08/04/2026
A reminder for the general public: yes, you dog owners 🐑
Farmers are lambing right now. Some are lambing indoors, which means sheep and lambs can appear overnight in what looks like an empty field, once born, they get moved outside.
Those ewes you see in the fields without lambs at foot? They’re pregnant. Any contact with your dog will stress them hugely. They’re already dealing with everything our weather throws at them. They don’t need extra challenges on top of that.
And now there’s a new law you need to know about.
The Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Act 2025 came into force on 18th March 2026. Here’s what’s changed:
🔴 Fines are now unlimited — up from a maximum of £1,000
🔴 Police can seize and detain your dog if they believe it has worried or attacked livestock even if you’re not present
🔴 Police can enter premises to collect evidence, including DNA from your dog
🔴 The law now covers roads and paths, not just agricultural land so even if livestock are being moved between fields, you’re still liable
🔴 Causing fear, stress or disturbance to livestock counts as an offence even if there’s no physical contact or injury
So your dog, even if it’s well-behaved and completely disinterested in sheep, can still spook a pregnant ewe just by running around nearby.
It’s simple. Keep them on the lead in fields with sheep especially now, more than ever.
