Another loose dog incident at an event. Time to ban dogs?

[Fred66]

People don't/arn't allowed to take dogs to almost any other sporting event, why do they expect to take them to an event?

Because in the whole of its history dogs have been welcome!!
The majority of people that partake in and support the sport are country based and have dogs.
Presumably that is why the majority of members are in favour of dogs being allowed.
I personally would not take dogs into the shopping village as it’s not fair on them or the stores but very few events have these.

 

[Grassy]

I'd hazard a guess that they support it because:

They are dog owners and it's more convenient to be able to bring dogs

They never think it will be their dogs that get loose and/or chase a horse

Riders probably rarely consider that they might get chased/tripped/attacked by a loose dog(s)

They don't consider other people and trade stand owners* when taking their dogs into shopping village/trade stands.

*for every sign I've seen saying not to take male dogs into the stand I've seen twice as many lifting a leg on stock and owners either oblivious or try to make a quick getaway. Also been at a stand when an assistant went to take a saddle pad off a shelf and a dog had somehow peed over all of them and it had ruined at least 5 pads.

I’m a tradestand owner, mostly at BE events & I take my dog with me, we’ve been away since Thursday, we‘ll be home late this evening. My parents are elderly now & it’s unfair on all of them to ask them to look after him for that long, I wouldn’t consider kennels & the cost would be prohibitive. For all those people saying that surely people don’t leave their dogs at home, well no I don’t.

He‘s spent the event either a) sleeping on his bed by my chair b) sleeping in the truck c) having a walk on the lead well away from any horses d) greeting customers He is well trained, very well traveled & at no time ever a risk to anyone/horse at the events. If I couldn’t bring him I’d struggle to be at the events, I never let him off the lead unless we have permission on set up days, which most events are happy with as there are generally lots of dogs playing.

In 15 years I’ve had 3 notable weeing incidents from visiting dogs, one man was very rude & the event organiser stepped in, but generally people are careful with their male dogs.

Im not sure what the answer is, but sitting here, all dogs are under close control & there have been no problems.

 

[Beachbabe]

Absolutely NOT, it's ridiculous to think of banning dogs from these events. If you're going down that route, then children should be banned and also children that are clearly overhorsed by darling mummies that have bought the beautiful animal for a child that can't ride! We've all had to deal with outside interference, but seriously if you think banning dogs is good, then for a start think of the number of spectators that wouldn't patronise the events. Dogs and horses go together. I've had children running under ropes onto a course, loose horse galloping straight through my dressage arena and a loose dog on a x/c course. Shit happens.

 

[Tiddlypom]

But some shit is preventable...

 

[Beachbabe]

But some shit is preventable...

All accidents are preventable, but we are only human. I am sure that we have all caused some sort of upheaval or disturbance to someone in our lifetimes.

 

[Beachbabe]

The thing is that its not just the dogs of irresponsible that get loose.

One of the three in this article apparently slipped its collar, the one I'm thinking of at Blair still had its extendable (part of the danger) attached.

Accidents happen even to the most conscientious of dog owners/handlers. I personally dont think the risk is worth it regardless if it's a local BE80 or Badminton 5*

Dogs don't "need" to be there and their being there does cause problems so...

Where do you suggest they go then? Take a day out at the local BE event, dog owner wants to go, going to be about a six hour day, possibly longer.

 

[Tiddlypom]

Sort dog cover out (like I do) or don’t go, just like other sports...

 

[Beachbabe]

Started this thread for one...

Further action in the offing.

I am a BE volunteer, who never takes their dog to an event.

ETA My co FJ OH spoke up at the pre XC briefing at one local BE event. There was a cricket match due to take place later that day, next to the SJ warm up and a horse walkway.

The TD laughed and said yes, he knew, we could watch a bit of cricket. OH laid into him at the briefing re the H&S aspect - it was our own 2nd team playing there as away team, and balls are regularly hit right out of the ground to where horses, riders and spectators were permitted access. (We had not known that the game was going ahead til just before we got there.).

OH said ‘You have been publicly warned’. Luckily, there were no cricket vs horses incidents that day, but it was just stupid allowing both to go ahead simultaneously with no safe spacing between them.

What do you do with your dog then when you go to volunteer?

 

[milliepops]

I'm finding the outrage a bit hard to understand, surely when getting a dog you know there are going to be places you can't take it and that's the dog owner's problem to solve one way or the other.
Although I'd like one, I don't have a dog because I can't really cope with sorting that out at the moment, i've got enough on my plate with all the horses. it's a trade off between priorities and juggling things.

 

[Beachbabe]

Sort dog cover out (like I do) or don’t go.

Family day out, dog either doesn't kennel, family can't afford it, dog is a family member, dog is very well trained, responsible family. Seriously if you removed all the people who have dogs from the spectators at these events, the events wouldn't be able to afford to run.

 

[Tiddlypom]

Get someone in to let the dog out partway through the day ?‍.

 

[Tiddlypom]

Seriously if you removed all the people who have dogs from the spectators at these events, the events wouldn't be able to afford to run.

Tough.

 

[milliepops]

Seriously if you removed all the people who have dogs from the spectators at these events, the events wouldn't be able to afford to run.

maybe you'd get other people attending who don't like having dogs running around them half the time. (they do exist )

 

[TPO]

Where do you suggest they go then? Take a day out at the local BE event, dog owner wants to go, going to be about a six hour day, possibly longer.

I suggest it's not my problem to solve.

When you take ownership of a dog its thr owners responsibility to provide adequate care. If that means you cant be out the house all day abandoning the dog so be it.

There are plenty of options available but if owners decided thats not for them that's absolutely their right.

The stench of entitlement is overwhelming.

I bet that every loose dog that's chased a horse, created a near miss situation or caused an issue with a spectator all belong to owners who would have told you that their dog would "never".

The whole point of risk assessment is to reduce the risk of an accident occurring. How do you stop horses being chased by loose dogs (amongst other dog related incidents)? Ban dogs from BE events full stop.

That GUARANTEES that no horses will ever be chased on course by a dog ever again.

I highly doubt entries will drop because competitors cant being dogs ditto fence judging.

People paying £25+ for entry to bigger events are likely to be able to spare £10-15 for a dog walker at lunch time.

It's really not an end of the world scenario and it might just save lives (including that of the dog! I bet that beheaded dog wishes he had been left at home!!)

 

[TPO]

All accidents are preventable, but we are only human. I am sure that we have all caused some sort of upheaval or disturbance to someone in our lifetimes.

Do you understand risk; how to identify, score and mitigate it? You are posting as I'd you dont at all so I suggest you google.

The whole point is to PREVENT accidents. In this scenario a loose dog has a high risk of causing a serious accident or even a fatality.

You can 100% remove this risk by banning dogs. Easy and simple solution.

But no people would rather cry over £15 dog visit or the perceived infringement on their "rights" to take their dog wherever they please.

What are the advantages to allowing dogs on site? Other than keeping the entitled happy and excluding service dogs what possible benefit is there?

 

[PapaverFollis]

Anyone who thinks their dog won't chase/pee on stuff/etc etc is probably not taking enough precautions against it happening. It's possible to have a dog with you and narrow the chances of it causing an issue to anyone to an acceptable near zero risk level. But people don't because "my dog would never" or they fail to see the level of hazard the dog could cause so don't take reducing the risk seriously enough. As I said earlier when my dogs have been to horse events they've basically been secured to me in as fail safe a way as possible. Not so other dogs that were there!

But I'm a cruel cruel dog owner and my dogs are content to be left alone for longer periods of time than is now socially acceptable too.

 

[Fragglerock]

I often jump judge with a friend. She's single and her dog comes with us. I know she wouldn't do it if she had to leave it at home. It's an early start and we've done those events where an incident has delayed the competition for a considerable amount of time and we've ended up leave well after 7. It's a long day to leave the dog at home with only one visit. If there are plenty of volunteers then fine, but they are normally short. Although they like two judges to a fence, I've done it on my own before due to a shortage of volunteers.

 

[ycbm]

Where do you suggest they go then? Take a day out at the local BE event, dog owner wants to go, going to be about a six hour day, possibly longer.

Where do they go if a dog owner's sport is cricket, not eventing?
.

 

[ycbm]

All accidents are preventable, but we are only human. I am sure that we have all caused some sort of upheaval or disturbance to someone in our lifetimes.

I would have had more to say, assuming that I was still able to say it, than 'accidents happen, never mind' if the person whose dog chased me through a double of fixed timber at a BE event had caused my horse or me to fall ?
.

 

[Beachbabe]

I suggest it's not my problem to solve.

When you take ownership of a dog its thr owners responsibility to provide adequate care. If that means you cant be out the house all day abandoning the dog so be it.

There are plenty of options available but if owners decided thats not for them that's absolutely their right.

The stench of entitlement is overwhelming.

I bet that every loose dog that's chased a horse, created a near miss situation or caused an issue with a spectator all belong to owners who would have told you that their dog would "never".

The whole point of risk assessment is to reduce the risk of an accident occurring. How do you stop horses being chased by loose dogs (amongst other dog related incidents)? Ban dogs from BE events full stop.

That GUARANTEES that no horses will ever be chased on course by a dog ever again.

I highly doubt entries will drop because competitors cant being dogs ditto fence judging.

People paying £25+ for entry to bigger events are likely to be able to spare £10-15 for a dog walker at lunch time.

It's really not an end of the world scenario and it might just save lives (including that of the dog! I bet that beheaded dog wishes he had been left at home!!)

Right, so you're suggesting a competitor leaves their dog at home from sparrow fart time until the end of the day, probably about 12 hours, with just someone coming in at lunchtime? Cool, what a lucky dog, NOT!

 

[Tiddlypom]

Right, so you're suggesting a competitor leaves their dog at home from sparrow fart time until the end of the day, probably about 12 hours, with just someone coming in at lunchtime? Cool, what a lucky dog, NOT!

Now you are just being silly. If the dog needs more than 1 visit, then the owner should sort them. It’s really not a big deal.

Owners need to sort their priorities out.

 

[Iris1995]

Once they are off the recall is always going to be difficult but it’s very easy to avoid a dog slipping its collar by using a well fitting harness and collar combination held onto by an adult and a bit of training to not pull away. Well behaved owners with their dogs should be welcome at events.

 

[Goldenstar]

Sort dog cover out (like I do) or don’t go, just like other sports...

Well I won’t ,I just won’t go , won’t help ,won’t be involved .
End of .

 

[Tiddlypom]

Well I won’t ,I just won’t go , won’t help ,won’t be involved .
End of .

And that is fine

 

[Rowreach]

Once they are off the recall is always going to be difficult but it’s very easy to avoid a dog slipping its collar by using a well fitting harness and collar combination held onto by an adult and a bit of training to not pull away. Well behaved owners with their dogs should be welcome at events.

Yes but if you pop across to AAD (wearing your tin hat and chain mail) you will be told that harnesses are cruel nasty things and should never be used. I have three dogs, normally brilliant to walk on leads, but on the odd occasion when a hare has shot in front of us, I’ve been very glad they’ve got harnesses on. Bad me.

Do event goers who can’t (won’t) leave their dogs at home never go out for the day to anywhere or anything do we think?

 

[Rowreach]

Well I won’t ,I just won’t go , won’t help ,won’t be involved .
End of .

Fine ?

 

[Goldenstar]

Fine for me , less so for the organisers .

 

[ycbm]

Well behaved owners with their dogs should be welcome at events.

If you can explain how to tell these people from the idiots BEFORE the dog is in a position to cause an accident, then this approach will be perfect.
.

 

[GinaGeo]

See. The things is when deciding if I had time to commit to a dog, knowing that he could come with us to Events was part of it.

If I thought having a dog meant he’d be staying at home by himself for upwards of 12 hours with a dog walker coming in I might not have decided I could be the right home for a dog.

Before anyone says anything, he comes to work with me or I work from Home. I don’t take foreign holidays and my usual dog sitter (mum) grooms for me at Events. I wouldn’t kennel him if that was the alternative. He does go to my partners parents for the day if we’re going spectating and shopping at say Burghley. But I can’t ask them to have him every other weekend during the Event season ?

I also don’t appreciate random dogs bounding up to me and I don’t like falling over miserable looking dogs being dragged round trade stalls. It’s not fun for anybody.

I’ve been to some events that say dogs aren’t to leave the lorry park and are to stay on leads at all times. That seems like a sensible alternative to an outright ban and as a dog owner And Eventer I’d be happy with that. Might be an issue for those towing on hot days with dogs not being left in cars, but on those days alternative provision could me made. Hot days aren’t that common ?

A hefty fine to anybody with an out of control dog would not go amiss.

In my experience professional riders are the worst for letting their dogs wander and it wouldn’t do anybody any harm for some public naming and shaming to take place!

 

[Tiddlypom]

I’ve been to some events that say dogs aren’t to leave the lorry park and are to stay on leads at all times. That seems like a sensible alternative to an outright ban and as a dog owner And Eventer I’d be happy with that. Might be an issue for those towing on hot days with dogs not being left in cars, but on those days alternative provision could me made. Hot days aren’t that common

Which events currently require dogs to stay within the lorry park?

The risk of dogs being left in hot vehicles is why I would prefer an outright ban. It’s only a few weeks ago that a horse died of heatstroke after being left on a lorry at Somerford, let along a dog.