In the Netherlands we also sometimes have paths that cross private property, such as pastures. In Switzerland and Australia it’s pretty common too that a trail may run through someone’s pasture
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I’ve done a lot of hiking through fields in Switzerland and so many times I’ve ended up being followed by the herd until I reach the next fence. It’s hilarious to be walking along with 50+ cows trailing behind trying to figure out what the weird human is doing. lol. but man, do the bells get annoying after a while. 
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I’ve hiked 13 National Trails in the UK, along with various walks across Wales, Scotland, and England. I’m also a member of the British Ramblers and know the ins and outs of the English footpath system all too well.
We usually only dogsit for those who need a lot of exercise, as we tend to walk at least 10k a day.
I love the UK for the sheer amount of accessible paths and have picked up many tricks along the way to handle landowners who try to deter walkers, even though it’s perfectly legal to cross their land. (Who hasn’t seen the famous “Mind the bull” sign? 
)
I can understand why someone from Canada or the US might be hesitant at first. I felt the same when I first found myself in a field full of cows, with no choice but to walk through them. Or even worse, through a field of horses, which, by the way, can sometimes be more intimidating than cows.
But fortunately, in the UK, there’s no Wild West shootout happening, no one’s going to shoot you just for walking through their land. And the days of highwaymen are long gone, so no Robin Hood is going to swoop in on a bridleway.
So, unless you’re very old or unsteady on your feet, nothing off-road should pose too much of a problem.
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ALWAYS be wary in fields with cows (horses too), especially if you have dogs.
Its worth a slight deviation around them to avoid any issues.
I’m speaking from experience here.
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Sure, but sometimes you don’t have a good alternative. Especially in Cornwall, for example, where you would need to walk along a narrow, winding road with high hedges.
So yes, be aware of the animals and let your dog off leash when they come near you. Avoid herds with calves or make a wide circle.
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@Fatamorgana
Experienced it all believe me!
Entered a field with about 20 young bullocks, let the dogs off. Bullocks chased the dogs but the dogs came running back to us, that was scary. Racing to the next stile to escape the field.
Treat them with utmost caution is the best advice I can give and the best you will receive 
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Thanks for the tips! Sadly I am both old and unsteady:rofl:
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Good advice. Being unfamiliar with both cows and dogs not to mention how my host’s dog reaction, field walks are not my favourite.
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That is the very reason we chose not to holiday in Cornwall.
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We were lucky, our dogs became so used to livestock, horses, sheep, goats, cows, ducks, chickens etc, they didn’t even look at them so we literally could walk them anywhere off lead
But, you have to do the thinking for dogs and be aware of the dangers for them.
If you can avoid, then please do so.
And yes, definitely not the Wild West but a British farmer can shoot your dog legally if it worries their sheep so definitely leads on if livestock are out. #farminggirlhere
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Many animals, farm animals and wild, can die from a pursuit from a dog without the dog actually touching the animal. For instance sheep and lambs can run to their death if scared. Their lungs collapses, with foam around mouth and blood out of their nose. Sorry for being graphic, but perhaps necessary to realise what it is about.
So a dog can do serious damage also if «oh, he won’t hurt anybody!»
For wildlife the kids can also die if the mother has been scared off, as she won’t go back to her offspring for feeding and warmth. So it is best to be careful and listen to the host and also be aware of the surroundings before letting a dog off-leash.
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Indeed. And sometimes the HO is oblivious to the damage their pet can cause - on one sit I decided that, although the HO allowed the dogs to run wild on their “walks”, they would be on leads for the duration of my stay in order to give 2 weeks of peace to the hares that they chased (and caught)
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@Garfield
Is it just familiarity the sheep have with the sheepdogs that stops these deaths occuring whilst being chased and herded?
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I am no expert, but from what I have seen sheepdogs don’t «chase» sheep - they run in a pattern behind them and it seems most usually will hold a distance. Maybe others can explain?
I just refer to unfortunately yearly articles in media where sheep have been chased to their death by unleashed dogs. I would say most family dogs in my region do not come on a recall if the dog is really motivated by something else. Like chasing an animal. That requires quite a bit of training.
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Everyone should have a vacation!
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You’re right @Garfield - sheepdogs are super intelligent & respond to whistles and shouted commands to round the sheep up and “herd” then into new fields ans through gates. They’re not interested in their woolly companions at all! If the sheep are pregnant, the farmers get really mad about dogs off leads as they can easily lose the lambs they’re carrying from the worry of being chased. #leadsonlovelies
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Yep, we used to avoid sheep areas during the lambing season
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As others have said, sheepdogs don’t chase sheep, they herd them. They respond to commands or whistles if working at a distance from their handler. If you see a sheepdog running, it is usually in a circle (or part of a circle around the flock of sheep and at a distance from them. They are not running towards them.
When they are required to move closer to the sheep, they are usually moving more slowly and for short distances.
They will be constantly looking to their handler for instruction, and aren’t really interested in the sheep at all.
My friend’s dog is a failed sheepdog. She was good at the distance work, but terrible at the close work as she was afraid of the sheep! She would probably have rolled on her back going “don’t hurt me - look, I’m submissive!” She is a very good chicken dog though, and spends all her walks going in circles around us!!
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