SIR, – Re your Take a Lead on responsible dog ownership campaign.

I started work shepherding at 15 years old with North Country Cheviots, then on various hill farms in the Borders, 'herding Blackfaces and South Country Cheviots. I also spent 15 years on an estate in Hampshire shepherding and managing 1000 North of England Mules.

The best lambs were sold store in August (400-600 lambs) and the remainder were held to finish off stubble turnips through December, January and February. During this holding period that grass was always scarce and so the lambs were electric fenced on regrowth oilseed rape and a big arable field would feed them for three to four weeks until the turnips were ready.

The field bordered a village and by public footpaths, and about two weeks into this period, I got a call to say there was a dog chasing the lambs. I went straight down to see what was happening as the lambs were in my care. I was really angry and would probably have run that dog down with the quad bike and choked it.

But, when I got there, the dog was gone, with only minimal damage done to the stock, with three or four lambs bleeding from the bites on their back legs.

But, within five minutes, the 'cavalry' arrived in the form of two gamekeepers on the estate – one had got a call about the dog and I guarantee that if the dog had still been there, it would not have gone home that day.

That was about 25 years ago and at that time, the potential consequences for the dog would have simply been accepted by the owners. But not now.

Also, my experience of working dogs tells me that collies are so keen to be working that they cannot be fully trusted either. Some would be happy enough to stay in the yard, but others would find sheep if left loose. All dogs will chase sheep if given a chance and some will worry and kill.

They are bred from wolves and enjoy chasing and killing for pleasure. I had a Yorkshire terrier that ran with the collies and was always with me – she weighed three pounds, but she thought she was a Rottweiler!

I have seen people go for a walk with their dog off a lead at 9.00 o'clock in the morning and at 2.00 o'clock in the afternoon were still trying to find it.

I think there are types of dog that are more likely to do serious damage to stock. They would be the Husky, Bull terrier and their crosses, as they have a bite like a crocodile and will go face to face with sheep, causing serious facial damage and go for the throat.

Others that would chase, but are soft-eyed and cowardly would be labradors, spaniels and some of the hound types. These wouldn't face up to a sheep, so would not cause facial damage or go for the neck.

I think that dogs found chasing or attacking stock should not get a second chance. They will do it again and farmers should, as a last resort, shoot a savaging dog.

If pictures can be taken and the owners found, then they should be liable for the damages and costs, and the dogs destroyed automatically by law. And, the owners should be banned from keeping animals.

Jim Horsburgh

5 Glebe Terrace,

Selkirk.