Dog ownership brings responsibility. Helen Sacco from the Royal Kennel Club runs us through everything you need to know about livestock worrying – and what might happen if your dog chases farm animals.
Few things compare to a countryside walk with your canine companion. Time spent outdoors with our dogs brings us closer to nature, while regular walks and the company they provide benefit both our physical and mental wellbeing. From encouraging daily exercise to reducing stress and loneliness, dogs enrich our lives in countless ways.
But with those benefits comes responsibility. If a dog chases sheep, cattle or other farm animals, the consequences can be devastating for livestock, farmers, walkers and the dog itself. Livestock worrying is not about “bad dogs”, it is about human responsibility. If a dog slips out, roams or is walked off lead near livestock, the owner in charge has a responsibility to prevent harm.
What is livestock worrying?
Livestock worrying occurs when a dog attacks, chases or distresses farm animals. It doesn't necessarily need to end in a bite.
Regardless of the severity of the dog's chase, the results of livestock worrying can be catastrophic. A frightened ewe may abort, or animals may break through fencing, injure themselves or become separated from their young. Fear and pursuit alone can cause real harm.
What is the punishment for livestock worrying?
In England and Wales, the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Act 2025 strengthened the 1953 law to reflect the serious welfare and financial impact livestock worrying can have. The maximum fine is now unlimited, and police have wider powers to investigate incidents, seize and detain dogs that may pose an ongoing risk, and gather evidence where appropriate. Courts may also order offenders to pay the costs of seizing and caring for a detained dog. The law now covers more places too, including roads and paths, recognising that livestock are often moved between fields and many walks cross working farmland.
Scotland has also strengthened its legislation. Penalties can include a fine of up to £40,000, imprisonment, or both. Courts may also ban someone from owning or keeping a dog, or from allowing a dog onto agricultural land where livestock is present or likely to be present.
Which farm animals are considered livestock? Are dogs allowed to chase any animals?
Many people are surprised to learn that horses are included within the legal definition of livestock in England and Wales. They have been covered since the original 1953 legislation and Scotland’s definition was expanded in 2021 to cover additional animals, including camelids, farmed deer and enclosed game birds. The recent amendment added camelids to the definition of livestock but did not change the legal position for horses.
For dog walkers, the practical advice is consistent across the country: when passing a ridden or driven horse, stay in sight and keep your dog calm, at your side and on a short lead. A startled horse can injure itself, its rider, the dog or the walker. As with cattle, if horses approach and you feel threatened, it is usually safest to let go of your dog's lead so that you and your dog can move to safety separately.
What you should do to prevent livestock worrying (and stop your dogs chasing farm animals)
Here are simple things responsible dog owners can all do to keep countryside experiences positive. Prevention is the best protection. Before entering a field, stop, look and listen. Check for sheep, cattle, horses or signs of grazing. Keep your dog in sight and under control; if in doubt, use a short lead. That reflects the various countryside codes across the UK, which say dogs must not scare or disturb farm animals or wildlife. Walk around groups of animals, not through them, even if that means briefly leaving the path to avoid conflict.
Responsibility starts at home too. Many incidents involve dogs that have escaped from homes or gardens, or dogs that are repeatedly allowed to roam. Secure gates, gardens and boundaries matter. A roaming dog is a risk to livestock, wildlife, traffic and itself.
If your dog does chase or attack livestock, prioritise safety: call it back if safe to do so, put it on a lead, contact the landowner and report the incident. In the very rare circumstances where an ongoing attack cannot be stopped, farmers have legal powers to shoot a dog as a last resort. This is another reason why preventing an incident in the first place is so important. Preventing the incident also protects your dog.
What should farmers do to prevent livestock worrying?
The majority of dog walkers want to do the right thing. Clear information about where livestock are grazing, well-maintained paths and sensible alternative routes where possible all help owners make the correct choices. Farmers can also support responsible access by keeping gates easy to close, repairing gaps under fences and removing outdated livestock signs once animals have moved.
Protecting the countryside is a shared responsibility. Dogs enrich our lives, livestock are central to our rural communities, and enjoying public access depends on respect for both. By keeping dogs under control around livestock, we can protect animal welfare, support farmers and ensure everyone can continue to enjoy the countryside safely.
For more advice on enjoying the countryside responsibly with your dog, visit the Royal Kennel Club.
Top image credit: Royal Kennel Club
Words by: Helen Sacco, Royal Kennel Club
