Dogs...

[Vader]

Had to goto 3 people this week alone for walking off footpaths and letting dogs run every where.
Even when people stick to paths, dogs can be a field away.

With the massive increase in dogs during covid and the obvious lack of training most have had, is it time to call for all dogs to be on a lead all the time unless a sign says they are allowed to run free?

Wildlife groups should back this as what's the point of rewilding and conservation blocks when dogs hunting through them all the time.
Would maybe also cut down on dog attacks on livestock and people.

Basically the default option is dog on lead.

 

[richard hammond]

Had to goto 3 people this week alone for walking off footpaths and letting dogs run every where.
Even when people stick to paths, dogs can be a field away.

With the massive increase in dogs during covid and the obvious lack of training most have had, is it time to call for all dogs to be on a lead all the time unless a sign says they are allowed to run free?

Wildlife groups should back this as what's the point of rewilding and conservation blocks when dogs hunting through them all the time.
Would maybe also cut down on dog attacks on livestock and people.

Basically the default option is dog on lead.

But please never blame the dog, it is always the idiot owners, people are absolutely brain dead when it comes to dogs and country life, I am an agronomist and I even pick up in the middle of an arable field.

 

[Dry Rot]

Catch the dog and deliver it to a distant pound. The owner will be worried sick, then have to pay to get it back.

 

[suffolksmallholder]

Catch the dog and deliver it to a distant pound. The owner will be worried sick, then have to pay to get it back.

My lurcher dissappeared all day and we became quite worried. We 'phoned several rescue places, locals and even the Police.
One of the children head a tiny squeak coming from one of the chicken houses. The bloody dog had gone inside to steal eggs, (this is a 30+Kg bitch) she'd knocked the portcullis door and it had closed behind her........
SS

 

[kiwi pom]

Had to goto 3 people this week alone for walking off footpaths and letting dogs run every where.
Even when people stick to paths, dogs can be a field away.

With the massive increase in dogs during covid and the obvious lack of training most have had, is it time to call for all dogs to be on a lead all the time unless a sign says they are allowed to run free?

Wildlife groups should back this as what's the point of rewilding and conservation blocks when dogs hunting through them all the time.
Would maybe also cut down on dog attacks on livestock and people.

Basically the default option is dog on lead.

I agree 100%.
You're including farm dogs with that too, I hope? Unless they are trained working dogs under direct control of course.

I'm not a dog fan and think there should be more controls and stricter more expensive licensing for them.

Don't get me started on fecking cats.

 

[AftonShepherd]

I agree 100%.
You're including farm dogs with that too, I hope? Unless they are trained working dogs under direct control of course.

I'm not a dog fan and think there should be more controls and stricter more expensive licensing for them.

Don't get me started on fecking cats.

Surely a farm dog roaming on its own farm is a totally different situation?

 

[kiwi pom]

Surely a farm dog roaming on its own farm is a totally different situation?

No I don’t think so particularly when you see the op’s argument for dogs hunting through wildlife/conservation/woodland blocks. Wildlife doesn’t care who owns the dogs, nor do livestock care who’s dog is sh*tting all over their pasture.
Separate point, as someone who has worked on and visited hundreds of farms, I’ve been bitten by more off chain farm dogs than the public’s dogs on footpaths.
You should always have control of your dog, farmers are as guilty as everyone in this regard.

 

[AftonShepherd]

No I don’t think so particularly when you see the op’s argument for dogs hunting through wildlife/conservation/woodland blocks. Wildlife doesn’t care who owns the dogs, nor do livestock care who’s dog is sh*tting all over their pasture.
Separate point, as someone who has worked on and visited hundreds of farms, I’ve been bitten by more off chain farm dogs than the public’s dogs on footpaths.
You should always have control of your dog, farmers are as guilty as everyone in this regard.

Some valid points but overall we'll have to agree to disagree I think. My dogs on our farm is no different to anyone else letting their dogs out in their garden as far as I'm concerned. Yes, there's risks but it's up to me/us if we're happy to take them.

And I'm in Scotland so footpaths aren't the same issue.

 

[sustainable24]

I agree 100%.
You're including farm dogs with that too, I hope? Unless they are trained working dogs under direct control of course.

I'm not a dog fan and think there should be more controls and stricter more expensive licensing for them.

Don't get me started on fecking cats.

Not sure I've heard of cats scaring and hunting livestock before. It's not a problem in the UK.

 

[Bobthebuilder]

Not sure I've heard of cats scaring and hunting livestock before. It's not a problem in the UK.

Biggest threat to small birds and mammals are cats

 

[kiwi pom]

Not sure I've heard of cats scaring and hunting livestock before. It's not a problem in the UK.

Cats kill more wild birds than anything else.
If you're stopping dogs from damaging stock or wildlife as the OP suggests and I agree with, then cats are a problem too, including in the UK, just because they don't chase sheep doesn't mean we should ignore it.

Some valid points but overall we'll have to agree to disagree I think. My dogs on our farm is no different to anyone else letting their dogs out in their garden as far as I'm concerned. Yes, there's risks but it's up to me/us if we're happy to take them.

And I'm in Scotland so footpaths aren't the same issue.

I've no problem with you exercising your dog's off leash on your land but leaving them to roam free, no. Farm dogs do on occasion chase and kill stock and other wildlife.
We tend to ignore that though and just focus on the public.
Do you walk round and pick up after your dog if it sh*ts in your own stock's paddocks?

 

[Farmer Roy]

Had to goto 3 people this week alone for walking off footpaths and letting dogs run every where.
Even when people stick to paths, dogs can be a field away.

With the massive increase in dogs during covid and the obvious lack of training most have had, is it time to call for all dogs to be on a lead all the time unless a sign says they are allowed to run free?

Wildlife groups should back this as what's the point of rewilding and conservation blocks when dogs hunting through them all the time.
Would maybe also cut down on dog attacks on livestock and people.

Basically the default option is dog on lead.

I know every country & local government jurisdiction is different . . .

Here in Gunnedah we have lots of parks, sporting fields, footpaths & public open spaces. People are encouraged to use these spaces for recreation, walking, cycling etc, that’s what they are for. However, dogs MUST be on a lead at ALL times, apart from the 2 designated “off lead” areas in town.

That’s the only way to do it, along with vigilant compliance officers to police it






Otherwise . . .
This is the only answer

Or if you lay some fox baits ( I’m guessing illegal ? ) near footpaths

 

[Farmer Roy]

Cats kill more wild birds than anything else.
If you're stopping dogs from damaging stock or wildlife as the OP suggests and I agree with, then cats are a problem too, including in the UK, just because they don't chase sheep doesn't mean we should ignore it.

I've no problem with you exercising your dog's off leash on your land but leaving them to roam free, no. Farm dogs do on occasion chase and kill stock and other wildlife.
We tend to ignore that though and just focus on the public.
Do you walk round and pick up after your dog if it sh*ts in your own stock's paddocks?

When I lived on my farm, I would just shoot every dog I saw on my place ( if I had a rifle handy ). I didn’t care where they came from or who owned them, it was their responsibility to keep them under control & obviously they had failed . . .

PS - I also had cat traps & regularly shot cats as well. Now that I live on the edge of town, shooting is obviously out of the question, but the cat trap still gets a workout. Big plastic bag & the exhaust from a V8 petrol engine soon does the rest . . .

PPS - I also had a dog & a cat as pets

 

[Farmer Roy]

Dogs ( & cats ) are a bit like children


I love my own, but I have no desire to put up with other peoples . . .

 

[sustainable24]

Biggest threat to small birds and mammals are cats

Yes I'm familiar with natural world

 

[Chae1]

Dogs ( & cats ) are a bit like children


I love my own, but I have no desire to put up with other peoples . . .

So you trap and children also!?

 

[Farmer Roy]

Biggest threat to small birds and mammals are cats

 

[sustainable24]

This further shows its generally not a good idea to import non native species on masse whatever the mammal or genotype.

 

[suffolksmallholder]

Dogs ( & cats ) are a bit like children


I love my own, but I have no desire to put up with other peoples . . .

I’ve removed any feral cat I’ve ever come across. IMO this is a kindness.
SS

 

[Farmer Roy]

This further shows its generally not a good idea to import non native species on masse whatever the mammal or genotype.

I don’t even know if they imported en masse as such
I think they probably just bred up

The Australian rabbit population ( you’ve probably all seen the old black n white pics of a major rabbit plague in the 1920’s or 30’s, which led the CSIRO to develop myxo ) started with just 14 introduced for “sport”