While on the subject of barking doggies

[Flame_]

I ride down a bridleway that goes behind someone's large house. Its quite a narrow, spooky track with a high fence down most of the same side as the house, and fields, barb wire fencing, trees and weeds on the other side.

Mostly the spooky track is fine but the owner of the house has several guard dogs, rotties I think. They're in a large pen behind about a 6' high, 20' long fence along side the bridleway. Every time you get along side this bit of fence the dogs start barking and jumping up at the side of the fence which clatters it. My horse and others I've seen just seem to nervily scuttle past but its a trauma I could do without and I wonder if there's anything I could or should do about it. I expect probably not, but any thoughts welcome.

Thankyou.

 

[CorvusCorax]

Not really, if it is their property...is it a very heavily used bridlepath? Which was there first, out of interest? If I lived along a bridleway I wouldn't locate my dog run beside it, within reason....although I suppose it would deter ner-do-wells from jumping over the fence....

 

[Flame_]

It is their property. Its a very well used bridleway. I think its inconsiderate when their property spans acres and its not like they had to put the dogs there.

They've put in a helicopter garage thing beside it further down as well.

I think the bridleway was there first, at least before the helicopter, but I'm not sure.

Just one of those annoying things.

 

[AmyMay]

The more you ride past it - the better your horse will become. Also talking to the dogs in a friendly manner usually helps as well. Because not only are you addressing them in a non aggressive manner, because you are talking calmly you are also breathing calmly - which in turn helps to not wind the horse up.

 

[Guinness]

[ QUOTE ]
The more you ride past it - the better your horse will become. Also talking to the dogs in a friendly manner usually helps as well. Because not only are you addressing them in a non aggressive manner, because you are talking calmly you are also breathing calmly - which in turn helps to not wind the horse up.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes-or singing to them! (This also works with tractors

)

 

[AmyMay]

[ QUOTE ]
Yes-or singing to them! (This also works with tractors )

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LOL

 

[CorvusCorax]

Could you approach the owners? Even pop a letter in their postbox or something?

I know someone on here had suggested throwing treats over a fence, but as the owner of a dog with allergies I would strongly advise you ask permission (I found out a few months ago that our window cleaner was feeding my boy custard creams and cheese sarnies to 'make friends' - the dog loved him but it wasn't helping his baldy bits!)

 

[Flame_]

You are right of course. My horse and I need to just face up to stuff and I suppose be glad for challenges like this in a relatively safe place. I'm just being a wuss, my horse isn't too bad with them.

 

[Flame_]

[ QUOTE ]


Yes-or singing to them! (This also works with tractors

)

[/ QUOTE ]

Oh no, we don't do tractors!

 

[AmyMay]

Good on you Flame

 

[merlinsquest]

Just as I get to the main (busy) road to cross over to the common to hack, I have to contend with three GSD's barking, which merlin doesnt mind too much as he can see them...... but on the other side of the very narrow track there is a choco lab who races up to the fence and tries to jump it..... its a six foot fence and the dog just manages to get its head above the top......

Scares the hell out of merlin and I.... Not what you need when you are only about 10' from the edge of a busy road

 

[Donkeymad]

Why is it inconsiderate, they have guard dogs, probably for a good reason, and the dogs are doing their job.
Sorry, but you just have to get your horses used to it.

 

[Flame_]

They aren't guarding anything in particular in their pen. The owners have loads of land surrounding the house and out-buildings so they could situate the pen anywhere but they chose to put it right next to the bridleway to go ape at every horse that goes past. That's inconsiderate by my standards.

Also like MQ says, it wouldn't be so bad if the horses could see them up ahead, they wait 'til you're right along side to chuck themselves at the fence and the horses don't know what's going on. Its not really something they get used to, like people jumping out at you from behind doors will always make you jump, and like bird scarers going off unexpectedly. Its not that I can't deal with it, just that people at my yard have had problems with them, its an unnecessary risk and I wouldn't be surprised if someone has an accident there. So be it.

 

[diggerbez]

but if someone has an accident they can ring an ambulance chaser and pursue a dodgy no win no fee claim through the court

on a serious note...its annoying but if its their land they have the right to do what they like unfortunately

hopefully neds will eventually get used to it and then will be great in the event of meeting hidden doggies in the future