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 Posted: Sun Sep 30, 2007 8:03 am
Okay. I really want a dog, but I doubt I'll get one because my mom says she won't let us get a dog unless it's a german shepherd. We just got reconstruction on our house, so we really don't have time for a big dog.
However.
Someone brought their german shepherd out to the barn. She's really young and streamlined, but she very beautiful, and the most sweetest thing. She was the last in the litter to be picked. We think that was because instead of being all black or the classical black-and-tan, she's almost silverish white and black. It's really pretty, but for some reason the breeders don't like that color.
We were talking about how at horse shows, we see people running around with their little daschunds or chihuahuas or other small dogs running around.
It made me think.
What kind of dogs go best with horses?
Little dogs could get run over. big dogs could scare the horses.
But just out of curiousity, what kind of dog and horse stories do you have to share? Know any good breeds that go well with horses, or something like that?
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Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2007 6:34 pm
It depends on what you want, honestly. If you're looking for a dog that can easily travel with you to horse shows, a small dog is a better bet because they're generally lower maintenance. It's a lot easier to keep track of a small dog at a show because you can just toss them in the trailer or the cab of your pick-up (with the windows down of course!) or I've seen people at hunter shows with little fences that they set up for their dogs to run around in. It's harder to do that with a big dog, as they generally need more room. You have to make sure that you walk them enough while you're at the show.
However, if you're looking for a dog to go riding with. Something to come out on the trails with you, then a big dog is a much better choice. Not only because longer legs will make it easier for them to keep up, but because they're less likely to become some other creature's dinner.
There are dogs running all over my barn at home. We don't really have any set rules for them, it's just a common sense and golden rule kind of thing. People lock their dogs in the kennel while they're riding, and keep track of them when they're not. Well, most of the time.
When I was selling my thoroughbred, I had a lady out looking at him on the weekend when none of the other boarders were around. It was just us and Marie, who worked at the barn. She had a couple of pit bulls. Sweetest dogs on the face of the earth, absolutely adorable. Wouldn't harm a fly. So this lady is riding my horse, cantering around the arena, and all of the sudden I see Marie's dogs come loping into the arena, and start chasing my horse! Not like, rabid pack mentality chasing, but just "hey, fun game!" kind of chasing. Thankfully, Mack was so used to dogs by this point, he completely ignored them and I don't think the woman riding him even noticed that they were there. I almost had a heart attack, and Marie quickly realized what they were doing and called them back out of the arena before they could actually get him riled up.
She didn't buy him, but not because of the dogs. He just wasn't the kind of horse she was looking for. His ad clearly stated that he was solid training level dressage, ready to go first with an experienced rider, Novice level eventing with limitless potential. This lady shows up and tells me that she's riding first level on her trainer's school horse and she's looking for something that's solid at first with some experience at second so that she can move up on him. I'm like "...k" People are so weird.
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Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2007 10:43 am
My dog a 6 pound chihuahua is great around horses. And they have adapted to him running around their feet. I sapose its just how well you train your dog to be obedient around other animals. Even though i am not an expert on horses i have trained some obedient dogs.
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Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2007 6:15 pm
Border Collies do well with horses. I had 2. Lacey I had BEFORE I got my horse Amelie, but Laddie was there when I had Amelie. He was good around her, even though Amelie was never rode. xd Collies in general are WONDERFUL dogs to work with around horses. My dog? Nikki. Purebred Pomeranian.  He's got his Champions at the Limestone Dog Show. Which means that Golden Bear "Nikki" is a VERY wealthy dog, so to speak. But he can't show anymore because of his Thyriod and Alpecia X causing hair loss on his back. lol Nikki is Afraid of Penny, but he likes to eat her poop. xD
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Posted: Fri Oct 19, 2007 11:27 am
I think it may be bit late ... but never underestimate the speed of a small dog...
I think it all depends on the personality of the dog. Any dog will learn its place around the horses, they'll learn to watch where the horse is putting its feet etc. so small or big wouldn't matter. Any sized dog has the potential/risk to scare, or get run over/kicked by a horse.
I have a West Highland White Terrier (Westie) who LOVES to be with me at the barn, he watches where the horses put their feet and he's only just learned to stay out of the pastures (he touched the electric fence). He'll make a good trail dog too because he loves to be outdoors an he's quick (even with his short legs!).
Then there are the 3 barn dogs, 2 Aussie's, a lab and a lab cross. They use to have a putbull cross (they saved him from bing shot) who made a great barn dog.
I think any dog would work as long as they have a great personality. I've seen jack russle terriers, rottie's, English bull dogs ... just about everything! and their all great.
When I get my own place I plan to have a lab, Wesie and a siberian husky.
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