Dogs and farm animals

It's always good practice (and a legal requirement on open access land) to keep your dog on a lead around farm animals and horses, for your own safety and for the welfare of the animals. A farmer may shoot a dog which is attacking or chasing farm animals without being liable to compensate the dog's owner.

Walking around cattle or horses

Be aware and always keep your dog on a lead, but release immediately if chased by cattle or horses. Don't risk getting hurt by trying to protect it. Your dog will be much safer if you let it run away from a farm animal in these circumstances and so will you.

Be prepared as cattle can react to your presence so move quietly and predictably to avoid any alarm.

Be respectful if there are cattle present on or near the footpath. Give them space and re-join the route when safe to do so.

Walking around sheep

Always keep your dog on a short lead when walking in fields with sheep. Farm animals and wildlife can become stressed when a dog is around, even if the dog seems to pay them no attention, so it is important to keep your dog close and move through the area.

Other special rules

Special dog rules may apply in particular situations, so always look out for local signs. For example:

• dogs may be banned from certain areas that people use, or there may be restrictions, byelaws or control orders limiting where they can go
• the access rights that normally apply to open country and registered common land (known as 'open access' land) require dogs to be kept on a short lead between 1 March and 31 July, to help protect ground nesting birds, and all year-round near farm animals
• at the coast, there may also be some local restrictions to require dogs to be kept on a short lead during the bird breeding season, and to prevent disturbance to flocks of resting and feeding birds during other times of year