After commissioning "Dove" was assigned to the Channel Fleet, taking part in the 1901 Naval Manoeuvres. Commander Douglas Nicholson was appointed in command on 24 February 1902, and "Dove" was assigned to the Portsmouth instructional flotilla. In May 1902 the ship struck a rock off Kildorney, and had to be towed by her sister ship "Bullfinch" to Queenstown. She was deemed fit for sea, and the following day was towed by the service vessel to her home-port Portsmouth, where she was docked for repairs. In 1910, "Dove" formed part of the 5th Destroyer Flotilla at Devonport. On 30 August 1912 the Admiralty directed all destroyers were to be grouped into classes designated by letters based on contract speed and appearance. As a three-funneled destroyer with a contract speed of 30 knots, "Dove" was assigned to the C class. The class letters were painted on the hull below the bridge area and on a funnel. In 1912, it was decided to allocate older destroyers to dedicated Patrol Flotillas, with "Dove" being allocated to the Seventh Flotilla, based at Devonport. In July 1914 "Dove" was in active commission in the 7th Destroyer Flotilla based at Devonport tendered to the destroyer depot ship . In November 1914 "Dove" was one of 29 destroyers transferred to Scapa Flow for local patrols around the base of the Grand Fleet. By March, "Dove" had transferred to the North Channel Patrol Flotilla, based at Larne in the North of Ireland. On 24 April 1916, the Easter Rising against British rule broke out in Ireland. As a response, two Infantry Brigades were ordered from Liverpool to Dublin to reinforce the British forces, with "Dove" taking part in escorting the transports carrying these troops. By November 1918 she had been redeployed to the Devonport Local Flotilla based out of Liverpool. In 1919 "Dove" was paid off and laid-up in reserve awaiting disposal. She was sold on 27 January 1920 to Maden and McKee of Porthcawl for breaking.