Really worried about recent dog attacks on Horses

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karen65

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Like many people I am sick to my stomach with horror at the recent dog attacks reported on the pony in Derbyshire & the Mike Tucker report in last weeks H&H. The common theme seems to be Bull terriers be they Staffies or English. The greater majority of this breed will be Horse & people friendly but the minority of aggressive dogs now be reported in the news will bring into question the safety of the breed as a whole. The minority could force the breed into the dangerous dogs category! I regularly ride in a forest which is also enjoyed by dogs & their owners but I now find myself thinking up a plan B on what to do if a dog attacks my horse. I dont ride with a whip and not sure how effective it would be on a dog intent of sinking its teeth in anyway, perhaps I could jump off and remove my stirrup leather and lassoo the dog? wonder if you can buy stun guns on the internet?? The police seem to have gadgets to immobilise aggressive people wonder if the general public will be able to but similar gadgets to immobilise aggressive dogs. Seriously I am worried and I am sure this problem is going to escalate.
 
I've obviously seen the same reports as you,but have never been unfortunate enough to have a dog attack me,my family or any horses I have owned/looked after.

There are a few reasons the attacks are reported,mostly because they are rare.
If they happened every day in every county it would be old news and not worth the papers printing.
If you really are worried,carry a whip in your boot.
 
I have to say it's not something I ever worry about - appalling though it must be for it to happen to anyone.

The important thing is not to allow stories like these to take over your life. My view is that attacks are not that common, and probably the chances of it happening to me is very slim so I'm certainly not going to loose any sleep over it.

As for the 'bull type' dogs being put on the DDR - it will never happen as they simply do not fit the profile.
 
I was attack by a lose yard dog about three years ago when I was riding out for the guy I used to work for.
It was a little scary at the time, but very rare, and nothing to be as worried as you seem about it.
I'm pretty sure they will not put the BT on the dangerous dogs register because there is simply no need, dog attacks are rare.
I'm sorry I just do not see the massive cause for concern, I have enough things to try and prevent going wrong with my horses without worrying about the "what ifs" of hacking out, certainly not enough to consider a stun gun...
 
If your horse is brave enough, turn to face the dog and approach it. In my experience most dogs turn tail and run when they realise just how big a horse is, and that it isn't running away. This is experience gained through riding through some of the rougher parts of London, FWIW - plenty of dogs in big studded collars and harnesses...

I have known teeny terriers go for horses - any breed can be nasty. However the vast majority of dogs are not!:)
 
Another couple of things:

1. Tasers are illegal in the UK. And I would have thought they would be likely to kill a dog, not immobilise it. Which would be a breach of the Animal Welfare Act 2006.

2. Why do you think these will get worse? What is your basis for saying this?

3. My dog has never, and will never, chase a horse because I will always put him on a lead to pass horses. However if someone were to kill him with a stun gun, I would be most displeased and would express this forcefully, and I cannot imagine any other dog owner would be different. You would only be putting yourself at more risk with such a foolish course of action.

4. Exactly how do you expect to stun a dog which is running about, while maintaining some control over your horse without stunning yourself or the horse or just missing completely?

5. As others have said the chances of being attacked are very slim, which is precisely why they make the news.
 
All dogs have the **potential** to be dangerous in some shape or form, yes, even little Fluffy and even Big Mister Softy.

The DDA is a joke and most of the dogs on the banned breed list have never set foot in the UK. APBT aren't even recognised as a breed, here, only a type, the legislation is useless.

If dogs were to be banned for chasing or biting animals I am pretty sure collies would be first on the list, nothing does damage like a sheepdog gone bad because they "know" their prey animal so well.

It is always good to be vigilant, but living scared and expecting the worst, you will pass that fear onto your horse.

I have been lucky enough never to be attacked on a horse per se, but I have been run a and nipped at a couple of times (JRTs, collies, a dobe, a staff type) and believe you me, once I have told a dog to 'get out of it' and shown them end of a whip, they don't come back for more.
 
Dont take my comment on the stun gun seroiusly, it was said with tongue in cheek. Of course it would be ridiculous to carry one, the same goes for using the stirrup leather as a lassoo. The point of my thread is that like it or not these atacks are happening more frequently and people need to be aware but not let the thought of an attack stop them doing the fun things they like to do!
 
My mare was attacked by a staffordshire x 14 years ago. She still shakes when she sees a dog she doesn't know. Until then, dogs could run at her barking and growling, I even found a doberman swinging off her tail during a hack, and she didn't bat an eyelid. I wish she would kick but it just isn't in her nature, even under severe provocation. It makes me so angry that owners say, oh he's only playing. I'm expected to control half a ton with two strips of leather and my voice, and they are incapable of controlling (and training the damn thing in the first place) a few pounds of dog. One woman who allowed her boxer to chase my horse almost into the River Mersey, told me it was my fault because my horse should have been under control. I told her if her parents had been under control she would never have been born and that would have done everyone a big favour. Another woman (it usually is women I'm afraid) allowed her two dobermans to chase my horse even after I had asked her to get hold of them as my horse had a history of being frightened by dogs so she got a taste of her own medicine when I got my horse to spin round rapidly and just miss her feet. Not long after that I got sick of all the dog owners (one regular had 6, none on leads and which acted as a pack) and moved to another area. It may be rare in the countryside, but in the urban fringe I suspect it is rather more common.
 
I do find this a little concerning. I have never been attacked myself and my horse is fine with dogs as the yard owner has several but a police women stabled at the yard told me about a dog attack she experienced and it has made me more wary.

The dog was a staff the owner did not try to restrain it and the dog repeatedly went for her horses throat and belly, she kept striking the dog with the whip and spinning the horse in circles so the dog couldn't lock onto it. My reaction could have been to gallop away but apparently this is the worse thing you can do.

Every time I hack out I come across several dogs and while I don't want to be scared stupid I would like to know the protocall should an attack happen.
 
I really don't think that dog attacks have actually increased that much. I think they are increasingly reported and recorded now, because Home Office Counting Rules require the Police to record all calls now, whereas previously many, whilst being recorded as incidents, may not have been recorded as crimes.

I think there is greater intolerance on the part of the public for what might be considered as anti social behaviour and this has also led to an increase in reporting.

This is one of those examples of the fear of crime (or biting dogs in this instance) far exceeding the reality.
 
I agree that running is the worst idea. Tis why children are taught not to run and why when police/protection dogs are sent after people who run, the urge to chase is strong and hypes up a prey-driven dog.

Once a dog locks on to someone or something the best thing to do is pop it's jaw (carefully!) and have something on hand to replace the bitten part with, or restrict the air supply via the collar/lead or scruff of the neck. However understandably that is quite impossible to do when you are up.

Kicking and hitting a dog, particularly a bull breed, may encourage a tighter grip. Also bear in mind that electric current and pain can help increase attack drive.

It is hard to know what to do unless you are accompanied by someone on foot or on a bike or a bystander knows what do do.
 
I have to say that most dog owners in my area seem pretty good and put dogs on leads or hold on to the collar. However years ago I was riding my old horse and a terrier ran into the back of her nipping at the heals she kicked out sending it up in the air and then it landed winded on the floor. The owner was hysterial and I thought we had killed it at first but it got up and was fine but it was a horrible experiance for us all.
 
I dint think it makes any difference what breed the dog is. I was chased by a dog whilst out on a hack having a canter. It was a retriever, badly trained with no interest in it's owner feebly attempting to call it back. K kicked it and it ran back but only because it must have hurt!

People need to understand a dog needs proper training and this is hard wirk. If you can't be bothered, don't get a dog, get a cat.
 
marianneip said:
I dint think it makes any difference what breed the dog is. I was chased by a dog whilst out on a hack having a canter. It was a retriever, badly trained with no interest in it's owner feebly attempting to call it back. K kicked it and it ran back but only because it must have hurt!

People need to understand a dog needs proper training and this is hard wirk. If you can't be bothered, don't get a dog, get a cat.
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Agree with that!
Recall is IMO one of the most important things you can teach your dog and I wont let any off the lead unless I can trust them to come back(lunge lines are fab in the meantime :p ).
We all know how much a kick hurts us,just htink how much damage that could do to a dog.

Yet another reason to wear hi viz too-because I ride my extended family are well,er...lectured on how to behave when they meet horses out and about :p If the rider has put some hi viz on,dog walkers can spot them that little bit sooner giving more time to recall and restrain the dog.
 
LOL amymay.

I'm not concerned about attacks because they are so rare, the MT one in the H& H was the first horse one I have heard of in a long time.

Re the staffie / terrier issue I am a firm believer that it is bad owners not bad dogs at fault having said that my family are bull breed fans. My mum had a bull terrier who died last year and now has a staffie and neither would ever attacK, however another common theme with bull terriers is the pairs of them that attack, princess anne's also spring to mind. They are not a breed I would keep more than one of tbh.
 
we occasionally get problem dogs on the beach, our other grassy haunt they are normally all put on leads (though there are a few I wouldnt trust not to pull free) as we pass in walk but the beach is a bit different.

We have had 2 really bad ones, one was a staffy who persisted in circling (and 2 bloomin low down for me to wallop) and going for tails..... it became apparent that the owner was half way up the dunes 'hiding' when I eventually spotted him and asked him to call his dog he did and the dog went straight to him..... I have no idea why he didnt do that in the first place.

More recently we had an encounter with, I think, I not very wrinkly shar pei. owned by a lovely *cough* young couple. Girl could just run round after it, boy said their horses she isnt going to hurt them they are bigger than her..... the concept, even when spelt out that half a tonne of shod hoof coming in said dogs direction would not lead to a happy outcome seems not to be got at all.

Oh and then the batty woman who said we were upsetting her dobermans and should be at the tide line (its and estuary....... you sink) when she was panicing that she couldnt control said dobermans and winding them up.

In contrast the 8 or so collies with a couple of owners who all sat in a circle on the beach and didnt move a muscle as we trotted past were a joy to see. :)
 
I think what makes issues like this worse is people scare mongering about particular breeds. I have a staffie & have met zillions of them, not one of them being viscious or a problem with horses. Staffies are generally much more people orientated & just desperate for attention.
Problem dogs have problem owners. It is as simple as that.
I hope to god that there isnt a chance they would be put on the DDL as it just would not be justified.
I haven't had many problems with dogs when riding. The problems I have had have been with a collie & a labrador. Again I put this down to their owners - one made no effort to call their dog off, the other just hadnt been trained.
After many a tolerant occasion where my horse put up with a 'friends' collie biting at his heels he has now become generally peed off with dogs & will kick out at them so I at least know he will stand his ground.
 
Our dog luna will chase kalief round the school and bark at him, she sees it as playing and he isn't bothered, he'll kick out when he gets annoyed but never hit her. He really is very good with dogs and I would hate to lose that because some idiot treats their dog as a baby.

This dog was actually trying to bite him and came out of nowhere. It is so irresponsible but I guess the sad thing is that people no longer feel the consequences if their actions unless something goes wrong, ie their dog is killed. Whose fault is it then?
 
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I agree that it boils down to bad ownership rather than a particular breed (although I'd rather be bitten by a littly than a rottie!)

I keep my mare beside a public footpath and encounter dozens of dogs every day. The majority are fine, but there are certain ones whose owners refuse to put their animals on a lead. I am chased and barked at by a Hungarian Vizsla every night, the owners appear after a few minutes and I am lucky if they even bother to shout their dog back, even though I've told them that my horse will kick. (I wish she would be a bit more proactive in the kicking dept. to be honest!) I am just ignored.

Looking at the defra website, chasing livestock is an offence and a control order can be placed on the dog, livestock includes horses in this case so I think I will be reporting this to the local authority, I'm sick of putting up with the same dog with bad behaviour every night. Including it coming into my field to have a go at my husband! A shame, because the dog is probably nice enough it's just the stupid owners.
 
Thats exactly why we have stock wire around our field with an internal electric fence- it stops the dogs coming in so you dont have to worry. The people in the field next door are always moaning about dogs coming in. Sometimes prevention is better than cure... For your Visla problem- why not put up an electric fence at his knee height- once he has had a belt he wont come back..
 
I have been regulary hacking out for about 35 years including hacking in Central London. The worst dog attack I have had was when riding on the road past a farm in a rural area and a couple of dogs came out barking and snarling and attacked my horse and brought her down on the road. Luckily I always carry a schooling whip and hit and kicked both the dogs that then ran away. My horse had been bitten in a number of places and needed attention from a vet. I did report the incident both to the local rural police officer and the dog warden both of which paid the owner a visit and warned him to keep the dogs on his property at all times and if there was another incident he would be prosecuted and the dogs would be both destroyed. My horse initially was not to happy in the presence of dogs but after a number of years she is better with them. I have also had a number of incidents where dogs have appeared from nowhere and started chasing us however i find in most cases dog owners put their dogs on a lead when they see me. (I always wear a long sleeved Hi-Viz jacket, hat band, nose band and reign covers) - I suspect from the distance they think I am a police officer.
 
doris2008 said:
I think what makes issues like this worse is people scare mongering about particular breeds. I have a staffie & have met zillions of them, not one of them being viscious or a problem with horses. Staffies are generally much more people orientated & just desperate for attention.
Problem dogs have problem owners. It is as simple as that.


I am taking a deep breathe on BEHALF of staffies. The original point was valid but -yet again- ALL the finger pointing is at....yes.... a staff. You are adding to the scaremongering and ignorance and for responsible TERRIER owners its hard enough WITHOUT people making assumptions. I have always had staffies...with horses .... and they are no different from any other breed in having to be taught to respect horses - all mine and my families staffs have been taught - just as the labs/springers/jack russells et al had to be. Please be responsible and blame the owners and the deed NOT saying its the breed... and thereby absolving the owners of responsibility.


I meet a lot of dogs and people out when hacking. If the dog starts to run up I have always stopped my horse and shouted at the owners that he will kick if their dog gets too close and that always seems to get them to retrieve their dog quickly. I was always told that you should keep your horse still (if possible) as dogs want too chase - and hopefully the time gained in confusing the dog means the owner can get under control. I do appreciate I ride a pretty big horse so am taken seriously.

And as a footnote, my friends sister lost her dog to a dog attack last week... the dog which attacked hers was a lab. A close friend had her dog badly mauled... by a St Bernard. so please stop these "and I think it was a staff that did it" stories.
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Ive had some very near misses with dogs attacking and it is very very scary.

Its usually on the commons where there are a lot of dog walkers. Our old common had a sign saying all dogs must be kept on leads but none were. Most dogs are well behaved and I always smile at the walkers and say thank you when they call their dogs to heel. I also have no bother with dogs running around my horse if they are not being aggressive or getting too close. A lot of doigs just run past lost in their own little world of smells ect.

However a couple of times dogs have actually gone for my horse. The owners almost seem to enjoy it! One said 'bloody, f'ing horses' as his dog flew at my horse teeth bared. Anothers dog didnt actually attack my horse but was running under her feet and snapping at her belly. I brought her to a standstill and the dog was right underneath her, my horse got fed up of standing and half jumped over the dog to get out of the way and the owner went mental at me telling me I shouldnt be allowed on the common, my horse was out of control (what?!). On my way home hacking up the road she screamed past in her car far too fast on purpose to scare my horse.

IMO its a lot of owners who need educating and also a lot of owners who have not disciplined their animals properly. These are the people screaming at their dog which runs away totally not listening. They shouldnt be allowed off leads if they cant be controlled. My horse isnt running across the common out of control with me screaming!

When a dog runs at my horse barking and with hackles raised I stop my horse, turn it to face the dog and I shout at the dog! I always used to hack with a long schooling whip and if It came too close too bite I would really hit it as hard as I could, bloody thing. Sometimes If I was really worried I would jump off my horse and approach the dog shouting and waving my whip, usually this is enough to frighten the dog off. If the dog went for me id like to see the owner get out of that one!!!

One thing I would never do is ride my horse away from the dog, thats just encouraging it to chase imo.

Of course if its just a playful puppy running up to my horse being curious I would not do the above! I just stand my horse still and wait for the owner to grab hold of it. I then tell the owner that as a prey animal my horse may have kicked it in order to protect itself from a predator so in future they should be careful with their dogs around horses.
 
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