Cockers and Horses?

[Wyrd]

How do your Cockers get on with horses?

My mum and I have 7 horses between us, I am used to larger dogs (we have Border Collie, Retriever x and Dalmatian at the moment, mums last dog was a Bearded Collie x (we think Wolfhound) lurcher), but mum has decided her next dog will be smaller, and she likes cockers, I ama little worried about a smaller dog being squashed 

[Emilyoliver]

My first cocker, Tessa, was fine around our horses, (never got squashed!) - we used to take her to the stables every day.  Cockers may not be the largest dogs, but the ones I have known are certainly agile! 

[woodlander]

The lady that Sweep stays with when she goes on holidays has horses and they go down to the stables most days.  She says that she stays clear and has learnt from the other dogs not to go tooooooo close!!!!!

[aliceandlouis]

The owners of the stables where we kept our horse have 6 working cockers who are at the stables all day every day - they are very used to being in that environment and I cannot recall there ever being an issue of either the dogs or the horses being injured by the other IYSWIM.

Our old show cocker used to go to the stables daily and instinctively kept out of the way of the horses, but the only drawback for us was that as a show cocker in pretty full coat, he used to smell of all things equine all the time - seems to me that the shorter-coated working cocker or a clipped out show-type could be better suited to the environment?

[supergirl]

Misha and Roly have been socialised with horses since they were pups - also depends on the horses to some extent as some horses are not good with dogs.  Even after being away from the stables for awhile Misha still had good horse sense and kept out of the way of feet etc, she has also been taught to stay out of the fields and not go into the school.

Heres Misha and her horsey pal (who loves dogs)
http://i361.photobucket.com/albums/oo60/littlebudha/DSCF4334.jpg

[MacTavish Boys]

What a gorgeous picture 

Stephanie, George and Hamish xxx

[Pop-Star]

What a gorgeous picture 

I agree 

[JeffandAnnie]

I had a horse until recently and Annie came with me to the yard twice a day from when she was a tiny pup. The yard is very dog friendly and there are always dogs running about loose from a tiny yorkie to a very bouncy boxer. All the horses are very used to dogs and ignore them. My horse (an arab) was very good with Annie and even didn't blink when she lept halfway up his tail, grabbed it and hung on with her teeth 

However, it is important to be certain all the horses your dog is around are dog friendly. At a previous yard I kept a horse at (where dogs were banned, except for the owner's) the owner's tiny JR pup was stamped on and killed (deliberately) by a horse    Perhaps he thought it was a rat 

[hanandhen]

Henry's really good with them, you do have to watch the horses though. Just after this pic was taken we moved round to the side of the pen, and the shettie in the next pen tried to eat Henry - I just turned in time to see these gaping jaws heading for his bum!


Mind you, it's likely he will snack on the poop and also hoof trimmings after the farrier has been

[Sarah.H]

If the horses are used to dogs then there shouldn't be any more of problem than any other dog. Charlie pretty much ignores horses but is a bit dim and I wouldn't trust him to be aware of what the horses are doing. A donkey tried to stamp on him when he was a pup, luckily I got inbetween just in time! Millie would chase horses when I got her at 18mths but she has a history of chasing animals. She's so used to them now (and we've done lots of training around them) that she just ignores them even if they run around, she is aware though and will get out of the way if needed. She even saw a staffie off when it was trying to chase/bite the horses.

[JeffandAnnie]

the shettie in the next pen tried to eat Henry

Shietties are the devil's own  They do LOVE the hoof trimmings  , and if you leave the dog in a stable while you go for a ride choose one with rubber matting or even straw rather than shavings  but do be careful of poo; one of Annie's littermates who went to an equestrian yard died after eating horse poo following worming 

That's a gorgeous foal hanandhen (and dog of course)- how old is it? Is it yours?

[Black Red + Yellow]

I think how dogs get on with all animals depends on whether they've met that type of animal before, what kind of interraction they've had and also, what their personality is like...ie...if they spook easily.

Finn is wary of horses when comes across them suddenly on one of our walks when they canter past at their fast pace and it frightens him so he barks.  When they are in a field just munching away, he doesn't even take any notice

Willow on the other hand has always reacted to them even chewing grass so I've worked recently with her feeding treats and her reactions have very much lessened to the extent that when a horse cantered by her the other day, she gave no reaction at all.....I'm sure if I could get Finn near a field with horses cantering I could give him the same positive feelings to busy horses.

Alfie doesn't give a hoot

[hanandhen]

He's not mine, he was born where I work (horse charity) . His mum came in pregnant. He's a yearling now, have to say that once he was weaned he was turned out with the shetties and they did teach him his manners (his mum couldn't quite be bothered!)

[seaangler]

..... Dalmatians use to travail under horse carages..To stop young whippersnappers from climbing on to them for a free ride (back in the olden-days)...It all depends how your horses are around dogs that counts..If you have a flighty horse that is easily spook  you are asking for trouble,But saying that most hores will tolerate dogs ....At are horse yard ALL dogs are to be kept on leads by the farmer but we do see some running around..It's just not worth it one kick from a horse and your dog is a goner..Sorry to be blunt but thats my opinion...We do let are dogs of once the horse have been stabled and out of arms way....But saying that are horse will tolerate dogs..But are Chester hates puddles  plastic bags and white cows

[Wyrd]

My horses are all de-sensitized to dogs and they are fine with my Collie and Retriever and any other dogs we have met, my Dalmatian will be a Carriage/Road dog when he is old enough and although he/Dalmatians in general seem to have a natural affinity with horses he seems to make any horse we meet spook and my youngster (Appaloosa who will be his partner) has tried to stamp on him a few times    He is 22 inches now at 6 months and I worry about him being small so I dread to think how much I will panic with a smaller dog