In a bid to become more healthy and fitter I gave up smoking in Jan. One of my aims was to take my dogs up a mountain near me so I did just that, with a friend, yesterday. I'm pleased to say I achieved it and more   BUT  this is common ground and I had no idea there were sheep on it. Didn't even notice until my lot went haring off chasing them. I managed to get them back, terrified they would be shot by an irate farmer, and put them back onleads. Lots of grumbling but it had to be done. Later on (and further up!) we let them off again.............yep, more sheep round a corner. I haven't seen sheep on this place before and to be honest didn't see any signs saying dogs should be kept on a lead at all times, so in a way our walk was disappointing as I couldn't let them run free for far.

I am fully aware to keep my dogs on lkeads when Iam on fields but this was different.

What should I do in future? I like to think I am a responsible owner but this stumped me.

Keep dogs on leads - commoners have rights to graze certain numbers of certain types of animals on common land..... ie my dad can graze 2 goats, 4 sheep or 1 and a half cows.....

(quite how you get half a cow i do not know).

The same laws apply to worrying livestock on common land as they do on enclosed fields i am afraid.

Right at least i know now.

Thanks for that!

It's a shame isn't it - one of mine chases sheep, and my OH loves going to the Lakes, but it's no fun for me because Henry can never run free. :-(

Tis a shame! I will just have to be careful - that was the idea though, let them wear themselves out. As the paths are so rocky and narrow I won't be able to take all 3 on leads as it would be too dangerous. I could get pulled over. Might try a longer lead though and hope I don't get all tangled up!

What drives me mad are young lads on motorbikes rallying all over the place. Just as stressful for the sheep I should imagine.

I use a flexi-lead or a long line (should say short line as I stick to using a few feet only) to keep my dog and livestock safe.

Basically if the grass is short it's because its grazed - that means grazing animals could be anywhere. Therefore dogs on leads.

Its a shame the farmers do not put up signs letting dog walkers know that sheep are grazing.
We walk our dogs on a lovely hill that is open to the public, and the farmers that use it for grazing put bright orange posters up on trees, stumps and styles when they have their sheep in there.
I only have one out of my three dogs that chase livestock, the other two are just not bothered with them! :D

The worst I've encountered is walking through forest and finding escapee sheep wandering through the trees.  Obviously inadequate fencing and a farmer never checking his livestock because I left going back on one walk through this, only to find 6 weeks later - 2 sheep still roaming the forest!

Luckily mine doesnt chase big things! only birds. But we went for a walk near weymouth to a place called moonfleet and were following a public footpath to the inlet and there were 4 racehorses grazing. They were horrible, they kept blocking our way on the footpath and generally being antzy. Luckily I kept Rory on a lead because I was afraid that they would kick out at us. A few people were ahead of us and had obviously encountered them before because one of the children was afraid of going throught the gate onto the footpath. I suppose that they are allowed to graze there, but they seem a bit "oversensitive" for a public area. My husband has worked with racehorses and didnt think this was a suitable place for them.

This annoys me too Christine, I always keep my dogs on the lead if I think there may be sheep on moors, fields etc, but when we walk through the forest or woods and a few just appear out of nowhere it bugs me. I don't know if my dogs would chase sheep as they never have the opportunity but I'm fairly certain that if it runs they will give chase and its then a panic to get them back on leads before they spot the sheep or the sheep spot them and take off!

Recently a friend was walking her labs and had just put them back on the lead as they thought there might be sheep,  turned the next corner to see a huge boar in the middle of the path :D

Good grief!

I respect the rights of farmers etc but the orange poster idea is a good one. My dogs, although they did chase, didn't actually "go" for the sheep but it was enough to panic me. One of my cross labs was herding one sheep. No idea where she thought she was going with it! The JR went out of sight but came back after lots of screaming (yes I know, shouldn't have screanmed) but we checked and there was no wool or blood round his muzzle. Think they thought the sheep were extra large dogs.

Oddly enough they are very good with horses, just curious whenever we have come across any. and yes, they were on a lead!

Thought fresh air and exercise was supposed to be relaxing!:rolleyes:

Most of the places near me have sheep or cows in the fields or are open moor so free range sheep..right now it is still calves lambs and nesting season  so dogs must be on leads and stick to footpaths..as far as I am concerened although other people think differently!    Some farmers will put up notices. One made a very helpful one to say to put dogs on leads because of cows carrying calves but if the cows attack your dog you must let it off the lead so it can escape from them.  cows frequently ignore you unless you have a dog then they can get a bit mean!  Down my road the cows ger really grumpy at times and block the path and you cant get out of the field!   Even though so far I can call mine off sheep and they do not chase them but I still put them on a lead . This time of year most moors ask dogs to be on leads because of nesting even if there are no sheep.

The countryside is very stressful place...it is far more relaxing  in the city! The farmers in the city are very relaxed about their cows and our dogs and it just seems to work because the farmer says we are safter with the dogs off lead. Even the city deer I can call my dogs back from but in the country I dare not take this risk because there they like dogs to use leads. So I don't need a leads for the city cows just the cows out in the country! 

"...it is far more relaxing  in the city"

Have to agree, in the City's we have recreational green spaces provided.  In the country the green spaces are peoples places of work and animal habitats.

I agree Brainless, I can walk my dogs in London without any worries about them getting shot, falling off cliffs, or even just covered in ticks like they do in the countryside!

What's a Tick

Those things that town hedgehogs are covered in! ;) :D