Tips on training dog to hack out with horse

[busymare]

Hi guys

We have a great pup who is really trainable and I would like to teach her to hack out with me. Any tips on how to go about this?

I guess I'll stick to off-road routes until I can trust her. I tried with my old dog but she was terrified of the horses and always got confused and panicked by not being able to reach me. This pup is much more confident and has taken to everything really well so far. Her basic commands are very good but I am worried to take the next step!

Thanks

[clifton]

I am not sure I can help but every dog I have ever owned has always ridden out with my horses, after the first one the others have really been trained by the older trained dog. However, we generally start by placing the new dog on a lead to walk out, when they know who we are we then let them off the lead if we are away from the roads to see how they react, none have ever run away, they have to learn to do things by voice command from the horse, which is a bit different than from the ground. they have to learn to pass people and other dogs without making a pain of them selves, bit*hes tend to be better at this. I have to say that none of my dogs have ever gone on leads, except when we have been in public places on holiday as people can be afraid of big dogs. I also have to say that all my dogs have been german sheppards so very intelligent and seem to train pretty easy. I believe the key is love, I think my dogs love me, they love their life with the horses as they get so much exercise, they would never run away, so we don't have fences to keep them in, they are so afraid that you will go somewhere without them especially to the horses, so they do not like you to be out of their sight. I have to say that I don't know anyone else who exercises their dogs with their horses, but I do exercise on roads as well as tracks. good luck.

[flower007]

You could try the dog with horses and you riding on a bike to get tbe dog use to you being there. Once done try with you on horseback with someone on a bike and then with you just on horseback. This could work?

[tinytot]

I always used to take our old dogs out when I hacked out as a teenager, used to take them on country roads and through the fields. They were collies though and very respectful, didn't do any training that I can remember, they just seemed to know to stay behind the horse and if a car came I would give the command 'get in' and point and the dogs would get as close to the side of the road as they could and then 'wait' until the car had passed. Training from a bike seems like a good idea though

[comanchediva]

I'm at a loss why anyone would do this. Your dog might be great with other dogs, livestock, etc, but what if you meet someone else with dogs and something happens and you can't put yours on a lead?

How on earth can you control/look after your dog while you're on your horse?

And I'm not implying that anyone on this thread has dogs which are aggressive or unruly, just that you can't look after both your animals at the same time when one is a dog and one is a horse.

[sarahp]

I took our first collie out hacking with me on a horse occasionally, but not on the roads - we always had so much traffic I trailered to one of our local commons and unloaded there anyway. Collie was instantly obedient at all times and under any provocation, she was never ever on a lead.

I was reading a gundog article the other day which quoted that retrievers are born half trained but spaniels die half trained - well collies are born fully trained! I wouldn't have taken any of our spaniels out loose with a horse though as they didn't have the same instant obedience.

Sometimes nothing much can be done about other peoples' dogs though. We were on a group walk once walking a bridleway track through a farm with all our group dogs on leads when the one I had was attacked by two dogs from the farm, one a German Shepherd and the other a collie and she was so frightened she pulled back out of her collar although it was as tight as I felt was kind. I was so angry I kicked the Shepherd repeatedly, taking my life in my hands as I thought afterwards, until they both turned tail and fled from whence they came. But I wouldn't have gone through there on a horse with a loose dog anyway, only on a common.

[busymare]

Thanks everyone- really interesting to hear your ideas and experiences. I haven't tried yet- I'm not getting any time to ride at the moment and the dog has been having her first season.

I have ridden out with various yard dogs at places that I have worked but never trained one from scratch. The best was a collie and I absolutely trusted him- you could tell him exactly where you wanted him- he would ignore other dogs and any situation- his sole focus was following you. I would only ride with a dog if they give me that feeling of control otherwise I won't take the risk.

Where we live it is very quiet- usually I meet nobody when I hack out- not even passing a single vehicle but this can also give a false sense of security as the animals don't expect it when it does happen! But there are some unfriendly farm dogs that I do worry about- not that they actually do a lot but they used to intimidate my old dog and even on foot there was not much I could do- they never stand still long enough to aim at! Also the farm dogs nip the horses heels given half a chance resulting in them being apprehensive of dogs- so they may not like being followed by one! I will try around the fields (when they dry out) and take it from there.

Love the gundog article quote sarahp totally agree! Ours is a lab and she was definitely born half-trained she just seems to know what to do.

[sarahp]

Year ago there was a Gordon Setter on one of my road hacking routes that used to lie in the (quiet) lane and watch you until the pony was right up close and then launch itself at the horse with a volley of barks. My mare learned it and would get very apprehensive when approaching, and I use to reverse my stick in my hand ready and give it a crack with that if I could reach it. I didn't have attendant dogs of my own with me though.

[Delfine]

i was advised to cycle and let him run along side me and build up from there, however my dog has not yet learned that he shouldnt get in my horses way... so am still at the very beginning of teaching him! x