Out for a walk

We all headed out to the carragh yesterday for a walk but our lil miss molly really DISLIKES sheep so we learned yesterday!

When we all got of the car she was making lots of noise because of the sheep so we walked to an area where there was none, walked around for a good bit then headed back to the car and got all a drink when molly was finished her drink she started to make noise again cos of the sheep so i put her in the car and was trying to get the boys to have a drink before we left! Me being stupid thought that she would stay in the back, mark called my name as i had the front door of the car open , molly jumped out and ran after the sheep with me trying to catch! GOD i have never seen her run as fast i was so afraid that she was going to hurt one of them or that she would get hurt! After running for ages and being out of breath i had to stop, i called her again in a panic and this time she finally turned around and came back to me!!

SO i don't think i will be visiting there again! My heart is still beating a hundred miles an hour as i think of what could have happened!!

Thats must of been Scary, my cavs once chased chickens,
and my first thought was they were going to hurt them,
or a farmer would shot them

Oh my goodness! That must have been very frightening. You know what... I'd take her back there, complete with strong lead & collar/harness and let her watch the sheep, and even if there are some that are brave enough to come up, let her meet them under control. This is all part of socialisation, to meet as many animals & situations as possible. Some may think "what's the point?". The point is to teach her that there are all manner of strange & wonderful creatures, but that she must admire them from a distance.

Whew, that must have been very scary.

It's very, very important to always have dogs on leads around sheep, even dogs you *think* are OK and have been OK in the past (I have seen Leo completely change in one afternoon from a non chaser to a chaser. ). Irish farmers are legally entitled to shoot any dog ON SIGHT if it is worrying sheep. Think this is also true in the UK.

Especially when you are out with more than one dog, dogs that normally have never pursued sheep (or deer etc) can change completely if a companion takes off after them.

In the Phoenix Park in Dublin, rangers can also shoot dogs on sight for harrying deer. If Leo catches scent even from a distance, he may go off in pursuit. :yikes This has made walks, especially during summer when they seem to be everywhere, far more difficult. I get him on a lead the instant I see deer even if they are very far away now. You do just feel sick with fear of the potential consequences as they take off after animals like that.

Yes, true in the UK too.