dogs and dog owners

There is nothing better than a good walk in the countryside through the lanes and along the rides, or over the moors or even through the woods. Each time of the year holds something different autumn colours and spring greens and even in this overcrowded little island there are still places where you can find peace and solitude, where you can relax and get away from everything, or at least that what’s you think?

The terrible threesome on their best behaviour

I am truly lucky in that I have access to many parts of the countryside that some do not and on most occasions that is for a good reason, sensitive wildlife locations or land use issues and don’t get me wrong im a great advocate for access to the countryside but I do understand the stance of many who are reticent especially when one comes across unruly visitors and their dogs.

I think there should be a licence for dogs or is that a licence for people with dogs. Some people really just don’t get that what they see as ‘Fido’ just enjoying himself or playing is actually their hunting instincts kicking in. Now I know, I have three of the most unruly dogs on the planet but where I differ from others is I know and can manage them (well most of the time anyway), its called a lead, but there are those out there that think there unseen activities are just ‘them having fun’ and nothing to worry about.

I was recently witness to the worst sort of this behaviour and the pure ignorance the effects that dogs can have or the dangers they can pose to other users.

It is incredible some peoples lack of understanding in such instances and it is one I witness to many times from sheep and stock worrying to plain old Fido going for a swim in a pond chasing the ducks. The disturbance to wildlife can be incredible and in such harsh times as these the unwarranted use of energy is critical. I saw this in stereo just the other week just before the freeze took effect.

I was walking my dogs around land we have access to for shooting, I was on the edge of a large rape field in some woodland. There is a tractor path along one field edge but it is not a public footpath and a dual carriageway along the other, so overlooking this wide expanse I was a little surprised to see two hares heading towards me a speed and then behind in the distance some excited barking. Over the rise not one but two spaniels came toward me quartering the ground flushing, chasing all and sunder partridges, pheasant, small birds everything. At first I thought I was seeing things and then I thought these are two young dogs escaped from a neighbouring shoot, but no, from along the track came two figures purposefully encouraging their dogs on. The dogs on doing what comes naturally just kept going and going toward the dual carriageway along the embankment they scattered rabbits, birds and more pheasants flying low over the carriage
way.

sheer ignorance

At this point it was looking decidedly dangerous and the dogs were nearly a km away and on the edge of the dual carriageway, their owners still blissfully wandering along the private track. My shooting colleague was on site that day and luckily situated closer to the deviant hounds from hell and somehow managed to rein them in. We both returned them to their owners with some choice words of advice but they just didn’t care and were oblivious as to what risk their dogs had been in or what they were doing. Their claim as usual was ’they were just having fun!!!

It is unbelievable ignorance and one that goes on all the time, had there been stock about then they may have been less fortunate, people really need to be more aware and responsible for their dogs actions.

How it should be done, dog on the left and under control.