Dogs amongst sheep SEVERAL SCOTTISH organisations have united in an urgent plea to dog owners across the country to keep their dogs under proper control around livestock. Lambing season is underway in Scotland, and most of the ewes seen grazing the country s hills and fields are heavily pregnant – but already farmers are reporting attacks on their sheep by dogs, often because dog walkers have not kept their pets under control. Many attacks also involve unaccompanied dogs which have been allowed to stray. Some reports include horrible physical injuries to sheep. However, a dog doesn’t need to be big or aggressive to be a concern, as the distress and exhaustion alone of what might appear to be a harmless chase can cause a ewe to miscarry, or even die.