Dog attack and ignorant owner

Pearlsasinger said:
What astounds me is that some people think that it is fine for dogs to run in and out of fields while off their leads. Dogs should be under control at all times when out of their owners' property and certainly should NOT be running through crops or stock.

OP I do hope your sister manages to regain her confidence soon.
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Did I say it was fine? Don't think so but sometimes as a human we cannot be 100% in control of an animal 100% of the time. I know where my dog is and isn't allowed to run when I am out walking so it is wrong for anyone to assume my dog was trespassing!
 
amymay said:
It is interesting that so many horses have a problem with dogs (according to this forum anyway). I've never had or been on a horse that's run at the sight of a dog - or much else for that matter. Maybe I'm in the minority:D
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I agree Amymay. I've never had anything like this happen until the other week. It shook me up, and I am wary of using that bridlepath now! (perhaps I am a wimp!)
 
Sharer123 said:
I agree Amymay. I've never had anything like this happen until the other week. It shook me up, and I am wary of using that bridlepath now! (perhaps I am a wimp!)
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I think you just crack on as normal. You only had a dog running around behind you - which really is not something that you should get your horse used to.

The more they see, the less inclined they are to be bothered by it. Same goes for the rider.
 
ladyt25 said:
Did I say it was fine? Don't think so but sometimes as a human we cannot be 100% in control of an animal 100% of the time. I know where my dog is and isn't allowed to run when I am out walking so it is wrong for anyone to assume my dog was trespassing!
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You were not the only person who admitted that your dog runs into/out of fields. However as you said it was a wheat field that your dog was in, I am amazed that the farmer agrees to this.
There are a lot of people round me who seem to think that it is fine for their dogs to run in and out of fields, including ours which have horses and sheep in them. But then they also seem to think that it is fine to walk a dog off its lead, with no hi-viz whatsoever for animal or owner, along a narrow 40mph road in the dark - morons!.
 
I don't see it as being sides to be on sharer. I both ride & dog walk, off lead on bridleways with a dog more under control than a lot of horses. I see dog/horse incidents as being different in each instance, not us versus them. And as you asked, what you do is exactly what you said, recreate the scenario. You choose the time & place, borrow a dog & desensitize the horse. It's perfectly achievable, & he already has a head start if he's ok in some circumstances. There's no reason any horse should have a permanent fear of dogs.
 
The way I see it is horse riders only really have access to roads (where a dog should be on a lead imo) and bridleways (where if you can't recall your dog in an instant it shouldn't be off the lead, again imo). There are plenty of footpaths and commons to walk dogs off the lead where you are unlikely to come into contact with a horse.
OP, I know you said dog was on a lead, but like you said, walker was paying no attention and tied to a lean - as proved, an accident waiting to happen. Hope your sister doesn't loose too much confidence x
 
She's lucky the dog didn't drag the pram down the road, where as it could have tipped over injuring her child.. then, who else would she have to blame but herself? She should have been holding the dog correctly, not being lazy and tying him to the pram :(
Hope your sisters ok, hugs guys XX
 
My horse is not bothered by dogs either. They can chase, jump up at him he's not bothered. Before I got him a dog he sniffed bit his nose. He responded by picking said dog up in his teeth and launching it so I'm told :0 I have 4 dogs and all apart from the one I got as a rescue are good with horses. This one thinks they want to play with him, hence I never walk him on bridleways and if we do see a horse he goes straight on the lead!
 
Irishbabygirl said:
where if you can't recall your dog in an instant it shouldn't be off the lead, again imo
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I would hazard a guess that *most* dog owners on here would have a story of a time when their dog has not recalled in an instant - its pretty hard if said dog is a squirrel hound. Although dog misdemeanours should only be admitted in AAD, not NL, where you will be taken out and shot for admitting you are less than perfect :p
 
"a woman had a rottweiler tied to her pram with a very young baby inside of it."

No one seems to have picked up on this...so was the dog chasing the horse with a child in a pram dragging behind it!!!! That is thoroughly dangerous!
 
jinglejoys said:
"a woman had a rottweiler tied to her pram with a very young baby inside of it."

No one seems to have picked up on this...so was the dog chasing the horse with a child in a pram dragging behind it!!!! That is thoroughly dangerous!
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They had, but this is NL - and the horse is the only priority! :D
 
wench said:
Some of the examples above are why I always say that dogs should be on leads in public, no matter where they are.

And if you are on a bridleway, and your dog is "rabbiting in an adjacent field", this is tresspass...
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Thank you, wench, for ^^^This!!

Some people on here just refuse to accept that dogs should be on lead in public, full stop.

If my perfectly-trained, 100%-recall responsive dog were off lead on a bridle path, how would I know if the next horse we see is 100% calm, unprovoked by dogs? With a dog on lead in public (especially on a bridle path) it's a win-win situation.
 
jinglejoys said:
"a woman had a rottweiler tied to her pram with a very young baby inside of it."

No one seems to have picked up on this...so was the dog chasing the horse with a child in a pram dragging behind it!!!! That is thoroughly dangerous!
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It's the first thing I picked up on. It thought it too obvious to mention in my initial post.
 
My dog walks off lead on bridleways & I have absolutely zero intention of changing that. He is called to heel when a horse approaches, not because he's bothered, just incase I meet some knicker wetting rider who goes into panic mode at the sight of a loose dog 30ft away. And if someone's horse, or more likely the rider, can't cope with that, they shouldn't be in public. To play devils advocate, we could say all horses on bridleways should be on a lr just incase the rider doesn't have control off lr.
 
littlelegs said:
My dog walks off lead on bridleways & I have absolutely zero intention of changing that. He is called to heel when a horse approaches, not because he's bothered, just incase I meet some knicker wetting rider who goes into panic mode at the sight of a loose dog 30ft away. And if someone's horse, or more likely the rider, can't cope with that, they shouldn't be in public. To play devils advocate, we could say all horses on bridleways should be on a lr just incase the rider doesn't have control off lr.
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Really Littlelegs, you're just the best:D:D:D:D
 
I got the zapper from amazon cos £14 it is grey in colour and has batteries already inserted, there are many options but this had a good customer review, cant think of the name, will post just now when i have a look for the paperwork.
 
I had an incident a few months ago with a loose dalmation running at me whilst I was out on daughters pony....after I had specifically asked the owner if the dog was Ok with horses.....I must add I own two rotties who run around the yard and don't bother the horses, the horses are fine with dogs too....however, when faced with said dalmation running at him barking, pony span round, ran backwards and I embarrasingly fell off:o

No apology, no effort to get the dog- nothing. When challenged if she thought what had happened was ok, what if it had been a child on a pony etc.....the dog owner told me to ''effing get back on my effing horse and eff off''. Charming.:rolleyes:

And then.....as I did get back on all effing hairy 13.3hh of him....she uttered the line' You think you're something special up there don't you?':D

So....I did report her, police went round and gave her a talking to.:D
 
amymay said:
It is interesting that so many horses have a problem with dogs (according to this forum anyway). I've never had or been on a horse that's run at the sight of a dog - or much else for that matter. Maybe I'm in the minority:D
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Only Little Stig has an issue with Dogs out of my lot (but likely he has reason to).
Luckily even after being bitten, our horse still has no issues with dogs...the one with the issues now is me! I am far more cautious.
There is of course a difference between a dog merrily running on past you (which any horse really ought to tolerate) and having a chuffing great dog tugging on the boot of a small child.
As I said before I now carry a schooling whip, and give one clear warning to the dog's owner that should the dog attack my horse I WILL give it a crack.
Fortunately that's not happened yet.
 
on the post of dogs in fields.. i have a very old german shep who lived in the city with us for his 10 years prior to moving into the country and letting him have the run of the farm. he doesnt like dogs, never has done, its super protective of our place and of his newly adopted brother (he loves pups.. odd)

a springer got into our field where we keep the horses next to the farm, he jumped back through the bushes Before we could shoo him out. Horses didn’t mine, but if barney had seen him he would have been dead. Pretty quickly.

Whos fault is that then? My dog is only doing what he knows by protecting the farm and his dog should have been on the lead. Dad also had to re fence entire field cus he was scared they would make it put Barney to sleep.

It’s the same with my horse, she will boot a dog that runs up behind her, shes protecting herself.

I never let barney out of farm cus of dogs and horses and pup is always on a lead

so I am taking responsibility as should others.
 
littlelegs said:
My dog walks off lead on bridleways & I have absolutely zero intention of changing that. He is called to heel when a horse approaches, not because he's bothered, just incase I meet some knicker wetting rider who goes into panic mode at the sight of a loose dog 30ft away. And if someone's horse, or more likely the rider, can't cope with that, they shouldn't be in public. To play devils advocate, we could say all horses on bridleways should be on a lr just incase the rider doesn't have control off lr.
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Ridiculous response! Horses and dogs are animals, not machines. What sets off one animal might not set off another. Bridleways are designated for horses (b-r-i-d-l-e-w-a-y-s). There have been too many loose, uncontrolled dogs where horses are involved. Just as horse riders want to be safe from loose, charging dogs, dog walkers should be safe from startled horses. Dogs on leads=safer alternative for both parties. Simples!
 
littlelegs said:
My dog walks off lead on bridleways & I have absolutely zero intention of changing that. He is called to heel when a horse approaches, not because he's bothered, just incase I meet some knicker wetting rider who goes into panic mode at the sight of a loose dog 30ft away. And if someone's horse, or more likely the rider, can't cope with that, they shouldn't be in public. To play devils advocate, we could say all horses on bridleways should be on a lr just incase the rider doesn't have control off lr.
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PMSL - too true and echo my sentiments exactly!
 
I keep my dogs on a lead around livestock and anywhere where I am likely to come across horses/loose dogs/lots of people. My younger one doesn't bother with most things because I have put a lot of work into training him, but I'd rather not take the chance.
Accidents can be costly, in human and monetary terms.
He gets plenty of exercise, biking, swimming, free running.
It's not a hardship, really to have to walk him on a lead every once in a while.
It's called a bridleway, to me that means horses should have the priority, dog parks are called dog parks because they are for dogs.
 
RutlandH2O said:
Ridiculous response! Horses and dogs are animals, not machines. What sets off one animal might not set off another. Bridleways are designated for horses (b-r-i-d-l-e-w-a-y-s). There have been too many loose, uncontrolled dogs where horses are involved. Just as horse riders want to be safe from loose, charging dogs, dog walkers should be safe from startled horses. Dogs on leads=safer alternative for both parties. Simples!
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i agree with this.. at the end of the day everyone knows its a damn lot easier to control a dog on a lead that a ridden horse. no matter HOW well behanved your horse is and how unspooky it is i bet there is something that will startle it. they are prey animals after all.

and i also dont think every dog should be on a lead, ive seen loads of dogs that are amazingly controlled. i even seen people hacking with their dogs along side them with no lead on.

but if you dont know whether your dog will run off or not put it on a lead. if it isnt the perfectly controlled dog everyone wishes for put it on a lead.


but really it all comes down to how to deal with the after math of an accident that makes the difference, accidents do happen, but if a dog had chased me off my horse and the owner said it was my fault i would have kicked off.

if owner says they are sorry blah blah like post above. that may be a little different :rolleyes:
 
My dogs are always off lead and if we come across a horse they are called to heel and sit and wait quietly until the horse has passed by.

As the owner of both I can understand both sides of the coin. You don't want maniac dogs snapping at your heels but equally no horse should charge off at the sight of well behaved dogs.

I think the main problem is that unless you have ever been a horse owner you don't understand how unpredictable they can be and that's why some dog owners expect them to cope with anything.
 
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Here's an idea. The place where I stay in America, the city authority issues a specially colour-coded tags for dogs who are allowed to go offlead in the parks/mountains/open spaces under its' control.
The dog has to undergo a short test where it is exposed to distractions, must recall and walk to heel, it only takes about ten minutes.
This would be easy enough to implement and would bring in revenue in terms of money paid to apply for and complete the test/obtain the tag and fines of those who's dogs are offlead without the tag.

I like that idea.
 
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