07/12/2025
Very important message
🚨 Important update on the UK Livestock-Worrying Law 🚨
(Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953 + 2025 Amendment)
If you walk your dog in the countryside, this is something you really need to know..
🐑 What counts as “worrying livestock”?
The law is very clear — and it’s much broader than many people realise.
“Worrying” includes:
🔴 Attacking livestock
– Any physical harm, biting or grabbing.
🔴 Chasing livestock
– Even if the dog never touches the animals.
– If the chasing could reasonably be expected to cause stress, injury, exhaustion, or pregnant animals to abort, it is an offence.
🔴 Being “at large” — not under close control — in a field with sheep
– A dog doesn’t need to bark or chase.
– Simply being loose around sheep (off-lead or not listening) can legally count as worrying because livestock may panic, run, get injured or become distressed.
💡 Animals don’t have to be harmed for the owner to be prosecuted — the risk and the stress alone are enough under the law.
🦮 What “under close control” means in practice
This is where most people misunderstand the law.
🚫 “My dog is friendly”
🚫 “He’s never chased before”
🚫 “He only wants to say hello”
None of this matters legally.
Under control means:
✔ Your dog stays with you
✔ Your dog responds immediately when you call
✔ You can prevent your dog approaching livestock
✔ When needed, they are on a short lead
✔ You are physically able to stop them if something changes suddenly
If your dog is running ahead, ignoring you, or can reach livestock before you can stop them — they are NOT under close control.
⸻
📜 What changed with the new amendment (2025)
The updated law makes things much stricter:
✨ Wider definition of livestock (now includes alpacas, llamas etc.)
✨ Applies on public paths and even roads when livestock are present or being moved
✨ Clear distinction between attacking vs worrying
✨ Much stronger police powers — including seizing dogs involved in worrying
✨ Penalties increased — fines can be much higher and no longer capped
This brings the law in line with modern farming and the huge increase in dogs in the countryside.
🌾 What dog owners need to do
✔ Always put your dog on a lead any time livestock are in sight
✔ If in doubt — lead on
✔ Teach a strong recall and check-in behaviour
✔ Give livestock plenty of space
✔ Remember: your dog’s behaviour may be playful to you but terrifying to the animals
Do you need help with recall, impulse control training, prey driven behaviours, lead walking past livestock?
Get in touch I can help!
