I often hear well-meaning dog owners saying ‘I don’t think my dog would chase, they just seem interested in the sheep and like to watch them’.
Unfortunately the hard facts here are that your dog WILL chase these sheep, it’s in a dog’s nature to chase.
It’s not that they are a bad dog, it’s just an ingrained part of their psyche to chase.
The more they are allowed to pursue and do this behaviour the more they will do it . . . it increases through the successfulness of being able to do it!
There are some dogs that do not chase sheep, these have been trained professionally, or those dogs who have an owner who understands the rules and boundaries of how to train their dog around livestock, this type of training can be quite time-consuming.
So if you are walking on the moor or through public right of way fields where livestock are grazing, be a responsible dog owner and keep our dogs on a lead.
Most sheep are pregnant at the moment and a dog chasing a sheep can cause serious harm even if they do not catch them.
The stress through being chased by a dog can be catastrophic and end up in the death of a sheep, miscarry their lambs or become permanently disabled.
LET US ALL TRY AND FOLLOW THIS CODE OF CONSIDERATION FOR LIVESTOCK!
FACTUAL RELATED LINKS OF INTEREST:
NATIONAL SHEEP ASSOCIATION
https://nationalsheep.org.uk/for-the-public/culture/sheep-worrying/sheep-worrying/
National Sheep Association (NSA) and all its farmer-members want everyone to share in the iconic landscapes and beautiful countryside that sheep farming in the UK has played an integral role is creating and maintaining.
KENNEL CLUB
https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/about-us/campaigns/livestock-attacks/
Livestock attacks under UK law covers attacking or chasing livestock. Legally, a dog must be on a lead or otherwise under close control in a field or enclosure in which there are sheep. The issue of dogs attacking or chasing livestock has a substantial financial and emotional impact on farmers.
SOUTH WEST FARMER
https://www.southwestfarmer.co.uk/news/24491130.increase-dartmoor-dog-attacks-livestock-2024/
In its annual review, the authority said it engaged with hundreds of dog owners last year in person and in social media campaigns, to reinforce a ‘dogs -on-leads’ message to protect wildlife and livestock. Rangers said they found engaging with dog owners “much more positive than in past years”.
VISIT DARTMOOR
https://visitdartmoor.co.uk/helping-ponies-sheep-and-cattle-in-danger-or-distress-on-dartmoor/
Livestock Protection Officer and Call-out
The Dartmoor Livestock Protection Society (jointly with the Dartmoor Commoners’ Council) funds the work of the Livestock Protection Officer, who is on emergency call-out to deal with incidents of sheep worrying, dog attacks, casualties from road traffic accidents and livestock in distress on Dartmoor.
BBC DEVON
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-68235429