Think of this from your dog's point of view. He's trotting along the trail, and suddenly there are these huge, glorious four-legged creatures running ahead of him. Your dog's natural instinct is to catch up to, chase or run along with those horses he sees on the trail. This is just an instinct, especially if you have an enthusiastic young dog. Most horse owners do not appreciate a dog who comes running at their horse, and you don't want the rider or horse injured if the horse spooks. It's best to train your dog in real situations, while maintaining control of the dog, which isn't always the easiest task on the trail. Here are some ideas (and one radical notion) to keep everyone safe, while still allowing you to enjoy time on the trail.
Things You'll Need
- Treats
- Leash
- Long cotton rope
- Bombproof horse
Instructions
Have an older, bombproof horse that you know well in a large, enclosed area. Let the horse and the dog loose together. If the horse starts running around, the dog will start to chase it. If the dog gets too close, the horse will immediately tell the dog who is boss by snorting, chasing, stomping at, kicking at or nipping at the dog. One slight kick toward him, and most dogs will be respectful forever forever after. You have to be really careful of this method and really know the dog and horse involved, because you don't want the horse or dog hurt or traumatized. The horse has to be a seasoned animal who has seen everything, and is used to telling dogs where to go. A seasoned horse will use a lazy technique and very little force to get his point across. Never try this with a very small dog because the dog could be accidentally injured. You can try this method with both animals on lead ropes and leashes at first, if you want to maintain control and safety. You'll need a handler for the dog as you walk and trot the horse, and they run alongside. This way if the horse kicks, you can keep your dog at a safe distance to get the message but not get hurt.
If you don't own a horse or know a horse that you can use to help, try taking your dog on a horse trail on a leash. The dog should know basic commands like "come," "sit," "heel" and "down."
Stand to the side of the trail. When horses start coming and she starts getting excited, distract her by putting him in a "sit" or a "down," and rewarding her with a treat just as the horse passes by. Praise her loudly and pat her.
Repeat this every time a horse passes by. The dog will start to look at you every time a horse passes, because he'll anticipate a command and a treat. He'll also start associating horses with treats, and with focusing on you instead of the horse. Try walking along the trail and repeating the exercise.
Once she's pretty good at this, try putting her on a long, light cotton rope. Cotton clothesline works well. Repeat the same commands and reward as horses come by, giving her more space on the rope, and more "freedom," while maintaining control. She'll think she's freer, but you'll have the rope to tug her if she gets distracted by hoofbeats and forgets to "come" on cue.
Once he's good at that step, try walking with the long rope, directly at horses coming your way. The rope should be slack, and the dog should be near enough to you, watching you and the horses simultaneously. As the horses get close, start calling your dog in an upbeat tone. Repeat until your dog consistently heads toward you happily, even if a herd of horses is coming his way. When you're very comfortable, try doing this without the rope or the leash. Make sure you have plenty of treats, and you may want to stage the scene with a friend on a bombproof horse, just in case.