The Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Act 2025 - an overview of the key changes

This article was authored by Emily Caleno, Litigation Executive. 

On 18 March 2026 the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Act 2025 (the Act) will come into effect. We provide an overview of the key changes the legislation will introduce and highlight important considerations for insurers.

The Act modernises the original 1953 framework to reflect significant changes in countryside use and dog ownership. Importantly, the Act does not create new offences but clarifies and strengthens the existing framework.

Key changes

• Expanded definition of livestock to include ‘camelids’ (to take into account that llamas and alpacas are commonly farmed).
• The wording in the Act reflects the distinction between ‘attacking livestock’ and ‘livestock worrying’, noting that fear and stress alone can constitute injury to livestock. Even in instances where no physical injury has occurred, livestock may suffer harm through fear, stress or panic. Therefore, behaviour such as chasing livestock can constitute an offence.
• Wider geographical reach, extending offences from agricultural land to roads and public paths. This mirrors the reality that livestock often graze near highways and footpaths (common dog walker routes).
• Stronger enforcement powers, such as entering premises, seizing and detaining a dog suspected of an offence, and broader evidence gathering powers. Financial penalties have also been raised, and in serious cases, unlimited fines may be imposed.
• Introduces an owner liability exemption where a dog has been taken without the owner’s consent.   

Comment

From an insurance perspective, the amendments may significantly affect both the frequency and defensibility of claims.

The clearer definition of ‘worrying’ — particularly the recognition of stress-based injury — lowers the evidential threshold in some livestock claims. This could lead to:

• Increased notifications involving dog walkers;
• Greater scrutiny of supervision standards and risk management;
• More complex causation disputes where there was no physical injury;
• Coverage questions under public liability and pet business policies.

The extension of the offence to roads and public paths is also significant. Many dog walking incidents occur in these locations, potentially widening exposure beyond traditional farmland scenarios.

At the same time, the new owner consent defence may create additional factual disputes, particularly where third-party walkers or informal care arrangements are involved.

Monitoring how enforcement bodies apply the new powers and how courts interpret the changes the statute will introduce will be important. Insurers may wish to review policy wordings, underwriting assumptions and risk guidance for insured dog walking businesses ahead of 18 March 2026.

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