Where do you start if you want to ride out with your dog?

Eriskayowner

Eriskayowner

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I'm not planning on this just yet, but sometime in the next 9 months or so.

I have a 9 month lab x retriever bitch that I want to take out with me on hacks up to the moor etc. There is very little traffic on the roads going that way, and the cars we do meet are generally well trained!

She is well behaved and responsive off the lead, even amongst lots of other dogs and people when I take her around the monument. She hasn't had a huge amount of exposure to the horses but I am going to start building this up.

Where do you start?
Is it a good idea?
 
I take my dog with me but only in the summer when I get up at 4.30 as there is no traffic on the roads. I take a pocket full of dog treats so that I can call her back to us and make her sit. She does tend to run off chasing rabbits.
 
Thanks for the reply selkie!

Ahhhh that's a good plan. Amber's pretty good at coming back and she will only ever go so far away from me (I think it's the puppy phase rather than any form of training ;) )

How did you start - the first time for example? Did you just do it? Did you put her on the lead first (I can see a whole load of issues there though :S)

How did your horse first respond to it?
 
We usually put the dog in before we leave but one morning we were about a mile down the road before we noticed her following, we decided to continue with the ride rather than go back. We usually go between 4 and 6 miles. She also comes in the sand school with us when we are schooling but not if we are jumping
 
I don't ride with my dog on my own, but I have rode out with somebody walking him on the lead and then letting it off when we have got to a bridlepath or field.

I think the horse has to sometimes be better behaved than your canine and fond of dogs too as mine will always stop if the dog gets to near to his legs and actively looks out for the dog, so lots of socialisation in and around the yard and getting someone to regularly walk out with you would help.

But I wouldn't go as far to try it on your own with a lunge line or anything because if it all goes wrong then the implications could be hideous!!
 
Thanks Selkie and pitter_patter.

I really don't want to go down the route of having her on a rope as she very nosy and Jazzy would be wearing about 18 pairs of hobbles by the end of the ride!

Jazzy's pretty good, but forward going so it's whether she would keep up with him (she should be able to - she's pretty quick for a lab!)

I might spend the next few weeks just getting her used to being around the horses more at least. I've had her loose in the stable whilst I've been brushing Jazz and they were both really good. Jazzy didn't move at all (he's normally a bit fidgety) when she was trotting underneath him and behind his legs and stuff!
 
I really wouldn't try to use leads, lunge lines etc etc - it could just lead to a complete tangle up!

I socialised my dogs around the horses really well before starting, just letting them be around each other in the field and yard before starting on really small rides. You need to be sure that your dog will come when called and that both horses & dogs are happy for the dog to sit to command very close to the horses legs. My daft dog used to sit when she saw a car coming which was great but often it would be in the middle of the road!

To be honest I found it quite stressful taking my dogs when out hacking, on the moor it was fine but on the lanes you have to be concentrating on what's happening all the time. It may help if you have a friend who takes their dog out & your dog could learn from that one which is how my younger dog learnt. Also it may be a good idea to have a helper take your dog to an open space with you and doing a short ride, then bringing the dog back to the helper before you start going out on the lanes - that way you can train the commands in safety without any traffic.

Good luck!
 
I always rode out with my pup.
I started by taking him beside me on the bike so he got used to staying close and following me and not wandering off, and socialized him around the horses, taught him a couple of 'special' commands such as 'in' (jump into the nearest hedge) 'over' (cross the road) 'close' (similar to 'heel', but with a little more distance and could be in front as well as behind) and made sure his basic commands such as sit, stay and down were good.
Also that when you put them somewhere infront/behind/in/close/heel etc that they stay there until released.

Its awesome to have then out and about with you, and as long as your off lead control is good you should have no problems.

My 18 week old springer is currently starting his training and should be out and about with us in a few months :-)
 
Oh that sounds good! I keep being told that she's too young to take out as her joints still aren't fully formed etc but that sounds encouraging! She's pretty good on the lead but I will do more training etc on walks (on foot) as well as getting her used to the horses.

Right - a new plan!

Thanks everyone! X
 
My boy is only doing about 3km at the mo, and is pretty damn slow beside the bike, but its getting him used to it (and challenging my bike control skills at low speeds!)
At the mo its more about getting his head around the run beside/follow along on the left hand side.
Walking hes up to about 5km, he's pretty chilled and we let him dictate a lot of the pace and distance.
By 9 months I'd be expecting him to cope with a 5km ride (horse or slow bike) no prob :-)

Good luck and enjoy it!
 
I take my border collie out with me sometimes when I go riding. Never did any kind of training with her, just did it. She is very obedient though and never goes very far from us. I don't take her on the busy main roads either, just the quieter country lanes. She's learnt to come back when cars are coming and I always stop to let them pass even when the roads are wide enough for cars to pass safely. She comes back then, jumps up and puts her paws onto Magic's side and waits for the cars to pass. She's a clever doggie! :)
 
I went out for a ride earlier - went up to the woods and back along the roads.

I did meet a couple of cars, but they were in convoy (well, one immediately behind the other!) and lots of space to pass so it would have been ideal to take doglet, but I left her at the yard in Jazz's box. Apparently she was very good and quiet.

She was very good with Jazzy - quiet and calm-ish!

I did take her up to the field with Jazzy and his field-friend which was good. Maybe next weekend or so I'll take her to the woods as well . . .
 
Both of mine (Fox terrier and Wire German Pointer) started coming out for a short distance a couple of times a week at about 6 months. They were both used to being around horses before we started and were pretty solid on the 'wait' command. The older one learnt to slot in behind the horse on command by having a treat chucked on the ground. When the younger one arrived she pretty much picked that up by copying.
I would say that the lanes around us are very quiet and I don't think I would risk going on a busy road but that aside they both come out whenever I ride and absolutely love it.
 
I take Ped hacking wherever it's possible and our other lurcher and lab are both good to take hacking. I always have treats (those fridge raiders chicken bites are good ;)) and I throw them down to them at the end of each 'heel'. They also know 'behind' which is really useful on a narrow path as you never know when they're going to stop to sniff something, much easier to have them at the back.

Ped's been coming out with me since he was about 4 months old and I've never had any problems. The horses really enjoy the company and mine is definitely gets confidence from Ped going first past scary things. My dogs know that it's their job to keep out of the way of the horses but at the same time the horses watch where they are and will jump over them if necessary.

Here's Ped doing canter work on the track
DSC_1272.jpg
 
PeterNatt said:
Please be aware that you must be in control of your dog at all times when on a public road or Highway including Public Footpaths, Bridleways and Byways.
Click to expand...

Surely 'in control' doesn't mean on a lead? I have much more control of my dogs whilst riding than most people have whilst walking with them. They walk to heel, go in front, go behind, sit, down, stay etc. I take lead ropes clipped on the D rings and the dogs put their paws up on the horse's shoulder so I can clip a lead on if needed.
 
This has made me chuckle. When I first clapped eyes on my boy, our labrador was barking furiously at him, and he was just looking at him and snorting, nose to nose. They have been walking out buddies ever since, either boy ridden or led. sm x
 
i would love the take my jack rat on a hack with me, she was well socialised with horses but she got stomped on by a 600kg horse on thursday and dislocated and chipped her hip so no more yard antics for her untill the horses are out in the fields! dont ever want to see her in that much pain again!!
 
Ouch Miss_Buffay - that sounds nasty. Hope she mends soon.

Once the horses are a little more chilled out I'll start planning to take Amber on rides to the woods. There is a small amount of (slow) road work and little chance of meeting cars etc. I need her to find the whole stables experience v v boring first!!

Thanks for all your help, stories and encouragement everyone xxx
 
We used to take our collie x lab out with us a lot until she decided she was just too old for it and decided not to come anymore. She was brilliant though but then she was very human orientated and well trained, she would sit and wait on command when we waited to cross roads and se would stay 'in' (ie on the pavement) if we were riding along a road. She was fab. Dogs do differ though.You need to be sure your dog is going to be obedient and has good recall and sit and wait commands sorted whatever the circumstances basically.

I used to really enjoy going out on my pony and have the dog with me and think they used to race each other when we went for a gallop. With later dogs we've had that maybe weren't as reliable as our other dog we took long leads with us and taught them to jump up with the paws on the side of the horses so we could clip a lead on when necessary! Again though this took some training (horse and dog) to trust us doing this. Worked though. Our latest dog now is no so confident with horses so i don't think I would be inclined to take her as much unless we went on a ride she knew the route of. We used to sometimes get out dad to meet us at certain points where we could then take the dogs just on a safe, off-road ride.

I guess my main points are it depends on the dog and whether it wants to or likes to be out with you and the horse and that you need to be damn sure you have full control and your dog listens to you! It is lovely though going out with your dog and horse. Hmm, maybe I will try it again.....!
 
When I rode on holiday in Portugal, the older dogs would come and ride out with us, it was lovely! They had learnt early on the different routes, and what was expected, but then again there weren't any roads :) I think as long as your doglets get introduced slowly, I think its ok.
 
My dog used to hack with me all the time - on a lead on the roads and off lead around the park, but she doesnt trust the TB to not stomp on her so I leave her at home if I hack him and only take her when I tack the hairy one :)
The dog enjoys it, the horses dont mind it and it "Kills 2 birds with 1 stone" ;) Just make sure all parties are happy and safe and you'll be fine.
 
Years ago I had a sheltie that ran alongside me while riding. I didn't have to do any training to run alongside. I think it depends what breed they are. Obviously shelties are used to running alonside livestock.

I did have, to train the dog and horse to cross roads as there was a main road right outside the stables and I trained the dog to jump up to me, I caught her, and she laid across the front of the saddle while I crossed the road. I was only on a 14.2 though and shelties are very spingy.
 
My old YO always takes her two dogs out with her, they wear little hi viz jackets too.

Funnily enough I was just thinking earlier that when I get my parents dog later this year ( I am dog sitting while they go abroad for a few months) that I will take her out with me and seren, she is a very well behaved little dog and loves to be with you so I will give it a try, I have alot of off road riding by me though
 
I only take going mine on rides where we are not going on or near roads. I got them socialised first and then got hubby to bring the dog and send him after us.
Strangely, my horse sometimes naps on his own but never with the dog. The dog is quite aware of the horse and keeps a distance from his feet, particularly at trot.
It's nice to exercise them together as a tbX and greyhound both like to run. I'm careful not to go too far and to allow the dog to rest too.
 
I think its just wonderful to take your dog out with you when riding your horse. I used to constantly, but the farmer will not now permit me to ride on his land with the dog, as he feels there is not enough control of the dog. pity because my dog is, like others mention on here today, far easier to control from the back of a horse then with me on the ground, and if he gets into mischief, trotting away retrieves the dog very quickly.
I still always take my dog with us when we go to the beach, and he keeps well clear of the feet. As a puppy he learnt quickly that horses hooves hurt! Actually it was a very efficient way for the dog to learn that big heavy moving objects are potentially dangerous, hence he is very good around cars and keeps out of the way and does not dart about when they approach. I have lead my dog from my horse with a thick "Parelli type" 12ft line that the horse can see well.
I plan to do this again in spring and summer so that my dog is "on the lead" when on the farm! on the paths that lead up to the road and woods. Its quite easy/safe if you have a sensible horse.
The biggest problem I have when hacking out with my dog on the roads is that he runs directly ahead down the middle of the road. The roads are quiet mostly but occasionally two cars will come along in quick succession or maybe farm vehicles and then I worry. I would appreciate any ideas to get him too heel, or go on the inside of my horse when this happens, but he is a JR and can be quiet spontaneous at times!
 
I would love to be able to do this, but all our bridlepaths routes are reached via roads, and it's just too risky. A cat might run across the road and all hell would break loose! I have fantasized about galloping along, with my dog running alongside me. I have some friends in the States that do this, but they have so much more space over there, compared to where I live.
 
However well behaved horse and dog are you can still come unstuck. I rode out with my old YO some years ago and her 2 very well behaved/well trained black labs came with us. Halfway round our hack, on a tree covered mountain side miles from traffic, the dogs had disappeared off to snurfle in the undergrowth. We walked on and suddenly the dogs exploded from the bushes immediately to one side of us. The horses jumped clean out of their skins (me too!) and it could have turned nasty.
 
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