- Location
- Cornwall , UK
Just wondering , do any members feel confident enough to have their dogs off lead around livestock ? I personally dont 
Sheep and other livestock
- Thread starter kateincornwall
- Start date
- Location
- Andorra and Spain
I'm confident enough but I still wouldn't risk it. We have occasionally been surprised by cattle, goats, and sheep (and the random chickens the other evening!) and the dogs don't cause any bother, but I think it's fairer all round to pop them on lead when we pass. I think it also means if there is a situation where a dog has been worrying livestock, the farmer will be confident that it's nothing to do with your dogs as they're always leashed.
- Location
- Andorra and Spain
The exception is Ginny. I don't leash her because, well... Ginny 
No never, if it was my farm and my livestock it would be different, but no my dogs aren't used to them.
- Location
- East Sussex
I wouldn't with sheep but I do occasionally walk through fields with cattle (on public footpaths) and have Molly off lead but at heel, which I think is safer than on lead.
- Location
- Close to Devon/Somerset border
I am virtually sure Molly would'nt chase cattle or sheep, she has been around them since a little pup BUT, we would never take the chance. Also, our local farmers know us, know we would never risk taking any dog through a field of livestock off lead, so they trust us.
That is priceless.
That is priceless.
- Location
- Cornwall , UK
We have happened upon horses and their riders a few times whilst on walks , no problem with either although I do slip leads on just in case . They see cattle over the river at Golitha quite often and dont react ( so far ) but I do distract them both as we pass by as often the cattle are actually in the river so very close . Sheep , a major no , farmers round here are very trigger happy , not that I blame them as its their livelihood , but I`d rather not risk it, so leads go on or we avoid the sheep areas completely x
- Location
- Herefordshire, UK
Cass is pretty good round livestock, being much more interested it what is likely to be in the hedgerow, but I've done minimal training with her regarding sheep, some, but not enough to be 100% confident. Therefore just not worth the risk so on goes the lead.
We regularly walk through my neighbours cattle, with Cass off lead. Neither party is interested in the other and it's quite normal for them. But I avoid fields of unknown cows, I just think it's safer that way.
We regularly walk through my neighbours cattle, with Cass off lead. Neither party is interested in the other and it's quite normal for them. But I avoid fields of unknown cows, I just think it's safer that way.
- Location
- Malvern Worcestershire
I don't think you can ever trust a dog with sheep, they suddenly swish their legs and off, inciting a chase. Rourke has been trained not to chase sheep and one popped up right in front of us out of a ditch, she was in the wrong field, kept jumping out! He didn't chase her, but I would always keep him on the lead if we walked through sheep.
I never trust cows, particularly bullocks in windy weather; and am always ready to let Kipper off lead if necessary (dogs have a better chance outrunning cows in those situations).
I’d always lead up if close to livestock just to be fair to the dog, the farmer and to maintain the precedent - it’s too easy for people to think it’s fine when it’s not, and I’d have every sympathy with farmers who feel they have to take action.
I’d always lead up if close to livestock just to be fair to the dog, the farmer and to maintain the precedent - it’s too easy for people to think it’s fine when it’s not, and I’d have every sympathy with farmers who feel they have to take action.
Emily_Babbelhund
Mama Red HOT Pepper
- Location
- Regensburg, Germany
Nope, don't let Carbon off lead with livestock. Just my own paranoia, he could care less about cows, sheep and horses.
Carbon has gotten very up close and personal to cows - nose to nose - but on the other side of a fence. Cows freak me out too much to be around them without a fence between us. The few times we've gotten cut off by cows on the Coastal Trail in Cornwall have been a mess and seen us either wait or walk out of our way for what seems like hours (and was probably more like 30 minutes).
We met a horse face to face on a narrow trail today. Carbon was off lead, so I told him to wait, clipped on his lead and then had him sit and wait until the horse and rider passed by. I was really proud of him!
Carbon has gotten very up close and personal to cows - nose to nose - but on the other side of a fence. Cows freak me out too much to be around them without a fence between us. The few times we've gotten cut off by cows on the Coastal Trail in Cornwall have been a mess and seen us either wait or walk out of our way for what seems like hours (and was probably more like 30 minutes).
We met a horse face to face on a narrow trail today. Carbon was off lead, so I told him to wait, clipped on his lead and then had him sit and wait until the horse and rider passed by. I was really proud of him!
- Location
- Fife, Scotland
We’ve been chased out a field by cows before
They terrify me. I could happily walk through a field of sheep (dogs always on the lead around livestock!)
They terrify me. I could happily walk through a field of sheep (dogs always on the lead around livestock!)
Jacqui-S
Moderator
- Location
- Fife, Scotland
Nope for me.
Only if there is a fence in between us, in which case Lilly would be fine, interested but calm.
Personally I wouldn't choose to go in the same field as any farm animals.
Only if there is a fence in between us, in which case Lilly would be fine, interested but calm.
Personally I wouldn't choose to go in the same field as any farm animals.
Naya
Moderator
- Location
- Bristol, UK
We have come across horses and Harley sniffs them, then carries on. If I see them I do pop her on lead, but one local walk can have wild horses that can be in the field, by the river or in the wooded area. They had foals last year but I didn’t realise until one came out of the hedges with its mum. They both walked towards Harley who just stayed still until they passed her.
We have come across sheep on the moors and she’s stared at them then comes to me. If I see any I do pop her on lead to be on the safe side, but you can’t do much if they just appear. She has seen cows but only from the other side of a fence. She ran to me the minute one looked at her
We have come across sheep on the moors and she’s stared at them then comes to me. If I see any I do pop her on lead to be on the safe side, but you can’t do much if they just appear. She has seen cows but only from the other side of a fence. She ran to me the minute one looked at her
Candy
Biscuit Tin Guardian
- Location
- West Yorkshire, UK
Recently Joy went into a field with sheep off lead. It was along a local path and the field had never had sheep in it when I'd walked along previously. Tess was with us and needed help with a stile so I failed to see Joy going in with the sheep. As soon as I noticed I called her back and she came to me immediately. If anyone had been watching they would quite possibly have thought 'Fantastic recall!' However knowing my girl like I do and reading her body language I have to admit that I believe she was scared of the sheep, which were quite a bit bigger than her, and she came back very willingly and with quite a sense of relief! 
I always have my dogs on lead if I'm aware that there are livestock around. Couldn't bear anything to happen that might be my fault.
I always have my dogs on lead if I'm aware that there are livestock around. Couldn't bear anything to happen that might be my fault.
The answer to this is yes and no. Can I walk my dogs through fields of sheep off lead to heel then yes. We are surrounded by sheep here and at our previous house and they have always been a background noise and the dogs have never shown any interest in them at all. There is a single strand of electric fence on the other side of the spindly hedge in the paddock just across from the house and there has never been any problem with our dogs or the neighbours bothering the sheep.
I have been on a shoot where they were shooting and picking up with sheep in the field without any bother. Recently I have also been in a training session run in a field where there were at least 50 sheep and while we were careful, pushing the sheep gently out of the area we wanted to train in, none of the dogs seemed to even notice the sheep.
Do I trust my my dogs if I’m not there with them. No, not for one minute!
I have been on a shoot where they were shooting and picking up with sheep in the field without any bother. Recently I have also been in a training session run in a field where there were at least 50 sheep and while we were careful, pushing the sheep gently out of the area we wanted to train in, none of the dogs seemed to even notice the sheep.
Do I trust my my dogs if I’m not there with them. No, not for one minute!
Yes, I do the same. Out of the summer season there were usually sheep, and sometimes cattle, in the field where our chalet is in Scotland. The farmer expected dogs to be kept on leads, even during the summer when the stock is moved to adjacent fields.
- Location
- Vlaardingen, the Netherlands
Finn is a chaser. Whether it is a bird, a cat or other he goes after it...In the woods he is always on lead, it is obligatory. We already have encountered wild boars, deer and squirrels. Also a herd of sheep several times. He barks to them as his life depends on it. They move on and so do we. Horse riders we let them pass, Finn attached to heel. one time he barks, other time he is silent and watch...
