Sarah Todd: Some hard words for soft dog owners

Just recently we've met some horrible dogs. Owners can be as indulgent of them as the parents of spoilt children.

I don't let our dog off the lead when we're out on a walk in civilisation in case he jumps up on anybody. This, seemingly, isn't a canine courtesy many agree with as about a dozen have jumped up on me – pulling jumpers, leaving mucky paw prints and, in some instances, curling back lips and growling (the feeling's mutual) – over the last few weeks.

Soppy owners don't say sorry, just like parents of over-indulged children. They just seem to laugh in a "isn't he wonderful" way. The other reason we don't let Tetley off is that, on a footpath, you shouldn't. Full stop. Some dog walkers seem to think it's their right to let their dogs roam all over farmers' fields. Sometimes, especially when cattle are turned out, it's been impossible to resist saying something. But they just carry on. They'd soon have a rethink if a newly-calved heifer took umbrage.

Another bugbear is dog owners who let them run on hundreds of yards in front, oblivious of both nesting birds and people on pathways. The number of times we've been riding on bridlepaths and a pack (why do people need so many?) of dogs have come careering around the corner. Something that would surely be frightening for anybody frail or pushing a pram.

Apart from this weekend's fireworks, November is a favourite month. It's not cold enough to be uncomfortable but there's a freshness that's invigorating.

Now the hens have slowed down with their laying, the children are cranking up the other enterprise of "well-rotted horse muck".

The annual decline, almost stop, in egg production makes me wonder how larger concerns that claim to be "free range" must go on. Surely there has to be some sort of artificial environment created with lights to trick the birds into year-round laying. Presumably, the general public think hens lay naturally all year round?

A plus of this time of year is that the roads are a bit quieter. Having said this, some wannabe Evel Knievel will run me over, but motorbikers as a rule are the most thoughtful group on the roads when it comes to horses. Perhaps they feel a similar sense of vulnerability but, in our experience, the vehicles you'd expect to slow down don't while the lads on motorbikes do. There's sometimes nothing worse than the drivers of archetypal country vehicles. The majority, nowadays (driven by school-run mothers rather than flat-capped farmers) speed past with an arrogant grunt. Then there are those with an unpleasant dog or three in the back…

CW 6/11/10