SHEEP: a golden labrador loses his lustre when he slips leash

SHEEP worrying by dogs has been a problem in this country for decades but it came as a shock to me recently to learn that 22,000 sheep died in one year alone as a result of such attacks in the UK.

The figures were the worst ever recorded at the time and marked a startling 20 per cent increase on the previous year's bloody tally.

The death of so many sheep must be a stark warning to those who feel it's fine to let dogs off leads in fields full of vulnerable, unprotected livestock, especially as new 'right to roam' laws open up yet more of the countryside to visitors.

From my own experience, I know that sheep worrying dogs come in many guises and even the most placid animals can turn into rabid beasts at the sight of a helpless flock, usually without a ram to protect it.

My golden labrador Duke, now long dead, was a devil for chasing sheep and his weakness in that direction ruined many days out - not to mention the peace of mind of some happily grazing sheep.

Not matter how much I yelled and threatened him, no matter how tightly I kept him on his lead near sheep, he would still be up and at 'em if he got a glimmer of a chance.

He was lucky not to be shot, especially as the farmer who owned some of the fields where he ran amok was known to have blasted quite a few dogs with his shotgun.

And who could blame him ? Sheep worrying costs the industry millions each year, besides the waste of so much effort needed to raise good stock. Only someone whose own pet has disgraced itself will appreciate the anger and panic I felt as I tried to catch Duke whenever he slipped his lead.

Scattering sheep to all corners of the field, he would tear after them barking furiously.

It happened on too many occasions.

Each time, I'd half-expect a shotgun blast to ring out, leaving my errant pet a twitching heap in the grass.

It never occurred but the very real possibility was enough to concentrate the mind.

To be fair to Duke, he was never a biter of sheep.

In fact, as soon as he managed to corner an individual animal, he would become instantly bewildered and back off.

Other dogs in the same situation would go for the throat.

I've covered enough sheep worrying stories over the years to see first hand the terrible carnage a really vicious dog can leave behind.

Even dogs like Duke cause damage as pregnant ewes are delicate creatures and can easily abort foetuses through shock.

Fortunately, not all farmers have horror stories to tell.

One, Michael Edwards, 68, who keeps between 1,000-1,500 sheep in open fields, told me:"I can honestly say it's only happened once to my sheep and that was about 20 years ago. I think I lost three ewes and nine lambs and we never found the dog that did it.

"It seems to me that people with dogs are generally quite responsible. I have public footpaths going through my fields and when ewes are out with lambs I do find people take proper care of their dogs which is good." Elsewhere, however, the picture is not so rosy.

A spokesman for NFU Mutual, which insures the vast majority of UK sheep farmers, revealed:"We have identified particular problems on the urban fringe where dogs are let out all day and form packs which roam the countryside terrorising sheep.

"Most attacks result in the death or injury of one or two sheep but there have been large losses. In one of the worst cases, 41 out of a flock of 45 in-lamb pedigree Texel ewes were killed by a bull mastiff and its puppy." Sounds appalling and few can complain if such dogs are put down.

But I wonder if a sheep aversion training scheme might be the answer for lesser villains, something I could have enrolled Duke on if it had been available.

I'm no expert but introducing dogs to sheep in a controlled environment might help - even if a bullying ram has to drive home the message.

What's the alternative ?

More carnage in the countryside.