Sheep Worrying By Dogs
The context for sheep worrying by dogs is: sheep are prey animals; dogs’ natural instinct is to go after sheep. The arena for potential sheep worrying by dogs is: dogs out of control; sheep placed where dogs can see, and reach, them. Unless a dog is wild, or a stray, it is given care by a human and its actions and behaviour are in the governance of a human. A domesticated and farmed sheep is in human care, and its location is chosen by a human. So, responsibility for sheep worrying by dogs rests with humans.
Two surveys, one (released 7th February 2023) from NFU Mutual ‘of over 1,100 dog owners’ (the survey was commissioned by NFU Mutual, PetBuzz did the interviews) and another (2023) by the National Sheep Association (NSA) through which the NSA ‘has collected the experiences of farmers affected by sheep worrying’, portray the seriousness of the situation. The heading words of the NFU Mutual press release of 7th February which announced the findings of the NFU Mutual survey convey the essential issue, ‘Out-of-control dogs placing sheep at risk’. The press release says that ‘Almost half of dog owners believe their pet won’t harm livestock despite nearly two thirds saying their dog chases other animals’. It continues ‘Nearly four in ten dog owners admit their pet doesn’t always come back when called’. The NSA, saying the results of its 2023 survey, gives the finding that ‘In line with previous survey results, 70% of respondents had at least one sheep worrying incident in the last 12 months’. Among other findings were that ‘Despite farmers making steps to prevent sheep worrying, through signs, moving sheep and use of social media, it’s not having an impact’; and that ‘82% of survey respondents strongly agreed additional powers are necessary to act as a deterrent to irresponsible dog ownership’.
Sad, but important-to-be-read, are 17 case studies that the NSA provides; in these ‘farmers tell of their experiences of sheep worrying’ (https://www.nationalsheep.org.uk/for-the-public/culture/sheep-worrying/case-studies/).
In the matter of sheep worrying by dogs, humans taking responsibility seems to be the vital thing. Dogs belong to humans, and those humans need not to be in denial about what their dogs can and may or will do. The dogs need to be trained and kept under control. Sheep belong to humans, and those humans need to provide their sheep with the maximum protected environment.