Restricting Access: Dogs

CRoW land Dogs are allowed on CRoW access land. They must be kept on a short lead when they are near livestock (including horses) and during the lambing season - 1 March to 31 July.

An owner or tenant, but not a commoner, may exclude people with dogs from enclosed land of less than 15 hectares (which could include commons) for up to six weeks every calendar year if the land is used for lambing. Permission is not required for this exclusion but five days notice containing the prescribed information must be provided to the Open Access Centre in Bristol.

The owner of a common used for grouse rearing or shooting can exclude people with dogs for up to five years if it is felt to be necessary for the management of the land. Permission is not required but a calendar month’s notice must be given to the Access Centre.

Note: these restrictions do not apply to guide or hearing dogs or to people walking dogs across rights of way on the land.

Non-CRoW common land

Much common land is excluded from the provisions of CRoW because statutory access rights were already in existence in 2000. On this land there is no legal requirement to keep dogs under close control nor can dogs be excluded. The only legislation that applies is the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953 which made it an offence for dogs to attack or chase livestock. If a farmer comes across a dog attacking his stock he has the right to shoot the dog but he must report the shooting to the police within 48 hours.