Dog owners across the UK are being urged to take part in a new survey as the National Sheep Society shines a spotlight on the costly and devastating issue of sheep anxiety.
The NSA’s latest annual survey launches today (January 12) and is aimed specifically at first-time dog owners, as the association seeks new insights into incidents of dogs chasing and attacking sheep.
Worrying about sheep can cause extreme stress in livestock, leading to serious consequences such as miscarriage, severe injury, and even death.
This problem is also causing great economic damage. Statistics released in 2024 show around £1.8m of livestock was injured or killed across the UK due to livestock anxiety caused by dogs.
The association said sheep concerns remained a major issue for farmers, particularly during the lambing season when ewes are pregnant or caring for young lambs.
To better understand and address this issue, the NSA is appealing to dog owners across the UK to take part in the survey, which is open until Monday 9 March. Participants can access the survey through the NSA website.
NSA CEO Phil Stocker said shepherds “regularly face the dire consequences of having their sheep worried by dogs”.
He added that attacks “not only compromise animal welfare, but also cause significant stress, anxiety and economic losses for the farmers themselves.”
Stocker encouraged dog owners to contribute, saying the NSA “encourages dog owners to complete this year’s survey” and encouraged the organization to share it widely.
He explained that the information collected will help create a “more accurate representation of the problem,” which is critical as the NSA seeks to increase understanding of the scale of the problem among dog owners, farmers, and lawmakers.
The results of the survey will be shared with stakeholders, including national media, in late spring.
Timing of results is important as many ewes are in the final stages of pregnancy or have weak newborn lambs. The stress caused by seizures during this period increases the risk of miscarriage or mistaken birth.
The NSA says increased awareness and responsible behavior by dog owners is essential to reducing incidents and protecting both livestock welfare and farmers’ livelihoods.
