New Livestock Law: What Dog Owners in England and Wales Need to Know

If you’d rather watch than read, follow this link for the video: Dogs and Livestock Law Video

If you walk your dog in the countryside, or anywhere near livestock, there has been an important legal change in England and Wales that you need to know about.

The law is the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Act 2025, and it came into force on 18 March 2026. It updates the old 1953 legislation and strengthens both the scope of the offence and the consequences for dog owners.

The biggest takeaway is this: this is not just about aggressive dogs.

A lot of people still think livestock issues only apply if a dog attacks cattle or injures sheep. But that is not the full picture. A friendly, sociable dog that runs up, chases, stresses, or panics livestock can still cause serious problems. Government guidance around the change highlights that livestock worrying includes dogs that chase, attack, or cause distress, and the impact can include injury, death, abortion in pregnant animals, and major financial loss for farmers.

What has changed?

There are a few headline changes dog owners should know.

First, the offence now clearly extends beyond agricultural land to include roads and paths. That matters because livestock are often moved along lanes, tracks, and rights of way, and incidents in those spaces are now brought squarely within scope.

Second, the list of protected livestock now specifically includes camelids, so that means llamas and alpacas are covered too.

Third, the consequences are tougher. The previous £1,000 cap has gone; the maximum penalty is now an unlimited fine. Courts can also require an owner to pay the costs connected to the seizure and detention of a dog.

There are also much stronger police powers. Officers investigating livestock worrying can seize and detain dogs, gather forensic evidence such as DNA or dental impressions, and apply for entry and search powers where needed.

One important nuance in the legislation is that where livestock have strayed onto a road or path, a person is not automatically guilty just because a dog does something there. The Act makes clear there are specific limits in that situation unless the person causes the dog to attack.

Why was the law updated?

Government said the aim was to better protect farm animals and give police stronger tools to investigate and act. It also pointed to the scale of the problem: official communications around the new law cited survey evidence that 87% of sheep farmers experienced a dog attack on their flock in 2024, and NFU estimates put the annual cost at nearly £2 million.

Why this matters for ordinary dog owners

For me, the biggest practical message is simple: “He’s friendly” is not enough.

That friendly dog who wants to run over and play, chase, or investigate can still be causing livestock worrying. And now the consequences are more serious and much clearer.

That means:

• don’t gamble on recall near livestock

• don’t assume friendliness makes it okay

• don’t let dogs rush fences, gates, field edges, or tracks where stock may be moved

• and don’t treat livestock situations as the place to “test” training

The sensible approach is still management first. Use a lead where appropriate. Use a long line if you need one. Train recall for real life, not just ideal situations. And think ahead before your dog has the chance to make a bad decision.

The Countryside Code also remains important practical guidance here: it says dogs should be kept on a lead around livestock, and on Open Access land they must be on a lead around livestock, with additional lead requirements between 1 March and 31 July.

This isn’t anti-dog. It’s about protecting livestock, protecting your dog, and protecting yourself from a much more serious legal situation than before.