Dog owners are being asked to keep their pets on the lead when they walk in the Yorkshire Dales National Park over the next five months.

The breeding season for wildlife and for farm animals is underway during this period and dogs can cause long-term damage if they are allowed to roam free, according to Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority Ranger Services Manager Alan Hulme.

“The breeding season lasts until July 31 and it’s a very sensitive time for domestic and wild animals, especially ground-nesting birds – for which the Dales are renowned,” he said.

“We hear dog owners say all the time that my dog never chases or attacks sheep and lambs – which unfortunately does happen – but what a lot of owners don’t appreciate is that dogs can cause just as much harm unintentionally by keeping parents away from their young, which leaves eggs, fledglings and lambs vulnerable.

“Dog owners are entitled to keep their pets off the lead on public paths but they must be under close control. However, to be on the safe side, we would urge them to keep their pets on a lead in an effort to reduce the risk of wildlife and farm animals being unintentionally disturbed at this crucial time.

“There are some simple rules under the Countryside Code that pet owners must remember, the most important being that, in most areas of open country and common land – known as 'access land' – you must keep your dog on a short lead between 1 March and 31 July, and all year round near farm animals.”

National Park Rangers and National Park Centre staff are only too happy to give advice to anyone who is concerned about going into area that may be used as a breeding ground by wild animals.

Malham farmer and Local Access Forum member Neil Heseltine, who was recently featured on the BBC2 Lambing Live Programme, stressed the need for extra care on the part of dog owners.

Neil, who has about 400 sheep, said: “We do get problems and it isn’t always from visitors letting their dogs off the lead.

“I think the main message to get across is that you can’t be too careful when you are out in the countryside with a dog.

“It doesn’t have to be physically chasing sheep – just its presence can cause upset. It may cause a ewe to stumble or fall and that could be enough to kill the lambs inside her.

“And every lost lamb impacts on someone’s livelihood.

More information about the Countryside Code can be found on the National Park website at www.yorkshiredales.org.uk