Countryside hazards for the responsible dog owner

DOGS and deer are not always a great mix. While livestock, particularly sheep, are always going to be the most important animals that need to be protected from being pursued and potentially attacked, wild animals can also elicit the “chase” response in our pets, which means even apparently safe areas of countryside to let Fido off the lead can turn out to be risky.

Illegal deer coursing is a major problem in some areas, with dog owners deliberately setting lurchers and other sighthounds onto deer with the intention of bringing them down. It’s a police matter which, along with hare coursing is now getting a bit more of the attention it deserves.

But even pets being walked in the countryside can end up pursuing deer, with numbers – particularly roe deer here in the South West – growing hugely in recent years.

The risks to the deer might seem small, especially when the pursuing dog stands little chance of catching one of of the fastest mammals in the British countryside. But there are risks to the dogs which can get lost, injured or run into trouble in any number of ways.

One terrier I know is now kept on a lead in areas that potentially hold deer after going missing for hours in pursuit. He found his way home from several miles away, soaking wet and exhausted and is now firmly tethered when he’s out.

Preventing dogs from chasing is one of the first things that should be taught in any training regime and the “stop” command – verbally or delivered as a single sharp blast on a whistle – is definitely one to try to instil.

It is easier said than done, however, especially when the potential thrill of the chase beckons and dogs grow deaf to any commands. Nose open, ears closed, as the saying goes...