Dogs and horses and roads - HELP!

[nix]

Hi everyone,

Is there any way at all of training a horse not to be frightened of being chased by a dog? I know this probably sounds like an incredibly stupid question, but it really isn't.

I have a young Arab gelding on loan (Ziggy) who I've been walking out in hand to get him used to traffic (never seen it before) and he's been a babe. However, on two consecutive days the border collie from the farm over the road has chased us without provocation, once nearly putting us under a car and the second time down our own driveway. Both the authorities and the owner don't seem to give a monkeys ... so no help there.

I'd personally shoot the bloomin' dog given half a chance (I do like dogs, just not being chased by them), but that's not really an option. The only other option I have is to try to deal with the problem as it is. So any useful ideas would really help. Thanks.

Nix, Harve and Zig

[AJB]

Do you have a friend with a dog??? or contact the local dog training club-the best thing to do would be to introduce the horse to dogs in a controlled dafe enviroment, ie a school or your paddock-begin with all on leads and then maybe let them walk around him and feed him when hes behaved and is calm-start gradually and maybe get a person walking out with you with a dog-obviously the dogs need to be horse friendly!!-it will take time and sadly even the steadiest horse around dogs will be spooked by a running snarling one!-my horse is totally dog proof having been hunted and I have 3 who run around his paddock and under his belly etc but on a hack locally there is a house with a big dog that always rushes the gate and sprays gravel everywhere, every time both of the horses always spook!-I suppose we are anticipating it a bit but despite talks to the owners nothing has happened but its a relief to get past the house when hes not around!!.good luck-if I lived nearer I would offer my 3 as dog confidence givers-they even like horse feed!!!

[ros]

Some farmers just seem to think they have a God-given right to allow their dogs free range, and collies, of course, are the world's worst when it comes to chasing things. It makes me extremely angry :mad: :mad: :mad: And before anyone tells me off I'm allowed to have a go because I'm married to a farmer :p

I wonder what the authorities would say if there was a nasty accident with a child?

Merlin is fairly dog-proof too, because we've always had dogs around. One farm dog did run out and nip his hind fetlock not so long ago, but fortunately it can't have been very hard because he just did a couple of little dance steps and looked a bit surprised, that's all, and I didn't actually realise what had happened until the person I was riding with told me. The farmer wasn't far away, and rushed over and grabbed the dog and was full of apologies, and we had a nice chat and that was that.

On the odd occasions I've had encounters with farm dogs, they very often respond to a good loud "get back" or "lie down" (they're used to being cursed ;) ) so if you can growl at them without actually upsetting the horse it's worth a try.

[Wally]

My thoughts entirely ros. A loud meaningfull "DROP AND LIE THERE" may do the trick or "LIEDOWN" Most will respond to a "THAT'LL DO" if they are working dogs, but not in a Barbara Woodhouse tone, in an "I'm going to strangle you when I get my hands on you" tone.

Ever wondered why farmers have a healthy rosy glow? It's not from the fresh air, it yelling and cursing thier collies, who seem to think they know better sometimes and will bring you a field of sheep that you really didn't want!

All our horses are dog proof simply because they are used to being bossed by a mad collie who swings on their tails.

[nakedescapee]

Maybe the dog needs a good swift kick from your horse! The dog would learn to keep away and the horse would learn he can easily over power the dog.

[nix]

Thanks for the replies everyone ...

Wally and ros ... will definitely try shouting suggested terms at it!! I wish Zig would take a well aimed kick at the dog to put it off ... but unfortunately he is much more prone to flight rather than fight :rolleyes:

We have dogs around the yard and Ziggy's fine with them, especially as they're not given to chasing the horses.

Wally, you do make me laugh ... I've got a wonderful image in my head at the moment of your collie swinging off one of your shetland's tails :D

Thanks again.

Nix, Harve and Zig

[Wally]

I bet even if your horse did get a well aimed kick in it would not deter a working collie. The times ours has been kicked by a new horse, does it stop her? does it heck!

The other day she went hell for leather, 90º on to the back end of Cymro, grabbed his tail on the way past, swung in the air, on his tail to the full height of his back before centrifugal force took hold and launched her into the air. She landed on her side, skidding along the floor as she went and then came back for another go!

Do you want to borrow a mad collie to de-sensetize your horse?....I know Heather has some around her yard too, maybe not as mad as my dog but excellent value! I could post you mine down for an intensive de-collie-ing course.:D :D :D

She knows Frances HATES filthy working collies, so Fly tries to sneak up on her and give her a kiss. Frances tells her to "GET IN YOUR BED" and the dog just grins at her (literally) and creeps closer sneezing, they do know how to get you going!

[maverick927]

Do any of your friends have dog-proof horses that could give your horse confidence?

Mavy doesn't give a monkeys about dogs. They really could swing from his tail and he would keep walking. He lets them jump up at him and lick his face.

[nix]

lol ... Wally ... what d'u think the postage charges's be? :D :D

Poor Frances ... oh well, at least dog sneezes aren't as bad as horse sneezes ;)

Good idea Maverick, unfortunately tho even the most dog-proof horses we have, including Harve, freak a fair bit about this strange dog flying out of nowhere after them. I think we'll definitely try going out in pairs tho ... safety in numbers ;)

Nix, Harve and Zig

[lesley2004]

try reversing the role. you run at the dog with horse in tow and shout at it telling it to get back or go home. that is if your sure it won't bite you or the horse. chances are its just being a bully and showing off.

[Peace]

I've never tried this technique from horseback, so I don't know if it will help. I've had the same problem with loose dogs running aggressively at a dog I was walking on a leash. I'd take along a water pistol filled with lemon juice and water, and shoot the offending beast in the face. It doesn't hurt them, but it is mildly caustic and will scare the bejesus out of most churlish canines.

Of course, the dog is liable to yelp when you do this, which might spook your horse worse. After the first time or two, though, most dogs I've done this to give me a wide berth when they see me coming!;)

[lisae]

Between my house (where our horses reside too) and our farm (acres of lanes to ride/drive on) is only a mile of road to cover. But on that stretch lies the lab retriever from He**, who comes out of its yard and will chase you even if you cross the horse to the other side. That then places said dog in peril of getting run down! I have to call the owners every time I want to go by. They always deny that their dog comes out of their yard, because they have the "invisible fence" electro-shock dog retaining system and they claim every time that she wouldn't defy it. But they don't have the shocking collar on her!!

So she really only stays in their yard because she wants to, until poor Monday and I come trotting along.....it's a stressor because it's a busy road and I worry about the dog encounter going out and coming back if I haven't been able to reach them to lock her up.

Oh well.

[sallym]

This tip was given to me by a friend AFTER I'd been chased half way across Richmond Park by an Irish wolfhound. I've tried it several times and it does seem to work. If you see the dog coming after you in time, and if you have space, turn the horse to face the dog. It stops them in their tracks because the thing they're chasing isn't running.

Godd luck with your dog proofing.

Best wishes

SallyM

[nix]

Thanks for everyone's replies.

Can you picture me chasing said collie (with large Arab in tow) ... waving water pistol and shouting "LIE DOWN!!!" at the top of my voice? :D Well, I'm going to give it a try anyway :)

Nix, Harve and Zig

[Peace]

Can you picture me chasing said collie (with large Arab in tow) ... waving water pistol and shouting "LIE DOWN!!!" at the top of my voice?

It would be more fun if we had actual pictures:) . *Please* take a photographer with you!:D

Y'Know, if nothing else, you might just frighten the owners into keeping their dog inside!:D

[Wally]

Weeeell, I know BOTH my sheepdogs would go home with you if you squirted them with a water pistol, lemon juice or vinegar and all!

This is the BEST game they know, my lad spends hours playing with them with one of those super soaker pump up water pistols! Oh the fun of it! if it isn't a water pistol it is the hose pipe.....or the tap when you are trying to fill waterbuckets!

I don't think for a second lemon would put them off, they would suffer the discomfort to get the fun game! Collies do have a pain threshold in the realms of insanity! I have seen them run over and they get up and carry on chasing the wheels on the tractor! Duuuur! The cat knows that the dog has a routine of being let out in the morning and running up to the tractor and savaging the big wheels at the back....while it's parked! so the cat makes it his last act of the evening to pee up the wheels just to prove a point!:D :D

[Mossy]

at least dog sneezes aren't as bad as horse sneezes
I would question that when the dog is a slobbery St Bernard!!! Horses do not normally sneeze all over a newly cleaned glass coffee table. Bless her - NOT.

Getting back to the point it seems to be some horses and some dogs as I used to have a collie who went everywhere with me and Moss. She would trot along behind his back legs as good as gold. If any other dog tried that they would be in orbit - including our current collie. As for Mollie both horses treat her as an honorary horse!

[jUmPingIsLifE]

when dogs bug me when im riding (chasing, barking at autumns feet) i turn autumn towards the dog, give him leg and he will chase the dog. autumn, being a horse and bigger then the dog, scared the dog and the dog left us alone. we do that whenever dogs chase us. that is what alll the riders around here do actully.

[$@R@H]

Oh god I felt TERRIBLE! once when out on the farm our Dog(NOT ourfarm dog, our dumb pet dog, He's a cocker spanial) Spooked our neighbours horse while it was riding it! He chased it(He's so dumb, He's lucky to still be with us the way he bothers the cows with their new born calfs!).

I got him back. Sent him up the farm with his tail btween his ears and Apoligized to the rider. I felt So bad!

Our actul Cattle dogs WOULD never do that!
Shes a Hunterway and Very passive. You just say "Bad girl" to her and she goes off with her tail between her legs and the sadest look on her face. Shes good with the cattle though and would do anything my dad asked of her.
The commands our dogs are taught to stop chasing When they get a bit out of hand are "Get out of it!"