New Dog Laws – Livestock Worrying: What Dog Walkers Need to Know

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New Dog Laws – Livestock Worrying: What Dog Walkers Need to Know

By Hilary Pullen

Published on March 6, 2026 7 min read

New Laws on Dogs and Livestock Worrying: What Dog Walkers Need to Know

Does your dog like to chase? Are you 100% confident in your dogs recall? The laws have changed to help protect livestock after a rise in livestock worrying and especially sheep attacks.

In this post we discuss:
What livestock worrying fines can be issued for
The detail of the updated dogs and livestock law
How to follow the Countryside Code
FAQ’s on the new Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Act 2025
How OS Maps can help with planning dog walks

Sheep Worrying Costs Farmers Millions

A survey of farmers from the National Sheep Association found that almost four in five (87%) sheep farmers have experienced a dog attack on their flock in the past year, with many reporting multiple incidents.

NFU research published this year also found that the total cost of livestock worrying across the UK in the past year had reached £1.8 million.

www.gov.uk

Sheep grazing on the other side of the fence – but could your dog jump the stile? My dog Ziggy can easily, which is why he’s often on the lead even outside of fields.

Walking your dog in the countryside is one of the best ways to enjoy the outdoors but it also comes with responsibilities. As partners of the Countryside Code Team, we want to help dog owners stay informed about the updated livestock worrying laws coming into force in England and Wales on March 18th.

These changes strengthen protection for farmers and livestock and clarify what dog owners must do to avoid serious legal consequences.

A Fine Can Be Issued for Chasing Sheep, Regardless of Any Physical Contact

Many dog owners don’t realise that physical contact isn’t required for livestock to be harmed. Even chasing or barking can trigger panic, stress, and injury among sheep, cattle, goats, pigs and camelids like alpacas and llamas.

Stress alone can cause animals to:

become injured

miscarry

get trapped

become separated from their herd

These outcomes are distressing for farmers and dog owners alike.

Lambs on a sunny day in Eryri (@nearlyuphill)

What the Updated Dog Law Says

Unlimited fines for livestock worrying offences

A new amendment removes the previous £1,000 cap and allows unlimited fines, strengthening penalties against dog owners whose pets worry or attack livestock.

Expanded police powers

Police now have wider powers to detain dogs, enter premises, collect evidence including DNA, and investigate incidents more effectively.

Law applies on roads, tracks and public rights of way

The offence no longer applies only within fields. It now includes roads, paths and public rights of way, reflecting the reality that livestock are often moved between locations.

Definition of livestock now includes camelids

The legal definition expands to include alpacas and llamas, which have increased in number across England and Wales.

Sheep are hardy and often live high up in the hills on open access land – your dog and the sheep could get injured if they chase sheep down hills and over rocky terrain.

How to Follow the Countryside Code and Stay Within the Law

The Countryside Code offers simple, practical steps to keep everyone safe:

1. Keep your dog on a lead around livestock

Any dog, whatever its breed or temperament, can worry livestock. Dogs can also jump stiles with ease, so it is important to stay aware of where livestock are and how your dog might reach them.

2. Only let your dog off‑lead if recall is rock solid

If you’re not completely confident, keep them on a lead. Take a spare lead when on longer walks.

3. If cattle or horses threaten you, release the dog

Letting the dog go can help both of you get to safety more easily.

4. Understand farmers’ legal rights

A farmer is legally allowed to shoot a dog that is attacking or actively chasing livestock. This is existing law under the 1953 Act not a new change but it remains important for owners to be aware of.

The Countryside Code

You often find livestock in places you may not have expected – like here, close to the shore of a busy lake

Frequently Asked Questions about the new dog laws

What counts as livestock worrying?

Chasing, barking at, attacking or stressing livestock even if no bite occurs, counts as livestock worrying.

Do I have to put my dog on a lead near livestock?

Yes. Keeping your dog on a lead around farm animals is the simplest way to prevent harm.

Can I be prosecuted if my dog doesn’t physically touch the livestock?

Yes. Physical contact by the dog isn’t required for an offence to occur.

Does the law apply on public footpaths or roads?

Yes. The new law includes roads, paths and public rights of way as well as fields and enclosures.

Are alpacas and llamas now covered by the law?

Yes. Camelids are now included in the definition of livestock.

What happens if police believe my dog might worry livestock again?

Police have expanded powers to detain dogs and gather evidence and DNA.

Even little dogs like Bramble my terrier like to chase sheep and can cause major distress

Using OS Maps to Plan Dog Friendly Walks

Finding safe places to walk with your dog is easier when you use our Paper Maps or the OS Maps App. Whilst OS Maps can’t tell you if a field has livestock in it on the day you walk it, you can use it to easily see fields and enclosed pasture.

How OS Maps Helps You Plan Better Dog Walks

Understand what kind of landscape a footpath is taking you through.
Whilst OS Maps can’t tell you if a field has livestock in it, you can use it to easily see fields and enclosed pasture. You could avoid routes that go right through the middle of a sheep field during lambing season for example.

Switching to Topographic and Aerial view gives you lots more information to work with than our standard mapping on the left. It’s suddenly very clear from the aerial photo that the footpaths go through sheep or cow fields.

Find stiles, gates and dog friendly access points
Most stiles / swing gates are shown on OS Maps on our standard mapping layer. This helps you decide whether a route is manageable for your dog. You can’t differentiate between the type of stile, but it gives a good indication of the entrance and exit points from a field with livestock if the path on the ground is not clear or you have lost your way.

Lots of stiles – I happen to know that these stiles are actually all metal swing gates – it’s worth asking on online walking groups for some local knowledge if you want to avoid step stiles.

Choose alternative paths if you want more space for a reactive dog
Some dogs can be reactive when on the lead. Use OS Maps to find Bridleways, byways and wide tracks which can can give you more room to manage your dog calmly on a lead. They are often good options in lambing season or when fields are busy with livestock.

Leave reviews, create alerts and be a part of our community.
If you have something interesting to share about a route you have walked you can add a review and help others know what to expect. You can also add community alerts. Users can report hazards such as flooding, livestock or blocked paths, marking them as passable or not and uploading them to the app, where they appear on screen for others to see and verify if they’re still a hazard.

You may get asked to verify if the alert is still relevant when following a route using the app.

You are not limiting your walks. You are choosing routes that work for both you and your dog, which makes every trip outdoors more enjoyable.

PLAN ROUTES
FIND ADVENTURES

Discover ready-made routes nearby or create your own

Open OS Maps

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