How Old Until She Can Come Hacking

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claireelizabeth

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I have an 8 mth old R Ridgeback x Border Collie. I hope she will be able to come out hacking with me, we have very little roadwork just a country road to cross. Her recall is 99% there with a whistle but she is a bit of a chaser, bikes are her personal favourite! She has a lot of stamina but she is still a baby, when have other people started to take their dogs out riding????

Horse is fine with dogs she used to hunt so not worried about her.
 
I wouldn't make her do too much hard work until she is about a year old as her bones and joints will not be fully strengthened.
Just because they appear to have stamina doesn't mean they are ready for hard work on the inside.

I personally wouldn't have her out until you get the bike thing cracked, if that means borrowing a friend to ride a bike past you until it is sorted, then I would go for that.
 
agree with both above, id only take her with no roads! (even if it means someone takes her past the road on a lead, then lets her off with you), when recall is 100% including when a bike goes past!

and agree with h_h about getting a friend to test how good!
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(just make sure its a willing good friend!)
 
I was thinking about 12 months just wondered what others had done. I have been training her with hacking in mind, we often walk where I hack and when we get to the road I say cars and she sits and waits but I can lead horse and dog past this initially but I agree we must crack the bikes.

Maybe some riding, bikes and dogs in the field to start with.
 
sounds like a plan!! I think its a case of your judgement call as to when you feel she is ready to be responsibly trusted to come with you, but 12months would be the minimum in terms of growth development, and remember she prob wont be able to keep up with your horse for 1-2 hours to start with!
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Maybe when she is ready you could get someone to walk with you the first couple of times, so that if being out with mum AND the horse is just too exciting for words there'll be someone on the ground to help....

I would love to hack out with Henry, but am slightly hampered by the fact I have no horse... good luck with it!
 
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