[pigalicious]

my neighbours dog was in with my in-lamb ewes  this morning. when I spoke to my neighbour he just denied it was his dog and seemed indifferent to the fact it was worrying my livestock! what are the rules regarding trapping the dog? as I don't wish to shoot it, just prove to my neighbour its his dog.

P

[Marches Farmer]

If a stray dog is on your land (i.e. not under the direct control of a responsible owner) I think it would be reasonable to contain it in order to prevent sheep worrying.  Or you could take a photograph?

[moony]

Video it and report it.

[undergruntled]

Tell him you can legally shoot his dog.  That might make him take a bit more notice, even if you have no plans to do so.

[pigalicious]

I would take a picture but think he would still deny ownership of the dog. I was thinking if I trapped it I could take it to the dog pound, I would inform him I caught a dog in my field and had taken it there. He would then need to collect it' thus proving ownership. I think he would receive a lecture from the dog warden about the worrying of livestock and the relevant law. Maybe then he would take proper care and keep it out of my land!

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[kanisha]

Have notified the dog warden of more than one stray dog caught too close to the sheep. Not necessarily worrying them but worrying me. The cost of retrieving the dog from the pound often helps persuade owners to keep their dogs under better control.

Ps I knew who owned the dog but they ignored polite requests to keep their dog under control.

[SallyintNorth]

Just to remind folks that one is only allowed to shoot a dog which is actively worrying livestock and which cannot be diverted or restrained.  So if you can shoo it away, or call it to you, or catch it, or get its owner to call if off quickly, then that's the thing to do.