Dog Control

Many of the dogs kept on West Ardnamurchan are working dogs, mostly sheepdogs.  The average shepherd seems to have up to a dozen sheepdogs of various breeds, and other working dogs such as terriers and spaniels are not uncommon.  We even have a pack of fox hounds which visit the area on a fairly regular basis to help control that particular pest.

A huge amount of training goes in to each of these dogs, and a good working dog is worth its weight in gold.  One of the pleasures of walking across Ardnamurchan's hills is coming across a shepherd with his dogs, gathering sheep.

Sadly, a few of our visitors bring dogs with them which are not under the same sort of control as these working dogs.  As this notice shows, there have been very upsetting examples of owners totally losing control of their dogs, with tragic results for the animals they attack - only this weekend, a lamb was attacked by a terrier which inflicted a serious injury to its face.

What some owners don't appreciate is that having a dog in their charge which is out of control in an area where there are livestock is an offence under the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act of 1953 - and some of the penalties under that Act can be pretty severe, including prosecution, a fine, an order to pay compensation, and the destruction of the offending dog.  In extreme cases, the farmer has the right to shoot the dog if he/she believes it is the only way of saving the animals which are being attacked.

Because they are so much a part of life here, West Ardnamurchan welcomes dogs - for example, many of the letting houses are dog-friendly, and the local Coastguard willingly turns out if, as happened back in 2008, a small terrier takes a tumble down a cliff and gets himself stuck on a ledge. It doesn't seem unreasonable to ask in return that everyone keeps their dogs under very close control when they are anywhere near livestock.

A brief summary of the responsibilities of a person in charge of a dog is given here, and the Act is here.

Many thanks to Dougie Cameron at Ockle for allowing a photograph of his dogs.

Ockle Holidays has cottages to let, website here.