How to Handle Loose Dogs While Riding

darkhorse · 03-09-2010, 07:09 PM

So I ride a lot alongside our county highway....and have discovered a problem.

There are a lot of loose dogs in our county. Some of them have charged us while riding along side the highway.

And to be honest...some appear quite vicious.

At one point there was a dog that charged at me and the owner was in the yard and saw the whole thing and never said a word.....I hollered loudly and it stopped him....but he really looked like he wanted a piece of us.

I called the animal control in our area and she suggested that I carry a paint ball gun. Thought that sounded cool.....guess I could find a small one.

It is to the point where going for a ride is stressful because you have to keep watch for all the dogs.

Does anyone have any suggestions other than a paint ball gun?

And there is no leash law in our county.

TDH · 03-09-2010, 07:19 PM

Most dogs I've run into act all tuff until I turn the horse towards them and holler good and loud... but one time a neighbor's dog didn't stop - dodged around the horse and actually grabbed my shoe, hard enough to leave puncture marks.

Thank God he went for me and NOT my horse. As it was I should have called the neighbor and didn't; I was riding past on the road and not on the edge of their property.

Do you carry a crop or short whip of any kind? I wouldn't trust my aim to be good enough for a paint ball gun (maybe yours would be better

).... a smart snap across the snout of an aggressive dog should do the trick.

darkhorse · 03-09-2010, 07:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TDH

Most dogs I've run into act all tuff until I turn the horse towards them and holler good and loud... but one time a neighbor's dog didn't stop - dodged around the horse and actually grabbed my shoe, hard enough to leave puncture marks.

Thank God he went for me and NOT my horse. As it was I should have called the neighbor and didn't; I was riding past on the road and not on the edge of their property.

Do you carry a crop or short whip of any kind? I wouldn't trust my aim to be good enough for a paint ball gun (maybe yours would be better

).... a smart snap across the snout of an aggressive dog should do the trick.

Hmmmm...that is a thought. I could do that. The gal who told me about the paint ball gun says that is what she uses....but I wonder if it would hurt them?

jasonsgotfaith · 03-09-2010, 07:23 PM

Petsmart has something I think looks basically like pepper spray, I dont remember what its called but its to spray @ dogs if they approach you aggressively. I just remembered seeing it when I was in there the other day. I am sure if you ask them they will know what Im talking about. My grandmom gave me a squirt gun with ammonia in it when I was little. I was bit by a dog & nothing was done about it, then my quarter pony was attacked by the pit bull & had to be put down because her jaw was broken & the bone protruded through into her mouth. It was terrible. Again nothing was done about so my grandfather "may or may not" have handled it himself

. Needless to say the dog was "missing" a few days later. It may sound cruel to spray an animal with ammonia but its better than being hurt or killed by them.

TDH · 03-09-2010, 07:25 PM

For a more aggressive dog, I'd be more afraid the paint gun wouldn't phase them....they'd keep coming. And then what??

I'll be interested to see what other folks say about this...

Thankfully a few months after the incident, the neighbor's dog disappeared (I know he was getting old and I did NOT have anything to do with his disappearance, honest!

) and the one they've had since, doesn't hardly even bother to bark.

darkhorse · 03-09-2010, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TDH

For a more aggressive dog, I'd be more afraid the paint gun wouldn't phase them....they'd keep coming. And then what??

I'll be interested to see what other folks say about this...

Thankfully a few months after the incident, the neighbor's dog disappeared (I know he was getting old and I did NOT have anything to do with his disappearance, honest!

) and the one they've had since, doesn't hardly even bother to bark.

I have dogs on either side of us....

The one that really bothers me is a pit bull....I am totally not bashing the breed but the man has about 7 of them chained up and for some reason he lets one run loose....

darkhorse · 03-09-2010, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasonsgotfaith

Petsmart has something I think looks basically like pepper spray, I dont remember what its called but its to spray @ dogs if they approach you aggressively. I just remembered seeing it when I was in there the other day. I am sure if you ask them they will know what Im talking about. My grandmom gave me a squirt gun with ammonia in it when I was little. I was bit by a dog & nothing was done about it, then my quarter pony was attacked by the pit bull & had to be put down because her jaw was broken & the bone protruded through into her mouth. It was terrible. Again nothing was done about so my grandfather "may or may not" have handled it himself

. Needless to say the dog was "missing" a few days later. It may sound cruel to spray an animal with ammonia but its better than being hurt or killed by them.

I will call tomorrow and ask about the spray you are talking about.

Sorry to hear about your pony...

ilovestephanie · 03-09-2010, 07:30 PM

Maybe I am slighty weird but usually I just turn my horse around and go after the dog. Never had a dog stand its ground with a 1000 pound horse going after them.

jasonsgotfaith · 03-09-2010, 07:40 PM

My pony was in her paddock & the dog came on our property & attacked her, it had also been on our property previously & got into the the guinea pigs outdoor cage & ATE them, literally... there was just a little blood & hair left on the ground. It was a truly vicious dog... I cant imagine what it would do if I had ever actually rode towards it. When I was on my bike it came at me, I jumped off quick & it got my heel, I kept the bike between us & he kept circling & jumping, luckily a boater was coming out the road to the dock & he grabbed me & took me home. We have seperate properties 1 we lived on a few we owned & farmed, we used to ride our bikes or horses back & forth between the property but when those people moved in with that dog it really messed the younger 1s of us up who couldnt drive the trucks!

BTW I will be going to petsmart Thursday, I will check to see what its called in case whoever you talk to doesnt know what Im talking about.

cinnamon_girl10 · 03-09-2010, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ilovestephanie

Maybe I am slighty weird but usually I just turn my horse around and go after the dog. Never had a dog stand its ground with a 1000 pound horse going after them.

I do that sometimes too.

darkhorse · 03-09-2010, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jasonsgotfaith

My pony was in her paddock & the dog came on our property & attacked her, it had also been on our property previously & got into the the guinea pigs outdoor cage & ATE them, literally... there was just a little blood & hair left on the ground. It was a truly vicious dog... I cant imagine what it would do if I had ever actually rode towards it. When I was on my bike it came at me, I jumped off quick & it got my heel, I kept the bike between us & he kept circling & jumping, luckily a boater was coming out the road to the dock & he grabbed me & took me home. We have seperate properties 1 we lived on a few we owned & farmed, we used to ride our bikes or horses back & forth between the property but when those people moved in with that dog it really messed the younger 1s of us up who couldnt drive the trucks!

BTW I will be going to petsmart Thursday, I will check to see what its called in case whoever you talk to doesnt know what Im talking about.

K...thanks!

dixiesmom · 03-09-2010, 07:47 PM

Bring Dixie along - she does NOT like dogs and will go after them gladly.

Pata · 03-09-2010, 07:57 PM

I'd go for charging the dog-then you and the horse feel like you're in control of the situation. I think a crop or something like that would work too.
Big caution on the spray...unless you have the perfect wind, it's just as likely that you and/or your horse will get hit with it. That will cause a serious panic and way worse problems.

I know this is off-topic, but it's one of those "just gotta share" things...I was riding in a Wild Horse area with my dog (yes it's legal to have her there off-leash). We came around a corner and there was a small herd of wild horses right on the trail. They took one look at my dog (who was right behind me) and went after her...she got away, but it scared me bad. She's not allowed on that ride anymore

. A little while later, I actually had to hit a yearling colt with my reins to make him quit messing with my gelding that same day. I was wishing I'd had a crop or something more substantial than just the ends of my split reins.

darkhorse · 03-09-2010, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pata

I'd go for charging the dog-then you and the horse feel like you're in control of the situation. I think a crop or something like that would work too.
Big caution on the spray...unless you have the perfect wind, it's just as likely that you and/or your horse will get hit with it. That will cause a serious panic and way worse problems.

I know this is off-topic, but it's one of those "just gotta share" things...I was riding in a Wild Horse area with my dog (yes it's legal to have her there off-leash). We came around a corner and there was a small herd of wild horses right on the trail. They took one look at my dog (who was right behind me) and went after her...she got away, but it scared me bad. She's not allowed on that ride anymore

. A little while later, I actually had to hit a yearling colt with my reins to make him quit messing with my gelding that same day. I was wishing I'd had a crop or something more substantial than just the ends of my split reins.

Oh my gosh you are right....if the wind did catch it that would be bad!

I think I am leaning towards a crop....

**taelesean** · 03-09-2010, 08:16 PM

I know some folks who're into medevil reenacting who carry a light lance when they ride. Nothing like a long pointy stick to keep the vicious dogs at bay. Probably works well for keeping vicious people at bay as well.

Can't say it's for everyone, though, this bunch trains with lances, swords and other instruments of mayhem quite seriously.

There is a series of videos available about mounted self defence, inlcuding some things to do in the case of dogs or other wild animals. Search on YouTube and you'll probably find some of them, at least.

sherriawright · 03-09-2010, 08:19 PM

thankfully I've never been bothered by a aggressive dog, but I've had the annoying barking ones. Thankfully Toy is a bit aggressive herself and pinned ears and a lowered head tends to send them running.

Rebecca · 03-09-2010, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ilovestephanie

Maybe I am slighty weird but usually I just turn my horse around and go after the dog. Never had a dog stand its ground with a 1000 pound horse going after them.

Yes. We've had to do this with two dogs who lived about a mile from our house.
Every time my husband, son and I rode past their home, the dogs would run into the road.
The large dogs would scramble around behind our horses and try to bite their back legs.

The owner knew what was going on and did not try to stop his dogs from attacking our horses.
He didn't like it very much when we chased his dogs back into their yard.

____________________________________
Truth is mighty and will prevail. There is nothing wrong with this, except that it ain't so. -- Mark Twain

sfl89 · 03-10-2010, 05:40 AM

If it's a single dog, I usually chase them and holler REALLY loudly at them to GIT! More than one dog, then you have to worry about pack mentality. I was on a horse once that got attacked by 2 German shepherds that were being walked off-leash by their owner. Every time I tried to chase them off, they'd split up, go one on each side and back to biting the horse's hind legs. All the while the somewhat elderly owner was trying to call the dogs, but they totally ignored her. The horse finally took off down the trail (thank goodness for surefooted Morgans), managed to kick one dog in the process, then the other one lost courage when it's buddy stopped. The horse ended up with a bloody hind pastern (the other was bandaged, so only the bandage was ripped) and eyetooth slashes up on his forearm and gaskin. We were so lucky that the deeper bites on the pasterns weren't a couple of inches higher, which could have ripped out his tendons... Needless to say, the horse was a bit dog shy after that for a while, even with his owner's dog that always came out on trail rides with them.

Unfortunately, there are places I won't ride just because there are too many obnoxious dogs...

Sonseeahray's_girl · 03-10-2010, 08:16 AM

I think I'd be careful with the chasing the dogs thing...I've had a dog lunge at my horse's throat/face, and almost cause my horse to rear

I always turn to face the dog, and will keep eye contact with him even after my horse is past, at the same time telling the dog in a firm, loud and deep voice to "GO HOME" (I don't know why but deeper "male" type voices always seem to work better). This means I have to turn in the saddle so as not to turn my back on the dog, but so far it has worked for me.

I think if I was ever in the situation where a dog was chasing my horse aggressively, I'd probably do an emergency dismount and deal with the situation myself. Maybe not the safest for me, but I'd most likely want to protect my horse before I protected myself

greygirls · 03-10-2010, 08:38 AM

I come across a lot of dogs when I ride the roads here. For the most part, my dogs (who come with me) will chase off any dog that comes towards the horse. There is only one place where the dogs are truly aggressive though & that's aimed more towards my dogs than the horse & I. I use my "b!tch voice" with them, swing the crop & if all else fails, turn the horse on them & run them down! Celista hates dogs so when I let her chase these little buggers, she's thrilled to pieces. As Sonseeahray's_girl said, it could result in an attack though so you need to be confident in reading dogs before trying it. & I too, have come very close to getting off the horse & taking care of the situation myself despite the danger to me. That maternal (my beasties are my babies) instinct just kicks in & you stop thinking about yourself

.

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03-09-2010, 07:09 PM
darkhorse Yearling Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 626	How to Handle Loose Dogs While Riding So I ride a lot alongside our county highway....and have discovered a problem. There are a lot of loose dogs in our county. Some of them have charged us while riding along side the highway. And to be honest...some appear quite vicious. At one point there was a dog that charged at me and the owner was in the yard and saw the whole thing and never said a word.....I hollered loudly and it stopped him....but he really looked like he wanted a piece of us. I called the animal control in our area and she suggested that I carry a paint ball gun. Thought that sounded cool.....guess I could find a small one. It is to the point where going for a ride is stressful because you have to keep watch for all the dogs. Does anyone have any suggestions other than a paint ball gun? And there is no leash law in our county. __________________ Feeling down? Saddle up. ~Author Unknown

03-09-2010, 07:19 PM
TDH Seasoned Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Iowa Posts: 4,350	Most dogs I've run into act all tuff until I turn the horse towards them and holler good and loud... but one time a neighbor's dog didn't stop - dodged around the horse and actually grabbed my shoe, hard enough to leave puncture marks. Thank God he went for me and NOT my horse. As it was I should have called the neighbor and didn't; I was riding past on the road and not on the edge of their property. Do you carry a crop or short whip of any kind? I wouldn't trust my aim to be good enough for a paint ball gun (maybe yours would be better ).... a smart snap across the snout of an aggressive dog should do the trick. __________________ *If you can't be kind, at least have the decency to be vague.*

03-09-2010, 07:23 PM
jasonsgotfaith Halter broke Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Maryland Posts: 67	Petsmart has something I think looks basically like pepper spray, I dont remember what its called but its to spray @ dogs if they approach you aggressively. I just remembered seeing it when I was in there the other day. I am sure if you ask them they will know what Im talking about. My grandmom gave me a squirt gun with ammonia in it when I was little. I was bit by a dog & nothing was done about it, then my quarter pony was attacked by the pit bull & had to be put down because her jaw was broken & the bone protruded through into her mouth. It was terrible. Again nothing was done about so my grandfather "may or may not" have handled it himself . Needless to say the dog was "missing" a few days later. It may sound cruel to spray an animal with ammonia but its better than being hurt or killed by them.

03-09-2010, 07:25 PM
TDH Seasoned Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Iowa Posts: 4,350	For a more aggressive dog, I'd be more afraid the paint gun wouldn't phase them....they'd keep coming. And then what?? I'll be interested to see what other folks say about this... Thankfully a few months after the incident, the neighbor's dog disappeared (I know he was getting old and I did NOT have anything to do with his disappearance, honest! ) and the one they've had since, doesn't hardly even bother to bark. __________________ *If you can't be kind, at least have the decency to be vague.*

03-09-2010, 07:30 PM
ilovestephanie Newborn Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: south florida Posts: 33	Maybe I am slighty weird but usually I just turn my horse around and go after the dog. Never had a dog stand its ground with a 1000 pound horse going after them.

03-09-2010, 07:40 PM
jasonsgotfaith Halter broke Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Maryland Posts: 67	My pony was in her paddock & the dog came on our property & attacked her, it had also been on our property previously & got into the the guinea pigs outdoor cage & ATE them, literally... there was just a little blood & hair left on the ground. It was a truly vicious dog... I cant imagine what it would do if I had ever actually rode towards it. When I was on my bike it came at me, I jumped off quick & it got my heel, I kept the bike between us & he kept circling & jumping, luckily a boater was coming out the road to the dock & he grabbed me & took me home. We have seperate properties 1 we lived on a few we owned & farmed, we used to ride our bikes or horses back & forth between the property but when those people moved in with that dog it really messed the younger 1s of us up who couldnt drive the trucks! BTW I will be going to petsmart Thursday, I will check to see what its called in case whoever you talk to doesnt know what Im talking about.

03-09-2010, 07:47 PM
dixiesmom Yearling Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: North Carolina Posts: 790	Bring Dixie along - she does NOT like dogs and will go after them gladly.

03-09-2010, 07:57 PM
Pata Weanling Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Western Colorado Posts: 205	I'd go for charging the dog-then you and the horse feel like you're in control of the situation. I think a crop or something like that would work too. Big caution on the spray...unless you have the perfect wind, it's just as likely that you and/or your horse will get hit with it. That will cause a serious panic and way worse problems. I know this is off-topic, but it's one of those "just gotta share" things...I was riding in a Wild Horse area with my dog (yes it's legal to have her there off-leash). We came around a corner and there was a small herd of wild horses right on the trail. They took one look at my dog (who was right behind me) and went after her...she got away, but it scared me bad. She's not allowed on that ride anymore. A little while later, I actually had to hit a yearling colt with my reins to make him quit messing with my gelding that same day. I was wishing I'd had a crop or something more substantial than just the ends of my split reins. __________________

03-09-2010, 08:16 PM
taelesean Administrator Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Virginia Posts: 6,348	I know some folks who're into medevil reenacting who carry a light lance when they ride. Nothing like a long pointy stick to keep the vicious dogs at bay. Probably works well for keeping vicious people at bay as well. Can't say it's for everyone, though, this bunch trains with lances, swords and other instruments of mayhem quite seriously. There is a series of videos available about mounted self defence, inlcuding some things to do in the case of dogs or other wild animals. Search on YouTube and you'll probably find some of them, at least. __________________

03-09-2010, 08:19 PM
sherriawright Yearling Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Pekin, Illinois Posts: 740	thankfully I've never been bothered by a aggressive dog, but I've had the annoying barking ones. Thankfully Toy is a bit aggressive herself and pinned ears and a lowered head tends to send them running. __________________ Anyone who talks about me behind my back, is in a perfect position to kiss my a$$!

03-10-2010, 05:40 AM
sfl89 Weanling Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 424	If it's a single dog, I usually chase them and holler REALLY loudly at them to GIT! More than one dog, then you have to worry about pack mentality. I was on a horse once that got attacked by 2 German shepherds that were being walked off-leash by their owner. Every time I tried to chase them off, they'd split up, go one on each side and back to biting the horse's hind legs. All the while the somewhat elderly owner was trying to call the dogs, but they totally ignored her. The horse finally took off down the trail (thank goodness for surefooted Morgans), managed to kick one dog in the process, then the other one lost courage when it's buddy stopped. The horse ended up with a bloody hind pastern (the other was bandaged, so only the bandage was ripped) and eyetooth slashes up on his forearm and gaskin. We were so lucky that the deeper bites on the pasterns weren't a couple of inches higher, which could have ripped out his tendons... Needless to say, the horse was a bit dog shy after that for a while, even with his owner's dog that always came out on trail rides with them. Unfortunately, there are places I won't ride just because there are too many obnoxious dogs...

03-10-2010, 08:16 AM
Sonseeahray's_girl Greenbroke Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: On Top of the World! Posts: 3,733	I think I'd be careful with the chasing the dogs thing...I've had a dog lunge at my horse's throat/face, and almost cause my horse to rear I always turn to face the dog, and will keep eye contact with him even after my horse is past, at the same time telling the dog in a firm, loud and deep voice to "GO HOME" (I don't know why but deeper "male" type voices always seem to work better). This means I have to turn in the saddle so as not to turn my back on the dog, but so far it has worked for me. I think if I was ever in the situation where a dog was chasing my horse aggressively, I'd probably do an emergency dismount and deal with the situation myself. Maybe not the safest for me, but I'd most likely want to protect my horse before I protected myself __________________ Proud Mom to Sonseeahray (Buckskin Arab/QH), Denny (Bay TWH), Shoshanni (Black/White LacLaCroix Indian Pony), Ringo (Bay QH/Morgan), Finnegan (Palomino QH/Morgan), Keegan(Bay Roan QH)

03-10-2010, 08:38 AM
greygirls Started Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Ontario Posts: 2,255	I come across a lot of dogs when I ride the roads here. For the most part, my dogs (who come with me) will chase off any dog that comes towards the horse. There is only one place where the dogs are truly aggressive though & that's aimed more towards my dogs than the horse & I. I use my "b!tch voice" with them, swing the crop & if all else fails, turn the horse on them & run them down! Celista hates dogs so when I let her chase these little buggers, she's thrilled to pieces. As Sonseeahray's_girl said, it could result in an attack though so you need to be confident in reading dogs before trying it. & I too, have come very close to getting off the horse & taking care of the situation myself despite the danger to me. That maternal (my beasties are my babies) instinct just kicks in & you stop thinking about yourself. __________________ I cannot avoid compassion for all that is called life. That is the beginning & foundation of morality. -Albert Schweitzer