Shooting Dogs

[STYRBJORN]

Originally Posted by Kayleigh

I walked my Springer (on a lead) through a field full of sheep once there was a footpath right through the field, the dog was scared of all these big white fluffy blobs on legs..
Its was quite funny..

I was walking one of my Apsos along a footpath through a farm. He was off his lead, walking at my right side. There were cattle in one field, near the path, and to the right. Oscar looked at the cattle; he looked up at me; he looked at the cattle. Then he dropped back, crossed to my left, caught up and very nonchalantly resumed walking as though nothing had transpired. Wretched little beast expected me to protect him! So much for gallant dog saves master.

Ric

[Paul mabbott]

Aren't we glad we live in a civilised country?
BBC News - Defecating dog sparks US shootout

[wizzo]

Paul - what does the video show? Just that I'm a bit of a chicken where animals are concerned - Wizzo

[Boddie]

Originally Posted by wizzo

Paul - what does the video show? Just that I'm a bit of a chicken where animals are concerned - Wizzo

Its not a video, its a news story

[Meta menardi]

It is a link to an article, illustrated by a pic of a dog crouching behind a bush. Nowt to worry about.

[Cowgirl]

Nothing to worry about Wizzo, no pictures, just a news reports about two Americans shooting each other over a dog fouling a lawn. Although it did report that the dog was shot earlier in the week, it doesn't say how the dog is, don't care re the humans.

If they are daft enough to own a gun with no sense of responsibility.......

oops cross posted, slow typing!

[wizzo]

Thanks for the re-assurance guys - Wizzo

[Leanne_W]

As always, the problems of dogs worrying sheep and subsequently being shot is down to the owners irresponisbility and they get no sympathy from me. As an owner of 3 dogs, all very prey driven and keen on hunting, I make sure that my dogs do not disturb livestock. If we walk through a field of sheep they go on lead, if we are walking in neighbouring fields I keep a strict eye on what they are doing and call them away should they move in the direction of any fields containing sheep.

Mine have never shown any interest in even particularly looking at sheep, horses, cows etc but i'm savvy enough to realise that my dogs chase instinct could be triggered if livestock makes a dash for it.

It's quite reassuring to know that farmers are not entitled to be as trigger happy as we are perhaps led to believe but, for me, it's far safer to assume they are and I dont want my dogs shot so I take precautions.

Incidentally, I have 2 border collies, both of whom are scared of sheep but one might be stupid enough to give chase but would turn tail if it suddenly stopped and looked at him!

[Meta menardi]

There was a story in the local paper this week relating how an out of control terrier crossed a busy road, causing some vehicles to have to brake , closely followed by the owner, who luckily stopped this unrestrained dog from doing too much damage to the (heavily in lamb) ewes it was making for. It was OK because it was the farmers dog. I don't know what to make of this, apart from thinking that if it had happened to me I might not have written a joky column about it.

[Grimalkin]

Originally Posted by davecatt

NO
Its called aversion therapy and is very affective.

A sheep dog is, apart from being very intelligent, a very aggressive animal with a strong killer instinct. That and proper training is what makes them good for the job of controlling livestock. Its not a case of "steadying them to hand" as you would with a pet or a gun dog,its more a case of conditioning them for the job they are meant to do.

A dog that is steady when in company of its handler will be more likely to revert to its true nature when away from control and running wild among livestock than a properly trained sheep dog.

Chucking them in with a ram for a couple of minutes at an early stage of their training is a lot less cruel than torturing them with an electric collar.
Dave
P.S.
The comment about "wild life credentials" in relation to treatment of a working dog had me a bit confused too.

Only bullies use aversive and punitive methods to train dogs..totally unecessary

Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953

Livestock-
• Cattle (bulls, cows, oxen, heifers or calves)
• Sheep
• Goats
• Swine
• Horses (including asses and mules)
• Poultry (domestic fowls, turkey, geese or ducks)
Worrying livestock is defined as
• Attacking
• Chasing in any way that is likely to lead to injury or suffering
• Being at large (i.e. not on a lead or otherwise under close control) in a field or enclosure in which there are sheep.
If a dog worries livestock the owner of the dog or the person in charge of the dog is guilty of a summary offence, however criminal standard of proof is required i.e. beyond reasonable doubt.
A dog cannot be seized for worrying livestock other than for the purpose of ascertaining ownership if there is no one in charge of the dog at the time. The police may hold onto the dog until the dog has been claimed and the cost of holding the dog has been paid. A warrant may be obtained to search premises for the purpose of identification.

A farmer may shoot a dog if:
• The dog is worrying (see the definition above) or is about to worry the livestock and there are no other reasonable means of ending or preventing the worrying; or
• The dog has been worrying livestock, has not left the vicinity, and is not under the control of any person and there are no practical means of ascertaining to whom it belongs.
• However the farmer must be able to prove that shooting the dog was necessary to protect his livestock and the incident must be reported to the police within 48 hours.
The owner handler would be required to pay compensation for the loss of any livestock as a result of their dog’s actions.