Dog owners are being warned they face huge financial penalties
New dog walking law for all owners in England and Wales from Wednesday
A new dog walking law kicks into force from Wednesday morning – with all owners warned. Dog owners are being warned they face huge financial penalties for alarming livestock while walking pooches up and down England and Wales.
The Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Act 2025 has been greenlit and rubber-stamped by the Labour Party government and it is set to update the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953.
It will come into effect on Wednesday 18 March 2026, the government said. The law now strengthens the tools available to police and the courts so they can respond more effectively when incidents happen.
READ MORE New British Passport rule now in force after Home Office u-turn
The government said: “This change to the law is not about restricting dog walking. It is about making sure people can continue to enjoy the countryside while keeping livestock safe, protecting animal welfare and supporting the work farmers do every day.”
The changes make it clear that attacking livestock is treated separately from worrying livestock. It extends the law to cover livestock worrying and attacks that take place on roads and paths and includes camelids (as llamas and alpacas are commonly farmed).
The new law also introduces a new defence for dog owners to exempt them from liability where the dog was in the charge of another person at the time of the offence without the owner’s consent, for instance if the dog was stolen.
Labour says the new legislation also introduces new powers allowing a court to order an offender to pay expenses associated with seizing and detaining a dog.
It provides a clear deterrent by increasing the penalty from a fine of up to £1,000 to an unlimited fine, it is hoped. Under the law, the government can seize and detain dogs, take samples and impressions from a dog or livestock and gives police the powers to enter and search premises to identify, seize and detain a dog for the prevention of future incidents.
In a warning for dog owners, the government says: “Responsible access to the countryside is encouraged. Be aware of your surroundings when walking near livestock.
“A dog does not need to make physical contact with animals to commit an offence under the new law. Chasing or disturbing livestock can cause harm.”