Irresponsible dog owners

Irresponsible dog owners an issue on the mountains as well. Access definitely in jeopaordy for recreational walkers.

Recent case:

No Dogs policy on specific range (that's much clearer than must be on leash, which would be ignored anyway) becuase there are thousands of sheep up there.
Dog owner/s arrive and let dogs off leash. Dogs cross a timber footbridge and chase sheep.
Dog owner/s confronted about the issue.
Dog owner/s persist.
One of sheep farmers takes chainsaw to bridge so that sorts the 'issue' in that particular location.
Other famers agree somethung had to be done.
Another farmer that provides parking, showers, refreshments for recreational users will probably suffer.
Recreational users can't complete a certain looped walk as no way to cross river.
Okay, the bridge wasn't alway there but the average walker would have second thoughts about crossing it, particularly in Winter.

If dog owners let their dogs do this. What are their kids like?
 
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GSheehy said:
Irresponsible dog owners an issue on the mountains as well. Access definitely in jeopaordy for recreational walkers.

Recent case:

No Dogs policy on specific range (that's much clearer than must be on leash, which would be ignored anyway) becuase there are thousands of sheep up there.
Dog owner/s arrive and let dogs off leash. Dogs cross a timber footbridge and chase sheep.
Dog owner/s confronted about the issue.
Dog owner/s persist.
One of sheep farmers takes chainsaw to bridge so that sorts the 'issue' in that particular location.
Other famers agree somethung had to be done.
Another farmer that provides parking, showers, refreshments for recreational users will probably suffer.
Recreational users can't complete a certain looped walk as no way to cross river.
Okay, the bridge wasn't alway there but the average walker would have second thoughts about crossing it, particularly in Winter.

If dog owners let their dogs do this. What are their kids like?
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Any farmer who finds a dog "worrying" his sheep is perfectly entitled to shoot said dog. Maybe a sign saying that it is private land with sheep grazing and so uncontrolled dogs will be shot would help to encourage better behaviour by the dog owners.
 
GSheehy said:
Irresponsible dog owners an issue on the mountains as well. Access definitely in jeopaordy for recreational walkers.
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Zig Zags in Wicklow still closed after the attack on the landowner who approached two dog owners about similar behaviour.
 
Purple said:
Maybe a sign saying that it is private land with sheep grazing and so uncontrolled dogs will be shot would help to encourage better behaviour by the dog owners.
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On this range, the signs are there, particularly the most used access points. But, the signs are ignored or dog owners choose a lesser know spot (still knowing it's not allowed) and plead ignorance. These people are intent of messing it up for all mountain users.

At one location there a 4 No Dogs signs at the car park and a further one on a gate futher up which warns of the shooting. But, the dog owning idiots still walk by.

Leo said:
Zig Zags in Wicklow still closed after the attack on the landowner who approached two dog owners about similar behaviour.
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This entire red shaded area of Maumturks is also a recent no access addition to the list. Partly to do with dog owners.
 
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GSheehy said:
At one location there a 4 No Dogs signs at the car park and a further one on a gate futher up which warns of the shooting. But, the dog owning idiots still walk by.
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Yeah, the signs have no effect on those who feel it is their entitlement to do what they want where they want.
 
Leo said:
Yeah, the signs have no effect on those who feel it is their entitlement to do what they want where they want
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Without being confrontational, the best thing that a person can say to these clowns if you meet them is 'That's a strange looking guide dog', and just walk on.

They then proceed to post images of the dog on the mountain on BookFace which prompts the rest of the idiot dog owners to say 'Well, if he /she is up there with the dog (on or off leash) then it must be allowed."
 
I have tidied up the mess in the past after dogs got into sheep. I recall my late father getting his shotgun out more then once.
Purple said:
I'd say shooting a few of the dogs would.


That might have an effect.
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had to do that in the past with my father, pre micro chip and online postings but having tidied up the mess they made of a flock of sheep we showed no mercy. It's not just the sheep that are physically attacked, if they are pregnant and just chased, a sheep can and will have a spontaneous miscarraige to help protect themselves.
 
Purple said:
I'd say shooting a few of the dogs would.
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Unless the dogs have caused harm, there's no reason to kill them.

If dogs have done harm, or if they're off-lead where they shouldn't be, then deny the owners the right to hold a dog licence in the future. I don't understand why the dogs should pay the penalty.

Similarly, if dogs are shot without evidence of doing harm, in other words for no valid reason, deny the gun licence holder a renewal.

Dog owner (licenced) and former firearms certificate holder.
 
In 1984 the Department of Agriculture had an ad about preventing sheep attacks. Remember the dog called Bonzo? It was an issue back then and it's still an issue today. All appeals to dog owners have fallen on deaf ears as one generation of irresponsible dog owners pass on their irresponsible behaviour to the next - monkey see monkey do.

A total ban on (non working) dogs on open mountain (with severe fines) is a clear message with no ambiguity about leash or no leash. Yes, I understand that responsible dog owners don't understand this but there are probably 40,000/50,000 recreational walkers that use the open mountain to stay fit, healthy and happy. Unless the responsible owners accept that dog owners can be totally irresponsible owners then the knock-on effect for mountain recreational activity will be woeful. I've spent a lot of time on the mountains over the last 12 years and the problem is just getting worse.

No measure has worked to date. The protocols (for the farmer) to shoot a dog worrying sheep are onerous so you can undestand why taking a chainsaw to the bridge might be their 'best' option. But that just means that the 6% have messed it up for 94%.
 
mathepac said:
Unless the dogs have caused harm, there's no reason to kill them.
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A dog off the lead in proximity to animals is doing harm. I've family who farm sheep and they'll tell you stories of neighbours dogs who had to be put down as they learned chasing sheep was fun and kept coming back despite their owners attempts to keep them fenced in.
 
Leo said:
A dog off the lead in proximity to animals is doing harm.
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Rubbish. A well-trained dog in the control of a responsible owner is not harming anyone or anything. Go back to the thread title - it's all about "Irresponsible dog owners", so why kill the dogs? Fine the owners severely, jail them if necessary, and ensure they cannot keep dogs again, but the fault does not lie with the dogs. This is the equivalent of dismantling the car of an intoxicated driver, but letting the driver off scot-free.
 
A dog off the lead is not under full control of its owner, therefore it is a threat.
 
mathepac said:
Rubbish. A well-trained dog in the control of a responsible owner is not harming anyone or anything.
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If you can prove that all sheep share that opinion then we're good, until then, they continue to pose a risk of causing stress.

Also, tell that to the XL Bully owner who was mauled by her own dog recently.

mathepac said:
This is the equivalent of dismantling the car of an intoxicated driver, but letting the driver off scot-free.
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Only if you believe it is possible to completely transplant a dog's personality and learned behaviours on moving them to a new owner. There are plenty of studies that show dogs who have bitten a human once are far more likely to resort to that response again in response to fear. They're clever animals who learn quickly how effective it is at making the human retreat. Similarly with chasing animals, it triggers a huge instinctive emotional high that they will be determined to repeat.

I'm not saying don't punish the humans, but don't underestimate the increased risks the animal poses.
 
Leo said:
If you can prove that all sheep share that opinion then we're good, until then, they continue to pose a risk of causing stress.

Also, tell that to the XL Bully owner who was mauled by her own dog recently.
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I don't make a point of interviewing sheep for their opinions, nor have I spoken to that unfortunate woman.
 
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