As of 18 March 2026, dog owners across England and Wales face a major legal shift.
The Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Act 2025 introduces stricter rules, tougher penalties, and expanded definitions around livestock worrying.
For those of us in the dog training world, this isn’t just a legal update – it’s a clear signal:
- Control, recall, and responsible handling are no longer optional skills.
Let’s break down what matters most, and how you can train your dog to stay safe, legal, and stress-free around livestock.
Why This Law Matters to Dog Owners
The updated law recognises something trainers have always known:
Dogs don’t need to attack livestock to cause harm.
Chasing, stalking, or even excited running can:
- Trigger panic in animals
- Cause injury (or miscarriage in pregnant livestock)
- Lead to serious legal consequences for the owner
With unlimited fines and stronger enforcement powers now in place, even “friendly” dogs can put owners at risk if not properly trained.
The Training Reality: Most Incidents Aren’t Aggression
Here’s the uncomfortable truth:
Most livestock incidents aren’t caused by aggressive dogs, they’re caused by:
- Poor recall
- High prey drive
- Overexcitement in open spaces
- Owners overestimating control
That means prevention starts with training, not punishment.
5 Essential Training Skills Every Dog Needs Now
1. Reliable Recall (Not “Sometimes” Recall)
If your dog only comes back when it feels like it, that’s not recall, that’s negotiation.
Train for:
- Immediate response on the first cue
- Recall under distraction (start small, build up)
- Emergency recall word (used only in critical situations)
Pro tip:
Practice recall or ask for 1-1 help or attend some training classes.
2. Lead Discipline in High-Risk Areas
Under the new law, incidents can occur on public paths and rights of way, not just fields.
Your dog should:
- Walk calmly on a lead without pulling
- Stay engaged with you, not scanning for movement
- Respond to stop/start cues instantly
Remember in these areas: Put your dog’s lead on – it takes a couple of seconds so always carry this out.
3. Impulse Control Around Movement
Livestock trigger instinctive behaviours, especially in:
- Collies
- Terriers
- Sighthounds
- Working breeds
- Any dog!
Train:
- Recall – come back and clip your dog’s lead on.
- Automatic check-ins (dog looks back to you)
- Calm behaviour when spotting animals and responding to recall
Simple exercise:
Reward your dog for not reacting when seeing movement in the distance and reward your
dog for coming back to have its lead on.
4. Distance Control & Boundary Awareness
Your dog should understand:
- How far it can go from you
- When to stop moving forward
Teach:
- A solid “stop” or “wait” or “stay” cue at distance
- Long-line training for safety in unfamiliar environments
- Short leads for walking around livestock
This is crucial in open countryside where livestock may not be immediately visible.
Remember always use a lead near livestock.
5. Calm Exposure Training (Desensitisation)
Avoiding livestock completely isn’t realistic, but uncontrolled exposure is risky.
Instead:
- Start at a safe distance where your dog notices but doesn’t react
- Reward calm behaviour
- Gradually decrease distance over time
- Always use a lead
Never “test” your dog off-lead near livestock always use a lead.
Common Mistakes That Could Now Cost You
With stricter laws, these mistakes are no longer minor:
❌“He just wants to play”
❌ Letting dogs off-lead near unseen fields
❌ Ignoring recall failures
❌ Assuming countryside = freedom
Intent doesn’t matter under the law, behaviour does.
A Trainer’s Perspective: Prevention Over Correction
By the time a dog chases livestock, you’re already in damage control.
The goal is to build a dog that:
- Checks in naturally
- Prioritises the handler over the environment
- Can disengage from instinct when asked
- Can come back to the owner
- Using a lead safely and correctly
That’s not about force, it’s about clarity, consistency, and reinforcement.
Final Thoughts: This Law Raises the Standard
The new legislation isn’t anti-dog, it’s pro-responsibility.
For dog owners, it sets a clear expectation:
If your dog is off-lead, you must have control, not hope. Therefore, to keep everyone safe put your dog on its lead.
For trainers, it’s an opportunity to:
- Educate clients more seriously
- Emphasise real-world reliability
- Prioritise safety over shortcuts
Need Help?
If your dog struggles with recall, prey drive, or livestock exposure, now is the time to address it, not after an incident.
A structured training plan can make the difference between:
- A relaxed countryside walk
- And a legal, financial, or emotional crisis
Responsible ownership starts with training. And now, the law backs that up.