Law change coming in on 18th March

All pet owners should be aware.

On the 18th March a change to the law on livestock worrying comes in.  Before if your dog worried sheep the maximum penalty was low, something like £1000.  Now there comes an unlimited fine.
It's also going to be taken much more seriously.  Your dog could be seized also.  Farmers always had the right to shoot dogs.  You could also have a prison sentence, so this is the time to train your dog. 

Insurance will not cover you now on third party for this if it happens.  Most insurance companies are pulling out from the cover. So check your cover and if it's still applicable. 

What does this mean for you?  IN a nutshell TRAIN TRAIN TRAIN.  If you own a breed of dog which is hunting, herding, or even the bull breeds can be known for charge at livestock and shoulder barge.   You need to keep your dogs on leads in and around livestock for safety.  But also Train your dog.  Those thinking of buying puppies you are at a good point as you can start now. 

What we do not realise when we buy dogs is their heritage means it's in their make up.  An English bulldog and mastiff will shoulder barge going back to why it was created, to charge at live stock and barge them and grab.  Until the butchers could get out of the shop to catch their escaped stock.  Then a split in the breed with English bulldogs and French bulldogs as the smaller toy bulldogs were not strong enough for the job. But they still think they are in their heads.  So fascinating the history of breeds and how they were created. I could write all day.  I will put something together at some point into our academy on some breeds of dogs and how they were developed.  This maybe helpful to everyone. 

We understand why this law needed to be changed because it's dreadful for farmers loosing a flock of sheep and vet bills associated and income lost.  We are with the farmers how terrible this is.  But we also understand dogs instincts.  So it's down to us to have the best dogs our dogs can be.   This only happens with commitment from us the dogs owners.