Who has their dogs with horses?

[Boss Mare]

My Golden (11 years), Puggle (8) and Pit Bull X (1 1/2) all have free roam of the farm via underground fence.. I have never had any problems. However all were raised with the horses.. aside from the Puggle who came to us at 2 years old.

 

[Laura]

Thanks everyone for the advice. I really felt I wasnt comfortable letting our chow near the horses.. I will just keep him seperated from my boys. I wouldnt want to take a chance..

Laura I am so sorry for what happened to your boy, I cringe looking at his backside- I hope he is doing well now...

He is doing great! Our vet gave him very little chance of survival initally, but he did incredibly well

 

[Mom2Cami]

I have 5 dogs and all are around my horses when I'm around them..I've never had any problems.

 

[Magic]

I have found it very interesting that my mares with new foals, while very protective and agressive toward other horses, don't mind my LGD, Tanna, being close to their newborns.

I introduce the Tanna to the foals when they are first born, and she can see the foals in the stalls. When the mare and foal is turned out, Tanna follows them at a distance and observes, and the mare generally allows her to get as close as she likes, though Tanna is very cautious. After that, you always know where the newest foal is, because Tanna will be shadowing it, lying nearby and keeping guard. I think that even the mares feel reassured by her presence.

You don't just put a dog, even an LGD, out with your herd and see what happens, though. You start when they are young, you keep them near their future charges to let them bond to them, but keep them protected from the horses as well, so they aren't bitten or stomped and learn to fear or dislike the horses. Then you need to closely supervise their interactions so that any misbehavior can be corrected. I got a two year old LGD just a few months ago, and though he lived with miniature horses in his previous home and did great, he still went through a probationary and getting-to-know-you time when he first got here, because he had never lived with MY horses, and I wanted to know how he acted and get him feeling at home before he was turned out with the horses.

I just found out that not only do we have coyotes that I didn't know about, and cougars that I did know about, but that there are also three wolves in the area as well, so I value my LGD's more now than ever!

 

[The Simple Life Farm]

I have 2 Great Pyrneese that have grown up with the minis. Whenever I take a horse out of the pen, my male LGD goes nuts. He does not like having one of his family members taken away. He will bite and pull on the gate. He knows what is job is. My female is there to keep the male company, she is such a spoiled brat!!!! I fully trust my dogs with the horses, you can see the bond between them. I think the horses know the dogs are there to protect them, and they treat the dogs with respect. The dogs have their own spaces to get away from the horses, they have a big raised deck with stairs with an awning (they are so spoiled). I think this summer, I am going to add a mister system to their deck, just to spoil them a little more!!!!!

 

[TTF]

Our dogs will sometimes go out with the horses, but only if I am with them. I know there are people that don't believe in animal communication, but since Bonnie Fogg told us Triple wanted to pick up our papillon and hurt him, we've been very careful. Trip's never been a huge fan of dogs. However, certain breeds are more likely to have any problems with horses and I have known people to raise them with their horses so they learn to follow them around and protect them. Triple had problems with the "small fluffy dog" (what he called him) and has not had one real problem the corgis, so it could be a breed preference. More dogs are more suitable to be "farm dogs" I guess, even though the papillon thinks he is one.