Dog Attacks

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Elbie

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:mad: Just read about the police horses that were attacked by the dog.

I am so fed up with this kind of thing happening. Why can't people have control over their dogs?!?!?!

The amount of times I have been out riding and had dogs run up to me (luckily they were friendly) but they ignore the owners calls to come back. At one time, after several attempts at shouting the dogs name they just gave up, turned around and left me with the dog! If you know your dog won't return to you and you see someone on a great big animal, bigger than a cow, wearing a reflective tabard - put your dog on a lead!

I've also been out riding around the edge of a field, the bridleway is separated by a fence. A woman on the field side was walking an exciteable boxer puppy. She purposely walked over to the fence so her dog could "meet" the horses. Its all very well wanting your dog to be ok with horses but my horse may not be ok with your dog! Some people just don't seem to use their brains at all and appreciate that even the sanest horse can get spooked - especially if a dog is being aggressive - and the consequences can be really bad.

Rant over...and breath!
 
I agree with you completely!! My only hacking option is at a country park and its a complete nightmare , so many dogs off lead (even though signs say £1000 fine for off lead) and I have been attacked so many times, most recently a women had a massive mastiff type dog it came bounding over and decided to jump on my boys back legs, needless to say a big row followed. I started shouting at her to get the dog and at the dog, she went barmy how dare I shout at her dog etc etc, was awful :(
recently was leading my friends little girl on my other pony and an old man came passed with a rottie, the rottie launched forward I was in the way and it bit me on the knee!!! It hurt so much and the owner just shuffled off!
erm ok rant over!! lol
eta - i have a mastiff and rottie and they are both lovely and well behaved, so a shame people dont both training their dogs :(
 
I'm a dog trainer and I agree that there are irresponsible owners out there and I'm not defending them at all.

Diet can play a big factor in how a dog behaves, think processed foods with colourings, as can the way it is handled. Would you want to go to someone who was yelling at you and would potentially grab you by the scruff when they did get hold of you? Especially if you were having fun. TV progammes can add to the problem too, showing some very bad handling practices; punishment based rather than reward based. I did a study in 2009 for my course and found that 60% of dogs who had never been to training had behavioural issues.

Some non horsey people might not realise that horses can spook easily and think they are doing thier best to socialise their puppy, while others might be embarressed by thier dog's behaviour. Fightened dogs who have the flight option closed will lunge and bark, the size of the dog obviously contributes to any pain and injury caused.

There has been a lot of call recently for dogs to be kept on leads at all times but studies show that in the USA where this happens a lot the dog's behaviour is worse as they are unable to socialise or to burn off energy.
 
I don't like meeting horses when I am walking. Many riders shoot straight past me and my dog without slowing down, which I think is completely unfair on him and is very inconsiderate to me.

Sadly, the ones that come back to walk and say thank to me for recalling my dog, putting his lead on and wading off into the undergrowth out of their way are often a minority.:mad: Many of them look at me as though I have no right to be there in the first place:mad:

Also, many riders seem to expect dogs to be perfect little robots while at the same time wanting the world to make allowances for their poorly schooled and out of control horses. Both dogs and horses are animals and are therefore inherently unpredictable, and we should remember that.

A bit of mutual respect and live and let live would go a long way on BOTH sides.
 
Also, many riders seem to expect dogs to be perfect little robots while at the same time wanting the world to make allowances for their poorly schooled and out of control horses. Both dogs and horses are animals and are therefore inherently unpredictable, and we should remember that.

A bit of mutual respect and live and let live would go a long way on BOTH sides.[/QUOTE]

I agree with that your saying however I personally always slow down, stand to the side and keep an eye out for dogs in the hedge etc but unfortunately by me the dog owners just dont seem to care if they dogs are hanging off your horses tail :( thinking about it I have had quite alot of little children come charging up to me recently and going straight behing the horse to 'pet' it that has been a bit hairy to say the least!! The parents just seem to let them as well!! Good job my horses are pretty good with dogs and children :)
 
I am pleased to report that on my ride yesterday afternoon, every dog owner I met called their dog back and some even put on the lead! Dog owners I salute you! Lets hope these actions stay!!!
 
A dog attacked on of my pet sheep about a month ago. Woman had no control over the dog and my poor boy was bitten through the hock resulting in a non repairable leg. They are kept at my partners house and his mother came out to see what was happening as she could hear shouting. The woman said she had lost her dog, and partners mother helped find it. She had let the sheep out of the field and seen him bite Mo repeatedly. She mentioned NOTHING to her, and ran off as soon as possible. Police just missed her (other people saw the attack and rung). The only chance of survival he had was amputation, which he has now had. Despite a police investigation to try and find this woman (I say woman, what I really mean is heartless, irresponsible b***h, and this is my polite wording for her...) she hasn't been found. I am now left with a several hundred pound bill that I can't really afford and my baby sheep with a shortened lifespan.
I understand that accidents happen, maybe the dog had never seen sheep before so she didn't know that it would chase them. But running away, shirking your responsibilities after your uncontrolled dog has inflicted horrific injuries on a much loved family pet...DISGUSTING. God help me if I ever find the woman...
People need to face up to their responsibilties when having a dog, not run away from them. If you can't do that, don't get a dog!
 
I always have my dog at heel or on lead when I meet anyone not just horses! I can't say much for other people around where I life though :mad: Some people just don't think one man told me to belt his dog with my whip when I was chased accross a field owned by my yard owner a few years back :eek: I told him it wasn't the dog that needed belted with the whip... The thing is its not as if the dog had been off lead and the man hadn't seen me he had the dog on the lead waved and said and good morning before letting it off :)

I haven't had any incidents when out with Holly although she is totally fascinated by them I just worry she might try to eat them like she does with just about everything else :o
 
I don't often ride where I might meet dogs, but I can certainly see the value in carrying a hunting whip.

If I was riding somewhere with people and dogs I would definitely carry this and use it on any offending canine coming too close to my horse. I really don't care what the owners think, as one good crack and that dog will probably never go up to a horse again, so a good lesson learned.
 
What makes me laugh is people don't seem bothered if their dogs are running around your horse. But they would be bothered if there dog got injured in the process and I bet they would hunt you down and hold you liable for any vets fees!

My friend's sister was attacked out riding and as she fell off backwards the last thing she saw before she got knocked out was her horse galloping away with a dog attached to him. Poor boy did manage to make it home, albeit on a main road! I don't see how anybody could witness that and not even check she was ok. If I knew I'd caused someone to have an accident there is no way I could ignore it. And do they not think how they'd feel if they witnessed their dog/animal getting attacked and the person responsible running away? Clearly not.

Like i've said, this weekend I was fortunate enough to have no dog incidents, although apart from a boxer bounding up to us the other side of the fence and the dog owner calling the dog back in the most high pitched, panic stricken voice ever! AT least she called it back, even though there was a fence separating us.
 
I agree that respect needs to be on both sides, just as it needs to be with motorists.

My friend had a staff hanging off her horse's stomach a few months ago and the owner's only seemed bothered after the horse kicked the dog in defence.

My horse has had the YO's dog hanging off his tail before and never bat an eye lid. I'm not phased about walking past dogs off their lead as a result but luckily I hack in an area where they tend to always be on a lead.
 
My horse was attacked by a staffie the other day dog went completly out of control, my horse being terrified kicked the dog but the dog kept chasing me and blue owner finally caught the dog after all of that, my horse is only 3 and has been scared after that attack and wont go past any dog without shivering alot

Horse riders might have there horses under control, but horses can be un predictable at the best of times...
 
I ALWAYS say thank you to considerate dog owners and also say "Good Dog" to the dog and tell the owner how beautiful and well behaved their pooch is. :)

There are lots of loose dogs at my stable, so my horse is pretty chilled around most dogs unless they are aggressive.
 
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