Illegal use of dog ?

[cuda]

Hi Folks

Just thought I would post some details of an incident that happened yesterday, I'd be intersted in opinions and wondered if anybody had come across anything so bloody stupid, especially Wullie (trekmoor) as I'm sure from his post he lives very near me.

Out yesterday, late afternoon with Emmy (8month lab) in a local public area that is, as we say up here, hooching with rabbits working on her chase instinct which unfortunately she perfected during the 2 weeks I spent sunning myself recently.

Dog on lead, walking to heel, we walked first side of burn, flushing a few rabbits dog put in sat on flush - no problem. Crossed the burn and began returning up other side, same story, rabbit bolts, dog sits - all good. Then when we were about 3/4 way up path I notice member of local constab. blocking the path ahead, hands on hips like the old green cross code guy, trying hard to look menacing (and failing lol) - no probs, just carry on.Then rabbit bolts back way we had come, put dog in sit then notice the other PC who had been coming up behind us. Curiosity getting the better of me, we walk up to where green cross code man is standing (still with hands on hips !) conversation went thus;
"What you doing?" asked green cross coder
"Training my dog" says I ( a wee bit sarcastically)
"We believe you may be using your dog to hunt illegally" he says
"Feck off !" says I , (perhaps not the best response)
He then proceeded to inform me that under the 19 bla bla Wildlife and bla bla Act (or something similar) it is an offence to use dogs in the hunting of native mammals and that they had been watching and believed that is what I was doing.
I told him, if they had been watching, they would have noticed (being highly trained) that she is a lab, she is a pup, she was on lead at all times and when a rabbit did bolt she was sat on her erse!
I was then treated to a lecture on the working of this law including what would be concieved as a breach of said law, during which I found it increasingly hard not to laugh, especially when green cross coders faithful sidekick mentioned how much stress a rabbit is subjected to when it is chased ( poor wee buggers). My sarcastic comment that maybe if i wanted to catch rabbits I might use a lurcher on more open ground and not a labrador pup didn't seem to go down too well. However I did learn that apparently the rope slip lead on the dog and the small game bag I carried (dummies, tennis ball etc) was indicative of hunting / poaching type people !
After a few more pleasant exchanges I was told I could be on my way but that they would be watching in future, "good" i said "If you watch closely you might fecking learn something!!!" and off we toddled to return another day.
Most of us have, at somepoint, come across the typical antis argument of "thats cruel making your dog pick up dead things, hunt, behave etc etc etc" but has anyone come across anything quite so bloody stupid.
However, I'm sure Emmy did enjoy leaving muddy pawprints on those nice shiny boots and trouser legs lol
Ps Just to remove any doubts, I am a responsible, (semi) respectable business owner the wrong side of 45, so definately not some staffie wielding yob type.

[NikkiD]

I was behind you all the way, until you made that comment about Staffies.

[cuda]

sorry all Staffie lovers - but we all know the type I was refering to

[tiernin]

me to i love staffies and not all staffie owners are yobs .

[NikkiD]

sorry all Staffie lovers - but we all know the type I was refering to

thanks, having just got back with my own Staffy from a very productive agility session

and sadly yes, Im in the process of undoing the damage the sort that you mentioned, can do to a dog.

Back to the original topic, I dunno if I dreamt this, or really DID read it, apparently it is illegal to hunt MICE with a dog, but ok to hunt Rats.

and I suppose being as how I have 4 dogs, if one of them puts up a rabbit and all 4 take off after it, Im automatically breaking the law too?

Bl00dy ridiculous state of affairs.

[Sgurr]

Not being Staffy sensitive, here's a link which may help you http://www.huntwatch.info/legality.htm

Sgurr

[NikkiD]

thanks
and fwiw I have been on the receiving end of stupidity and malicious complaints myself before, having recieved a Police visit previously vis a vis the Staffy under the (equally ridiculous) Dangerous Dogs Act.

[Everything's Rosie]

Oh I'm sorry but that was funny You've set the scene brilliantly.
Some people are plonkers
But being harassed whilst training a lab pup on a lead takes the biscuit

Naomi

[Goffy]

think Wullie would be jealous of you to have all them wabbits,
jan

[cuda]

hi folks
sorry I forgot to mention this nugget from green cross coder - apparently -

it's possible to train a dog, any dog, not to chase rabbits 100% without using any of the little fluffy darlings
any suggestions other than blindfold (for the dog not the rabbit)