Terrier and horse owners.......

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competitiondiva

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Hi there, having a debate with OH about what type of dog we go for in the future, currently have an ageing lab cross dalmation who is and has been the best dog ever! I take her out with me on the horse riding up the lanes and in the woods etc.

Anyway I'd like to get another lab, x or dally or if at all possible a hungarian viszla (my fave dog ever) anyway OH wants a terrier either a jack russell or a patterdale. My issues are that I want to enjoy my ride out with horse and dog, not spend the time trying to locate which hole it went down!!!?? Is this the case with all terriers?? Or do they make good riding companions???
 
Argh I can vouch that Patterdales are a difficult dog to train. Mine is now at last (he's 3 years now) good with the horses having spent the previous year terrorrising them by hanging off their tales like a pendulum for a swinging ride or skating along behind them hanging off the tail in the snow and mud :D

He's a lovely dog with people, but terrible with other dogs and whilst quite possible by someone experienced to train this aggressiveness out of him - I have not managed so he is only exercised free on our land with our other dogs. I don't think JRTs are as extreme as patterdales :)
 
Our Parsons Jack Russell is a beauty with the horses and happily totters off the lead next to the horse when we hack. We did train him young and he does have a very trainable nature. First Parsons' that we've had so maybe could be a good egg, but he's perfect for our lifestyle!

Previous Jack Russell's have been a nightmare though, one actually did get stuck down a rabbit hole and had to be dug out!
 
Well I dont ride out with my JRT, however she has never ever gone to ground and has excellent recall - they can be wonderful dogs just need plenty of training and lots of stimulation (exercise and mentally!)
 
My JRT is the best dogie ever (in my opinion! :p ) She's a little strange though- she's slightly claustrophobic so has never been down a rabbit hole or through a hedge in her life, I regularly used to hack out with her over open farmland and she was an angel. She has been brought up with horses pretty much since the day she was born and she now thinks she's a horse :o she enjoys grazing with the safe horses in the fields (she knows which ones would trample her given half a chance!) and she eats horse feed more than dog food, and she jumps the horse jumps :) She's also a fantastic mouser which is always useful up the stables! And she loves riding the horses with me, although claws on leather saddle aren't a good idea! :p
Saying that, not all jrt's are the same- I know one of her sisters who regularly runs off and once got ripped to shreds on barbed wire when she got stuck in a hedge (although I think lack of basic training and a non-existant recall may have something to do with it!)
 
I've had two terriers in the past but neither were mad keen on hacking. Not disobedient but both preferred to stop & investigate stuff when I was either riding or walking them, rather than going for a run. Fab yard dogs though, both were brilliant ratters. But just enjoyed staying at the yard to kill stuff rather than hacking.
 
I've got a Jack russell x border terrier - he is very trainable and his recall is great . I've only ridden with him a few times...he's great in walk but gets to close in trot and canter and I worry about him getting squished!! If we're going for a stroll, I can ride and OH and dog can walk (off lead) along with us which is nice :)
He's lazy though and was always happier sleeping in my stable while I rode.

His only downside is that he's not great with other dogs - not awful but we have to be careful with him.

He is awesome though - I would have another terrierist in a heartbeat. He has always been great at the yard, licks the horses noses if he gets the chance, heels to a wheelbarrow etc, will sleep for hours in a stable and is everyone's best friend.

I think the key to a terrier is a really good recall - they do like to get into mischief so you need to be able to get them back quick!
 
I have a terrier X and a Border terrier. They are both fond of riding out with us and used to keeping away from flying hooves. The horses are pretty good at not stepping on them too.
My Border can cover ground at the rate of knots and can keep up with them on long hacks, its what they were bred for.
If they're having to concentrate on keeping up with you, they're focused and less likely to go off to find their own entertainment.
 
I have a JR and a patterdale. Both good with the horses. JR is a good hacking buddy. Sometimes wanders off into the bushes to look for things but always catches me up. Patterdale is a nightmare. Have to check out any walks/rides first on foot as any hole he sees he is in there. 45 mins later still waiting for him to emerge! He is also a buggar to train. Never met such a stubborn, strong willed dog. However I adore him :)
 
My Patterdale was an excellent riding companion - my JRT is equal to her if not better. Both very trainable, or is it me? Both bitches with previous owners, the Patterdale was 18 months old and the JRT just a year. Not started by me, but definitely trained by me. I'd be hard-pressed to choose which was the better of the two around horses - Patti never got excited when the horses did, so possibly her. Keeps them very fit!
 
I have a German Wirehaired Pointer and he's great with the horses. From being 3 months old he was loose at the yard, keeping out of the way of the horses but sticking nearby. He's fab.
I used to keep my mare at livery and our hacking route took us past a friends farm where a border terrier lived. He would hear the hooves clip clopping up the road and come barrelling over the fields to us, then follow our circular ride on the bridleway, and when we reached the farm on the way home he'd just scoot back home =) he was a jolly little chap, really great with the horses!
 
Personally I feel patterdale terriers aren't the best choice for hacking. Obviously there are exceptions but on the whole they too independent for just mooching along. Mine would be a nightmare. He is unreliable at best with other dogs and would be too distracted by livestock, holes, bushes and almost anything else. When I was a child we had an amazing JRT who hacked out every day with us and was great. Would jump up and would sit on the pommel to cross roads. However, poor little Tessa was PTS at 10 due to crippling arthritis, the vet thought over exercise could have contributed to it :(
 
I have a terrier and a rhodesian ridgeback, little and large! Terrier is really OH dog and ridgeback is mine but I end up looking after both all the time. As much as i am fond of the terrier and she is a terrific character she is a pain in the ****. She cant be let off the lead or she runs off, disappears down holes or chases sheep, probably not her fault as oh never trained her and she was worked when she was younger so is quite obsessed with holes. She is not the most helpful dog around the yard!

The ridgeback however is wonderful, loves coming for long rides with me, very loyal, great recall and doesn't like to be too far away from me, loves being around the yard with me while i'm mucking out etc and following me around, is lovely natured and loves nothing more than a cuddle on the soaf at the end of the day. She is quite large though and likes to get right on top of you! She also has no fear of horses whatsoever and very little sense so i'm sure she is going to get walloped one of these days. Ridgeback won't retrieve though so if you want something that could also be a gun dog, i don't recommend!
 
You need a good old labrador - the dog for every occasion :D (But they will of course eat every piece of animal poo/dead animal carcass along the way and throw up all night..but still... ;) )
 
Definitely not a terrier! For one thing, they're great dogs (like border terriers) but very prone to vanishing! A larger dog is also mroe able to keep up. I'd avoid labradors mainly as they have so many joint problems. What about a pointer? They have big lopey strides. Or a collie?
 
SusieT said:
Definitely not a terrier! For one thing, they're great dogs (like border terriers) but very prone to vanishing! A larger dog is also mroe able to keep up. I'd avoid labradors mainly as they have so many joint problems. What about a pointer? They have big lopey strides. Or a collie?
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My BT would disagree with you. She is a fast little devil and can go all day.

I dont hack with mine (I dont agree with it:o) unless OH is there on foot too.

Dependant on what horse I am on she is allowed to 'run' with me when I have my crazy blasts in my fields, she has no problem keeping up.
 
littlemisslauren said:
My BT would disagree with you. She is a fast little devil and can go all day.

I dont hack with mine (I dont agree with it:o) unless OH is there on foot too.

Dependant on what horse I am on she is allowed to 'run' with me when I have my crazy blasts in my fields, she has no problem keeping up.
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I agree, BTs were originally bred to be able to keep up with horses across country. I don't hack with mine though, I have my hands full keeping my mare in a straight line without worrying about an off-lead dog! :D
 
Agree with lml and bs - the BT breed standard states that a Border should be capable of following a horse.

My lad is more than capable. I don't hack, but I do drive with a marathon cart cross country, and Bear is always up there - I'm sure he thinks he's racing! :eek: He's ridden on the cart from a very young age, and when I felt he was capable, OH would dismount with him for a few minutes and run alongside. This was gradually extended, and now we can be out anything from 45 mins to 2 hours, and Bear will have spent up to 80% of this time off the wagon.

So far, Bear has shown no inclination to dive off and go chase or hunt. I believe he's so focused on running with the wagon, he doesn't feel the need to be distracted.

Hell, I love the wee man! :D
 
3BayGeldings said:
You need a good old labrador - the dog for every occasion :D (But they will of course eat every piece of animal poo/dead animal carcass along the way and throw up all night..but still... ;) )
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Sorry but don't all dogs do this!!? Just need to add, roll in revolting fox poo at every opportunity! ;)
 
I have a Jack Russell and she's amazing to have with horses. Keeps out of the way as required, small enough to come up onto the saddle if she gets tired or a hurt paw, can keep up (is only ever slightly behind even when we gallop), and can go all day. She's not interested in leaving her 'pack' and doesn't run off. She also has a good recall - will even come back when chasing foxes in the field. The perfect horsey dog :).
 
hey

i have a JRT X ??? and he is 4 1/2 months old and a total delight. don't get me wrong he was a total nightmare when we got him very nappy and he still not toilet trained. BUT when we are at the stables he is a dream he hacks with me (only a 2 so far but been an angel) and is always by my side. we still have a good bit of work to do but im on the right road. good luck with what you do decide xxx
 
Yes-I have a border that can keep up but not as well as a long ride dictates with lots of cantering-or at least not well enough without the dog having to catch up a lot!
 
Oz my JRT comes out on 2hrs hacks, we have to walk after a long canter for him to catch up (but the ground dictates we would have to walk there anyway). He does however have a tendency to sneak back to the yard on cold/wet winter hack, before we get to the 1st field (all off road so safe).

He generally have excellent recall and heals and waits so can cross roads with him when I have gone out hacking in the lorry.
 
Thanks for all the replies, it looks like on a whole my concerns are probably founded, I'll just have to get onto the viszla rescue site!!! Hopefully though it won't be for a while yet, though my fab lab x dally girly is aging and has arthritis and mild dysplasia. At 11 1/2 she's doing very well still and still comes out with me on hacks, just struggles sometimes to jump into the truck and keep up in canter!
 
An old livery mate had a JRT that she took riding with her, she never went down holes etc and they had a great time.
I could never do it with mine, they'd try and kill themselves in some way, shape or form...
 
mystiandsunny said:
I have a Jack Russell and she's amazing to have with horses. Keeps out of the way as required, small enough to come up onto the saddle if she gets tired or a hurt paw, can keep up (is only ever slightly behind even when we gallop), and can go all day. She's not interested in leaving her 'pack' and doesn't run off. She also has a good recall - will even come back when chasing foxes in the field. The perfect horsey dog :).
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This Sounds like my JRT - they are so intelligent and really benefit form early training plus a small dog is sooo much easier than a big one as well especially when it comes to wet and dirtiness! We were going to get a lab but went for a JRT and have never ever regretted it.
 
Not read whole post. I have 4 JRTs, one doesn't like the horses, two love coming out riding and baby dog is too much of a fruit loop at the mo to be trusted lol. I've had Jacks for 11 years and *touching lots and lots of wood* mine have never even looked at a hole let alone made a dive for one.

They're very intelligent and quick to learn which is great unless it's a bad habbit lol which mine also have a lot of :p

I can also vote Vizzy :p lol, grew up with Wire Viz's
 
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