Lurcher chases my horse

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Chazza

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My 6 year old lurcher has become a hazard. If I'm galloping he chases in front of the horse, barking and swerving. He'll do this to any riders I'm out with too, if they go ahead. I've muzzled him which stopped the barking, but not much else. I haven't the time to ride and walk the dog seperatly! But this is so dangerous for other riders, and myself. He's been kicked, trod on etc but makes no difference. I hack 5 days a week, have tried walking for a month, then going faster, no good. I'm at my wit's end. Please any suggestions? I
 
If you don't have control on the ground, you won't have control from a horse, sorry but you are going to have to make time to exercise him separately, get some hi-viz and a head torch and walk him in the dark if you have to and get to a good training class or get a trainer out to try and solve this, there are no quick fixes I'm afraid.
If you carry on like this the dog or a rider could end up seriously hurt or dead.
 
Agree with CC, not all dogs have the temperament to hack out with you. You need to manage both somehow. Somebody is going to end up badly hurt.
 
I agree with others, the best option is to exercise the dog separately so everyone is safe its just not worth the risk to save some time for yourself. He's probably barking and getting in the way as it seems like a fun game of chase, which is what sighthounds love. If he is unable to bark when muzzled i presume he can't pant properly either which could lead to heat exhaustion if exercising.
 
This has to be a wind up surely? Did you know when you got your lurcher that you would not have time for him and your horse or vice versa?

So tightly muzzled he cant bark...can he breathe? swallow or do much else that is necessary for his well being and survival? didn't you realise a lurcher might want to run fast and chase things?

Get yourself out of bed an hour earlier and go to bed an hour later - problem solved.:rolleyes:
 
Thanks so much. The muzzle is actually made for lurchers, so he can run and pant. I wondered if those citronella/gas collars might help. He's fine if I'm at a steady canter, and simply lopes beside me. I know all the comments are right about someone getting hurt, but what makes me sad is that he loves going, I love hacking with dogs in tow, and with 4 kids and job, time is not on tap!
 
TBH those collars can sometimes agitate dogs further or if the drive is strong he will just keep chasing, plus you need to get him used to it and teach him what it means, not just whack it on and go for a hack.

I didn't really enjoy going out this morning in the dark and the sideways wind and rain, smacking into branches, sweating and swearing before work either :p can your OH/family/kids pitch in, could you buy a ball chucker to take the energy off him, or even pay a dog walker until the mornings or evenings are lighter?
 
if you value your lurcher, STOP galloping and stick to cantering! That way your horse gets exercised and your dog stays alive. i cannot believe that the other people you ride with have not complained. I certainly would never dream of riding at a gallop with a dog swerving across the front of me. My lurcher runs along side me when I gallop, and never barks. When I slow, she slows, when I speed up she speeds up. She was taught to look at my left index finger when out walking, so she keeps glancing at that. i can point her forwards or back behind me, she knows heel and heels to the horse when I am riding. it took time and effort. but as a result she is safe to have out, both for her sake and mine.
 
CaveCanem said:
TBH those collars can sometimes agitate dogs further or if the drive is strong he will just keep chasing,
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Ditto this!

Most highly driven dogs will learn pretty smartish to continue with whatever you deem to be the undesirable behaviour until the cannister is empty and then carry on regardless! :)

These people do great plasma collars that make the dog visible at 400 yards plus if you need to walk him in the dark. http://www.flashdoguk.co.uk/ I'm even mad enough to walk some HPRs in the dark with these on.....if I have to!! I can assure you that my dogs don't need any excuses to turn into rabid bunny hunters and bog off if they think I'm not on top of them !! :D
 
Chazza said:
But this is so dangerous for other riders, and myself. He's been kicked, trod on etc but makes no difference. .......
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I strongly suspect that it wont be long before we read of a dead dog, horse, or rider. The rider may well not be you, but as it's your dog, that makes it your responsibility.

I'm sorry to take a hard line, but............

Alec.
 
Please be careful! Many years ago (back in the late seventies) I used to ride with a friend who always took her German Shepherd with her whilst hacking. Early one Saturday morning, we were cantering along a wide open track which had a ditch at the end of it, which we always jumped. I was slightly behind my friend, and I can clearly remember how, as her horse jumped the ditch, her dog got in the way and the horse landed on it. I'll never forget the dog's screams - they were blood-curdling! Luckily(?), the had horse landed on the dog's paw rather than anything more "important" (like it's body or head!) but the paw was in a terrible state. So there we were, about 7.30am, middle of Epping Forest, with a badly injured dog. We made our way to a road and someone stopped for us and agreed to take the dog to the vet - we were so lucky......not everyone would want an injured German Shepherd in their car!

I always worry whenever I see people hacking with dogs - my daughter's done it a couple of times, which hasn't meet with my approval!
 
Chazza said:
Thanks so much. The muzzle is actually made for lurchers, so he can run and pant. I wondered if those citronella/gas collars might help. He's fine if I'm at a steady canter, and simply lopes beside me. I know all the comments are right about someone getting hurt, but what makes me sad is that he loves going, I love hacking with dogs in tow, and with 4 kids and job, time is not on tap!
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well how do you have time for a horse etc when four kids need a bit of attention? Do they dress and feed themselves and drive to school?
 
This thread reminds me of a conversation I had with a friend of a friend;

FoaF - "Can you tell me how I can stop my dog running out our gate onto the road, when other dogs go by?"

Me - "Yes, keep your gate shut.":rolleyes:

FoaF - "Yes, you are quite right, I will let the grooms know."

......you couldn't make it up..........
 
Firstly - if you really must exercise your horse and have your dog loose at the same time and everything is fine when you're cantering then just stick to canter... I doubt very much you 'need' to gallop your horse every time you ride it.

Secondly - I hope that you are only riding on private land - if you're riding on public land i certainly hope you get off your horse and clear up after your dog as required!

Personally I have absolutely no interest in riding my horse with my dogs loose its blummin dangerous if you ask me, and my dogs are relatively well behaved and under control. The faff of getting on and off to clear up, carrying bags of doggy leavings with me, the worry of other numpties and their dogs (I come accross plenty of them on foot!) let alone if my saintly mare who wouldnt normally do anything decided to have a bit of a mad moment and try to chuck me off! grrr sorry rant over
 
Agree about the private land thing.

OP, I seriously would not recommend a spray / shock collar. To use these your timing must be spot on and I just can't see how you would be able to observe the dog closely enough to get that precise timing, while also controlling a horse at speed. Once the dog is running it's too late - you would need to get the dog while it was just thinking about running - I don't really like them for most dogs, and I don't think you've got a cats chance of using one effectively in the circumstances you describe. They also don't work on all dogs, and could even scare your dog enough to make it bolt, then you would be in a mess. Sorry.

I would love to hack with my dog in tow, it's an ambition I really hope to fulfil one day, but only once I can do it safely (and also, when I actually have a horse which is certainly holding me back from doing this at the moment;)).
 
Being halfway through trying to train my youngest Stafford to hack out with me I can understand. I can't take the other 2 for various reasons (age of dog, physical restrictions) but the youngest was doing well. I am stuck atm as she is no so confident that she goes too close to my horses legs and I have utterly failed to stop her waltzing over to greet walkers. I am back to sqare one again atm till we have (again) got the "leave" command back and its made doubly painful that I could really do with using the hacking time to wear down the youngest. The others don't need as much walking!
 
Thanks. I will stick to canter, where he's fine. I think its partially anxiety. I would love to train him to obey finger commands - he's fine when I'm on the ground - but fear at 6 it's too late. Thank you for the constructive advice, it's easy to criticise, far harder and far nicer to offer suggestions and answers!
 
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