Dogs at Badminton today...

[GinaB]

I try and take Beastie to as many things as possible to get her out and about and meeting new dogs/situations but she is always very well behaved.

She came to a Game Fair with me yesterday and was much better behaved than most of the gundogs! She even went round to watch the clay shooting and not oce did she bat an eyelid at the guns going off I think she wants to be a gundog though...

 

[misst]

I have taken my little JRT (she is tiny) to Badminton and other shows both with our horses and just to spectate. She loves it and is very good. But, I never take her in bad weather even with a coat - she hates the mud and wet on her belly She is also tiny enough to be picked up in large crowds and carried until there is enough space. I have seen tiny dogs dragged around and get trodden on which is awful. I also tend to shop on dressage day and take the dog on xc day. She does sometimes bark when horses are jumping but it is a short sharp bark and I do not consider her "joining in" intrusive or bad behavour. I think you just need to take them when you can consider their needs and if you cannot then you need to make other arrangements for them.

 

[MollyMoomin]

I can't decide whether to go to Bramham or not this year, because of Herman. Part of me wants to take him, the other part wonders if it'll be a disaster. We're having a sort of pre-Bramham trial run at a local show in a couple of weeks where he's helping me on our tradestand.

My biggest issue (as he is getting SO much better with greeting other dogs while on the lead) is him barking - seriously, I find it as annoying at everyone else when someone can't shut their dog up - but how do I stop it? (sorry taking thread off topic!) He knows that a finger laid on the side of his nose is to shut up, but he can't quite contain himself and sort of does a mumblygrumbly non-bark under his breath instead. That is almost more annoying than the barking

If he copes on the tradestand then I'll think a bit more about taking him to Bramham but if not then we'll stay at home - the badminton threads have been as interesting as watching it live and with the added bonus it won't cost me a fortune to eat, the dog won't irritate anyone by barking and I won't get irritated by 100 different people coming up to me and asking 'Whats it crossed with?' :grin:

 

[Tinkerbee]

All my points have been said already but oh well

I saw some very well behaved dogs, lots looking nice and snug in wee coats, and I didnt see any dog mess/fights so that was good.

However I did see a lot of tiny pups being trampled, terriers bing dragged through mud as deep as them and lots of uncoated whippety things shivering like anything, and admittedly I don't know how tough these dogs are, they didn't look happy to me.

I take Tink to Chatsworth because its a nice day out for her, she gets on with other dogs, gets a good walk, but I don't take her into the tradestands if its busy, and she stays outside the actual shops with the OH if I do take her..

 

[Spudlet]

I saw some very shivery dogs on Sunday, it's not like they can run about to keep warm and some looked like they were having no fun at all Others seemed to be having a ball I was glad not to have Henry with me though, even though I missed having him with me.

Saying they should be used to horses - well Henry sees horses every single day, and is used to crowds and shops (he's actually a pretty good shopper), but he can't cope with the atmosphere at big horsey events so doesn't go any more But the only way you find that out is the hard way unfortunately, as I would never have expected him to be so overexcited by the whole thing.

 

[Kat]

Every show I go to I see someone's trade stand getting peed on by a dog. Not very fair.

 

[prosefullstop]

I saw some very shivery dogs on Sunday, it's not like they can run about to keep warm and some looked like they were having no fun at all Others seemed to be having a ball I was glad not to have Henry with me though, even though I missed having him with me.

Saying they should be used to horses - well Henry sees horses every single day, and is used to crowds and shops (he's actually a pretty good shopper), but he can't cope with the atmosphere at big horsey events so doesn't go any more But the only way you find that out is the hard way unfortunately, as I would never have expected him to be so overexcited by the whole thing.

Stella had only seen horses in Central Park before I took her to the Hampton Classic last year, and she didn't bat an eyelid at the fact there were hundreds of horses walking around/being lunged/jumping in the practice areas. Prince, however, has only seen a grand total of two horses in his life--both of which made him bark--so I'm a bit leery about taking him this time round. I guess every dog reacts differently to a busy atmosphere.

As for the lack of coats on some dogs, did anyone see the opposite: two long-haired GSDs in fleece jumpers? Or the Ridgeback in multiple layers?

 

[CorvusCorax]

I can kinda see the point in the fleeces on coaties if it was raining, most have no undercoat (and are 'incorrect' according to the Breed Standard) and so get sodden.
The dog that was competing alongside us last November was an LC and he was wet through, B was wet on the outside but dry as a bone underneath.

Although fleeces aren't waterproof either

 

[numptynoelle]

I can see both sides of the story too, and I'd love to take the spaniel somewhere like Badminton on XC day (no shopping malarky for me) but I freaked myself out as a kid at Burgie.

I was standing patting a random golden lab (owner standing next to it) and as a rider approached, it barked and lunged forward. The horse spooked and the rider was thrown over the fence. Luckily, she was unhurt and said the dog wasn't to blame (8yo me bawling my eyes out next to her probably swayed that decision ) and that the horse was "just being a git"...but that horrible feeling of guilt has never really left me.

I know J probably wouldn't do anything, but I'm just not willing to take that chance at XC. She loves agricultural shows, but that just means she is stuffed full of different poo varieties and goes to sleep in the stands

 

[Vetty]

But the only way you find that out is the hard way unfortunately, as I would never have expected him to be so overexcited by the whole thing.

We went on Sunday as a family and decided to take Stevie as well (kids and a dog at a horse event, am I public enemy #1?!). He's 7 months old and not been around horses much (he's not allowed at the RS I take my daughter to) so we had no idea how he would react......

Well, he had a thoroughly good time looking at people and other dogs, but he barked at every horse he saw...... We managed it by my OH standing well back from all the fenceds while me and the kids stood close to look and tbh we tried everything we could think of to stop him (feeding him a treat as a horse came, telling him to 'be quiet', turning him to face a different way) but nothing worked. In the end OH took him back to the car where he had a decent view of the Colt Pond and we stayed on course.

Other than the barking he was really well behaved for a young dog in a new situation. So, what should I have done?

 

[JoG]

We "trialled" our spaniels at the local horse show/country fair to see their reaction to horses before Burghley as it was walking distance from home and they were angelic so they came to Burghley but we don't take them in the shops (they go to dog creche for some R&R) and we tend to walk off to the side of the crowds and don't expect to be right at the ring ropes watching the fences.

For us we get a good walk around the course, see some XC and spend the whole day with the spaniels getting fresh air. their favourite part is the picnic

We didn't go to Badders because of the weather - they would be cold and miserable on their leads, soaked to the skin and I think it is actually illegal to put a dog coat on a spaniel

 

[Spudlet]

We went on Sunday as a family and decided to take Stevie as well (kids and a dog at a horse event, am I public enemy #1?!). He's 7 months old and not been around horses much (he's not allowed at the RS I take my daughter to) so we had no idea how he would react......

Well, he had a thoroughly good time looking at people and other dogs, but he barked at every horse he saw...... We managed it by my OH standing well back from all the fenceds while me and the kids stood close to look and tbh we tried everything we could think of to stop him (feeding him a treat as a horse came, telling him to 'be quiet', turning him to face a different way) but nothing worked. In the end OH took him back to the car where he had a decent view of the Colt Pond and we stayed on course.

Other than the barking he was really well behaved for a young dog in a new situation. So, what should I have done?

He sounds just like Henry is - I could be waving an entire beef bone under Henry's nose but the horses are far more interesting and he makes a racket I think they just get so overwrought by the occasion they can't hear you! At Burnham Market I tried everything - he could deal with horses walking and trotting past but once they get up to a canter he goes nuts At least I know I won't lose him if I ever take him hacking

I think you did the right thing to take him off the course. The only thing that helps Henry is to keep moving as he gets frustrated sitting still at the best of times but to be honest I won't take him any more, and either my folks will look after him for the day for me or he will have to go to a paid for dog sitter for the day

 

[CorvusCorax]

That would be quite an overwhelming experience for a young dog who had never been to an event like that and he did grand under the circumstances

What your husband was doing was correct but it needs to start at home in a slightly less high-energy environment and then widen it out to other areas. All that energy and excitement will filter through to the dog, with an exciteable chap it is better to build up gradually.

That sort of thing takes repetition and consistency and good timing, ie (not to suggest this was what hubbie was doing!) is not to feed him a treat but offer it to him and keep his attention on it and not feed it until he was quiet for the sufficient time, not 'horse! treat! bark! horse! treat!'.
And also doing it at home, you can work out what works for him without all the added stress of a big event.
Tempting him with a treat, then reward? Tempting him with a toy? Lead check/vocal command correction? Ignoring him completely?

All dogs are different and most will either think: 'If I don't do X, I get a reward' or 'If I do Y, I get a rebuke'

If you're not allowed at your own riding school, ask around and see if you can go out somewhere where there are quiet, calm horses.

I'd start working on focus training now, at home, so he knows looking at you/holding a gaze results in food/praise/toy and that you are the source of all good things. Once you have that cracked, everything else, including making him ignore distractions, will be much easier to train. Start now, he is at a good age for it and his collie blood means he will have it 'in him' to focus and stare at an object - make it you, not everything else

Also agree with Spud, keep him moving, when a dog is sitting still it is much easier for them to fixate.

 

[Vetty]

Thanks Spudlet and Cavecanem, really helpful replies. He doesn't seem to mind horses in fields grazing, it's horses being ridden that seem to cause him an issue!!

I know it was a lot for him to handle, and we gave him a really quiet day on Monday to recover because he was really tired from it as we expected.....

Advice taken on board, now I need to find some friendly horses!! My friends yard would be ideal but there is a nastily terratorial dog that lives in the house next door and we can't risk taking Stevie there .

Anyway, thanks for giving me some constructive ideas

 

[monkeynut]

I know im a little late responding this thread...

I was there on sunday with 2 of my dogs(a german shepherd and l/c border collie) I did see many dogs being dragged around unhappily but my two loved it.

Both my dogs wore waterproof coats as although we were walking around the xc course, there was a lot of standing around. My dogs live in a centrally heated house with the family and as such, do feel the cold. They very much appreciate being kept warm dry and happy, rather than sodden wet and catching a chill. Now if they were offlead walking then they wouldnt be wearing coats as they would be running around keeping warm themselves.

I had a problem of a different kind around the tradestands ares- my GSD is my autistic sons trained support dog, this was obvious as she was wearing her bib and clearly marked harness. I found the majority of people just did not look where they were going- my son was in his pram as he cant walk far and the dog is trained to walk closely to him and he holds a handle attached to her- but because my partner was pushing the pushchair and i was holding the dogs lead(extra precaution obviously in case my son drops his hold of her- though she doesnt leave his side) so many people tried to walk straight through the middle of us, therefore forcing my son to have to let go of his support dog- i mean, people wouldnt do that if he was an adult would they!!?

anyway, rant over, i just think people should be more observant than just walking and pushing through- we have been to other events and busy functions and never had a problem before. But sunday ended up with me taking the dog 'off duty' and i went off on my own with the dogs as it was causing too much distress to my son at his arm being wenched off!

 

[ester]

we sat in front of the screen watching the world go by, felt incredibly sorry for a little black and tan terrier pup (JRT type I spose) not sure how old but prob about half normal small JRT size. On lead, shivering, wet, with a lovely tide line of mud with a family of owners who seemed not to give a toss.

I don't have a dog so not sure if i would take one, certainly only to walk round xc not shop. The number of people who attempt to trip me up with their leads was a little frustrating. I did see a fair few happy ones too but probably outnumbered by the fed up wet, soggy ones.

The one that did make me smile though was a lurcher pup in the shopping area... a small girl was stood on 'his'/a stick he was laid down staring at it intensely and you could just hear him saying move move move........ needless to say the minute she did the stick was all his

 

[KevinA27]

Here is one that was saving his legs

Kev