Dog walking on therfield heath
Dogs are very common on Therfield heath. Owners must by law pick up after their dogs and dispose in bins provided.
Please keep your dog on a lead if you are unable to control by commands. If another dog owner asks you to pull your dog away – it is considered respectful to do so. Some dogs are nervous of other people and other dogs, please be respectful.
Please always pick up after your dog, and take your bags home with you or find an appropriate bin. Dog poo and discarded bags spoil our heath for everyone.
There is a Facebook page for dog owners in Royston - www.facebook.com/groups/roystondogwalkers
Please keep your dog on a lead if you are unable to control by commands. If another dog owner asks you to pull your dog away – it is considered respectful to do so. Some dogs are nervous of other people and other dogs, please be respectful.
Please always pick up after your dog, and take your bags home with you or find an appropriate bin. Dog poo and discarded bags spoil our heath for everyone.
There is a Facebook page for dog owners in Royston - www.facebook.com/groups/roystondogwalkers
If you would like help in ensuring your dog is a 'good citizen' on the heath, why not contact one of these local organisations...
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Suppawt offers 1-2-1 behaviour and training consults and regular training classes near Royston.
Realistic Training for Normal People and Normal Dogs. Specialising in the Training and Behaviour of Rescue and Reactive Dogs. Lily Mickleburgh (BSc Hons Animal Behaviour) from Suppawt understands the importance of building a fun, communicative and trusting relationship with your dog. Using positive reinforcement allows our dogs to learn which behaviours gain rewards and increases the frequency of these appropriate behaviours. |
Dogs and sheep on the heath
Grazing sheep on the heath is an incredibly important part of maintaining the health of the SSSI land. Without the grazing of sheep the grass stagnates, and some of the incredibly important plant species we have on the heath suffer. Whilst technically the grass can be cut mechanically, this is expensive, and has a harmful effect upon wildlife and invertebrates that simply isn’t the case when the grass is controlled via grazing.
We recognise that the heath is an incredibly valuable resource for dog owners and that dog owners and walkers are the principal users of the heath. However, dogs can pose a significant risk to the welfare of the sheep that are carrying out such an important role. It should also be remembered that although a dog may not attack sheep, even worrying sheep by chasing can have a significant impact on the health of those sheep.
Owners are fundamentally responsible for their dogs’ behaviour – both legally and morally and it must be remembered that allowing your dog to worry sheep in an offence. We know that nobody intends for a sheep worrying incident to occur, and that these things are accidents, but to avoid any incidents arising, would ask that during the grazing season that the following guidelines are followed:
We recognise that the heath is an incredibly valuable resource for dog owners and that dog owners and walkers are the principal users of the heath. However, dogs can pose a significant risk to the welfare of the sheep that are carrying out such an important role. It should also be remembered that although a dog may not attack sheep, even worrying sheep by chasing can have a significant impact on the health of those sheep.
Owners are fundamentally responsible for their dogs’ behaviour – both legally and morally and it must be remembered that allowing your dog to worry sheep in an offence. We know that nobody intends for a sheep worrying incident to occur, and that these things are accidents, but to avoid any incidents arising, would ask that during the grazing season that the following guidelines are followed:
- Have a look at our Facebook page to see where the sheep are before you go on your walk. We’ll be trying to keep track of where they are and suggest suitable alternatives on the heath so that we can all continue to enjoy it safely;
- If you don’t want to change the location of your walk, please ensure that you keep your dog on lead when approaching, nearby and walking away from the sheep compartments, even if you are confident in your dog’s behaviour trust it to come to call. Dogs are living, thinking, and feeling animals and will sometimes make the wrong decision, no matter who well trained they are;
- Please always pick up after your dog. Dog poo causes harm not only to the heath itself (due to high levels of nutrients that change the soil), but it can also cause serious diseases in sheep through the contamination of food and water. Please also take those bags home with you or find an appropriate bin.