What to do about pack of dogs. PLEASE HELP!!

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Bumblebun

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I am need of some advice. My mum, sister and I all have horses and we have kept them at our current livery yard for around 2 years. At first we really enjoyed our time at the yard but along with most of the other liveries we are becoming increasingly upset.

Our yard owner has always had 4 dogs that were very poorly trained but as they spent most of the time locked in a stable we didn't worry too much. However 2 months ago the yard owner got 3 other new dogs that can escape from the stable by jumping the stable door so he has decided to let them out permanently along with the 4 he had originally.

In the past 3 months the dogs have been running free around the yard with little to no supervision. This is causing people's horses to spook whilst they are riding them in the school resulting in two liveries falling off one of which was my mum. My mums horse is normally a very well behaved horse, which is perfect for mum as she is a nervous rider. Unfortunately since she fell off she hasn't had the courage to get back on as she is worried it will happen again. We have told the yard owner but he still allows the dogs lose around the yard. The horses are continuously being chased whilst in the fields and they don't come to recall when the owner does occasionally try to control his dogs. The dogs fight with each other as well as other liveries dogs (not that anyone brings their own dogs up anymore).

We are currently looking to move yards but its hard to find yards with the faculties we need that have three spaces available.

What can we do to stop this from repeatedly happening? I know some of the dogs are from rescue centres but some were brought from breeders. We appreciate any replies or private messages.
 
His yard, his dogs, his rules. Sorry to be blunt but that is the bottom line.

What can you do about it? Get all the other liveries together and make a mass protest, politely and calmly pointing out the problems and suggesting that his insurance might not agree that he is providing a safe environment in return for the rent you are paying and he could be held liable if there is an accident. You could always have a quiet word with Health & Safety who might make a visit and point out the same thing.

The good news is that horses will get used to most things, provided they are not actually being attacked, given time. I had 30 - 40 of my own dogs and the ponies were regular grazed in their exercise paddock. Initially, the ponies would chase the dogs which were very adroit in keeping out of the way. In no time at all they would accept each other.

[youtube]llLgWst3UlQ[/youtube]
 
I'm sorry to hear about the problems you're having, and that your mother feels too nervous to ride her horse, but I think that I most of all, feel sorry for the situation the dogs are in. They sound like the equivalent of the sort of human teenage gang, that have nothing to do, so they activate themselves by doing stupid things, and who doesn't know/have been taught that there is rules that they need to follow.

I partly agree with Dry Rot, maybe there is a chance that they will settle and get used to each other, but partly I also think that it maybe won't happen, as long as the dogs continues to be bored, understimulated, and have nothing else to do, other than activating themselves by chasing the horses and cause trouble.

If talking to the Yard Owner doesn't help, and you can't find anywhere else to move to, then personally, if I was in your situation, I think that I would probably try and teach my horse that as long as I'm around, I take care of/deal with the dogs. It is not my first choice to discipline other people's dogs, but e.g. if my bitches are on their leads, then, unless I've given them permission to say Hello to another dog, I do my best to make sure that other dogs doesn't come near them. Besides, discipline and discipline, in general, I usually doesn't need to do much more than simply place myself in front of my bitches, while trying to make my body language as dominant as possible, and maybe I also says NO!
In your situation, I would probably also try to praise the dog/dogs, if they respects your boundaries.

I've also read on HHO, that some HHO:ers would use their whip if a dog truly tries to scare their horse when they are out riding.
 
If you and your family are stressed out about the dogs it is unlikely that your horses will get any better with them because you will be passing on your stressed/anxious vibes. Just look for a 'no dogs' yard.
 
Dry Rot said:
His yard, his dogs, his rules. Sorry to be blunt but that is the bottom line.

What can you do about it? Get all the other liveries together and make a mass protest, politely and calmly pointing out the problems and suggesting that his insurance might not agree that he is providing a safe environment in return for the rent you are paying and he could be held liable if there is an accident. You could always have a quiet word with Health & Safety who might make a visit and point out the same thing.

The good news is that horses will get used to most things, provided they are not actually being attacked, given time. I had 30 - 40 of my own dogs and the ponies were regular grazed in their exercise paddock. Initially, the ponies would chase the dogs which were very adroit in keeping out of the way. In no time at all they would accept each other.

[youtube]llLgWst3UlQ[/youtube]
Click to expand...
What tolerant ponies! Is your pointer trying to invite the pony to play!?? My Rotti used to try a be 'one of the geldings' but just kept getting booted and gave up lol.
 
RaynerK said:
What tolerant ponies! Is your pointer trying to invite the pony to play!?? My Rotti used to try a be 'one of the geldings' but just kept getting booted and gave up lol.
Click to expand...

I think that is his idea. I have plenty of still photographs of the dogs actually walking between the ponies legs! On the other hand, I have a GSD who thinks it might be fun to go in and bite. Obviously, this is not allowed and it is quite interesting watching the interaction! The ponies will occasionally chase her but she is wise enough to keep out of the way. She got well and truly booted by the stallion the other day, limped for all of two minutes, and was then back to normal. Dogs are tough.
 
Unfortunately the pack of dogs out our yard are not as gentle or as clam as the dogs in that video. They work as a pack and have made a game of antagonising and chasing the horses at our yard, some of the horses are quite flighty types anyway so don't need much to wind them up.
 
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