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Dog attacking or worrying livestock

s.1Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953

Being the owner, or person in charge, of a dog that attacks or worries livestock on agricultural land or on a road or path.

Dog attacking or worrying livestock · Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953, s.1Card 190 / 195

Points to prove

Was the owner of the dog or, if different, the person in charge of it
The dog attacked or worried livestock
On agricultural land, or on a road or path

Key definitions

Worrying – s.1(2): chasing livestock in a way that may reasonably be expected to cause injury or suffering or, for females, abortion or loss of or reduced produce; or being at large (not on a lead or otherwise under close control) in a field or enclosure with sheep.
Livestock – s.3(1): cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, horses (including asses and mules), camelids (such as llamas and alpacas) and poultry (domestic fowl, turkeys, geese and ducks).
Agricultural land – s.3(1): arable, meadow or grazing land, and land used for poultry or pig farming, market gardens, allotments, nursery grounds or orchards.
At large exception – s.1(2A): the “at large with sheep” limb does not apply to the occupier’s or sheep owner’s dogs (or those of a person they authorise), or to police dogs, guide dogs, trained sheep dogs, working gun dogs or packs of hounds.

Defences

Trespassing livestock – s.1(3): on agricultural land, where the livestock are trespassing and the dog belongs to or is in the charge of the occupier (or someone they authorise), unless that person causes the dog to attack.
Straying livestock – s.1(3A): on a road or path, where the livestock have strayed there, unless the person causes the dog to attack.
Owner not in charge – s.1(4): the owner proves the dog was in someone else’s charge and they reasonably believed that person fit and proper, or did not consent to them having it.

Good to know

The Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Act 2025, in force from 18 March 2026, added “attacks”, roads and paths, and camelids, and raised the penalty from a level 3 fine to an unlimited fine.
Police powers: seize a dog with no owner present, or one at risk of attacking again (s.2); take samples and impressions (s.2ZA); and a warrant to enter and search (s.2A).
Where the dog was seized as a continuing threat (s.2(8)), the court can order the offender to pay the costs of its seizure and detention (s.1(7)).
Summary only, so the 6-month time limit for charging applies.

Legislation: Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953, s.1 (opens legislation.gov.uk in a new tab)
Mode of trial: Summary only
Maximum penalty: A fine (unlimited)
Last checked: 2 November 2026, against the current law on legislation.gov.uk

Dog attacking or worrying livestock: questions people ask

What are the points to prove for dog attacking or worrying livestock?

1. Was the owner of the dog or, if different, the person in charge of it 2. The dog attacked or worried livestock 3. On agricultural land, or on a road or path

What is the maximum sentence for dog attacking or worrying livestock?

A fine (unlimited)

Is dog attacking or worrying livestock a summary, either-way or indictable offence?

Dog attacking or worrying livestock is a summary-only offence: it is tried in the magistrates’ court.

What Act and section is dog attacking or worrying livestock?

Dog attacking or worrying livestock is an offence under the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953, s.1.

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