This brought back a few more dog/farm stories from my childhood.

My father heard some commotion from his cow herd, which was a quarter section away from the home quarter. When he got there, there were three dogs chasing his 100-cow herd, having a great time. Dad pulled out his 22, fired a few shots. When he wounded one, the dogs left. The next day, a neighbor from a few miles away called my father about the wounded dog. My father said that a pack of dogs were harassing his herd and he shot one of them. He didn't know whose dogs it was. The issue was settled with no more words spoken.

Dogs in my part of the world had a lot of freedom. Some were responsible with that freedom. Some were not--and shot.