Dog scared ponies

[julie111]

Evening all, just wanted to let off a bit of steam! Had a lovely quiet hack today and on way back home through village a springer spaniel hurtled through the air snapping and snarling onto a low bank that surrounds the bungalow where it lives. The woman appeared and I asked her if she could get her dog, she made a half hearted attempt to get it but it got away from her and hurtled itself at us again, by this time the ponies were really spooked, my daughters pony cat jumped sideways across the road in front of a on coming taxi and my boy spun round and shot off in the other direction. Fortunately the taxi driver stopped and waited patiently while we got ourselves back together and we managed to get past the bungalow. As we passed I shouted out to the woman thank you ( by this time the dog was inside) she replied "you are living in the countryside, they will have to get used to it".
Any way on our way back home after sorting ponies out I stopped off to speak to her and she shouted me down saying it is a guard dog and there is nothing she can do, the horse down the road doesn't have a problem with it, so just get over it!
I feel so angry, my boy is young, he is excellent in all traffic, will pass anything, didn't flinch when a chinook helicopter passed over us the other week but this dog spooked him, I know things like this can happen but her attitude was disgusting!
Sorry for the long post.

 

[tessybear]

So she wants you to erase a horses naturual fight or flight instinct ? yes your horse should be good with dogs, but if one is coming at it with the attention to cause harm then the flight instinct will kick in. At the end of the dog the dog needs to be controlled and correct fencing put up round the hourse.

 

[Littlelegs]

So the dog wasn't actually on the road (where I assume you were?) In which case I think the dog owner has a point tbh.

 

[julie111]

So she wants you to erase a horses naturual fight or flight instinct ? yes your horse should be good with dogs, but if one is coming at it with the attention to cause harm then the flight instinct will kick in. At the end of the dog the dog needs to be controlled and correct fencing put up round the hourse.

Hi, our ponies are normally very good with dogs even dogs barking at them from cars passing closely to us down the lanes, but this was something else!
Unfortunately this women can't see the danger she is allowing her dog to cause! Thanks for your reply!

 

[julie111]

So the dog wasn't actually on the road (where I assume you were?) In which case I think the dog owner has a point tbh.

No the dog wasn't in the road but on our side of a very low bank.
So you think her attitude was justified? Had one of my dogs done this I would of apologised, she said there is nothing she can do because it is a guard dog, therefore she is implying she doesn't have any control over it!

 

[Booboos]

Was the dog on her own property or on the public highway? If the dog was on her own property it is very unfortunate that your ponies spooked but she has the right to have her dog loose in her own garden. If she has to recognise that horses are flight animals you have to recognise that dogs are guarding animals, a dog barking in its own garden is reasonable imo. I say this having been in your position, i.e. horse getting spooked by dog in garden - that's horses for you.

If the dog was on the public highway it was out of control and if she does not take steps to control her dog you should speak to the Dog Warden.

 

[Honey08]

I'm sorry to be harsh, but I wouldn't be on the road with my horses if a dog barking in someone's garden is all it took to have them spinning and spooking in front of cars. I could understand it if the dog was attacking them and actually out in the road or hanging off their tails etc. Yes the lady could have been nicer, but she does have a point if it is a guard dog - we had all our tack and rugs stolen a few years ago and I never stop the dogs from barking nowadays.

 

[tessybear]

Have i read this wrong ? i read it as dog ran down into road snarling at the riders ??
Op can you clear up exactly what happened ?

 

[Crugeran Celt]

My dogs will always bark when people walk past the house but they never bark at horses, not sure if this is because I do not allow them to bark at mine and they just assume they should not bark at any horses but having a horse who is perfectly fine with my dogs running around him but will freak out when a strange dog runs at him or bark at him, I sympathize with you. Nothing worse than your horse getting upset whilst on the road and possibly causing an accident. Not sure what more you can do as you have tried to approach her, perhaps you could write to her explaining how upsetting it is having your horses mess around on the road and the possible out come of that. You could offer for the dog to be 'introduced' to the horses in a safe environment so it would not be so inclined to bark when horses walk past.

 

[julie111]

I'm sorry to be harsh, but I wouldn't be on the road with my horses if a dog barking in someone's garden is all it took to have them spinning and spooking in front of cars. I could understand it if the dog was attacking them and actually out in the road or hanging off their tails etc. Yes the lady could have been nicer, but she does have a point if it is a guard dog - we had all our tack and rugs stolen a few years ago and I never stop the dogs from barking nowadays.

Our ponies are perfectly ok with barking dogs! This was completely different, the dog literally through itself over the bank from nowhere, it was on our side of the bank!

 

[Littlelegs]

Yes, I do. It's not the woman's problem if your horses have an issue with a dog on its own property. By the same token, it could be argued the dog was under control as it didn't leave the banking, but the horses weren't as they were all over the road. She might not have been polite, but, then neither were you. If I was on a horse that was getting upset in the same circumstances, I would have been apologizing for being a pita, & asking her very politely if she'd mind holding her dog for a sec cos my horse was being silly. Then thanking her for helping with my problem. Then I would have gone round after to thank her again, & ask if there was a quiet time on the road when the dog would be out barking so I could do some bombproofing with the horse. As riders I don't think we do ourselves any favours by demanding people pander to what our horses may take exception to. Instead, its up to us to train our horses to tolerate everyday situations.

 

[julie111]

My dogs will always bark when people walk past the house but they never bark at horses, not sure if this is because I do not allow them to bark at mine and they just assume they should not bark at any horses but having a horse who is perfectly fine with my dogs running around him but will freak out when a strange dog runs at him or bark at him, I sympathize with you. Nothing worse than your horse getting upset whilst on the road and possibly causing an accident. Not sure what more you can do as you have tried to approach her, perhaps you could write to her explaining how upsetting it is having your horses mess around on the road and the possible out come of that. You could offer for the dog to be 'introduced' to the horses in a safe environment so it would not be so inclined to bark when horses walk past.

Thank you, I'm glad someone understands how I feel, I tried talking to her but she slammed the door in my face.

 

[Crugeran Celt]

Littlelegs, I agree that we should get our horses used to everyday activities but surely it would be common courtesy of a dog owner, when they can see a rider in difficulty to take the dog away immediately?

 

[Booboos]

Thank you, I'm glad someone understands how I feel, I tried talking to her but she slammed the door in my face.

I appreciate you had a fright but maybe you need to reconsider how you spoke to her about what her animal was doing on her property. Did you genuinely shout ' thank you' or were you being sarcastic? If your tone of voice was sarcastic it would have set the whole discussion on the wrong foot. After all from her point of view her dog was in her garden, your horses were out of control on a road and she even tried to get hold of her dog.

 

[julie111]

I appreciate you had a fright but maybe you need to reconsider how you spoke to her about what her animal was doing on her property. Did you genuinely shout ' thank you' or were you being sarcastic? If your tone of voice was sarcastic it would have set the whole discussion on the wrong foot. After all from her point of view her dog was in her garden, your horses were out of control on a road and she even tried to get hold of her dog.

I shouted thank you as we trotted them on by, I was not being sarcastic! She was the one to say her dog is a guard dog so she can't stop it flying up the bank at anything that goes by!

 

[PeterNatt]

If the dog was on a public highway (this includes roads and public rights of way) then the dogs must be under control at all times. If not then report the incidence to your local police station and ask for an incident number.

If the dogs are on private property but you are on a public highway or public right of way and the dogs have a history of causing a nuisance when riders ride past then you simply report the problem to your district council who can use the Enviromental Protection Act 1990 (as ammended) to enforce the owner of the dog to keep it well away from the boundary fence.

Problem solved!

 

[Pearlsasinger]

Yes, I do. It's not the woman's problem if your horses have an issue with a dog on its own property. By the same token, it could be argued the dog was under control as it didn't leave the banking, but the horses weren't as they were all over the road. She might not have been polite, but, then neither were you. If I was on a horse that was getting upset in the same circumstances, I would have been apologizing for being a pita, & asking her very politely if she'd mind holding her dog for a sec cos my horse was being silly. Then thanking her for helping with my problem. Then I would have gone round after to thank her again, & ask if there was a quiet time on the road when the dog would be out barking so I could do some bombproofing with the horse. As riders I don't think we do ourselves any favours by demanding people pander to what our horses may take exception to. Instead, its up to us to train our horses to tolerate everyday situations.

This, exactly!

I am fed up of having to 'build bridges' and 'mend fences' because other horse-riders annoy every-one else who is trying to use the same space as them. I'm afraid if you can't control your horses, you need to stay in the school and practise.

 

[jinglejoys]

" hurtled through the air snapping and snarling onto a low bank that surrounds the bungalow where it lives"

I'm still trying to get my head around this bit...I mean we are talking about a springer spaniel here,not a rotweiller or Akita!????

 

[Littlelegs]

Cc- if I was the dog owner, I would have shouted the dog if I could see a rider struggling, but, I would expect the rider to acknowledge I was doing them a favour, not fulfilling an obligation. And, I'm horsey & understand the implications of out of control horses (cos that's what they were) on a road. A non horsey person wouldn't necessarily think the same, & we shouldn't expect them to.

 

[Booboos]

I shouted thank you as we trotted them on by, I was not being sarcastic! She was the one to say her dog is a guard dog so she can't stop it flying up the bank at anything that goes by!

What did you thank her for? And if you were thankful for her actions why did you go back to see her? Sorry, I am a bit confused.

 

[Goldenstar]

This, exactly!

I am fed up of having to 'build bridges' and 'mend fences' because other horse-riders annoy every-one else who is trying to use the same space as them. I'm afraid if you can't control your horses, you need to stay in the school and practise.

I agree why does the whole world have to seek not to annoy horse riders, there's a new builders yard at the edge of the road where we ride often they have huge vicious GSD's that chase you along the bank snarling and hurling themselves at the fences the whole fence shakes as they do it I expect the horses to ignore them they might look but just get put into shoulder in for their trouble I would not tolerate whipping round in such circumstances horses must look to there riders for leadership that's the purpose of training .

 

[Rhodders]

sorry you got a fright, it's happened to me loads of times, actually in the road, I tend to jump off so I can offer my horse some reassurance from the ground.
Had it happen last week with a sausage dog We turned around and walked away, me, horse and my boxer the little sod chased us for ages, in the end I had to stop and wait for 5 minutes for the sausage dogs owner to come and find him. My horse and my boxer were just looking at this little squirt shouting at them a bit confused

 

[Aarrghimpossiblepony]

Not sure if this is an issue confined to horse riders.

I'm sick and tired of walking (on foot) past properties with my children and having some howling, barking banshee on the other side of the fence.
It's frightening because I don't know whether the fences are secure.

Why should somebody minding their own business on a public road/path have to put up with such disturbances? Be made to feel threatened?

Yes they are guard dogs, but not of the pavements/paths outside the property boundaries.

 

[Goldenstar]

Not sure if this is an issue confined to horse riders.

I'm sick and tired of walking (on foot) past properties with my children and having some howling, barking banshee on the other side of the fence.
It's frightening because I don't know whether the fences are secure.

Why should somebody minding their own business on a public road/path have to put up with such disturbances? Be made to feel threatened?

Yes they are guard dogs, but not of the pavements/paths outside the property boundaries.

If thats the most frightening thing that happens to your children they will have an easy time.
Honestly I hate walking past groups of men smoking outside of pubs at night does not mean they should stop.
Dogs bark and guard it's what they do ,well some do mine don't too lazy.

 

[Littlelegs]

I've heard it all now, dogs on their own property shouldn't make a noise incase it scares a mum & kids? Get a grip. If normal public situations scare yourself, your horse, your kids, then either get over it or stay on your own private property.
I'm beginning to think some people learnt a very strange version of the solar system, one with an image of themselves at the centre with all the other planets revolving around them.

 

[Goldenstar]

I'm beginning to think some people learnt a very strange version of the solar system, one with an image of themselves at the centre with all the other planets revolving around them.

Like this ,

 

[Foxhunter49]

My horses are all dog proof, they stand when Foxhound pups charge around them - even if they are on three legs for the farrier. They take no notice of dogs out on hacks o0r barking from parked car but not far from us are two dogs that will come out of the owners door flap and rush at the gate jumping up barking. This will generally make them shy to the side.
This is perfectly safe as the lane is very narrow and the horses block anything passing from behind or in front.
The owner is disabled and the dogs take advantage of this.
I have managed to stop the annoying action by whacking the main culprit, a JRT, with my hunting whip! (With the owners permission!)

My point is that any horse will spook in situations like this. As the owner is not disabled but clearly has not trained the dog, she should be made to realise that she could be liable should there be an accident.

My GSD is a trained guard dog. She rarely ever barks and certainly would not do so at anyone walking or riding past that are off her boundaries.

 

[Dry Rot]

The OP was doing a perfectly reasonable and legal thing by passing along the highway without upsetting anyone.

The dog was barking and snarling, admittedly from the owner's own property, but it was interfering with the rights of others. A guard dog? I would think that would be a very dangerous thing for an owner to admit as the law regards them rather differently.

The dog caused the rider to become alarmed and the horse was frightened. I would have a word with the Community Police Officer who may visit the dog's owner to point out the legal implications of having a "guard dog" that upsets law abiding members of the public. I think some of the posts on here have been a bit harsh -- but it probably wouldn't be a bad idea to give the horse some de-spooking lessons!

 

[FfionWinnie]

If the dog was on her property/behind a fence, you have no recourse. If it was lose and able to get to your horses, different story. I'm still not sure exactly where the dog was attacking you from.

 

[Aarrghimpossiblepony]

If thats the most frightening thing that happens to your children they will have an easy time.
Honestly I hate walking past groups of men smoking outside of pubs at night does not mean they should stop.
Dogs bark and guard it's what they do ,well some do mine don't too lazy.

Horses turn and run when scared, we train them not to.

What's so special about dogs that they can't be trained to stop doing "that's what they do"?