AN Eden dog trainer is being approached by an increasing number of worried pet owners desperate to stop their animals chasing sheep.

Janet Ardley said she has ‘never been busier’ after being contacted by owners who admit they can’t stop their dogs pursuing livestock.

The rising concern of pet owners follows a growing trend in sheep worrying.

In the last two weeks, 14 lambs were killed during a ‘vicious’ attack by a dog in Grange-over-Sands and two Swaledale ewes had to be put down at a farm near Upper Eden Rugby Club.

Last month, in the area’s worst incident this lambing season, David Clarke lost 20 lambs in two attacks at his farm at Under-barrow, near Kendal. Another 18 lambs were treated for serious bites, three of which subsequently died.

Mrs Ardley, who says she re-trains sheep-worrying dogs with ‘tough love’, said: “I’ve never been busier. More and more people are coming to me saying their dogs are chasing sheep and they are concerned.

“Some don’t believe their dogs would ever kill the sheep they chase; but I say to them a chased sheep can still die from stress.”

She said a lot of dog owners were now more aware that a farmer could legally shoot a pet if it was caught wor-rying livestock.

“They’re worried because these days there seem to be few places in the country-side where they can walk their dogs without coming into contact with sheep.”

Mrs Ardley said there were a growing number of inquiries from pet owners who were planning to holiday in the Lake District.

“They just want to make sure they have safe dogs so there isn’t a problem,” she said.

Mrs Ardley’s website – at www.cumbria-dog-training.com – says she has teamed up with a farmer in the Appleby area so she has a flock of sheep to work with when re-training dogs.

“Using ‘humane’ methods, I can change the behaviour of nearly all dogs in less than an hour – regardless of age or breed,” the site says.

“Very occasionally, however, and when all else has failed, I can use an electric collar although this is usually at the owners' request.”