The Countryside Code for dog walkers

There's something wonderful about taking your dog for a proper countryside walk – open fields, new smells, space to trot along at their own pace. But the countryside is also a working landscape, shared with farm animals, wildlife, and people who make their living from the land. The Countryside Code exists to make sure everyone – dog included – can enjoy it safely.

Most of the Code is common sense once you know it, but a surprising number of dog owners aren't aware of the legal side: when a lead is compulsory, what "under control" actually means, and what can happen if a dog chases livestock. None of it is complicated, and once it becomes habit, it barely changes how you enjoy your walk.

This guide sets out the key rules for dog walkers, in plain English, with the reasoning behind each one – so you know not just what to do, but why it matters.

Keeping your dog under control at all times

The Countryside Code's central message for dog owners is simple: keep your dog on a lead or in sight, and be confident it will come back to you when called. "Under control" doesn't just mean physically restrained – it means your dog is reliably responsive to you, isn't approaching other people, animals or wildlife uninvited, and isn't roaming out of your line of sight.

In practice, that means:

• Recall your dog before you can see the cause of a problem (livestock over a rise, a jogger round a bend), not after.
• Keep dogs on a short lead in busy areas, near roads, and anywhere signposted.
• Never assume a friendly dog is a controlled one – other walkers, cyclists and horse riders can't tell the difference from a distance.

If in doubt, lead on. It's the single easiest way to avoid every other problem in this guide.

The law around livestock: what you must do

This is the part of the Code with real legal teeth. According to the government's official Countryside Code, it is good practice to keep your dog on a lead around livestock wherever you are, and on Open Access land and the coast this becomes a legal requirement. Farmers are permitted to act to protect their animals from a dog that is attacking or worrying them, and in some circumstances that has meant a dog being shot – with no obligation on the farmer to compensate the owner.

Livestock worrying – a dog chasing, attacking, or simply causing distress to farm animals – has been a criminal offence in England and Wales since the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953. Even without any physical contact, a barking or chasing dog can cause sheep and cattle serious harm: animals have died from exhaustion, injured themselves fleeing, or – in pregnant ewes and cows – lost their unborn young through the stress alone. Dogs Trust is blunt about this: getting too close can make farmed animals panic and hurt themselves or lose their pregnancies, even if the dog never makes contact.

Crucially, even a well-behaved, well-trained dog can't always be trusted here. The chase instinct in dogs is ancient and can override training in an instant, particularly with sheep, which panic easily and run in a way that can trigger a chase response even in dogs that have never shown any interest in livestock before.

If you can't avoid a field with animals in it

• Check the map or any signage before you set off, and choose a route around livestock fields if one exists.
• If you must cross a field with animals, keep your dog on a short lead, stay as far from the animals as the field allows, and never walk between adults and their young.
• Never enter a field with a bull present unless there is a clear, safe route away from it – bulls kept with cows or in fields crossed by a public path are usually less dangerous, but treat every bull with caution.
• If cattle or horses become aggressive and start to close in, let your dog off the lead. This sounds counter-intuitive, but both you and your dog are safer split up – your dog can outrun the animals, and you're far less of a target without a dog attached to you. Head for the nearest gate, stile or fence.

What changed: the strengthened livestock worrying law

The rules around livestock worrying were significantly tightened in England and Wales, with new provisions coming into force on 18 March 2026. The changes, confirmed by the UK government, include:

• A clearer legal definition of livestock worrying, extending protection to camelids (llamas and alpacas) alongside traditional farm animals such as sheep and cattle.
• Coverage extended to incidents that happen on roads and paths during the movement of livestock, not just in fields.
• The maximum fine increased from £1,000 to an unlimited amount.
• New police powers to seize and detain a dog where there are reasonable grounds to believe it has attacked or worried livestock and there's a risk it will do so again, including powers to take samples for evidence and enter property to secure a dog or evidence.
• Courts can now order an offending owner to pay the costs of seizing and caring for their dog.

The government's announcement of the changes noted that livestock worrying costs UK farmers close to £2 million a year, and cited a farming industry survey in which 87% of sheep farmers reported a dog attack on their flock in the previous year. Whatever your dog's history around animals, these figures are a reminder of how common – and how costly – livestock worrying still is.

Lead rules on open access land: dates that matter

Beyond livestock, there's a seasonal rule that catches a lot of owners out. On Open Access land – mapped areas of mountain, moor, heath, down and registered common land, shown on Ordnance Survey Explorer maps with a yellow tint and the small brown "walking person" symbol – dogs must be kept on a lead no more than 2 metres long between 1 March and 31 July each year, regardless of whether livestock is present. This protects ground-nesting birds, which are extremely vulnerable to disturbance during the breeding season: a dog running through long grass or heather can flush an adult off its nest, exposing eggs or chicks to predators or the cold within minutes.

Around livestock, the lead requirement on Open Access land applies all year round, not just March to July. On land next to the King Charles III England Coast Path, dogs must be kept under close control at all times.

These specific date-and-distance rules are for Open Access land rather than ordinary public footpaths, but the Code is clear that keeping dogs on a lead near nesting birds and livestock is good practice everywhere, path or no path. Assistance dogs are exempt from these lead requirements, though it's still worth keeping any dog close around unfamiliar animals for its own safety.

Footpaths, open access land and rights of way

It helps to know the difference between the two main types of land you'll cross on a countryside walk:

• Public rights of way (footpaths, bridleways, byways) are fixed, mapped routes across private land that you have a legal right to use. Stick to the marked path, even where it's muddy, unless a sign says wider access is available.
• Open Access land (sometimes called "right to roam" land, under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000) lets you leave the path entirely and explore on foot within the mapped boundary – but only for walking, running, watching wildlife, and similar activities. Cycling, horse-riding, camping and taking animals other than dogs are not permitted unless the landowner allows it or a bridleway crosses the land.

Some areas within an Open Access boundary are "excepted land" – gardens, building sites, working quarries, golf courses and cropped fields, for example – and are not open to the public even though they sit inside the mapped area. If you're not sure whether you're on a right of way or Open Access land, an Ordnance Survey map (paper or the OS Maps app) will show both clearly.

Gates, fences and field boundaries

Farmland only works as a system of enclosed fields if the boundaries stay intact, so the Code asks you to leave gates and property as you find them: if a gate was shut, close it behind you; if it was open, leave it open (it may be that way deliberately, to let livestock move between fields or reach water).

• Use gates, stiles or gaps provided – never climb over a fence or hedge, which can damage the boundary and create an escape route for livestock.
• If a gate is tied or wired shut, that's usually intentional; don't untie it to pass through.
• Keep your dog with you while you negotiate a stile or gate rather than letting it push through ahead of you into a field you haven't checked.

Meeting horses, cyclists and other walkers

Shared paths mean shared courtesy. If you see a horse rider approaching, move your dog well off the path and keep it close and quiet – horses can spook badly at a dog running up behind or beside them, which is dangerous for the rider, the horse and your dog. On bridleways, cyclists have the same right of way as walkers, so keep your dog on a short lead where paths narrow or visibility is poor.

Not every dog wants to say hello to another dog, and not every owner wants their dog approached. Ask before you let your dog run up to greet another, and keep in mind that a stiff, still body, slow tail wag or a dog that turns its head away are all early signs of stress rather than friendliness – both dogs are better off if you call yours back and give the other space.

Litter, dog mess and leaving no trace

Take all litter home, including anything biodegradable like apple cores or orange peel, which can take a long time to break down and may be harmful to wildlife or livestock that eat it. Dog mess should always be bagged and binned in a public litter bin, or taken home if none is available – it isn't just unpleasant underfoot, it can spread parasites to grazing livestock and contaminate watercourses.

A good rule for any countryside visit: leave no trace of your walk beyond footprints.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Letting your dog "just have a run" in a field with livestock – even briefly off-lead, even if you can't see any animals from the gate.
• Assuming your dog won't chase – many owners are certain, right up until the day their dog does. Prevention costs nothing; an incident can cost a great deal, for the farmer and for you.
• Ignoring seasonal signage – lead requirements for ground-nesting birds and lambing season are usually well signposted; take a moment to read them.
• Climbing fences instead of using gates or stiles – it damages boundaries and can let livestock stray onto roads.
• Walking a dog off-lead near a road-facing field gate – livestock being moved between fields can appear without warning.

Before you set off: a quick checklist

A little preparation makes the whole walk easier:

• Make sure your dog is microchipped and wearing a collar with an ID tag showing your name and address, as required by law.
• Carry water, poo bags, and a basic first aid kit for longer routes.
• Check your dog for ticks after walking through long grass, bracken or woodland, particularly in spring and summer.
• Plan your route in advance if you're walking a new area – our Dog Walking Calculator can help you judge how far is reasonable for your dog's age and breed before you head out.
• If your dog seems unwell, unusually stiff, or off their food after a countryside walk, it's always worth a call to your vet rather than waiting to see if it passes.

*This is general guidance, not a substitute for advice from your vet, who can assess your individual pet.*

Sources

• GOV.UK — the official Countryside Code, advice for countryside visitors, including dog control and livestock rules (gov.uk).
• GOV.UK — news release on the strengthened livestock worrying law in force from 18 March 2026 (gov.uk).
• GOV.UK — "Use your right to roam", rules for dogs on Open Access land including lead length and seasonal dates (gov.uk).
• Dogs Trust — advice on livestock worrying, the law, and preventing dogs from chasing farm animals (dogstrust.org.uk).
• RSPCA Assured — guidance on walking near livestock and what to do if a dog chases farm animals (rspcaassured.org.uk).
• PDSA — countryside walking with your dog, including lead rules, ID requirements and safety around farm animals (pdsa.org.uk).