Hi, I have got a BIG problem with my LITTLE Jack Russell and my horse. The dog is three years old but I have only had him for a year but I have had the horse for many years. The dog has a severe hatred for the horse and attacks her, barking constantly whilst snapping at her legs and jumping up to try to bite her face. The horse really just ignores him but it is quite worrying as last week he drew blood when he attacked her nose.

I have tried keeping him on a lead close to her and I have also tried letting him off the lead to see if it was being on the lead that was causing the problems but it didn't seem to make any difference. His behaviour is not as bad when the horse is in the field but the problems really occur when he is in the barn with her or when I am paying attention to the horse. He is generally a happy, laid-back dog and is not aggressive to other dogs or people. It is horses in general, not just my horse (although he is worse with her) and he goes beserk when in the car and a horse passes or when someone rides past on a horse while he is out on a walk.

The obvious solution would be to leave the dog at home but I keep the horse in a remote area and I like to take the dog for protection.

Has anyone else had the same problem with their dog or any ideas of what I can try? Thanks.

Hi There
I have have a horse aswell. When i take my dogs up she will just stay out of his way. Maybe you should try mutual grooming and get her used to the horse. I groom my horse and dog in the same stable and they have became friends. I hope my advice works and if not ill think of some more.

From Marigold

Thanks for your advice. Over the last couple of days I have been trying what you suggested but the dog is just too wound up and that starts upsetting the horse who tolerates a lot from him but he is definately pushing her patience too far! Have you any other suggestions. I would be very grateful. Kate

Thats appalling & sooner or later its going to get severely kicked by a horse, not neccessarily yours. you need to take this in hand at once & really admonish him for this bad behaviour. I have horses and hounds & right from day one they have to learn mutual respect....I will not tolerate anything less :(

i agree with sam - i'd try a masterplus collar or leave the dog at home. If he met one of mine he probably wouldn't survive the experience!

have a folding cage where the horse is stabled, walk the dog down then while on the horse cage the dog-that way youd have protection when your on foot,

thanks, however in a cage he seems more stressed and makes even more noise!

I agree with you that it is appalling behaviour which is why I have asked for help on his board. You say that they need to 'learn mutual respect from day one' but I have not had the dog from day one as he is a rescue dog. We have been admonishing him for his bad behaviour for over a year and the situation is getting no better.

Hi

Sorry to hear you have a problem with your dog and horse. I sympathise. I have had a similar problem with my dog and horses - though not mine - we don't have them. We live in an area that has changed considerably from a livestock to horse environment following the foot and mouth problem. Dogs that have never came into close quarters with horses now can't go anywhere without meeting them.

I've seen some replies which say don't tolerate this (because it could result in injury), and admonish your dog. That may work but I think you need to work out what is behind your dogs aggressive reaction. If it is fear, punishing and shouting at your dog will do nothing to solve the problem - it will just make your dog even more afraid of being near horses because you start behaving badly into the bargain and his original fear will still be there.

Try to defuse the situation, take treats and work closely with your dog taking him slowly (on a lead) to the horse and watch for signs of stress in your dog. Keep him calm and move back off BEFORE your dog gets agitated. Keep repeating and work at trying to get closer to the horse slowly over a period of time. Make every meeting of your dog to the horse a calm pleasant one and your dog should feel he has no need to be aggressive towards it.

I have been doing this with my own dog for about two weeks now. I can't control when and if we meet horses on our walk so it is a slow process but I am seeing improvement each time and my dog is now responding to my 'watch me' command and behaving much more calmly. Before he used to be barking and lunging at the end of his lead and not even hearing me at all; every time I heard horses hooves on the lane was an absolute nightmare.

Elaine

Edited: P.S. Be careful if you use any of the spray collars because if your dog is nervous/frightened and recieves a sharp shot of spray in his face it is likely to make him even more agitated not less!!

thanks very much for your advice - I am glad to hear someone else has the same problem. what you wrote was interesting as I have been shouting and telling him off and it seems to be making him worse. The description of your dog's behaviour towards horses seems almost identical to mine and I will certainly try your suggestions as it is obviously working for you. Thanks again. Kate

Can you enlist the help of another horse owner who has a "dog"proof horse ? Ex hunters or hunters are ood at ignoring dogs as they are used to the hounds arounds them. I would defintely try the personal space training

Have a horse stood calmly & approach from a distance watching your dog V closely as soon as he shows any reaction stop & go back to where he had no reaction. Do not give him any commands if he reacts & when you get to where he has no reaction train him nothing especial a bit of basic heelwork with a few sits. Then go towards the horse still training to the place he started to react before & continue training if he reacts repeat again. He should become more relaxed & enjoy the time with you

Until he is 100 % I would not put him under the pressure of beng off lead or near the horse

JMHO

well you said the cage dident work very well. and i agree i dont like spray collas . mabe you could even put him in a harness and tie him up somewhere out the way but in view of the horse for a few minutes and just let him sit there , then the next day move him a little more closer . gradully closer each day. and when you feel hes calmed down with the horse , i wouldent take the risk of damaging your horse. i would muzzel him for a little while and see how he is. once your confident he wont bite take it off.

Hi Kate

I think shouting does make them worse - it was how my problem started in the first place. When I realised my dog had a problem - was unsure of horses - I tried to do what I had done in other new situations and crouched down beside him to calm him and reassure him all was well but of course that doesn't work for the horse and rider. the rider shouted to me to stand up as her horse wouldn't pass me, I shouted back that my dog was frightened, she shouted that her horse was unsure what we were down at ground level etc etc. Although we weren't shouting angrily at each other my dog obviously thought otherwise so everytime he saw a horse a rider he thought 'BIG TROUBLE' and the dye was cast.

Of course, no-one wants their dog to spook a horse for obvious reasons and so I then went about handling it all wrong as far as my dog was concerned.

It's not always possible to know what sparks the fear off but, if it is fear, the only positive method I've found is calmness and gradual exposure to that which they're afraid of.

Good luck

Elaine

thanks everyone for your suggestions, i'll let you know in a few weeks how ive got on and if he's improved at all.
kate.