How far are you responsible for your dog's behaviour?

[FlorayG]

Originally Posted by Sitron

It's not the dogs in secure gardens that bother me out hacking ... it's those off lead and owners who have no control or any reliable recall

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Those just get kicked...

[sam7]

The only way to train a dog not to bark at passing horses is to have horses go passed again and again and the owner distract the dog with treats, you could offer this as a solution. Suggest you and maybe other riders go passed to get thge dog used to it. Hard though if thge owner doesn't care

[toots82]

We had a big scary looking dog, he wasn't really scary but I understand he could look it. He used to go nuts at the postie if he was in the garden when the postie came (we put a post box on outside of gate and an extra bolt, wouldn't expect anyone to come in with him going nuts) and I'd always be straight out correcting him and fetching him in but it never changed his behaviour. Vet said it's a rewarding behaviour for the dog as he sees a person coming too close (in his mind) to his territory, barks and barks and the person leaves. He thinks he's protected us and doesn't realise the postie had to go to next houses just that he got rid of them. So next time he sees this "threat" he repeats the behaviour. Maybe the dog thinks along the same lines.

I know it's not ideal for you and horses could get scared... the dog is probably scared too. He doesn't know what a horse is or that it's no threat I assume.

That being said, as an owner I would be trying to work with you because as much as I loved Kenzie... his postie bark drove me nuts. It would require both parties working together and it's a pity they don't seem willing. Maybe try again with the suggestion of getting the dog familiar with your horse repeatedly going past until the dogs not interested anymore and being rewarded by the owner when he's calm as you pass... maybe they still won't agree. Shame

[hilz22]

Mmm this is a tricky one, as a dog owner if my dog is barking constantly I bring him inside. But as in your case by the time I had got to the garden you would have gone by then and you can't keep a dog locked in all the time :/ As others have said he is just been territorial and protecting his patch. Just because he has a deep bark doesn't mean he is dangerous.
Dogs bark, cows moo, cats ,meow it's as simple as that really.

[macjaddie]

The dogs are barking to defend their territory, a horse that is going to balk at every sudden noise probably isn't one to have out on the public highway. I drive a lot through quite narrow county lanes and pass lots of horse riders at a crawl, sometimes the horses still react badly and I have to question the wisdom of them being on the road!

[Cherrypie]

What about putting something on Facebook to warn local riders or ringing a few stables/yards up to tell them - there isn't much else you can do except put the word out x

[FlorayG]

Originally Posted by sam7

The only way to train a dog not to bark at passing horses is to have horses go passed again and again and the owner distract the dog with treats, you could offer this as a solution. Suggest you and maybe other riders go passed to get thge dog used to it. Hard though if thge owner doesn't care

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Yes this would work but as the dog owner doesn't even see it as a problem he's not interested in changing the dog's behaviour.
Macjaddie I agree a lot of horse riders (not horses!) shouldn't BE on the roads as they don't have their horses properly trained but even the best trained horse will spook at something like this and even if it doesn't turn and run the spook could put it into the path of a car going by at the same time.
I just hope there never is an accident, but I feel there will be as this is a popular lane for horse riders.

[scottishmum]

Originally Posted by FlorayG

That's a shame then. I've tried to make them see they would surely be morally responsible at least but they just don't care.

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The dog is in it's own garden, they don't know when a horse is going to pass and it's secure in its garden so not much I don't they can do. It needs to be in the garden.

I do bring mine in if he's in a barky mood, it works both ways , my dog was lying happy in our front garden and kids hurtle by on scooters and he will bark at the noise, he loves kids but he is peaceful then suddenly is frightened by the noise.

[scottishmum]

Originally Posted by FlorayG

Train the dog not to do this would be helpful. It's all very well to say 'train the horses better' but if somebody rides up there who hasn't been there before they will be taken by surprise. You can't train ANY animal against something unexpected.
I wouldn't mind if it just barked but it hurls itself at the gate snarling and slavering and obviously horses don't realise it can't actually get out. It must be stressful for the dog as well as it thinks it needs to be on alert all the time.

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Who says the owner should train the dog specifically at each and everything it reacts to?

[papamouse]

I have the solution,
emmy woo woo cut her paw
quite bad, back front pad, shes has the cone of shame and hasn't been allowed to run out with her pack twice a week for 3 weeks now.
op and recovering going well but 1 more week of the CoS and then the wound will be full healed and she can got out.
Hates the cone and has bent it beyond recognition, usually on the back of my legs!
Vet suggested getting her some cone free time but put Tea Tree Oil around the wound to deter her licking it.

OP the night before a ride, go out and paint the fence with TTO. Next day when the dog hears the clipity clop of you coming past, it will make a dash to the fence and smell the TTO and walk away in disgust.

Job done.