Livestock worrying can happen when a dog attacks, chases or is loose among livestock. Dogs don't need to make contact for harm to occur. Fear and stress alone can harm livestock, and, in severe cases, cause them to die.
The impact on livestock keepers can be devastating. They face financial loss as well as personal distress.
Farmers will soon have clearer and stronger legal protection against livestock worrying.
The Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Act 2025 has today received Royal Assent, making it law. It updates the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953.
It will come into effect three months from today, on Wednesday 18 March 2026.
This legislation is only for England and Wales. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own legislation on this matter.
Background
It has long been an offence to allow a dog to worry livestock. However, the legislation was introduced in 1953 and has not kept pace with changes in the countryside. Livestock numbers in England and Wales have doubled since then, and more people visit the countryside with their dogs.
The law now strengthens the tools available to police and the courts so they can respond more effectively when incidents happen.
This change to the law is not about restricting dog walking. It is about making sure people can continue to enjoy the countryside while keeping livestock safe, protecting animal welfare and supporting the work farmers do every day.
The changes
The act:
- is worded so that attacking livestock is treated separately from worrying livestock. This reframing helps make the violent nature of livestock attacks much clearer. It doesn’t create a new offence as both behaviours are already covered in the 1953 act, but it does make the distinction explicit
- extends the law to cover livestock worrying and attacks that take place on roads and paths
- includes camelids (as llamas and alpacas are commonly farmed)
- introduces a new defence for dog owners to exempt them from liability where the dog was in the charge of another person at the time of the offence without the owner’s consent, for instance if the dog was stolen
- introduces new powers allowing a court to order an offender to pay expenses associated with seizing and detaining a dog
- provides a clear deterrent by increasing the penalty from a fine of up to £1,000 to an unlimited fine
In addition, the law gives police new and improved powers to improve their investigations, including:
- the power to seize and detain a dog where they have reasonable grounds to believe there is a risk that the dog could attack or worry livestock again. The dog can be detained until an investigation has been carried out or, if proceedings are brought for an offence, until those proceedings have been determined or withdrawn
- the power to take samples and impressions from a dog or livestock where the police have reasonable grounds to believe the dog has attacked or worried the livestock, and that a sample or impression might provide evidence of an offence. The sample or impression could then be used as evidence to support a prosecution
- the powers to enter and search premises to identify, seize and detain a dog for the prevention of future incidents, to collect samples or impressions, or seize any other evidence
What this means for you
Farmers
If livestock worrying or an attack happens, report it to the police. Keep hold of any evidence. Record dates and times and take photos or videos if you can. It may not always be possible, but collecting witness details is useful.
It may be helpful to check whether signs, fencing, dog-control advice or public footpath management needs to be updated.
In addition to practical advice on its website, the National Farmers Union (NFU) offers free gatepost signs to its members. It is currently making improvements to the online form, but you can still order by calling the NFU on 0370 845 8458.
Dog owners
Responsible access to the countryside is encouraged. Be aware of your surroundings when walking near livestock.
A dog does not need to make physical contact with animals to commit an offence under the new law. Chasing or disturbing livestock can cause harm.
The Countryside Code advises that dogs should be kept on a lead around livestock. Always check local signs, as some areas require dogs to be on a lead all or part of the year.
Learn more
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The 
9 comments
Comment by Julie Bolton posted on
As sheep farmers we have put up polite signs to warn of sheep grazing, most of our signage gets ripped down by disgruntled walkers who don’t like being told what to do, i know this is a problem nationwide, we now use WiFi cameras to keep our livestock safe
Comment by Sarah Stewart posted on
Hi Julie,
Thank you for sharing this. It must be upsetting and frustrating when your efforts to protect livestock are undermined, particularly when you have taken reasonable steps to inform and guide people using the countryside.
Keeping sheep safe, especially during lambing and grazing, is a real concern for farmers, and damage to signage only adds to the pressure you face. Your experience reflects issues raised by many farmers across the country, and we recognise the importance of promoting responsible behaviour and mutual respect in rural areas.
We also hope that sharing experiences like yours through this blog helps reach people who enjoy spending time in the countryside, encouraging greater understanding of the realities of farming and the care needed around livestock.
We appreciate you taking the time to highlight this, and the care you take to protect your livestock.
Best wishes,
Sarah
Comment by James posted on
This seems like it will give useful powers to address worrying, but the definition does seem extremely broad, and I wonder how it will be enforced... also this creates very unequal responsibilities where livestock are to be protected from any hint of disturbance, but there are no laws (at least not that anyone will enforce) to protect people or dogs legitimately using rights of way or access rights from 'worrying' by livestock. A couple of times I've been charged at by horses across a field which would definitely fall under this definition of worrying and even had a young one attempt to kick me once (which could easily have been fatal if it connected) while simply walking along a footpath. I tried reporting this dangerous livestock to the authorities and was informed that the landowner had no responsibility to prevent this danger because he was 'letting' people use the footpath (for avoidance of doubt it was a public footpath, not a permissive path or access land). A shame that this is not being addressed.
Comment by The Team posted on
Hi James,
Thank you for getting in touch. We recognise that people using public rights of way should be able to do so safely. Livestock worrying refers to the behaviour of dogs that chase, attack, or cause distress to livestock. It can result in serious injury or death of livestock.
The changes that the 2025 Act makes are about protecting livestock from attacking or worrying by dogs in line with the 1953 Act. Harm caused by livestock is out of scope.
The Public Rights of Way guidance highlights the responsibility of landowners regarding waymarking and signs such as using signs to warn users of any dangers that are not obvious: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/public-rights-of-way-landowner-responsibilities#waymarking-and-warning-signs
The Countryside Code encourages people to check local signs and to leave gates as they find them to prevent livestock from straying from where they are kept which increases the risk to the public. The Code also highlights that it is best practice where appropriate to keep dogs on a lead around any livestock to ensure dogs and walkers are kept safe: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-countryside-code/the-countryside-code-advice-for-countryside-visitors
There is a careful balance to be struck between the practical need for farmers to keep animals in fields, animal welfare, public safety, and access to the countryside.
Best wishes,
The Team
Comment by Penny Kakoulli posted on
Fantastic news
Comment by David Collings posted on
What is the full definition of livestock under the Act?
Comment by The Team posted on
Hello David,
Livestock means cattle, sheep, goats, swine, horses, or poultry.
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Eliz2/1-2/28?view=plain
As of last year, the act now extends to camelids.
Best wishes,
The Team
Comment by Fiona Hewitt posted on
What are the laws on farmers shooting dogs that are attacking livestock? Has this been updated?
Comment by The Team posted on
Hi Fiona,
While there have been updates to the law on dogs worrying livestock made by the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Act 2025, these do not relate to the shooting of dogs which are worrying livestock.
Farmers do not have a legal right to shoot a dog that is worrying livestock. Under section 9 of the Animals Act 1971, a defence to civil proceedings may be available where a person kills or injures a dog in order to protect livestock where the livestock are being, or are about to be, worried by a dog.
Best wishes,
The Team