How do I stop my dog chasing sheep?

According to the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953, it’s illegal for your dog to chase or worry sheep / livestock, even if he’s not actually attacking them.

If necessary a farmer can legally shoot your pet, safe in the knowledge that he is legally protected from prosecution.

As a responsible and loving owner desperate to prevent that scenario, you’ll need to decide which of the following methods best suits you and your dog before coming into the countryside :-

• Avoid walks in the countryside altogether.
• Always walk your dog on a lead and have him under full control.
• Have your dog trained not to chase, by someone with experience and knowledge on the subject. That said, I would always recommend your dog is under close control or a lead should you walk through a field of sheep.

I have my own flock of sheep to work with, courtesy of a farming friend, who rotates his stock on a regular basis.

I use "humane" methods when working with most breeds over the two hour session, and while I’m – and you - are successful on the day, you’ll need to persevere with what you have learnt in different areas, so that it becomes second nature to your dog.

I would like to stress that owning a dog who has previously chased sheep or livestock does not mean to say that he can't be re-educated using humane methods - quite the opposite. Of the dogs I work with who have chased, most have done so for the thrill of it and have never inflicted any physical harm.

Some owners contact me early on, wanting their puppy or young dog introduced and socialised with farming livestock. This has many benefits, not least the recognition of the command word "leave".

So from that moment you and I are going to introduce some new rules to your best friend and make him realise that some things are strictly off limits – for his sake !

On the day we'll meet up, discuss how your dog has been behaving then carry on from there. Before leaving, you will have walked him close to the flock of sheep without him chasing or even showing any interest. Quite the opposite. Those fluffy white creatures have never looked less appealing.

But as I said, your work is not completely over.

You will need to follow my simple advice to ensure that he behaves exactly as you want him to. Do that and the days of panic when a sheep or other livestock are spotted are over, making future walks a thing of enjoyment.