Any Suggestions For Stopping Dog Biting Horse's Tail?

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Mithras

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My horse's tail is rapidly getting shorter and wispier (now above his hocks, was a beautiful long tail before) because the yard dog jumps up and swings from it. Strangely, my horse doesn't kick him, but he is now rather nervous of dogs.

Has anyone ever come up with a solution for this? Its not possible to move fields because they're all in a certain field for winter and the dog does it while they're standing around eating from the big bale feeders. Obviously, I can't shoot the dog, as it is a much loved family pet owned by the Yard Owners...
 
I think you need to tell your YO as then she can do something about it - does anyone else have a similar problem? A dog at my yard is similarly irritating and he always wears a muzzle when on the yard.

Tbh I'm surprised your YO hasn't done anything about it as it could get rather dangerous - what if a horse kicked her dog and caused a fatal injury??
 
Spray the tail with 'chew stoppa' or similar, you can buy it in pet shops, and get a water gun to squirt the dog with if you catch it doing it, I would not be impressed at all!
 
Its a very basic DIY yard owned by older people, the dog is a sheepdog and has wandered loose for years. I will speak to them but doubt anything can be done. Its just not that sort of place.

Am reluctant to use a tailguard as the dog will just swing on it instead and pull it off! (they're also not meant for long term use as they can harm the tail I think?).
 
Clue is in the breed - sheepdog, or border collie. They have a need/instinct to herd animals and nip at the sheep's heels if they don't move for them. Our collie has always tried it on with my old gelding and I took it to be a dominance issue, which was much improved when I got more pro-active about it and started watching for him sneaking up on them and scolded him loudly. He will still have a sneaky try if he is over-excited, but has had a tap from a back leg so doesn't get too close any more.
 
Can you hide somewhere with a well aimed hose? :P

My dog went through a phase of ******** in the garden then rolling in it, but only when she thought no one was looking. I started hiding behind the wheelie bins with the hose and went she went to do it got a SOAKING! To this day I still don't think she knows it was me and she quickly stopped doing it :D
 
It's a nasty habit in a dog. Some of the cattle dogs we had when I was growing up used to grab the cows tails and hold on. They'd stop once the cow managed to give them a good kick. Personally I wouldn't tolerate it, instinct or not. Either speak to the YO or use a dressage whip and give it a firm tap when it does it. We get the next door's JRT in but he just wants to fetch sticks and sometimes even brings his ball along so we can throw it for him. He never bothers the horses though.
 
Whack dog with a stick? Or a supersoaker filled with cold coffee/sticky lemonade?

I would probably just bury dog in the muckheap!
 
Mike007 said:
Shoot Dog
Click to expand...

Yep.

Deal with it at source. This is not on. I'd tell the YO to keep the dog in a kennel or I'd move. Not acceptable at any level :mad:

I go to a tack shop on a big riding school and there are two collies which bite the horses noses over the door and their tails. I couldn't believe it frankly.
 
As abve - water! Our GSD x whippet was appalling. My dog trainer spent 3 hours trying all the PC ways. Nothng worked But 2 well aimed buckets of water did!

The clue is that the act is silent.The dog must think it's the Hand of God..........
 
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