NSA Opens Sheep Worrying Survey to Dog Owners for First Time

Thirty-five percent of dog owners surveyed by the National Sheep Association didn't know that their dog being off the lead near sheep, even with no physical contact, could already constitute a criminal offence. The survey closed March 9 after drawing more than 2,000 responses, delivering that finding just as sweeping new legislation removed the previous £1,000 cap on fines entirely, replacing it with unlimited financial penalties that took effect March 18.

The NSA launched its 13th annual sheep worrying awareness week on March 30, running through April 6, with this year's campaign marking the first time the organisation opened its survey directly to the dog-owning public rather than restricting it to farming members. NSA Communications Manager Katie James explained the shift: "For many years NSA has sought feedback from its members and the wider sheep farming community on the impact suffered by their livestock as a result of dog attacks. By reaching out to dog owners NSA hoped to identify strategies for further cooperation between those walking their dogs in the countryside and the farmers whose livestock are regularly put at risk."

More than one in ten respondents admitted their own dog had previously been involved in a sheep worrying incident. NSA Chief Executive Phil Stocker acknowledged the central tension in the data: "While it is encouraging awareness of sheep worrying is increasing, these findings clearly show that understanding does not always translate to appropriate behavior."

The financial consequences are climbing. NFU Mutual estimates dog attacks on UK livestock cost farmers £1.95 million in 2025, a 10% rise from 2024 and roughly a 30% increase from 2023 figures. The Midlands recorded the highest regional toll at approximately £438,000, with the South East following at £330,000. Stocker added: "Attacks not only compromise animal welfare but also cause great stress, anxiety and financial loss to farmers themselves." Average reports from sheep farmer respondents in historical NSA data showed four sheep deaths per year from worrying, up from previous years, with a single attack accounting for 44 animals killed.

A separate NFU Mutual survey of 1,100 dog owners found that more are letting their dogs off the lead in the countryside compared with 2022, despite 49% admitting they cannot reliably recall their pets. That combination sits at the centre of the NSA's push for clearer public education.

The Dogs (Protection of Livestock) (Amendment) Act 2025, which came into force just 12 days before the awareness week began, adds significant legal weight to the campaign. Alongside the unlimited fine regime, the law gives police new powers to seize and detain dogs suspected of worrying livestock even when no owner is present, and to enter premises to gather evidence. NFU Vice-President Robyn Munt described the law's implementation as "a moment of huge relief" for farmers.

The NSA also took its message to Crufts, the Guinness World Records-recognised world's largest dog show, held at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham from March 5 to 8. Invited by The Kennel Club, the association highlighted the sheep worrying issue directly to more than 20,000 dog owners attending the event.

Operation Recall, a national police initiative created by Jim Clark of the Cheshire rural crime team, provides enforcement agencies with a toolkit for prosecuting and preventing livestock worrying offences. With unlimited fines now on the books and a dataset of 2,000 dog-owner responses in hand, the NSA's 2026 campaign arrives at a moment when the gap between knowing the term and understanding the law could prove a very expensive mistake.