Dogs on yards and safety re cars coming and going

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mystiandsunny

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YO's dog was run over today by one of the liveries :(. He was a large dog, easily seen, who tended not to move very fast and always stayed on/near the main yard. I've been on yards for years with loose dogs, and have never known of one run over before today. Have I just been in lucky places? My dog comes to the yard with me and is part of the 'pack' down there as are other liveries' dogs. They all have loads of fun, playing around the main yard/fields, and are very used to livestock/cars etc, leaving the former alone, and getting out of the way of the latter. Is this more dangerous than any of us knew? My little girl is only small, and would not be seen easily, though she will always get out of the way of a vehicle.
 
At the yard I'm at, it is a rule that all dogs must be on a lead. It is a big yard on a working farm, with lots of heavy machinery running about and lots of sheep! I agree with susieT, it may be fun for the dogs to all run round together but probably is an accident waiting to happen. Poor dog though, very sad
 
My aunt has 6 dogs on her yard currently ranging from labs-beagles-westies and many more in the past, and there have never been any accidents, and there are often tractors/combines coming and going as well.
Maybe we're just another lucky yard. :(

Very sad.
 
I've seen injuries to yard dogs/hounds (puppy walking) before, always thought that when I win the lottery and design my own yard I'd have a big enclosed dog area like the size of half a school where everyone can put their dogs. I love having them about the place and most are so good but it's other people....
 
Many years ago, when my mum was a child and kept her horse on a farm, a hound puppy was kicked and killed by a horse and a farm dog run over by its own owner. I think you've just been lucky so far. :(

The main yard at our place has recently banned dogs completely, which would be a huge problem - thankfully in the winter my horse is stabled on a separate DIY yard across the road, there's just three of us and one of the other ladies has a dog too. I've no idea why they suddenly banned them on the other yard, the farm dog is still allowed and lies in the middle of the road, much to the bemusement of tourists...

Mine's tied up when on the yard anyway, it's a husky thing. :rolleyes: :p
 
My dogs have always come to the yard with me and no, they're not on leads. I hate dog leads near horse legs!

But it is up to me to keep my dogs safe which means that they stay either close to me or where I put them if I'm in the school or dealing with the silly horse. In saying that, it's rare that there are moving vehicles on the yard itself - cars stay in the car park and lorries/trailers are in another area. Vets and farriers are the only ones who drive onto the yard and they are warned/know that there are dogs, cats, chickens and kids running loose ;) so obey the 5mph speed limit.

I know a lot of people are very anti dogs on yards - for various reasons - but I probably wouldn't consider a yard that banned dogs, it's a place I spend a lot of time and I would feel that my dogs were being left at home for longer than is fair if I couldn't bring them with me, also since I walk the big fields on my own checking horses at all times of the day (and night!!) I feel more secure having the dogs to provide early warning of any lurkers/ ne'do'wells.

Maybe I'm just odd :o but in all the years I've had horses I've always had a trail of dogs behind me as I've dealt with them - at the moment the convoy down the field as I bring mine in consists of me and 2 horses, my 2 JRT, my rottie, 2 labs belonging to the yard, their curly coat and 3 assorted terrors that belong to other liveries....quite a pack :)
 
We have dogs on our yard and I do consider it a priveledge but the only dogs that have total free run are the YO's 2 JRT's and they tend to stick close to her. Mine stay in the car when I am doing my horse and the other liveries tend to keep their dogs with them. Cars come in slowly because you have to physically open and shut a main gate before parking so no reason to come in fast..

I was luckier with my previous dog who stuck to me like glue at all times and I could wander around the yard knowing she would be right behind me. My current bitch is the same but little staffie boy is a complete people tart so if I am not 100% focused on him he takes himself off to find his other human friends.. obviously not a good idea on a busy yard! Can safely say all liveries/staff on our yard are now staffie savvy but have all had their faces washed and been ambushed for hugs..
 
Chloe got stamped on by one of our horses when she was about 5months old, sliced through her toe missing the bone by a mm. We have our own yard, so she still comes on it, but shes never on the yard when we bring horses in, shut her in the tack room. She does run round the fields though with Frank but he loves her and is very careful with her.

With cars, if it was a big yard, unless my dog stuck by my feet all day every day she'd be on a lead, or I wouldnt take her.
 
we have had up to 9 dogs at a time loose on our yard, 5 large breeds living loose 24/7 and 4 mini breeds who live in house at night but are loose all day and have not had a major injury from cars or the 17tonne horse lorry being driven around. We had one dog kicked by pony but was only bruised and taught it to stay away from them. And one got its tail run over but had no pain in it at all my some miracle! But on the other hand our Doberman broke all 4 toes in one foot playing with our Great Dane and had to have an operation!
I think there is always a risk of injury with animals but ours enjoy life much more being loose and we just teach them, the best we can, what to stay away from.
 
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