Ticks are genuinely common across much of the UK countryside — woodland, heathland, moorland and long grass are all typical habitats — and according to the UK Health Security Agency, they're becoming more prevalent even in gardens as deer populations expand into more urban and suburban areas. A tick bite can transmit the bacteria that cause Lyme disease, which affects dogs as well as people and can be serious if left untreated.
The most effective everyday defence is simply checking your dog thoroughly after any walk through grass, woodland or heath, paying particular attention to the ears, between the toes, the groin and the base of the tail, where ticks commonly attach. A tick-preventative treatment from your vet is also worth discussing before extensive countryside walking.
If you find an attached tick, remove it with fine-tipped tweezers or a dedicated tick-removal tool, grasping close to the skin and pulling straight out steadily — not with household remedies like Vaseline or a lit match, which can cause the tick to release more bacteria rather than less. Watch the bite site over the following days and contact a vet if you notice swelling, lethargy, or lameness.