Professional dog walkers

[Always wandering]

We are having problems with a professional dog walker who often has 8-10 dogs some on a lead some off , walking dogs through areas of three landowners forestry upsetting the shooting tennants. Shoot captain has asked him politely to keep all dogs close to him and avoid certain areas where gamebirds are but he is ignoring them and states he has the right to roam . My question is should the professional dog walker need to ask land owners Permission to carry out his business on there land as surely he is making money from there property and is clearly not just walking his own dog. Legally what would the position be for professional dog walker if landowners asked a fee or rent or banned him from using there land for his business ????

 

[Poorbuthappy]

Scotland, I take it?

 

[Always wandering]

Sorry yes it is in Scotland

 

[Highland Mule]

Don’t think he can legally take that many - isn’t there a limit of six?
Have a read of the access code, and make sure the chap is complying - if not he’s breaking the right to roam rules and can be stopped.

It’s a right to responsible access, not all access.

 

[Lincs Lass]

4 dogs ,,size unimportant is the max anybody is allowed to walk here ,,even got signs up round the village

 

[Lapwing]

We had a run in with one. When a couple of the new dogs they were walking in a pack of 6 ran off & ended up hassling our sheep all night, it wasnt their fault. All was ok apparently as they had got the owners to sign an "off lead consent form". Complete plonkers taking advantage of people trying to do the right thing by their pets (the owners had hospital appointments that day & didnt want to leave their dogs in all day)

 

[som farmer]

We had a run in with one. When a couple of the new dogs they were walking in a pack of 6 ran off & ended up hassling our sheep all night, it wasnt their fault. All was ok apparently as they had got the owners to sign an "off lead consent form". Complete plonkers taking advantage of people trying to do the right thing by their pets (the owners had hospital appointments that day & didnt want to leave their dogs in all day)

should have shot 1 or 2, pretty certain, 'right' to roam, is for people, not dogs, and 'responsible' means leads, if stock about.. One of the best things about mobiles, a lot have a camera, use it, it is evidence.

 

[Tarw Coch]

should have shot 1 or 2, pretty certain, 'right' to roam, is for people, not dogs, and 'responsible' means leads, if stock about.. One of the best things about mobiles, a lot have a camera, use it, it is evidence.

I would have an issue in shooting dogs in that instance, you’re not shooting the dog walkers dogs you’re shooting someone else’s dogs who have been entrusted into his care.
Of course legally you are entitled to shoot any dogs worrying livestock and I haven’t got a problem with shooting dogs let to run out of control and worry livestock by irresponsible owners but that’s not quite the case in this instance.

Unfortunately it’s not legal to shoot irresponsible dog walkers or I’d have the answer for you ?

 

[76masseyman]

Ask to see his public liability insurance certificate, pretty sure he’ll have one if running a business. If not, then frogmarch him off your land.

 

[Nearly]

Ask to see his public liability insurance certificate, pretty sure he’ll have one if running a business. If not, then frogmarch him off your land.

'Professional'
Just because you're paid to do something doesn't make you a professional.

 

[thorpe]

loads problems round here even coucil getting fed up of complaing public, can i shoot dogs totally knackering my wheat and barley pfp are like like like motorways here and ime not joking!

 

[Robt]

You can’t just shoot dogs.... it’s not their fault! What is wrong with some that post on here. It’s a public forum

 

[Lapwing]

In our case, it wasn't the owners fault. They were mortified about it. Luckily the dogs were more excited than aggressive so sheep scattered through fences & stressed, but no serious bites. It was the whole irresponsible attitude of the dog walking company people that was beyond frustrating.

 

[Tarw Coch]

You can’t just shoot dogs.... it’s not their fault! What is wrong with some that post on here. It’s a public forum

Other than the post above yours which I take to be a bit tongue in cheek regarding shooting dogs, any other replies regarding shooting of dogs relate to them worrying livestock which is legal.
No doubt those in control or not more to the point of dogs worrying livestock are partly responsible but as I say, it’s not legal to shoot them.?

 

[betweenthelines]

Can only shoot dogs that are worrying livestock at that time.

Not just dogs loose in a field. Not dogs that are suspected of having been, or about to be worrying livestock-but actually worrying/attacking stock AT THE TIME THEY ARE SHOT. Which unless you are prepared for a stray shot to injure your own stock, pretty much rules out shooting a dog.

As for the OP, it refers to dogs in woodland, where there is no right to shoot them.

As Robot implies, some posters seem worryingly oblivious to the law, let alone public opinion.

 

[unlacedgecko]

Can only shoot dogs that are worrying livestock at that time.

Not just dogs loose in a field. Not dogs that are suspected of having been, or about to be worrying livestock-but actually worrying/attacking stock AT THE TIME THEY ARE SHOT. Which unless you are prepared for a stray shot to injure your own stock, pretty much rules out shooting a dog.

As for the OP, it refers to dogs in woodland, where there is no right to shoot them.

As Robot implies, some posters seem worryingly oblivious to the law, let alone public opinion.

Any farmers legally shoot dogs attacking stock every year.

 

[Princess Pooper]

We are having problems with a professional dog walker who often has 8-10 dogs some on a lead some off , walking dogs through areas of three landowners forestry upsetting the shooting tennants. Shoot captain has asked him politely to keep all dogs close to him and avoid certain areas where gamebirds are but he is ignoring them and states he has the right to roam . My question is should the professional dog walker need to ask land owners Permission to carry out his business on there land as surely he is making money from there property and is clearly not just walking his own dog. Legally what would the position be for professional dog walker if landowners asked a fee or rent or banned him from using there land for his business ????

Check if your local council is exercising its legal right to require professional dog walkers to be licensed. There may be an opportunity to complain if they are breaching the terms of that licence which probably includes some stuff about sticking to rights of way and not disturbing wild birds or livestock. Might be an opportunity to suggest that a complaint might result in licence being revoked....???

 

[Highland Mule]

Can only shoot dogs that are worrying livestock at that time.

Not just dogs loose in a field. Not dogs that are suspected of having been, or about to be worrying livestock-but actually worrying/attacking stock AT THE TIME THEY ARE SHOT. Which unless you are prepared for a stray shot to injure your own stock, pretty much rules out shooting a dog.

As for the OP, it refers to dogs in woodland, where there is no right to shoot them.

As Robot implies, some posters seem worryingly oblivious to the law, let alone public opinion.

From the code:

Farm animals:

• Never let your dog worry or attack farm animals
• Don't take your dog into fields where there are lambs, calves or other young farm animals
• If you go into a field of farm animals, keep your dog(s) on a short lead or close at heel and keep as far as possible from the animals
• If cattle react aggressively and move towards you, keep calm, let the dog go and take the shortest, safest route out of the field

Note the difference between worry and attack. Note the prohibition of taking dogs into fields with young farm animals and requirement to keep on lead or close at heel in all fields that hold animals.

My sheep never see a dog. Taking a dog anywhere in their enclosure would worry them and I would never permit such behaviour. If someone does not immediately desist from such behaviour and keep dog at heel or on lead, I would be within my rights to shoot the dog. Thankfully I have yet to find myself in a situation where I have needed to do this. Sadly, I have lost ewes from dog worrying, but always when I have been absent.

 

[betweenthelines]

From the code:

Farm animals:

• Never let your dog worry or attack farm animals
• Don't take your dog into fields where there are lambs, calves or other young farm animals
• If you go into a field of farm animals, keep your dog(s) on a short lead or close at heel and keep as far as possible from the animals
• If cattle react aggressively and move towards you, keep calm, let the dog go and take the shortest, safest route out of the field

Note the difference between worry and attack. Note the prohibition of taking dogs into fields with young farm animals and requirement to keep on lead or close at heel in all fields that hold animals.

My sheep never see a dog. Taking a dog anywhere in their enclosure would worry them and I would never permit such behaviour. If someone does not immediately desist from such behaviour and keep dog at heel or on lead, I would be within my rights to shoot the dog. Thankfully I have yet to find myself in a situation where I have needed to do this. Sadly, I have lost ewes from dog worrying, but always when I have been absent.

So where does that give you the legal right to shoot a dog that is not on a lead (but may well be under the owners full control?) Do you think you have the right to shoot a horse because someone rides on a footpath?

My son regularly exercises large number of dogs on open moorland were sheep graze, often passing within 100 yards of the flock. The dogs are totally under control. In those circumstances, the shepherd has no "right" to shoot the dogs. Just because the dog is not withing a few feet of the owner, does not mean it's not under control.

 

[Highland Mule]

So where does that give you the legal right to shoot a dog that is not on a lead (but may well be under the owners full control?) Do you think you have the right to shoot a horse because someone rides on a footpath?

My son regularly exercises large number of dogs on open moorland were sheep graze, often passing within 100 yards of the flock. The dogs are totally under control. In those circumstances, the shepherd has no "right" to shoot the dogs. Just because the dog is not withing a few feet of the owner, does not mean it's not under control.

You’re not in Scotland, are you? The question was posed about Scotland. What you describe would worry my sheep and hence be against the access code - if not curtailed, I have a right to curtail it myself. The requirement is for close control too - at heel or on short lead - when there are young farm animals; what you describe is not acceptable with young.

In Scotland, I’d be telling your son to buy his own moor, if he wants to act in such a manner.