The Irish Farmers Association is calling for stronger regulations and stricter enforcement around dog control.
The call was made this weekend as the group launched campaign to tackle dog attacks and livestock worrying.
The 'No Dogs Allowed' campaign is aimed at raising awareness around the dangers dogs pose in certain outdoor areas and to encourage responsible dog ownership.
Now in its fifth year, the initiative is also being supported by Comhairle na Tuaithe.
As part of this campaign, posters will be distributed to IFA members nationwide and will be erected on sheep farms.
Speaking at the launch, IFA President Francie Gorman said the scourge of dog attacks has to be confronted by imposing the full rigours of the law.
"The reality is that dog owners who behave irresponsibly don't believe there will be consequences for their actions," he said.
"Until the authorities devote the resources needed to crack down on this behaviour, the devastation caused by dog attacks will continue."
Comhairle na Tuaithe is a body made up of representatives from farming groups, recreational users of the countryside and state bodies with a responsibility or interest in the countryside.
It has had a role in progressing access to the countryside, which has been an ongoing issue for landowners, recreational users and tourists.
Its chair, former TD and minister, Éamon Ó Cuív said: "We all need to be mindful that many of our trails and walking routes are on private lands and without the goodwill of farmers we would not have access to many areas of the countryside".
Members of Comhairle na Tuaithe agree that there are outdoor places which are not suitable to bring a dog for exercise, including upland areas of farmland.
The IFA's Sheep Chair Adrian Gallagher said that a single national database to identify dogs and their owners needs to be developed.
"The critical issue in the first instance is to have all dogs in the country microchipped, registered to the owner and licensed, in order to establish a national database for all dogs and the person responsible for the dog," he said.
"It’s a critical time of the year as lambing is taking place. Dogs are not allowed on or near farmland and we are asking dog owners to behave in a responsible way and adhere to this."
Mr Gallagher said a lack of enforcement has "allowed horrendous attacks to persist and increase" across the country.
"We are demanding stronger regulations and stricter enforcement for those who disregard the safety and wellbeing of our livestock," he said.
He said that dog owners are fully liable for any damages caused to farmers and their livestock, and that dogs found on farmland can be shot.
Among the measures the farming association is looking for are stronger enforcement powers for dog wardens and Gardai, along with increased on-the-spot fines and sanctions for non-compliance and livestock worrying.
It also says that the authority to apply the legal obligations to dogs in border regions who are owned by persons not resident in the State is needed.
