How did you train your dog to ride out with you?

m3gan

m3gan

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I would like my pup (20 weeks) eventually to ride out with me, and wondered if any of you peeps could give me any advice on how you achieved it!

Thank you in advance! (And for reading!)
 
I didn't do it with Harley until he was about 10 months. We're very lucky in that we've got a bridlepath straight out of our drive. I wouldn't go anywhere where I would meet a road, no matter how quiet!

I literally got on and rode off. He looked very confused and stood in the yard watching me ride off to begin with. I just called him and he followed. He pretty much just follows me. Even walking on a horse its a fair bit faster than me walking so he doesn't wander off just jogs along keeping up. He can keep up with me at a steady canter!!
 
I would like to be able to do this too, but we don't have any direct access to bridlepaths without going on roads first, but I have been in the woods with my dog and horse which was erm...interesting!

Start with the basics. Take her to weekly puppy training classes, to get her learning to socialise and listening to you whilst there are other distractions.
Then it would just be plenty of standard obiedience training. In the mean time allow her to have plenty of exposure to the horses, so she understands hind legs are no go areas, but she is at ease with them.

You probably would not be able to safely have her riding out with you alone until she is a couple of years old?

I only say that as my dog (granted she is a Pointer, so more highly strung than most breeds) is only just starting to calm down. I have ridden through the woods with my dog, and although she is extremely obiedient, she has a strong hunt drive. She stays with me, the same as if I am on foot, but the trouble is that she runs around chasing rabbits and squirrels through the woods at breakneck speed and the poor horse got a bit freaked out by this.
 
My mother's Rotty/GS cross hacks out with us, led with a leadrope up our very quiet road, then loose in the woods/tracks. He loves it and the horses, which are not plods(!) are very good with him. First time I saw her take him out on a rope I thought she was mad, but it seems to work.
 
I take mine to the woods. There is a short bit of road, but very quiet, narrow and straight so that cars can see from far off and are always slow.

I already trained her when I was walking her to move over to the left side of the road and to wait or sit. So if a car does come she will come straight across and walk straight in front or straight behind the horse until I release her. The first time I took her out I went with OH to the beach with them, nice and safe environment and having OH if there were any problems. Sher was great, even when a big black lab came charging over.
 
galaxy23 said:
I didn't do it with Harley until he was about 10 months. We're very lucky in that we've got a bridlepath straight out of our drive. I wouldn't go anywhere where I would meet a road, no matter how quiet!

I literally got on and rode off. He looked very confused and stood in the yard watching me ride off to begin with. I just called him and he followed. He pretty much just follows me. Even walking on a horse its a fair bit faster than me walking so he doesn't wander off just jogs along keeping up. He can keep up with me at a steady canter!!
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Galaxy is your's in your sig a Pointer too?
 
Can't do it here too many roads and they are not well behaved enough!

But when in Cyprus we used to go out from yard straight up into the mountains and all 3 used to just mosey along.

They were actually a great help and helped my TB get over his mortal fear of water, I think he concluded that as they had gone through it and were still alive he may just survive it as well.

Two biggest ones used to do a heart stopping line in running along side as we were cantering then swapping sides underneath him always used to add a little frisson to a ride!

I often used to gallop up a hill and wait at the top to see them all come belting up after me, on one occasion got an "ahhhhh" from a group of Brit tourists as my little Jack Russell cross came rocketing up a steep hill to catch us up....when she got tied she used to climb onto a rock and jump onto the front of my saddle until she had caught her breath.

My horse tolerated them very well except if in his opinion they were going too slowly in front of him when he would hook a front foot under their bums and launch them into the air out of his way.

I think I had the fittest dogs in Cyprus as we used to go out for a 2 hour fast ride every day, must have covered about 12 - 15K at a time.

Happy days:-))
 
If you are anywhere near roads you need a very reliable 'heel' in order to be safe. Teach the heel as you would normally and when that is 100% reliable you can easily transfer it to the ridden work.
 
Chavhorse said:
Can't do it here too many roads and they are not well behaved enough!

But when in Cyprus we used to go out from yard straight up into the mountains and all 3 used to just mosey along.

They were actually a great help and helped my TB get over his mortal fear of water, I think he concluded that as they had gone through it and were still alive he may just survive it as well.

Two biggest ones used to do a heart stopping line in running along side as we were cantering then swapping sides underneath him always used to add a little frisson to a ride!

I often used to gallop up a hill and wait at the top to see them all come belting up after me, on one occasion got an "ahhhhh" from a group of Brit tourists as my little Jack Russell cross came rocketing up a steep hill to catch us up....when she got tied she used to climb onto a rock and jump onto the front of my saddle until she had caught her breath.

My horse tolerated them very well except if in his opinion they were going too slowly in front of him when he would hook a front foot under their bums and launch them into the air out of his way.

I think I had the fittest dogs in Cyprus as we used to go out for a 2 hour fast ride every day, must have covered about 12 - 15K at a time.

Happy days:-))
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It must have been a site to see your little JR jumping up onto the saddle, and then being rocketed into the air by your horse when he was in the way!I have heard that dogs can be trained to jump onto your leg when you need to cross the road; not sure my spooky Arab would be too impressed by that!
 
Agree with Booboos. You need to get your dog to walk to heel off the lead and get it used to the horses. It's also good to teach a good recall - the one which teaches the dog to sit in front of you and then "finish" by walking behind and sitting at the side of you. When I call mine back he runs back around the back of the horse and sits at the side of me. I still find it nerve wracking and I can't take him out in the shooting season as he is totally freaked out by noises, but as long as the dog comes back and sits at the side of you while the traffic passes, you should be fine. I also found that traffic slowed down a lot more when I had the dog with me!
 
I didn't really teach mine. They just got the gist after a few false alarms not realising it was me calling them from the back of this rather large animal. I have two Labradors, and now they're the best riding companions. They know to stay clear of horsey feet, and when they tire of haring around the fields (they're 12 and 10) they slot in behind my horse and just tag along. It's so much fun when they come along! :) I would happily take them on country lanes too as I trust them completely. I just don't trust manic drivers, so they stay at home on those occasions ...

You could try hacking out with a friend on foot with your dog on a lunge line or long lead, then you could gauge how it might react if you were riding out alone? It shouldn't take long for the dog to associate you with the horse and hopefully it will start following the horse automatically.

Perservere, it's such fun!! :)
 
I take mine riding with me everyday but I do ride straight onto the moors.

Most importantly though, they are trained to the whistle, both recall and stop.

I do occasionally go down the lanes (every one here rides with their dog by the way so its expected if you come across a rider!) and I have taught the dogs to come into the side and sit when a car comes. I just shout "Car" now but they usually hear one before me anyway.

I taught them this by walking down the lane with them and doing exactly that when a car came and they naturally do it now when I am on a horse.

They absolutely love it and I kill two birds with one stone by taking out both horses and all three dogs at the same time ;)
 
I started by teaching a command of "go behind" & did this first whilst on foot walking her on lead,praising her for keeping behind me,then did the same off lead whilst on a bike,this has worked really well but mine are collies so like to herd/follow which makes it abit easier i guess:) now when riding i let them run with me going infront or behind,wherever they want really (we have very quiet lanes)then when i hear a car i tell them to go behind,but often they hear a car before i do & follow behind without me saying anything! i love to take my dogs out with me they are good company:D
 
I used one of those long extending leads with my JRT a few years back - I can imagine people being horrified at that!!! ;) BUT the horse I had then was mega quiet and dealt with it OK, dunno about the one I've got now tho' .....!!!

It seemed to work and got the dog walking beside me. The terrier I have now is 18 months and has started coming with me and the older dog out hacking on the quiet lanes, BUT the little monkey is miles too far ahead, so I think we'll have to go back to dog classes!!! Its just too much enthusiasm with him really, he hasn't got the hang of coming back near me and so I think we just need to get him a bit more obedient. Its a good way of getting two tired dogs tho' - can't beat it!

The other thing I'm gonna have to do is sort out some Hi Viz for them; I've seem a few nice little light hi viz dog tabards on the net which shouldn't make them too hot, so am thinking seriously about that now; unfortunately there's no-where to ride round here which is off road, or you have to do roadwork to get there ...... blimmin traffic.
 
I took mine out with me round our farm - saved walking her. Horse found it all rather exciting and when she popped out of the hedge barking & horse exploded I though I'd stop taking her. But recently when my boy was a little bit down after being on box rest for a week I took the dog again to liven him up a bit & give him something else to think about. Wouldn't go near any roads though.
 
Thank you for all your responses and helpful suggestions.
I am going to wait til pup is older before taking her with me when I am riding. I will start by trying to take her with me while I am cycling and then as suggested I could try to get OH to walk with me with her on a long line .
I really would love to be able to take her with me , and as those of you who do take their dogs with them, they do enjoy it so much!

Thanks again to you all for advice!
 
I managed it with no 1 staffie, can't do it with the 2 I have now though!. You really do need to have a dog whom is really well trained on foot before you attempt the ridden bit. My first staffie was completely focused on me and was 100% with all dogs she met (she would ignore them to make sure she kept up with me). Once you have a well trained and socialable dog then you can start with going out with someone else taking the dog on foot, then progress to your friend dropping back and you controlling your dog from the back of your horse. I also taught my dog to stop dead for treats when she reached anything that looked like a road (bit painful living in London as I did at the time!) but very good to know that the dog will sit at anything resembling a road.

I only lost my staffie girl once when I underestimated her love of people and she stopped to chat to some walkers and then lost us as I thought she was following. She also was hysterical when I was getting on but thats another story. I won't take my 2 out as I do not have full off lead control on foot - shame!
 
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