my dog just got into a sheep field and chased them all around. I didn't realise there was a sheep field there. she must of smelled them through the woods and ran off. i dont know how she got through the fence but by the time i got there she was chasing them all around. i want to tell the farmer so that he can check his fence but i dont want to get into trouble. her insurance doesnt cover her for worrying livestock. but i feel horribly guilty. if he sued me how would i pay? i dont think she did any physical damage but should i own up anyway??

I'd own up BUT I'd play it down......just say "My Dog got through the fence and I thought I'd warn you because not all dogs are as well trained and obedient as mine and may worry the sheep."

At least you are making it up to the sheep by preventing any further damage.

It isn't the farmers responsibility to dog proof his field (it would be impracticable and prohibitevely expensive), it is the dog owners responsibility to not allow their dog in a field with livestock.  the field will be private property anyway.  If you said this to a farmer I think you would make them very cross.  I would play it down, as in saying dog wanted to get into the sheep, and hopefully they may be inclined to help stock proof the dog, but they are not obliged to do anything, and are at liberty to shoot the dog should it be found chasing sheep.

You were extremely lucky that he wasn't there as many dogs are shot for just being in a field of sheep, especially at theis time of year when they will be in Lamb or with babies.

I would go and see the farmer and ask if he woudl be willing to hae yoru dog sheep proofed.  I personally wouldn't admit she had got in with them, just that she was overly interested and you want to make sure she knows they are a no no.  A ewe that has lambs or a Ram is used to put the fear of god into the sog in hopes of putting tyhem off sheep.,

Alternatively take the dog on a line near the sheep field and make it clear that it must leave, but you will never be able to trust her near them if she has already discovered the fun of chasing them, and shoudl avoid her being anywhere near them.  The proofing is to avoid any accidental contact.

there may not have been anything wrong with the fence,big dogs could go over & little dogs under. anyway the fence is too keep the sheep in not dogs out!
personally id not say anything,& keep my dog away from that area in future & under control if you are walking near livestock in the future. id take this scary situation as a warning,next time your dog could get shot.
i dont see anything can now be achieved by owning up,unless there is a very obvious gap in the fence thatcould be mended

It would be of use if you live adjoining to stock to try and get them used to them to the extent of loosing interest.  Many dogs in the country cannot enjoy free running unless very obedient because of stock which famers have every right to protect, as uncontrolled dogs do untold harm and cause financial loss to the famer, so he isn' going to be very sympathetic.

Is there any theory in the method of putting the dog in with a ram for a few minutes?

im fortunate never to have had any chasing problem with any of my dogs,but i did know a lady who had a partically stroppy ewe that some dogs came to meet!
she used to just have the ewe wondering loose around her yard & would talk to the owner casually & the dog was casually let off,if the dog went up to the ewe she would turn around & stamp her  foot & the dog ran back to mother

It does work I trained my first BC on Jacobs & the shepherd had a very stroppy ewe(with or without lambs)that he cured a number of dogs with that had tendencies to chase sheep, My second BC I trained with Herdwicks another very tough breed)& the old shepherd had a ram that was also used to put dogs off sheep chasing. It has to be done with care & an experienced shepherd needs to be on hand.

I've also seen sheep chasing dogs trained using the round pen often used for sheep dog training & the dog on a line.

Never had the misfortune to have a sheep chasing dog but once a dog has chased sheep it needs either keeping on lead anywhere there could be sheep or trained to ignore them & not to chase

It's supposed to scare the bejasus out of the dog - classic aversion therapy!

I phrased it wrong - I meant is there any success in the theory.... :)

Yes definately success in that theory.  The only dog I ever had that wanted sheep was Connie an ESS. We let her into a  field with 5 sheep and a ram (with permission), she went to the sheep and the ram chased her for nearly 3/4 of a mile, it was touch and go whether he would catch her, Connie escaped through the fence and never, ever barked at sheep again, in fact when walking alongside me pass a field with  sheep, she would make sure she I was between her and the sheep. This may not work for everydog though.

My freinds Elkhounds live are next door to sheep everyday when at her Dads nursery.  they aren't interested in the shep as such but in their droppings.  Brodie manged to squeeze trhough to strands of wire and was happily munching away when teh sheep spotted him and chased him.  Of course he was running back and forth along the fence line trying to find his way back.  He was a pup at the time.

Her other male also wandered into a field with her when sheep appeared and chased him!!!  So neither dog will willingly go too near sheep.  The sight of a dog trying to get out through a hedge with a ram butting his rear is quite funny.

I had a rescue dog that was a terror for chasing sheep (he learned the joys before we had him ;) )  so when spring came round I took him up the farm, he thought his luck was in when a ewe with large lamb came into view (he was on a long line, just in case) he lunged, the sheep stamped and he ignored her, went straight in after the lamb, but the old ewe was wise and bowled him over, he wasn't put off tho and was bowled twice more (he was ready to fight by now and growling) before I said to the farmer, I don't think this is working, he just laughed and said we'll see.  A week later I was walking the dog on the lead and about five sheep came round the corner of one of the houses, not close, but the dog tried to get in my pocket :D :D he wouldn't even look at them.  So yes I'd say it does work, he never looked at another sheep again in his very long life.

I would be furious if your dog got into our flock and chased them round at this time of the year.

A lot of them will be heavy in lamb and it could cause them to abort.

You were very very lucky that the farmer did not see your dog in the act as he would be well within his rights to have shot her.

You have a responsibility to keep your dog under control in the countryside and the farmer does not have any responsibility for keeping dogs out of his fields.

Until you can be absolutely sure that your dog will not do this again, you must ensure that she is on a lead if there is any possibility of going anywhere near a field full of sheep.  Once a dog has got the fun of chasing livestock she is very likely to do it again.

As to telling the farmer, my conscience would say yes, but I would make enquiries locally as to who they belonged to first, some people are more approachable than others.

Just put yourself into the farmers position, tomorrow or the next day, he could arrive to check his sheep and find them aborting all over the place, at least if he knew it was a dog attack, he would know what caused it, otherwise he could have to have very costly tests done in case of an infection in his ewes.

thank you all for your replies. my conscience got to me minutes after posting and i went straight over to the farm and admitted/apologised for what happened. i honestly didnt know there were sheep there and like lady dazzle said i would have been absolutely furious had it been the other way round. he said he will check the flock but none of them were in lamb fortunately. he said if there are any problems then he will obviously have to get back to me. i suggested putting a sign up at the car park and at the edge of the woods bordering his fields so that other dog walkers know, especially as lambing season is so close and there are other fields with ewes in lamb close by. i was absolutely mortified and i will NEVER go back there again, unless she is on a lead and even then i will stay well clear. my mothers boss owns a flock of sheep so i may try the dog proofing suggestions if he is willing. i will still never let her off near sheep as a precaution but at least if i can sheep proof her such an accident may never again happen. thank you again. i was worried of all the criticism that may be unloaded on me but everyone was very sensible. and lady dazzle i promise to make sure that this never happens again

I'm glad things worked out ok for you.
One of the lasitng memories of my childhood was of my friends welsh springer being delivered back to her by a farmer...dead! He had shot it for worrying his sheep and then delivered her back to the address on her collar ...
Archer

Really interested to read the posts about stock-proofing - had never heard of it before.

Our country park walk is a man-made affair and generally great for dog walkers, but could be misleading for people that don't know the area too well. There's a lovely path that goes up through the woods - it's lined with dog bins etc and you'd assume it was a very safe place to let  dogs run free, but at the top of the hill is a stile and 5 bar gate onto the open fields with sheep, cows etc at different times of year - it pops up out of nowhere. I often wonder if any dogs have got through the gate there - a little one could easily squeeze through and unfortunately you still get stupid people leaving the stile gate open. Perhaps it might be helpful if the park people displayed a notice that the area does have access to open fields and livestock - not everyone will think to put their dog on a lead when they come to a corner, (unless you have two loonies who are still prone to bouncing on anyone whose coat looks too clean from time to time, as I have) but they might if they thought they could get into the field.

Shivered at your post Archer. What a horrible memory. Scares the life out of me what could happen if my two ever ran off :(

Well done to you Smokey.

I can imagine that it took a lot of courage to go and admit what had happened, and I admire you for being brave enought to do it.  But I bet you feel better that you did, you now know that they weren't in lamb and your conscience is clear.

I am sure your mothers boss will let you try some of the sheep proofing methods that have been suggested, the best one in my opinion is a ewe with a relatively new born lamb in a small pen.  Their maternal instincts are tremendously strong and they will defend there lamb from anything.  We use this method if we have an orphan lamb we are trying to put on another ewe.  The dog is put into the pen and the maternal instinct to defend takes over so much that it is 99% that she will take the lamb as her own.

Don't beat yourself up about it, we all make mistakes and have accidents sometimes, but good comes out of it, if we learn by our mistakes!!! :-D