Dealing with aggressive dogs

[TooMuchRebel]

What do you all do when you encounter an aggressive dog? The first time it happened with my QH it ran out of its yard as i was riding along the road and started going for her heels. Shes blind on that side so naturaly she ran and once we were a property or two away the dog stopped. Despite freaking out she did listen to most of my aids and nothing happened .

The other day, i was riding my Arab along the same road (its a 2 road equestrian neighborhood). We were at the “intersection” and she started getting nervous. I assumed it was because we took a right for the first time instead of going straight and the cows were making her nervous . Turns out this guys german shepherd had been stalking her, but i didn’t realize until after we turned around and it ran us into his driveway. Then, his buddy came out and began cornering my mare. He lunged at her front end and we almost flipped backwards. I was able to maneuver her through all the vehicles in the front lawn but the dogs kept cornering from the front and back. Facing and moving towards the dog only made it more aggressive. Eventually i got out of the guys yard we were cornered in and i let her book it down the road. The dog kept up almost the entire time. The whole time he was out to grab anything he could. Most aggressive dog I’ve come across.

I remained calm during the situation and my horses absolutely do not mind dogs ever, and in these cases both listened very well considering the circumstances. My concern is, what if this happens again? Of course we messaged or called the owners in both incidents but i haven’t heard back. There are children that trail ride this “road” all the time because its often the only place dry enough to ride. I absolutely don’t want my horse hauling butt down a gravel road however, because its large painful gravel. Not to mention any wounds or leg injuries she may have sustained.

Basically my questions are, what are my general rights in terms of defending myself and my horse? Had I fallen when she reared I surely was going to be mauled (which is also why i never dismounted) Im not sure what to google for that, i live in Eastern North Carolina. Also, could i have done anything different to give it a different outcome? Just to be clear, every time this has happened me and my horse were in the road or on the shoulder, there are massive ditches that separate it from the properties.

After we booked it home i did make sure to calm her down and hand walk her up the road a little bit (nowhere near the house) and ride at a walk for a few minutes. However, i am considering carrying an aursoft gun or something in case it happens again either in the neighborbood or outside of it. Would be good desensitization as well. Thoughts?

[BlueDrifter]

Wow, that one is tough. Most dog owners who let their dogs be that aggressive are likely not to care or listen to your concerns. I would talk to Animal Control and see what they recommend. If it is an area you can’t avoid, I’d likely bring a squirt bottle with vinegar or something. I have read that wasp spray, bear spray, pepper spray tends to get your horse instead of the target…

[TooMuchRebel]

@BlueDrifter

Wow, that one is tough. Most dog owners who let their dogs be that aggressive are likely not to care or listen to your concerns. I would talk to Animal Control and see what they recommend. If it is an area you can’t avoid, I’d likely bring a squirt bottle with vinegar or something. I have read that wasp spray, bear spray, pepper spray tends to get your horse instead of the target…

It definitely is tough! The first owner never really heeded my warnings and I believe he still runs around. This other guy I’ve yet to have a problem with but we shall see. I also read that about pepper spray. Does bear spray hurt like pepper spray Does? Or only if it hits something like an eye? Of course I don’t want to risk either but it is an unavoidable area. I don’t want to trash our front lawn with prints in the winter so i usually take them out to fields across the main road which requires me to take this path.

I will have to see if I’ve got any squirt guns on hand!

[Scribbler]

If an unleashed dogs comes toward me in a fast, interested, or aggressive manner, my reaction so far has been to jump off and put myself between the horse and dog. I yell and threaten the dog and am fully prepared to kick it in the face, or hit it across the muzzle with my crop. If I lived in an a part of the world that had dogs running off property like that, I would be tempted to get a can of bear spray or equivalent, jump off at their approach, and dose them.

I am also much more cautious riding on roads than I was as a kid. Part of being safe is to continually monitor what’s going on around you, and to hand walk if things seem at all risky.

[TooMuchRebel]

@Scribbler

If an unleashed dogs comes toward me in a fast, interested, or aggressive manner, my reaction so far has been to jump off and put myself between the horse and dog. I yell and threaten the dog and am fully prepared to kick it in the face, or hit it across the muzzle with my crop. If I lived in an a part of the world that had dogs running off property like that, I would be tempted to get a can of bear spray or equivalent, jump off at their approach, and dose them.

I am also much more cautious riding on roads than I was as a kid. Part of being safe is to continually monitor what’s going on around you, and to hand walk if things seem at all risky.

I think a lot of my problem on this one was i had no idea the dog was stalking! Even turning the corners on the house (which means i rode by two sides) i never saw him .He was quiet and sneaky. But she definitely sensed him . I will have to see if any local stored carry bear spray as well. I ride that particular horse western but i wish i had my crop! I have a lunge whip I could carry but that would be too much if I’m not normally being attacked.

[TooMuchRebel]

im usually veru cautious, especially since the first dog chase .We generally move to the complete other side of the road. But if he’s going to come after me I don’t think it matters much to him haha.

I may have mentioned it in my previous post, but what kind of mess could a lawyer pull if i had an airgun pistol? Ive noticed theirs a lot of loose dogs in peoples yards around here, as well as some walkers who dont seem to have much of a secure grip on their dog.
I don’t want to risk myself or my horse anymore

[Scribbler]

Hang a crop on the saddle horn.

Listen to your horse! My mare sees joggers, coyotes, traffic cones, right through impenetrable brush.

Once she stopped on the trail and stared ahead. Before I even thought to put my leg on, a giant branch crashed down 20 feet ahead. She had clearly heard the microtears before it fell.

[TooMuchRebel]

@Scribbler

Hang a crop on the saddle horn.

Listen to your horse! My mare sees joggers, coyotes, traffic cones, right through impenetrable brush.

Once she stopped on the trail and stared ahead. Before I even thought to put my leg on, a giant branch crashed down 20 feet ahead. She had clearly heard the microtears before it fell.

I don’t even know if my crop would reach but since I so far have nothing else ill take it next time. Maybe string up something on my english as well.

That Arabian has definitely taught me to listen more. After the incident, i didn’t doubt for a second it was the dog and not the cows, which also explained her hesitation to turn around!

[Scribbler]

Well, if you don’t think your local customs would allow an airgun, what about a can of hairspray? make a little pouch to hang it off your saddle. You want something with a fair bit of direct targetted spray. Also you want your horse to be OK with the sound of you spraying away from it. Honestly, if the dog is close enough to me that I can hit it in the eyes with hairspray, I think that’s an aggressive dog and the owners won’t have much legal leg to stand on.

[TMares]

Foaming wasp spray to the face. get a pommel bag so it’s handy and pay attention to the horse’s cues.

[Guilherme]

@TooMuchRebel

im usually veru cautious, especially since the first dog chase .We generally move to the complete other side of the road. But if he’s going to come after me I don’t think it matters much to him haha.

I may have mentioned it in my previous post, but what kind of mess could a lawyer pull if i had an airgun pistol? Ive noticed theirs a lot of loose dogs in peoples yards around here, as well as some walkers who dont seem to have much of a secure grip on their dog.
I don’t want to risk myself or my horse anymore

There are multiple things you can do.

First, where are you? What is your local law on self defense? If you’re in Texas you can carry a blunderbuss and if your horse is broke to it teach a lesson most dogs won’t soon forget. If you’re someplace where the life of an aggressive dog is more valuable than that of you and/or your horse then you have a big problem with no good solution. Hopefully your local authorities are reasonably between these extremes.

How good a rider are you and are you willing to let your horse deal with the issue? One dog vs. one horse means the dog is going to have a very bad day. If your horse connects with one, good kick the dog will suffer serious injury. A neighbor of mine was accosted on the road by a full grown Doberman. The net result was a Doberman with a broken jaw, fractured eye orbit, a concussion, and one hell of horseshoe shaped impression on its head! No injury to horse or rider. No problems since.

If airguns are legal then get one and break your horse to it. You can be kind and use an Airsoft weapon that fires 6mm plastic bbs that will hurt but not cause injury or you can go with .177 pellet gun that can, and will, draw blood.

Are there any groups in your area that do tent pegging or British Skill at Arms courses? If so join one of them and learn how to use sword, lance and pistol (probably an airgun of some sort). This will require that you have good riding skills. If you don’t have them, develop them.

I’d be wary of “spray cans” of stuff as their contents can, and will, be influenced by local wind conditions. Getting a face full of your own bear spray will be an unpleasant experience. Squirt guns of various types have the same issue. I’d not place much faith in them.

Most standard riding crops will be of little use against a dog from horseback. The are just not long enough to give you the reach you need to “reach out and touch” the miscreant dog. The really long ones, like a dressage whip, are pretty light at the end. Something that can work would be a fox hunting whip. Of course you must, again, break your horse to the whip and learn how to use it effectively. A bull whip would be another option with similar requirements for learning.

You can make a very nice wooden “practice saber” from 1" dowel. Make it 30"-36" long with a good, taped handle and wrist lanyard. This gives you decent reach and some authority if you hit the aggressive dog. There are actually several medieval type weapons you can make that could be effective with proper use.

I’m sure there are other things that others might think of.

In any of these strategies, however, you MUST take the time to train yourself and the horse in their use.

Check with your local authorities and ask what you can and cannot do. Then pick the “can do’s” that will be the most effective FOR YOU and your horse and your experience ans skill level.

Good luck as you go forward!

G.

[TooMuchRebel]

@Guilherme

There are multiple things you can do.

First, where are you? What is your local law on self defense? If you’re in Texas you can carry a blunderbuss and if your horse is broke to it teach a lesson most dogs won’t soon forget. If you’re someplace where the life of an aggressive dog is more valuable than that of you and/or your horse then you have a big problem with no good solution. Hopefully your local authorities are reasonably between these extremes.

How good a rider are you and are you willing to let your horse deal with the issue? One dog vs. one horse means the dog is going to have a very bad day. If your horse connects with one, good kick the dog will suffer serious injury. A neighbor of mine was accosted on the road by a full grown Doberman. The net result was a Doberman with a broken jaw, fractured eye orbit, a concussion, and one hell of horseshoe shaped impression on its head! No injury to horse or rider. No problems since.

If airguns are legal then get one and break your horse to it. You can be kind and use an Airsoft weapon that fires 6mm plastic bbs that will hurt but not cause injury or you can go with .177 pellet gun that can, and will, draw blood.

Are there any groups in your area that do tent pegging or British Skill at Arms courses? If so join one of them and learn how to use sword, lance and pistol (probably an airgun of some sort). This will require that you have good riding skills. If you don’t have them, develop them.

I’d be wary of “spray cans” of stuff as their contents can, and will, be influenced by local wind conditions. Getting a face full of your own bear spray will be an unpleasant experience. Squirt guns of various types have the same issue. I’d not place much faith in them.

Most standard riding crops will be of little use against a dog from horseback. The are just not long enough to give you the reach you need to “reach out and touch” the miscreant dog. The really long ones, like a dressage whip, are pretty light at the end. Something that can work would be a fox hunting whip. Of course you must, again, break your horse to the whip and learn how to use it effectively. A bull whip would be another option with similar requirements for learning.

You can make a very nice wooden “practice saber” from 1" dowel. Make it 30"-36" long with a good, taped handle and wrist lanyard. This gives you decent reach and some authority if you hit the aggressive dog. There are actually several medieval type weapons you can make that could be effective with proper use.

I’m sure there are other things that others might think of.

In any of these strategies, however, you MUST take the time to train yourself and the horse in their use.

Check with your local authorities and ask what you can and cannot do. Then pick the “can do’s” that will be the most effective FOR YOU and your horse and your experience ans skill level.

Good luck as you go forward!

G.

Loved your response. I’ve been told im a great rider, and I’m also a very quiet and calm one. I do let them kindve pick through the dog situation but I do guide them. I’m in North East North carolina, red neck country, but I’ve no idea what my local laws are concerning my defensive position .I honestly don’t know why my Arab didn’t just nail it with her feet! She’s the kicky type when asserting dominance.

I’ll have to see how they feel about whip type things from horseback. Don’t want something too bulky but anything helps. Thank yall!

[pAin_t_Misbehavin]

I would go to the neighbor’s home and explain what happened and ask them not to let their dog run loose.
I live in northeastern SC, in the land of the free range canine. So I know that even if you’re successful with these neighbors, you will one day encounter another loose dog.
Best thing to do is dog-proof your horse. Start with a dog on lead, let it’s handler lead the dog away while you follow on your horse.
Do you know anyone who trains their horse on cows? Same basic principle. You teach your horse how to move the dog, not allow the dog to move your horse.

[Guilherme]

@TooMuchRebel

Loved your response. I’ve been told im a great rider, and I’m also a very quiet and calm one. I do let them kindve pick through the dog situation but I do guide them. I’m in North East North carolina, red neck country, but I’ve no idea what my local laws are concerning my defensive position .I honestly don’t know why my Arab didn’t just nail it with her feet! She’s the kicky type when asserting dominance.

I’ll have to see how they feel about whip type things from horseback. Don’t want something too bulky but anything helps. Thank yall!

North Carolina isn’t Texas but it’s not so far off!!!

I was worried you might be a place where firearm ownership was grossly restricted or even forbidden. Thus my emphasis on non-firearm alternatives. Frankly, in a lot of cases I prefer to use a non-firearm just because of the “optics” problem.

Take up Cowboy Mounted Shooting. A .45LC blank will also impart a lesson to an aggressive dog. You may not even have to hit it; the sound might be enough to do the job.

And if you can let the horse do the “dirty work.” Afterall it’s the primary victim; let it have the lead on defense.

Best of luck going forward.

G.

[Scribbler]

I wish I could count on my horse to finish off an aggressive dog. She might but she might not, and a really aggressive dog could rip a tendon before horse reacts. And if a horse bolts away that’s an invitation to chase for a dog.

[Wanderosa]

@TooMuchRebel

Loved your response. I’ve been told im a great rider, and I’m also a very quiet and calm one. I do let them kindve pick through the dog situation but I do guide them. I’m in North East North carolina, red neck country, but I’ve no idea what my local laws are concerning my defensive position .I honestly don’t know why my Arab didn’t just nail it with her feet! She’s the kicky type when asserting dominance.

I’ll have to see how they feel about whip type things from horseback. Don’t want something too bulky but anything helps. Thank yall!

Racing whips are very strong and sturdy. Trainer told me years ago, they had a problem with a guy jumping out and flashing them on a path they used to gallop horses. This went on until the guy had the misfortune of flashing a young family friend of theirs. Seeing her shock, he sneered and asked her what was she gonna do about it? She cracked him in the junk with her whip, told him THAT was what she was gonna do about it, and galloped off. Guy was never seen again. I’ll have to ask the trainer what kind of whip it was. Whatever it was, it was long enough to hit the guy in the junk from off a thoroughbred!

[BlueDrifter]

The hairspray comment made me think of Silly String, lol. The gray squirt bottles sold to be used with caustic materials usually have super sprayers on them. They are $7 at Home Depot. I keep one with water just to discipline my own dog! I think it would fit in a horn bag water bottle slot

[Guilherme]

@Scribbler

I wish I could count on my horse to finish off an aggressive dog. She might but she might not, and a really aggressive dog could rip a tendon before horse reacts. And if a horse bolts away that’s an invitation to chase for a dog.

Not every horse will do this. But some will. If they will then that’s an ideal solution as the rider need not worry about using any weapons or devices, just staying in the center of the horse. It’s probably also a good reason to “dog break” your horse.

G.

[BravAddict]

@pAin't_Misbehavin'

Best thing to do is dog-proof your horse. Start with a dog on lead, let it’s handler lead the dog away while you follow on your horse.
Do you know anyone who trains their horse on cows? Same basic principle. You teach your horse how to move the dog, not allow the dog to move your horse.

I am totally arm-chair quarterbacking here, but what struck me about your experience with the Arabian is that because you weren’t aware he or she was there, the dog got a chance to follow and stalk you for a while. I wonder whether it would’ve turned out to be quite so exciting if the dog didn’t get that chance. The fact that you had to flee both situations does not bode well for future encounters.

It bears repeating the basic principles of mounted interactions with nuisance dogs: the dog’s predatory instincts will make him try to circle behind your horse, and to chase if your horse flees or retreats, even at a walk. The more he’s allowed to do this, the more fixated and predatory he’ll become. To break that cycle of predatory feedback, you must turn your horse to face the dog and move - as fast as your horse will allow - towards it. Charge it down! I agree that working cattle or participating in mock cavalry exercises is a good way to build those skills.

ETA: Remedial dog breaking should also help give you and the horses confidence.

It is very unfortunate that you and the horse ended up in that dog’s yard with his friend. At least now you know where their yard is! I am unsurprised that once the GSD was in his own yard, he became even more riled up when defensiveness was mixed in with his predatory arousal.

[pAin_t_Misbehavin]

@TooMuchRebel if you’d like to work with a trainer, Linda Hoover is a good one in your area. Her webpage is https://foundation2success.com/. She offers beginning work on moving cows; obstacle clinics; and general horsemanship. She’s a fascinating lady as well.