Dogs off lead on farms?

Gingerwitch

Gingerwitch

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Unfortunalty our farm has two public footpaths running through it. Never been too much of an issue in the past but the new wave of folks walking their dogs is becoming a nightmare.

Yet again this morning i have had to shout at owners to come and get there dogs out of a field with horses in -and get back to the footpath that is at least an acre away - all i got was a "sorry" when the dog was running at one of the horses and would not go back to call.

The dog owners feel its there right to let the dogs run through the crop fields and crap and not bother to pick up the mess as "its only a field" I have tried being polite, we have put up notices asking for dogs to be kept on leads at all times as its a working farm - other than threatning to shoot the dogs what else can be done.

And before you all shoot me down in flames - the majority are wonderful - and well they should be as after all they are on private property when not on the footpath.
 
First suggestion would have been to put notices at each entrance point of the footpath that cross your land "dogs must be under close control at all times - livestock". But I see you have already done this. http://www.ramblers.org.uk/rights_of_way/knowledge_portal/advice_notes/animals

Unfortunately footpaths seem to bring out the "I have a right to regardless" attitude in dog owners. As they continue to ignore your requests then video evidence would be a good idea and the next step file a police report. And do this now.
 
That's so fricking rude!!!
I'd dander around with a couple of days with a broken shotgun over your arm shouting HIII! LOVELY DAY, ISN'T IT?

I always ring my neighbour to ask if I can go in the fields with the dog and only when there is nothing in them and even then the dog is rarely off the lead (the poo is too tempting :p)
 
Love CC's suggestion! I get so annoyed round here seeing other walkers take the pee on other peoples land. I keep seeing dogs rampantly chasing cattle, dogs in with horses (that are very kindly fenced off the footpath so no excuse whatsoever) My dogs raided someones picnic the other day they were sat in a field miles from any footpaths under a tree around a corner having a picnic with a labrador. I have permission in that field and all mine were off lead, had no clue anyone would be in there. They started to get shirty with me until I pointed out they shouldnt actually be there....I got 'oh I thought there was a footpath through here' yea yea like hell you did :rolleyes: To be fair they werent doing any harm as such but I still think its rude! I get irrate at livestock being chased though, especially when I have to walk through them afterwards! The cattle round here are lary as hell on weekends....get chased too many times! Thankfully they arent as thick as they look and do seem to recognise my pack and leave us alone now as they know they wont get chased by them. I would put a sign up saying any dogs found off the paths and chasing livestock will be shot...that will make them put them on leads if they cant control them.
 
Would you believe when I was down at the beach a couple of weeks ago I saw an older woman LETTING, WATCHING and LAUGHING at her springle chasing the resident herd of ducks and geese all over the place, running at them and barking and trying to catch them.
Can you imagine if I had let my dogs do that.
 
Love the shotgun suggestion! I'd also suggest a sign saying something like "Warning: these horses will kick dogs if they get too close. A kick from a horse can easily kill a large dog." - people like this are selfish and I think the only way to get through to them is to play on the fact they're only thinking of themselves.

Slightly different, but I once caught some kids chasing the gypsy ponies (mares, stallion and foals) with a large stick in the field next door to where my horse was kept. I managed to get their attention and explained to them, in quite graphic detail what might happen to them (complete with details of how their heads would be split open, with their brains spilling out, and they'd bleed to death) if the horses turned on them in protection of their foals. I also threw in that my horse was very vicious, and would run at them and trample them if they entered his field. Never saw them again :)
 
We only have one field with a public footpath and sadly only ever seen one person(retired policeman) with his 2 GSD clean up after his dogs.

The farmer adjoining our farm gets really irate when he finds his hay containing dog poo and every year he publishes about it in the parish mag. but no one takes any notice.:(
 
We are in much the same situation, Gingerwitch. People have mostly been polite in the past but...a labrador killed one of my chickens in my horse paddock - no footpath there - and the owner said 'My chickens shouldn't be free ranging near a footpath'. I wiped the floor with him, and thank fully I have never seen him again. We have a lady who walks 2 spaniels and they draw every bit of game cover and every hedge bottom. We don't have a proper shoot but we like seeing the birds around, we have no English partridge any more, we always had a covey.
Legally the dog also has to be on the footpath, I appreciate the idiots we are talking about won't care but unless the dog is on the footpath and under close control they are breaking the law. It doesn't have to be on a lead but should be near them and go to them at once if they call it.
 
What anoys me the most is that its the minority that spoil it for the majority. Ive just met a lovely couple they have two boarder collies and run the foot path 4 or 5 times a week, as soon as they see me riding in one of the fields they shout "hello" to make sure i know they are around and call - are we okay to come past.... I stop and let which ever one of mine i am riding look as they run in their pink, and orange and the dogs pretend to stalk us.... and off we both gangs go - its called getting on and being sensible and you know what i have never ever seen those dogs anywhere but welded to their owners side.

And even if they were running off the path - because of the way they are they would be sticking to the tractor paths and you know what - we would not even bat an eyelid as they know they are on someone elses land and they are grateful and respect it.
 
Thats just it really isnt it gingerwitch, I have to admit I let mine run off the paths and in the fields (provided no crops to trash) and in and out of hedges, otherwise, well they would barely have anywhere to run! But they always come to call, will not heard or go near livestock and are on a lead if neccessary. Its about being curteous and respectful of someone elses land. If I was asked not to run the dogs off lead for any reason by the landowner I wouldnt. I can only assume I am decent enough with the way I use the paths as the few landowners I have seen out I have cheekily asked if I can work hedges or walk on other bits of land off footpath and nobody has said no beggar off to me yet! I feel for you I really do, I would hate to think of my horses or any animals of mine being pestered and nuisenced by other peoples dogs. Infuriating.
 
*dons tin hat*

I actually don't think dogs should be allowed off lead AT ALL on public footpaths that run through agricultural land.
If there is livestock nearby there shouldn't be loose dogs IMO.I allow my dog to roam within the confines of my field with my 'livestock' (not sure horses actually count as livestock but for these purposes I think they should),but I wouldn't allow it elsewhere with other peoples animals.

I completely understand BTW that there are many responsible owners with well trained dogs that cause no problem at all,but I think to account for the not so responsible people,and to rule out any possibility of worrying livestock then a blanket policy of keeping dogs on leads would be appropriate.
 
You are probably right really devonlass. I would be very sad and in a bit of a pickle for any decent walks if that were the case but I do get where you are coming from. I wont have my dogs on leads through cattle, its dangerous (for me and the dogs) so if it was compulsory to do so I would be proper screwed to get anywhere around here!
 
Another thing that annoys me is families walking on the footpath which is against the hedge but kids rampaging through the mowing grass and the parents see nothing wrong with this. These are people who live in the village but I expect 99% grew up in cities and know nothing of country life and the country code and have no interest in learning it.
 
Walk around with a shotgun on the busier times. I nice curt "out of control dogs will be shot" sign as well. I cannot abide this sort of thing, I know where/when the livestock will be in our fields so can choose whether to have Tink of lead or not. I can't stand it when day trippers charge in from the river path with the dog off lead then realise "bugger there's a load of sheep" too late as Tiddles is already causing havoc. Grr.
 
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