Lambing Season and Responsible Dog Walking: Essential Advice for Every Owner

As lambing season begins, the countryside fills with the sight, scent, and sound of vulnerable newborn animals. These young lambs are inquisitive, unsteady, and highly susceptible to harm, making it crucial for dog owners to take extra precautions. Whether you walk in rural areas regularly or just enjoy the occasional countryside stroll, now is the time to review your responsibilities and take proactive steps to prevent distress, injury, or tragedy.

1. Choose Livestock-Free Walks Whenever Possible

If you can walk your dog in an area where you are absolutely certain there are no livestock, do so. Prevention is always better than reaction.

2. Avoid Grazing Areas, Even If Your Dog Is On a Lead

Whether your dog is on- or off-lead, if there’s a route that allows you to avoid passing through or alongside grazing sheep and lambs, take it. Minimising exposure is the simplest way to prevent stress for livestock and risk for your dog.

3. Refresh Your Dog’s Livestock Training

If your dog has previously undergone livestock avoidance training, now is the perfect time for a reminder session. No matter how well trained, a short refresher session can reinforce safe behaviours and prevent lapses.

4. Always Use a Lead When Walking Through Livestock—No Exceptions

Regardless of whether your dog has been trained to avoid sheep, responsible ownership means keeping them on a lead whenever passing through livestock. Doing so sets the standard for other dog owners and demonstrates respect for the countryside. Whilst it isn’t a legal duty, consider it a belt and braces approach – on lead AND under close control.

5. Training and Restraining Together Are the Best Defence

If your dog has never been professionally trained to avoid approaching sheep, now is the time to invest in proper training. Simply restraining an untrained, determined dog with a lead is not enough—they must be taught to actively avoid livestock. Trained + Restrained = best practice.

6. Assume Your Dog Will Chase Sheep

It doesn’t matter how obedient your dog is in other settings—when faced with young, fast-moving lambs, their instincts may well take over. Do not wait until it happens to believe it. Take responsible, preventive action now.

7. Lead by Example

This cannot be repeated enough: whether your dog has been livestock-trained or not, always use a lead when passing through grazing areas. Your actions influence others—be a responsible role model and help to raise the bar.

8. Your Dog Can Detect Sheep Long Before You Can

Dogs can smell sheep and lambs from over half a mile away—long before you realise they are nearby. Given the chance, many dogs will react on instinct, ignoring even the most well-rehearsed recall. Don’t take the risk.

9. Avoid a Preventable Tragedy

No one wants to be in the horrifying position of watching their dog chase, attack, or kill sheep or lambs—yet every year, it happens thousands of times. This can lead to devastating consequences, including awful suffering for lambs and sheep, and the legal right for farmers to protect their animals, sometimes at the cost of a dog’s life.

10. Take Action Now—It Will Save Lives

This guidance comes from years of experience dealing with livestock incidents. Acting on it today could save countless animals—including your own dog.

Final Thought

Lambing season is a critical time for farmers and dog owners alike. By following these essential steps, you are not only protecting defenceless newborn animals, but also ensuring your dog’s safety and upholding responsible countryside walking.

For expert livestock training and refresher courses, contact Take the Lead today—because good dog ownership doesn’t just happen, it’s trained.