Walking dogs on the River Ancholme

17 August 2005

Hi
I have just been on the Brigglife web site, my husband and I are in the process of buying a cottage in Appleby. As part of our exploration around the area, we ventured down Carr Lane from the village towards the River Ancholme and we saw a pair of swans on one of the small waterways, that criss cross this small lane. I'm sure they were residents of the area, but we did not notice any cygnets. Can you advise me how deep the river is in the Appleby area, and is it allowed and is it safe for dogs to swim in? I have two border collies who love water, but I would not wish to cause any problems for them or for the local wildlife.

Kind Regards
Rosemary Fox

Ed. I'm glad that you have sighted some swans near Appleby, Rosemary. There have been very few swans this year.

The water depth in the Ancholme varies a great deal. It is an industrial canal so in parts it is very deep, but there are also many mudbanks and some submerged debris - particularly near towns / roads. I can understand that with some breeds of dogs it is almost impossible to keep them out of the water. I don't think that it would be safe or hygienic / clean for people to swim in the river however.

I'm not sure about the legalities of dogs swimming in rivers. River law is extremely ancient and is mostly concerned with fishing and boating. I would guess that dog-owners have a general duty to keep their dogs under control, but I'm not sure if that implies that they should be kept on a leash at all times or just under verbal control. Does anyone out there know more about this?

See also: 1. Urgent reply - 2. Cygnets arrive