I'm sure he does feel terrible and doesn't want it to happen again.
These dog attacks seem to be getting more and more frequent and the only way people will learn is if every time a dog is caught in the act it is destroyed and the owners are forced to pay damages. No ifs no buts.
- Location
- Wormingford, Essex
Thanks @JP1, Henry knows all about it being there at the time. The only saving grace is that it's half term next week so his nursery school won't be getting chapter and verse from him of exactly what his dad shouted at the naughty dog. Thankfully we've had a busy day with lots of ewes lambing (for us anyway) so his mind has been taken off it.
CopperBeech
Member
- Location
- A Welsh man lost in England
Did anyone else read the article in I think FW about using livestock guardian dogs to see off other dogs etc. I wonder what the legal position would be here?
Don't most of them see off humans they don't know as well?
I think someone on here has one in the UK
CopperBeech
Member
- Location
- A Welsh man lost in England
Don't most of them see off humans they don't know as well?
I think someone on here has one in the UK
Sounds like a fantastic idea!
Ive a lurcher here who doesn't really like strangers or odd dogs coming near her 'pack'.. . . me, the mrs, my folks, the sheep, the other dogs, the quad, the truck. . . . .she has an extensive family.
I'm sure if I left here wandering around the sheep id get had up some how.
spin cycle
Member
- Location
- north norfolk
wasm't that the old job of old english sheep dogs....look like sheep...live with sheep and protect them?
Forever Fendt
Member
- Location
- Derbyshire
this time give the chap the benefit of the doubt and see if he comes through with his promise but don't try and rip him off ,it sounds like he is a responsible dog owner and genuine mistake
Robigus
Member
Tim our meadows run down to the new estates in Cornard. When we had sheep we had several incidents. I would definitely get a formal police report but initially I'd try to work with the owner. If the police could visit and spell out the legal side it would be a help. You can also point out to the owner that most household insurance policies cover "damage" by dogs.
The only time I shot a dog was when I caught a collie cross in the act in a meadow by the house. It wasn't much fun for anyone involved. Just as I got back to the farm my wife returned with everyone from the Newton mother and toddler group. Luckily I was standing behind a low hedge so they didn't see I had a shotgun in one hand and a dead dog in the other.
On the other hand we had a totally untrainable Patterdale terrier that got in an English partridge pen at the Fison's and caused the death of a couple of hundred. Will knew whose it was and brought it back to us. I told him he should have shot it on sight but he thought he was being kind as our children were little. I suppose I deserved having to sort it out but that is when I found out about household insurance cover.
There was a woman in Newton who went to her grave believing I'd shot two of her dogs. They were horrible things but I never saw them on the farm. The fact that she lived on the main road was probably more relevant.
In my opinion you need to get the incident on file and make the owner fully aware of their duties and responsibilities. We also always got it in the EADT and the Suffolk Free Press/Mercury.
- Location
- Welshman living in Nottinghamshire
I've also got a sign on each entrance to public footpath saying "Dogs to be kept on leads at all times. Any dog chasing sheep will be shot"
At least that way they are forewarned.
At least that way they are forewarned.
Ballygreenan
Member
- Location
- Tyrone NI
Lamas are also supposed to be great guardians of flocks. I saw a photo recently (perhaps on here) in which a fox was lying dead on the ground outside a chicken coup surrounded by Lamas or Alpacas!
- Location
- Wormingford, Essex
Both Sophie's sister and my brother live in those new houses in Cornard, seperately I should add!
Brother works at Newton and I think he knows most of the dog owners there and how 'difficult' some of them are.
The only other time I've had anything like that was when my then boss had sheep grazing at Bures and two dogs came from Cornard each night and killed. The estate manager soon stopped it and the owners denied that the two dead dogs he presented them with were theirs.
- Location
- Wormingford, Essex
I have this morning reported the incident to the police, I think I was passed to several different departments before being passed back to the control room, it has now been logged with them. Since spoken to our insurers and they seem happy with what I have done too.
Thank you all for the replies, its all been useful and given me a clearer idea of how to proceed. Will update with how we get on if of any interest to anyone.
On a more positive note the boys appear okay at the moment, although time will tell.
Thank you all for the replies, its all been useful and given me a clearer idea of how to proceed. Will update with how we get on if of any interest to anyone.
On a more positive note the boys appear okay at the moment, although time will tell.
matty
Member
I have a friend that has bought a couple of Llamas on the presumption of keeping Basil away.
Basil was being a right pain and killing their chickens in the daytime. Basil was spotted happily wandering through the Llama field many a time,unhindered as he carried on his merry chicken killing way.
- Location
- Derbyshire
Totally understand this viewpoint and I am playing devils advocate somewhat... but if we are really expecting people to own up to their responsibility (which is to pay for the losses and costs), who in their right mind is going to own up to their dog killing a sheep if they feel they are going to be forced to put it down. I think it is a big ask. If somebody knocked on your door and said their dog had killed a ewe, are you really going to demand the dog is put down if they have demonstrated the honesty and integrity to put things right?
Imagine if it were the culture to sue somebody who bumped your car in a car park. Would you be leaving a note on someone's windscreen if you bumped their car and weren't spotted??
I did say caught in the act.
I also have no sympathy, its all very well being sorry but if you can't manage to train your dog to do as its told or keep it on a lead when you are out, or look after it properly so its not so bored it has to run off and chase sheep to the ground. Then you shouldn't own a dog.
It's not a right it's a privilege
Taking responsibility doesn't mean owning up and apologising its means training your dog so it doesn't do it in the first place.
I honestly believe people should have to have a licence to own a dog (or even any pet for that matter) if the dog worries stock then destroy it and ban the owner from having another.
Theres a big difference between a bump in a car park and someone's livelihood.