NSA Sheep Worrying by Dogs Awareness Week to highlight industry work on serious issue

The National Sheep Association (NSA) will intensify its work to highlight the devastating issue of sheep worrying by dogs during its weeklong awareness campaign beginning next month.

The annual campaign is timed to coincide with a period that often sees a spike in attacks on sheep, as day length increases and dog walkers begin to spend more time dog walking through countryside and fields, potentially home to livestock. The spring months are also the peak season for lambing in the UK, meaning vulnerable livestock is even more at risk from being chased by dogs and physical, often fatal attacks.

Previous work by NSA on the issue has reflected years of increased reports of dog attacks on sheep, showing the urgent need for action to tackle this crisis that threatens animal welfare, and farmers’ mental wellbeing and livelihoods.

This year, for the first time, NSA has requested dog owners from across the UK share their experiences of sheep worrying with the aim of highlighting where education on the issue is lacking and how farmers, organisations and the public can work together to eradicate incidents.

To begin the week of campaign activity, NSA is inviting journalists and agricultural writers to join the results launch on Monday 30th March 2026, from 12 noon until 1pm, to mark the beginning of the campaign week. Register your interest here.

The campaign will include social media activity using the campaign hashtag #LeadOn, NSA has released a Media Toolkit (available here) to encourage those wanting to get involved in sharing the message. NSA will use the 2026 survey results to continue to raise awareness of these incidents and find ways of improving education, guidance and cooperation with the general public.

For more information on the issue of sheep worrying by dogs and the work NSA is doing, please visit www.sheepworrying.org.uk