Does anyone take their dog out on hacks with them?

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FinellaGlen

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I decided to walk Nelly in hand to cool down after exercising her today so that I could take my dog, Lucy, up the lane with us. I wanted to see how pony and dog got on to judge if it would be ok to ride out with Lucy bounding ahead of us.

Nelly ignored Lucy and Lucy ignored Nelly so all seemed ok. The only slight problem came when I asked Lucy to get back into the Land Rover and Nelly was standing too close so Lucy wouldn't jump in until I moved Nells back a few paces.

Going to try it again on Saturday but this time I'll be riding so I hope it goes well. Lucy is a whippet and fairly obedient although if she scents a rabbit she does become a little "deaf". Wish us luck!
 
yup- when I box up I always take my dog- kills two birds with one stone, and she loves it- she even jumps the logs alongside the horse!
 
Umm tried it once with Lance and my st bernard, dog kept trying to play with me,Lance kept trying to kill dog!

My lab is fine though and will come out with us.
 
I take Muppet my dalmatian out with me all the time and he loves it! I keep him on a very long lead rope when we are on the lanes but let him off when we are in a dog safe place (ie no cars or livestock) although generally he is very well behaved
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The only problem I have ever had was when Forever accidently stepped on his paw once (Muppy was not a happy puppy!) and the time that Rupert spooked and took off and I had to let go of Mup - although as soon as Rupert had settle I caught Mup and all was fine. It can be done if you are careful but obviously busy roads are a bit of a no-no, also any country roads where idiots tend to drive a bit quick... We don't want any squashed dogs! I do always take the precaution of taking my mobile with me though so if there is a problem Muppet can be collected and not have to walk home
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Thanks Panda. I would only be riding on a single track road which goes up to the kennels at one end so it's a dead end. There are plenty of gateways to pull into so I think the road work part will be ok. The rest is on farm tracks through the fields.
 
I always take my dog with me on rides - she has been coming since she was little. She loves it, the horse is fantastic with dogs and I am always very happy when the three muskateers are out together!!
 
Yup, I do too. WOuldn't do road work really, do the odd stretch of local dea end lanes but that is about it, just in case! Luckily my dog is too lazy to chase things - we were out on Saturday andhe bounded through some undergrowth next to the path....and landed in the middle of a herd of about 6 deer! He looked at them leaping off, looked at me waving a doggy treat - no contest! In kaiber's mind a bird (or gravy bone) in the hand is definately worth two (deer) in the bush!!
He does sometimes try to play with the horses, leaping in front of them etc and barking when we trot/canter, but my lot are so used to him they just completely ignore him.
 
I used to when I had access to off road hacking, but have moved now and can only hack via roads. I do miss it though - it saved some time and energy!
 
I'm going to be really controversial in saying this but I think it's totally irresponsible to take your dog out with you on a hack - even if you only hit one piece of road, it's bang out of order. On a lead / off the lead - either way - Totally Irresponsible.

You have limited control over both animal's and anything could happen.

There is a girl that hacks out near to me that regularly takes her lurcher out with her on a hack (on a long lead). She ran into trouble when the dog took off infront on the horse to cross the road into the path of an oncoming car.

It gives out the wrong message to people who may think "how good it would be"
 
Dogs are required by law to be kept on a lead and under control whilst on a public highway/footpath/bridleway.

bit irresponsible if you ask me.

if i saw someone who frequently had their dog off the lead, i would most certainly notify the local Dog Warden.
 
Everytime I ride my dog comes with me. Just had a lovely long hack today and he really enjoyed it. I am lucky in that Murphy our cob will tolerate the dog doing anything so if I'm worried that he will run off (there is one house he seems to always do it at) I just pop him on the lead and lead him from Murphy. The dog actually puts his paws on Murphys shoulders so that I can get the lead on him!!!
I also take a few treats in my pocket and every so often give the dog one and he then seems to stick with me.

Good Luck
 
I used to hack out with someone who insisted on bringing her dog and the bloody thing was a liability!! It did actually get hit by a car once, but still she took it. I guess if it's a very quiet lane and your dog is properly controlled then it's not a problem, but I would keep away from roads and situations where you could cause problems for other people.
 
But JM07 whippets need to be exercised off lead. The equine equivalent would be having a racehorse which was walked everywhere and never allowed to go any faster. My vet would be very upset with me if I stopped proper exercise for Lucy. She is well muscled up and she needs to remain so to stay healthy.

We do live in a fairly isolated area to put it into perspective. Our cottage is surrounded by farmland for miles in every direction (not owned by us). We live on a small lane which is two miles long and on which there is just one large house and a hall which is set back from the road by about a mile. The farmers don't object in the slightest to my dog being off the lead. All the land is arable only and no stock is grazed for miles.

Whippets are friendly, gentle dogs. Lucy has been attacked by 3 dogs on 3 separate ocassions. One was a German Shepherd and two were of unknown breeding. She has never retaliated and is still friendly towards other dogs and horses. I would never allow a dog of mine to be exercised off lead if it had any viscious tendencies towards other dogs or people. The only roadwork I propose to do is on a lane several miles long and is absolutely straight as a die. Visibility is excellent. I have hi-vis gear on at all times, so does my horse and my dog. I really can't see the problem.
 
Thank you Prilly. I have yet to see another person or animal on my hacking route (unless I am hacking in company) so there are not many people to endanger. I am not sure how Lucy could endanger them anyway as she is the most gentle dog imaginable.
 
Please just make sure you can control your dog, ie. she will come back to you when called. There's nothing worse than meeting someone else out hacking with their loose dog scrabbling about in the bushes or bounding up to me and my horse (some peoples horses are not used to dogs!).
 
Thank you MagicMelon. I attended puppy training classes with my dog for months and she is now 6 years old and has excellent recall. If we encounter the lady who rides up the field opposite when we are out walking I immediately recall Lucy and put her on her lead until the horse has gone by. I would never, ever endanger another horserider. Many years ago a man let his German Shepard out of his car and it bounded towards my pony who bolted and ended up falling on the road and damaging her knees. The dog owner just watched, did not attempt to recall his dog and did not apologise of offer any help to me or my pony.
 
I used to take our Retriever, but I wouldnt take the two dogs we have now - the Doberman would bound off after anything that moved, having gone suddenly and mysteriously deaf, and the collie would just run round the horses trying to round them up!
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It sounds like you are a responsible and considerate dog owner, so I'm sure you won't have a problem. It's a shame so many others aren't. I don't actually like dogs, I'm a bit afraid of them, but so many owners assume that everyone loves dogs and allow them to bound up to you. For us dog phobics that is a nightmare.
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Thank you Prilly. I would like to think that I am responsible and considerate in everything I do. I certainly try to be! I am known as Mrs Re-Cycling to my friends because of the lengths I go to to do the "right thing" and I try to apply those principles to most other things in my life. I am upset by inconsiderate people so I strive not to be one myself.

I live in the middle of nowhere and lead a very quiet, some may say dull, life surrounded by my animals but I wouldn't ever assume that everyone shares my love of animals. I think it is sad when people don't like or are frightened of even the gentlest of dogs but no-one can help how they feel can they?
 
It isn't nice to have an irrational fear of anything, I can tell you. But every dog owner says "Oh but you'll like my dog, it's friendly/gentle/ wouldn't hurt you". I won't like it, I can't help it. I can just about tolerate dogs I get to know, but I am still constantly on edge around them. A lot of dog owners seem to have a problem accepting that not everyone likes dogs.
 
Prilly - I don't share your phobia (obviously) but I can sympathise. I love most animals but if someone put a cockroach on me I would scream because, to me, they are just about the most frightening thing I can imagine. You've no need to explain your feeling towards dogs. Like I said no-one can help what they feel. My OH is terrified of spiders even though his fear is unfounded but he is powerless to alter his feelings and so I am the Spider Remover in Chief in our household!
 
Both my dogs are trained to the whistle for both stop and recall, they also walk to heel (to the horse), sit and wait on command. I take them with me everytime I go out and if we do go down the lane and hear a car coming (or they usually hear a car before me) they run back to me and sit on the verge/in the hedge, I stop because I am usually leading one or two horses and allow the car to pass before I move on. However most of my riding is on open moor anyway.

It can be done as long as your dog is very obedient and preferrably whistle trained.
 
i have always taken my dog out, on roads she walks at the horses heel, just training new pup to do the same(off road of course),dogs love it and horse does??
 
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