Dog hates all male animals!

hazelxhelena

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I share a lovely docile cob gelding at a yard near to my home. The owner has said that on my days she's happy for me to sometimes take him home to graze in my fields to take some pressure off her slightly battered pasture, which I would love to do because I work from home and it would work better with fitting riding into my schedule and give me an opportunity to really bond with him, as well as let beginner-rider family members have a potter about on him (which she is also OK with).

BUT, I have a male adult Border Terrier who is almost impossible to keep inside (he fits through the cat flap!) and therefore tends to roam the grounds freely since it's very secure. Trouble is: he HATES all male animals aside from humans. He learns very quickly and is the gentlest sweetheart with humans - never ever put a foot wrong with adults, elderly or children - but he has a real problem with dogs and can't stand our cockerel. He's been 'fixed' but was rescued from a farm where they kept the dogs separated in awful filthy sheds outside, barking all night so he was terrorised as a puppy. I really don't know what he's like with horses generally other than coming across them on the odd walk (just looks a bit bewildered by them) because I've never taken him to yards due to inevitable dogs.

Is it a lost cause, and I should keep the horse away just in case he does something unpredictable? Or do you think there might be some hope for socialising him (any tips??)?
 

Mister Ted

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My neighbour has B/T on next doors smallholding.Its a bit the same as yours I think.It tries to attack my dog and hunts my cat and lets itself in the garden.They usually confine themselves to small furry things but no point it in it frightening your horse.Keep it on a lead.
 

hazelxhelena

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Thanks for the replies everybody - I think the only option is to start slow and go by each reaction. I'll get a cage to start with and then keep him on a lead if he doesn't seem set off by the horse. The perfect scenario would be if he didn't even register the horse as a threat, as you say!
 
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