how to warn dog owners about scaredy horse?

If you can pass normal dogs then you HAVE accustomed your horse to dogs, well done. You are not the sort of rider I had in mind. I was thinking more of the horses that tap-dance around the place even when your dog is sitting behind you being a paragon of virtue. A bridlepath is not the place to be dealing with that kind of issue.

Jeepers, everything you put on here needs some kind of flaming disclaimer!
 
I think your idea of writing to a dog mag is a v good one, and I def agree with the 'please don't hide in the hedge' comment too!

Not sure how much of a good idea it is to suggest going to horse shows to allow the dog to become used to horses - imagine you are there minding your own business while fluffy + owner come for a sniff around so fluffy can get used to it - erm, no!

I think (like with horses) you can't expose your dog to enough things to ensure that they are chilled in all circumstances, but I do think that you must ensure that your training is at a good enough level that if you let your dog off the lead in a busy public space that you 110% can recall it when ever you want. Can't recall dog? Don't let it off the lead then! Around here lots of dog training and agility places have sessions at football fields and similar so that people can work on this in an open space. A v good idea I think, otherwise I am sure it can be a tricky thing to work on.

At the end of the day I really think it just comes down to respecting other people sharing the same public space and acting in a way that doesn't reduce others enjoyment of it or cause a safety issue. I am very fortunate that my horse will still quietly walk past a dog under control without too much of a look - however for every barking chasing dog, this calmness is being reduced. Unfortunatly it isn't something I can work on at home - I'm not too keen to get through several yapping fluffies!!

I do think the problem isn't helped by dog walkers percieving that they are the ones needing to alter their behaviour in order to allow horse riders to also use the space - basically horse riders are messing up their walk!! For every curt or bossy response the dog walker has from a rider this message is reinforced. I try v hard to wish everyone I pass good morning or afternoon, and thank those who have altered their behaviour to allow me to pass in peace. I do get alot of grumpy looks though and offish behaviour - on hearing what some riders say to dog walkers I can't say I'm entirely suprised!

Please don't dog walkers tar all riders with the same brush (much as we shouldn't be annoyed by all dog walkers!). There are sadly inconsiderate people all over the place, it does come down to education and respect of others though at the end of the day.

If you do come up with a letter of suggestions I wonder if you would post it on here or pm me? I would like to chat to the estate office about something similar to enable people to rub along safely together.
 
zandp said:
One woman the other week tried to say it wasn't a problem as her dog was fine with horses, he was a collie and herding was natural and all he would do was herd her up.
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:rolleyes:
I'd have been tempted to point out that being herded is not natural to horses, but kicking the shite out of predators IS. Daft woman. Daft, daft woman. Where does she think herding behaviour originates?
 
SusannaF said:
:rolleyes:
I'd have been tempted to point out that being herded is not natural to horses, but kicking the shite out of predators IS. Daft woman. Daft, daft woman. Where does she think herding behaviour originates?
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lol!!

The number of times the owner of todays yappy dog (that won't come to call) calmly shouts that 'don't worry, he is always fine with horses' - erm, why the hell is he barking at her heels then? What on earth does he do with things he isn't fine with!! Also, don't people understand that horses can also sadly cause injury rather than just looking bothered by proceedings? They generally look utterly discusted when I call back as politly as I can since I am both hanging on and shouting "I am afraid she might kick him as she is scared of dogs"!!

Prey/preditors getting along is always going to be a sticky old thing, but when the prey is many times larger than the preditor and is often equiped in nice metal shoes then I really think that the person who pays the preditors vets bills might take a little more care!
 
I am very lucky with K that he really is excellent with dogs, our Mal (who is as wolf-like as a dog can get!) often runs with us when we go for a canter, oftem barking in excitement and K just gets excited too as it seems to be their secret cue for a run!

We have been unfortunate enough to encounter 1 dog that chased K & was trying to bite him whilst we were cantering (our dog was on a lead as she doesn't get on with other dogs which was a shame) K kicked to dog in the head and knocked it out. The owner did nothing even though we were clearly in distress and I was yelling at him (he was a bit of a distance away just looking!) to call his dog. The dog was fine and I didn't even receive an apology from the owner.

Complete ignorance and lack of training from both horse rider & dog walker is no excuse. I really do feel that many dog owners do not train their dogs properly - you only have to watch It's me or The Dog to see that!!
 
You don't necessarily need to go right up - getting your dog used to the concept of horses, being ridden, which are not for chasing is the key thing, so that when a dog does meet a horse out and about it's no big deal, just another one of those big furry things mum! It is certainly something I will be suggesting to the people I help to train anyway, as part of the puppy socialisation process:) Of course not all dog owners go to trainers, but at least I can help with the ones I see:)

I will pm you the fabled letter when I have struck the right tone with it:) At the end of the day we are all out for the same reason - to enjoy the lovely countryside with our four-legged buddies, just needs a bit of give and take from both sides:)

Maybe I should work on getting our 'speak' command perfected and then hire me and my dog out for horse-dog socialisation sessions;) Sadly I have the world's least noisy dog, unless there's a squirrel up a tree laughing at him of course:rolleyes: If you can ride around with a squirrel balanced on your head I can certainly help with the noise too:o

BTW, seriously, if there is anyone local to me that would like to practice with a dog I would be happy to help out - he is very calm around horses at a walk and trot. In return my dog needs to meet more high-speed horses (from an appropriate distance) as he does find horses cantering and galloping exciting and I would like to accustom him to this:)
 
The problem is horses are a massive pain to dog owners too. Its best just to be polite, ignore the idiots, and ride on.

My OH has got off his horse once, kicked the dog away from the horses back leg it was biting, and carried by the collar/scruff of neck to the house it lives it (they let it run riot around the street). He told the man in no uncertain terms that next time, he would let his horse kick it. They now call the dog in when they hear horses coming down.!
 
I also think that the idea of writing to a dog mag is a brilliant idea, but I fear that owners if uncontroled dogs may not be the ones that read them, I also like the idea of shouting at the dog but if I was on my young horse (who is v sensitive) I feel that she may be more scared than the dog.I dont know what the answer is.
 
Spudlet said:
You don't necessarily need to go right up - getting your dog used to the concept of horses, being ridden, which are not for chasing is the key thing, so that when a dog does meet a horse out and about it's no big deal, just another one of those big furry things mum! It is certainly something I will be suggesting to the people I help to train anyway, as part of the puppy socialisation process:) Of course not all dog owners go to trainers, but at least I can help with the ones I see:)
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I think that really is the key - we just become part of the scenery, nothing interesting to see here! I'm not that fussed if they are on the lead but bark at us (though of course I would rather they didn't!) - so long as they are under control.
Give and take, along with some manners is all it takes from both sides!
 
I agree with everything that has been said here.
Spudlet - if you don't mind, I would also very much like to see your finished letter? :)

My pony is excellent with dogs - they can bark as long as they are on the leash. The other day I had a barking, growling dog running up to us (on a stupidly narrow path) so I was on foot and carrying saddle. Pony stood munching grass - oblivious to the dog. Finally dog bounded away when I twatted it on the muzzle with whip.
 
Simple solution get yourself a dog. I ride out with my dog or dogs (I have 6 dogs) depending where I'm riding and never have any problems with other dogs coming up to my horse. They are either too busy socilising with my dogs or the owners see a woman with a big horse and a pack of dogs surrounding it and that suddenly makes them recall their precious mutts. My horse grew up with Sidney attached to his tail in the fields (they used to play chase :rolleyes:) so he's certainly not worried by any strange dogs.
 
I kept my horse in North London for about 20 years and used to hack on the roads from Mill Hill/Totteridge (North London/Hertfordshire Border) to Hampstead Heath and Hyde Park which meant riding through all sorts of different residential and shopping areas etc. Only on one occasion in Wildwood between the Hampstead Heath Extension and Hampstead Heath proper did I ever have a problem with a dog. I used to ride quite happily around Hampstead Heath and Hyde Park where there where large amounts of dogs off the lead and never had a problem.

The question is are dogs in urban areas better trained and behaved? Do people in the country just believe that dogs should be allowed to roam free and do what they want? Are country dog owners less aware of the problems that dogs can cause or do they just not care?

Or have dog owners got less control of their dogs these days.
 
SusannaF said:
:rolleyes:
I'd have been tempted to point out that being herded is not natural to horses, but kicking the shite out of predators IS. Daft woman. Daft, daft woman. Where does she think herding behaviour originates?
Click to expand...


I am adopting this answer next time as I'm sure I'll see her again !!
 
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