Sheep worrying questions?

[bob1508]

Hi, new here hoping for some advice

Fell walking the other day and the idiot owner that I am, left my collie's lead on top of a mountain and didn't notice until coming down and we came across a handful of sheep on the path. He's had a lot of training around not chasing things and a lot of on lead time around sheep so we had to lean back on those elements. I called him close, walking in front of me and as we got closer the sheep noticed and jogged off. My dog was staring at them and looked at me to ask to follow but obeyed his stop and stayed on the path with me.

After a bit of googling though I think this meets the definition of sheep worrying even though he didn't chase them. Does staring and being off-lead on a path count towards sheep worrying?

I always thought sheep worrying involved chasing and attacking but if its encompasses situations when sheep can be stressed like staring or being off lead on a path should my dog be on a longline throughout and what else can I be doing to move my dog past sheep without stressing them?

 

[Roxylola]

Nope, literally if the sheep are "worried" it fits the bill. Keep your dog on a short lead and stay on the path through sheep. It does sound like you were in control but I dont like leaving my dogs safety open to interpretation

 

[Errin Paddywack]

The sheep just moving out of your way may worry them slightly but is not 'sheep worrying'. If your dog was barking and lunging at them or chasing them even in play, that would be 'sheep worrying'. Just don't forget your lead again and congratulations on having a well trained dog. Your dog running around on a long line could upset them more than walking to heel. Sheep will usually move away from people and/or dogs, only a problem when they get very stressed and panic and run blindly.

 

[PapaverFollis]

If sheep just being worried and moving away from you counts as "sheep worrying" then I've managed that plenty of times without a dog even. And farmers must worry their own sheep constantly!!

 

[CorvusCorax]

I was on a walk in the mountains a few months back and at one point there were sheep grazing. He was on a line and beside me, wasn't vocalising but he does have a very predatory outline/tail was flagging/prancing/ears up and the sheep were running/panicking even from a distance so I just turned around and went back along another path. It's not worth his or mine or his breed or dog walkers in general's reputation on the mountains.

 

[MrsMozart]

I don't think you were 'sheep worrying', though the farmer might well be concerned if he saw your dog off-lead near them. My GSD is pretty well behaved but stays on a lead even if we're walking by a field with sheep in - I don't ever want anyone to think she might be about to do something.

Carry a spare slip lead in your pocket. They're not brill as a rule but good jic.

 

[Ranyhyn]

Reasonably no.

But it amounts to any behaviour which could lead to a lack of production. Stressed ewes can abort and sheep have been known to just die of shock for the fun of it after no real shock at all.

Be aware that even as a well trained, well handled dog your dog is often dicing with a farmer who may have had his sheep chased previously - so its best to err on the side of caution and just leash the dog and keep well away from any stock.

Yours, a sheep farmer (and multiple dog owner)

 

[Tiddlypom]

I’ve told by a vet friend that every minute that a sheep being reared for meat isn’t eating costs the farmer money, let alone if pregnant ewes abort.

I do everything that I can to avoid stressing sheep by re routing etc if I come across them when out and about.

 

[splashgirl45]

always wear a belt so you can use it in an emergency. you may have to hold your trousers up but dog would be safe