Over the years I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve been interviewed about dog attacks on livestock. I’ve seen horrific footage and spoken alongside farmers close to tears as they described the aftermath live on air. For them, it is not just financial loss; these are animals they’ve often hand-reared, checked on through frozen January nights and watched take their very first steps, only to be brutally injured or killed.
If you own a dog and walk anywhere near the countryside, this is something that affects you
On 18 March 2026, an important legal change came into force. The Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Act 2025 strengthens the existing legislation and gives police clearer and stronger powers to investigate incidents, including the ability to seize dogs and use forensic DNA evidence.
The law clearly reinforces that chasing livestock without making contact counts as livestock worrying. The stress alone can cause injury, miscarriage or death in sheep. It also reiterates that if a dog attacks livestock, a farmer is legally entitled to shoot them as a last resort.
The scale of the issue is shocking. According to the National Sheep Association, four in five sheep farmers experienced a dog attack in 2024 and NFU Mutual’s Rural Crime Report estimates livestock worrying cost the UK £1.8 million in 2024.
What often surprises people is that it is not just walkers in open countryside who are responsible; a significant number involve dogs escaping from back gardens. I know of a case where a dog was repeatedly getting out, attacking sheep and returning home as if nothing had happened. The owner had no idea, but could still be held responsible.
What the law actually means for you as a dog owner
The penalties for livestock worrying have changed significantly. Previously, the maximum fine per offence was £1,000; that cap has now been removed entirely and in serious cases could result in some very large fines indeed. Should you be found guilty, the fine could also include compensation to the farmer as well as any costs of seizing and detaining your dog.
In the previous law, if your dog attacked or worried livestock on agricultural land, you were guilty of an offence. The updated law now also covers incidents on roads and pathways and if your dog is in the charge of someone other than you, for example, a friend or dog walker, that person is also liable.
When animal instinct takes over
When a dog gives chase, they are no longer the same dog that curls up with you on the sofa. Their brain shifts into a predatory mode, attention narrows onto the target and recall goes out of the window. Shouting rarely works and panic tends to make the situation worse; the belief that you can simply call your dog back is often wishful thinking.
Prey drive varies hugely between individual dogs and is not always breed specific. My own Staffy cross shows little interest in livestock, but he is never off lead near them. I am not willing to put his life at risk or find myself liable for a very hefty fine.
Here is what I would recommend to every dog owner, whether you live near farmland or simply enjoy countryside walks.
Check your boundaries
Walk around your garden boundary regularly and check for gaps, loose panels or areas where your dog could dig under a fence, particularly after storms, strong winds and heavy rain. If you live near farmland, you’ll need to be extra vigilant especially if your dog has a strong prey instinct.
Reliable recall
Teaching your dog to come back on command before you let them off the lead is essential. The best place to start is in the garden where there are the fewest distractions. Gradually build up to a quiet park and when your dog is responding well move on to fields or busier places.
Always use the same word (such as come) and make coming back to you the best thing that ever happens to your dog. Use high value treats, praise or play and practise every single day, not just when you need it. Never call your dog back and then do something that creates an unwanted association such as immediately clipping the lead on and heading home, or they will not want to come back.
That said, even the most reliable recall has its limits. Once prey drive kicks in near livestock, the same dog that comes back perfectly in the park can completely ignore you as if they’re deaf. They’re not being disobedient, it is biology. A solid recall is essential and could save your dog’s life in many situations but near livestock it may not be enough on its own, that’s why putting your dog on a lead near livestock is non-negotiable.
Five ways to walk safely and stay on the right side of the law
- Know your walks and when sheep or lambs may be around. Put your dog on a lead before you reach any area where livestock could be present. Follow all countryside signage and bear in mind that a dog can smell livestock long before you can see them. With up to 300 million scent receptors compared to our six million, they can detect sheep from miles away under the right conditions. By the time your dog has picked up that scent, it may be too late to clip on a lead.
- Read the Countryside Code in full, available at gov.uk. It advises keeping your dog on a short lead near farm animals all year round and on open access land between 1 March and 31 July.
- Remember that roads and public paths are now covered by the law, not just fields, which means if farmers are moving their livestock from one place to another you will need to put your dog on a lead in plenty of time.
- If your dog chases sheep without actually attacking them it is classed as sheep worrying and is still an offence, which can now result in unlimited fines. I have heard many dog owners say “my dog was only wanting to play” or “my dog has never done that before, so it doesn’t really count.” Under the law, it absolutely does.
- If there is another place to walk your dog during lambing and sheep season in your area, then walk there to avoid any risk altogether.
Years of covering this subject have taught me one thing above all else: these incidents are almost always preventable. The law has changed, the stakes are higher and the powers to enforce it are stronger than ever. But the simplest answer of all remains exactly as it always has been… Know your dog, respect the countryside and when there is any doubt whatsoever, keep them on the lead.
About Sharon Bolt
Sharon Bolt is a celebrity dog trainer and founder of Good Dogs! With nearly two decades of experience and over 26,000 students across 175 countries, her kind, practical approach has helped global pop stars and everyday families alike get real, lasting results with their dogs.
A regular BBC Radio contributor since 2008, her advice has also featured on ITV, Channel 5, The Guardian, The Independent and the Daily Mail. Sharon offers online courses covering everything from puppy training to professional dog training, and licenses her professionally filmed courses to pet professionals worldwide through Private Label Rights.
Visit: www.good-dogs.co.uk
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