Tips for boisterous BC around horses

[Sherbert]

Hi, I don’t post much but am hoping someone can give me some advice. My 15 month old boy Border Collie is a handful with the horses. He seems to lose all manners at the stables and will jump up at doors, run off into the fields given half the chance and won't come back, and give chase if horses trot off.

I keep him on the lead most of the time to avoid the obvious dangers but this morning he slipped his collar while I was turning a mare out and was straight at her back legs and I couldn’t get him away. If I keep him tied up or shut in anywhere he cries/barks incessantly and desperately tries to escape, and I don’t think that will help him learn.

The thing is he is fab to take out anywhere else, very obedient off the lead, rarely strays very far away, comes to call straight away and is perfectly behaved with other dogs – actually often ignores them. I’ve even taken him when I’ve hacked out on my own (led off a lunge line and off the lead) and he followed me around quite calmly. It’s just back at the yard where he seems to lose his head.

I know he is still young and he does seem to be getting better with time/treats but even so... what is the best method to train dogs to behave around horses? I don’t want to tell him off when he does finally come back to me, although I feel dreadfully guilty as I did this morning. Or is it a pipe dream and I just shouldn’t take him. Although part of the reason my OH agreed to a dog in the first place was that I said I would!

Sorry it has turned into such a long post but I’d appreciate any tips, thank you.

 

[Spudlet]

Have you ever let him meet a horse at the yard in a calm and controlled manner (ie, taking him up to the fence or stable door on the lead, and letting them have a nose sniff over the fence). I also have an excitable dog, although with Henry it's all about the frozen lumps of horsepoo

- I have found that he is calmer around them because he meets lots face to face, his reaction is generally one of 'wow these are a LOT bigger up close... maybe I'll stick with you mum!'

That said Henry did run into a field with the horses yesterday after poop and got chased out again sharpish by a grumpy pony

so he's not perfect. I'm hoping this will have been a learning experience for him!

If he does come back to you, you need to perfect your 'what a good boy' even if it is through gritted teeth! God knows I know how hard this is, but he will only see that you have told him off for coming back, not for taking his time about it.

I also couldn't leave Henry in a stable when I tried - he waits for me in the car instead, where he is calmer anyway (not much at the moment as I have no horse but when necessary that it what we do). I leave him with a chewbone or kong to distract him. He needs to get used to being left alone generally as you cannot have him with you 24/7 - how is he with being left home alone? Does he have a general separation problem?

 

[Sherbert]

Thanks for your reply. We've had him since he was 8 weeks old so he was introduced to the horses quite early on, and he's always been very keen to meet them nose to nose! My boy is quite tolerant of him so I guess doesn't tell him off really - its the others I'm worried about!

He would much rather be with you but is regularly left alone at home and is fine with it. He won't eat a chew or a bone though while you're gone, he'll leave it and eat it when you get back instead! I'll keep persevering with the praise when he is good, am just so worried that a well aimed kick and it'll be game over for him, he is so good in every other way.

 

[Spudlet]

I know that feeling so well

My heart was in my mouth yesterday, I thought I was going to scraping Henry out of the grass! He's always gone into the fields but never amongst the horses like that before - silly, silly dog.

The only advice I can really give is some that I got about training Henry - find out what he wants to do, and then use that to train him. For Henry the best game of all is hunting through the hedges so I have trained him to do that on a whistle, I can then use that to call him away from danger if needed - not foolproof though unfortunately, as always with animals. Maybe for your BC it is his herding instinct pulling him away - is there anyway you can give him another safe outlet for this?

They are not ideal but if he is escaping his collar, you could try a harness as they are a bit harder to get out of. A long line might also help as you can let him have more freedom while still controlling him if needed.

 

[Sherbert]

Thanks, yeah a harness and long line is a good idea. He loves chasing tennis balls which keeps him occupied for a bit until we lose it or a horse neighs/moves and then he's off like a shot!

Maybe I'll go back to the trainer we used as a pup and see if they can help me find an outlet for his herding - he was always so well behaved at class, maybe I'll see if they'll do a yard visit!

 

[Lucy_Nottingham]

some trainers will come to the place it is needed which is good!

Beau has this problem and so he is not let off the lead around the horses, luckily he nevers slips his collar (touch wood) so he generally doesnt do much else.

It isnt the herding thats his problem just his noseyness (he went in the stable with a cob i ride just to sniff round his legs and say hello etc) and Basil just picked up a back foot to say **** off! (very nice dosile cob!) and beau was just like o thanks Il sniff the bottom of your foot!!!! (Cue me scooping dog away!)
my other horse who was pts was much more tolerant as beau doesnt bite, just jumps up and gets excited.
But normally he is on the lead with my OH or in the car if im on my own........ it sucks as Id love to let him off but at the moment I just dont trust him not to get himself killed!

hehe

Cayla (i think it was) told me another trick to stop the jumping up which is one of the jif (??) lemon bottles, which are lemon shaped and you squeeze them, with either the lemon juice or lemon and water in. When the dog jumps up or whatever just squirt him with it (not all just a bit) as they hate the citrus. Then reward when being good again.......
It worked a bit with beau but then he figured out ways to avoid getting squirted... little sod!

Sorry not much help but just know ur not on ur own!!!!

also harness sounds a good idea!

 

[Sherbert]

Thanks, its good to know I'm not the only one! Is Beau a collie dog too?

We did use a kiddies toy water pistol to stop him jumping up at people when he was younger, it worked a treat but the darn things kept leaking in my pocket. Those jif lemons would be ideal, probably get a better squirt distance too, I'll stop off at the supermarket tonight, thanks

 

[Lucy_Nottingham]

no worries.
Yes beau is a BC!

Although doesnt really look "proper" he is the size of a small bitch, and is black from head to toe, with white feet and belly (just)
Iv had people ask me if he is all kinds of crosses (lurcher, GSD etc) and its like NO JUST A BC!!!!!! HES JUST BLACK!!

GAH! lol

hehe just to show you!

any excuse really!

 

[b0508]

My dog is a collie cross.He loves being around the horses but get very over excited.If I send the cob away when I am dealing with my mare or they set off quickly he will bark and go for the legs.He never bites but just gets so excited.

The horses are really good with him and mine even puts her head down so he can give her a kiss on the face.

He will also get round the back end of them sometimes but is getting so much better and giving them space.

This is a dog who use to attack the horses i use to ride and gets nervous when on the lead around them so thats why he is off.He does his own thing now when we are tending to the horses.

The problem is i think he is half horse he has to get a carrot when the horses get a carrot and will protest if he is not given one.

He loves human attention and gets a bit jelous (sp?) but when ignored he is fine.

I did however introduce them slowly and he is getting better every single time we go up there.Good luck

 

[Sherbert]

ahh he's gorgeous, I love the ears in the last one. I've never posted pics before but will give it a whirl...

as a young pup

a year old

Think his ears are too big to stand up!

 

[Lucy_Nottingham]

awwwwww look at that first one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


bet no1 confuses urs for a gsd x collie!