Neighbors sheep threaten my dogs.

[SmallHolder1]

I have lived happily on my small holding for nearly 12 years with my dogs having run of the farm without any problems, but recently the neighboring farm, which is across a valley from me, has been having work done on their field and sheep have been escaping and crossing over to my farm.
My dogs end up chasing the sheep off the farm and I was concerned that if they chased the sheep right back to his farm that he would shoot my dogs.
The sheep are back today and the owner has come down to tell me he will pick them up tomorrow, I expressed my concerns and he simply told me that he would shoot the dogs if they ran back to his farm.
Now I cant let my dogs out of the house because the sheep are hanging around my fields.
Would I have any legal rights if my dogs did chase his animals off of my farm and back on to his and he chose to shoot my dogs?
It seems to me that his animals are of a much greater threat to my animals than vice versa.

 

[Lofty1984]

He needs to sort his fence out or tell him the next time they are on your ground you will phone the pound, if he threatened to shoot your dogs during a civilised conversation

 

[SmallHolder1]

He needs to sort his fence out or tell him the next time they are on your ground you will phone the pound, if he threatened to shoot your dogs during a civilised conversation

I was quite shocked to hear him confirm that he would indeed shoot the dogs if they chased the animals back as if it was no big deal, he just told me to keep the animals inside until he picks them up tomorrow. I'm not sure what you mean by "the pound" though?
I'll be taking some kind of action if this happens again. I would be devistated if something happend to my dogs.

 

[Lofty1984]

We have people here that get called when stock get out on roads or when being fly grazed usually that come and effectively impound your animals at a cost

 

[Wooly]

Sounds a nice neighbour......not !

Tell him you will shoot his sheep if they appeared in your field again......and too pick them up immediately !

 

[Lofty1984]

Do you have history with the chap ? Seems like he's not the friendliest and a bit diss respectful that he thinks it's fine to let his stock stray

 

[SmallHolder1]

Do you have history with the chap ? Seems like he's not the friendliest and a bit diss respectful that he thinks it's fine to let his stock stray

He didnt really have a nasty tone about him, he just said it in a matter of fact way. Like thats just the way things are. I didnt debate him on it and I havent spoken with him before.

 

[Tim W]

Your dogs on his land chasing sheep & he can legally shoot them
His sheep on your land , especially after you have asked him to remove them , different story
take it easy ---it's only a day and he will pick the sheep up---if he's nice he will give you a couple of chops for the grazing/trouble

 

[SmallHolder1]

Your dogs on his land chasing sheep & he can legally shoot them
His sheep on your land , especially after you have asked him to remove them , different story
take it easy ---it's only a day and he will pick the sheep up---if he's nice he will give you a couple of chops for the grazing/trouble

it is only a day and I will be keeping my animals in, I am concerned though because this is the second time its happend recently, and I never know when the sheep are going to be back, nightmare.

 

[Old Shep]

Why would your dogs be roaming around your property unsupervised to the extent that they run off the property onto your neighbours? If that isn't the case and you are with your dogs then surely you need to train a recall or lie down in order to stop them running off chasing sheep? Whats to stop your dogs in a bored moment remembering where your neighbour's sheep live next door and wandering off to chase them some more? Yes your neighbour doesn't sound the the nicest but to me it seems like 6 of one and half a dozen of the other.

 

[ARW]

Does this mean your dogs are not fenced in on your property?

 

[Lofty1984]

I read it as they are fenced normally but the neighbour fence is buggered hence the escaping sheep

 

[Kazak]

Fail to understand why are your dogs roaming free beside a field full of sheep.. and clearly they can cross the fence.. its a fine line and if they cross it neighbour well entitled to shoot them so why take the risk if you like the dogs..
He shouldnt have sheep in your land and you shouldnt have dogs roaming around..

 

[roscoe erf]

I read it as they are fenced normally but the neighbour fence is buggered hence the escaping sheep

so he/she is relying on neighbours fence to keep dogs in

 

[milkloss]

Perhaps you need to assist with the fencing: his sheep out of yours and your dogs out of his. Simple.

 

[Philip Watkins]

I read it as the neighbour was going to shoot the dogs if they chased the sheep while they were still in the dogs field.

 

[multi power]

I read it as the neighbour was going to shoot the dogs if they chased the sheep while they were still in the dogs field.

He definitely can't do that

 

[jemski]

I read it that he would shoot the dogs if they chased the sheep back to his farm, so on his land.
The dogs should be fenced in by the owner, regardless of the neighbours fences, and shouldn't be allowed to go wherever they wish.

 

[multi power]

I read it that he would shoot the dogs if they chased the sheep back to his farm, so on his land.
The dogs should be fenced in by the owner, regardless of the neighbours fences, and shouldn't be allowed to go wherever they wish.

As should the sheep

 

[jemski]

Yes, but the OP asked and the dogs are their responsibility. The sheep won't kill/worry other people's livestock.