Dog sheep attack on my land, where do I stand?

[Greenbeast]

I've warned my neighbour politely twice about their sheep coming onto my land. Don't care about them grazing a bit of grass but we have 10 dogs, some with known history and that's without general high prey drive and pack behaviour.
They've done nothing to stop them crossing still. Up until now my 2 GSDs have been pretty impeccable but this morning my youngest took down a lamb. I called him off and the animal went back home.
Have not notified them yet.
I assume I hold no liability here?

 

[unlacedgecko]

I've warned my neighbour politely twice about their sheep coming onto my land. Don't care about them grazing a bit of grass but we have 10 dogs, some with known history and that's without general high prey drive and pack behaviour.
They've done nothing to stop them crossing still. Up until now my 2 GSDs have been pretty impeccable but this morning my youngest took down a lamb. I called him off and the animal went back home.
Have not notified them yet.
I assume I hold no liability here?

You're correct you don't.

 

[Big Ted]

How are the sheep getting on to your land? , if it is through a hole in your boundary I would be more concerned about your dogs with"known history" getting through the hole and on to the owner of the sheep's property, then you will have something to worry about

 

[milkloss]

How are the sheep getting on to your land? , if it is through a hole in your boundary I would be more concerned about your dogs with"known history" getting through the hole and on to the owner of the sheep's property, then you will have something to worry about

Yeah, thanks to the neighbour the dog now knows it’s fun. Bet the neighbour doesn’t open his wallet to help pay for retraining.

 

[Greenbeast]

How are the sheep getting on to your land? , if it is through a hole in your boundary I would be more concerned about your dogs with"known history" getting through the hole and on to the owner of the sheep's property, then you will have something to worry about

We manage our dogs, we just ask that others manage their stock.
Our dogs do not go through, or over, the fence although some are capable. My partner does not walk her dogs if the sheep are present. I tend to herd them back with my two ('in tow' as they are not trained sheep dogs) and let her know.
This presents me with a problem tonight or tomorrow I expect, I cannot have my dogs on lead while working the farm, nor can I leave them shut in. So I will have to be hyper vigilant and early with vocal commands. Typically if I am on top of a situation he does not even start a chase, be that deer or sheep.

 

[Big Ted]

We manage our dogs, we just ask that others manage their stock.
Our dogs do not go through, or over, the fence although some are capable. My partner does not walk her dogs if the sheep are present. I tend to herd them back with my two ('in tow' as they are not trained sheep dogs) and let her know.
This presents me with a problem tonight or tomorrow I expect, I cannot have my dogs on lead while working the farm, nor can I leave them shut in. So I will have to be hyper vigilant and early with vocal commands. Typically if I am on top of a situation he does not even start a chase, be that deer or sheep.

How are the sheep getting in?

 

[Greenbeast]

How are the sheep getting in?

Well unfortunately the previous owner of their property put the stock net up upside down (for some reason), so these guys are squeezing through, although they look too big! It is at least a time limited problem, but i can see it reoccurring each year if they don't fix it

 

[Yale]

Well unfortunately the previous owner of their property put the stock net up upside down (for some reason), so these guys are squeezing through, although they look too big! It is at least a time limited problem, but i can see it reoccurring each year if they don't fix it

Unless the net is real big squares I can’t see only baby lambs getting through the squares.

 

[Greenbeast]

Unless the net is real big squares I can’t see only baby lambs getting through the squares.

well, yes i can't really understand it either but the hedge obscures my view of their passage

 

[JCMaloney]

Is having a word with the neighbour akin to what you posted here not going to work?

"If the sheep can get through to my side, then the dogs could get through to yours and I can`t watch/see them all the time. Can we get it sorted out as its not the first time its happened and I would like it fixed before something really bad happens?"

They might see sense & understand you are trying to meet them in the middle?

 

[Greenbeast]

I told them very nicely twice that i was worried about our dogs and their sheep, they just acknowledged the incorrect fence. They've not rectified it or even put up a strand of electric.

 

[Greenbeast]

It;s very frustrating because they're lovely people and we have a good relationship with them

 

[Yale]

It;s very frustrating because they're lovely people and we have a good relationship with them

Could you say you are going to spray the fields and are concerned the sheep may come through or are they not bothered?

 

[unlacedgecko]

There's no meeting in the middle required. Stock owners must contain their stock.

 

[Dry Rot]

The owner of a dog worrying livestock is absolutely to blame EXCEPT when the animals have strayed onto the dog owners own land, provided he did not encourage the dogs to attack. I think you will find that in the Animals Act somewhere, or do a Google. But I am quite sure on this point.

The law recognises that dogs are highly territorial and they cannot be blamed if they protect their owner's land. That's what GSDs were bred for, to guard fields in Germany before the invention of wire fences.

Here you go....
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1971/22/section/5/enacted

Animals Act 1971
(4)A person is not liable under section 3 of this Act if the livestock was killed or injured on land on to which it had strayed and either the dog belonged to the occupier or its presence on the land was authorised by the occupier.

(But probably best to consult a lawyer specialising in the subject, because I'm not one!).

 

[milkloss]

Did you tell them the lamb had been pegged? We’ve had sheep bitten but not mauled and fly can be a problem.

Good luck sorting it out

 

[Greenbeast]

yes i did, even offered to go round with alamycin if needed

 

[Farmer_Joe]

fool on them, its there stock getting into yours...

 

[milkloss]

I saw ages ago a video with similar type of dog working. I couldn’t find the serious one but watch this version to the end and is actually quite amusing.

 

[Bones]

How long of an area needs fixing