Oh,
@trailhorserider, just ask me about dogs! I had great success with a gadget called a Dog Dazer which worked perfectly for two sets of pit bull type dogs that were nipping at my horse's heels. The pit bull looking dogs really react when I press the Dazer button. It cost about $30 and emits a high pitched sound that humans cannot hear. It doesn't seem to bother the horses at all.
After using the Dazer for about a year, I don't need it any more for those 2 sets of dogs. All I have to do is stretch out my hand as if I have the Dazer, and the dogs back off.
The two Anatolian Shepherds are a whole different story. They never nipped at my horse until I Dog Dazered them. I learned from people on Horse Forum (too late) that very large aggressive dogs such as Anatolians react negatively to aggressive acts like using a Dog Dazer on them. I should have dropped bits of hotdog along the road. Now, it is too late. The owner of the Anatolians is totally uncooperative and threatens to sue me for "harassing her." According to the owner, she has every right to own dogs that come out on to a public road and bite horses. I have fallen when my horse flipped out, and my horse has fallen in the road due to these dogs. I have called Animal Control 4 times and the owners have been visited 4 times.
This morning, my neighbor and I cut through private land, rode down an adjacent driveway, and came out near the Anatolian driveway to see if the dogs were being kept up. They came barreling down their driveway barking their heads off, couldn't wait to bite our horses. We went back up the neighbor's driveway and back on to the private land before the dogs could get to us.
Tomorrow will be yet another call to Animal Control to report the Anatolians are still allowed to run loose and bite passing horses.
@knightrider it really sucks we have to deal with this! It sounds like your dog problem is worse than mine, although my problem has escalated recently. I've been dealing with barking/charging/aggressive dogs at this property for about 15 years, maybe longer. The dogs change over time, but the problem doesn't go away, they just get new dogs! They are "usually" contained behind a fence, but not lately. The past couple of weeks have been bad because the dogs have been running loose. I talked to the guy the other day and thought today would be different when I rode by. And when I was going out, the dogs were behind the fence. That felt good!
On the way home, the dogs were out yet again! And the owner was out there at the same time.....he said he was sorry and that the dogs dig under the fence and he asked if I carried a pistol!? I said no.......but maybe I need to!? I really wasn't sure what he was getting at......l assume to fire into the ground or something? But I actually have never carried or fired a gun.......I've never felt I needed to! And I'm sure my horse wouldn't approve.
All these years I've sucked it up and never complained and now when I finally say something, it's like nobody even cares...... What I did do is order some dog pepper spray and an ultra-sonic dog deterrent. I figure I have the right to defend myself at this point. I didn't get the Dazer II because it seemed like the reviews were no better than the cheaper models. I got something like this:
That wasn't the exact one, but there are about 100 different ones that all look the same.
So I hope it helps. My goal would be to train the dogs not to chase/charge me. That would be awesome. The pepper spray is a back-up in case the ultrasonic gizmo fails and I need to defend myself.
I really
am an animal lover, and I have never been afraid of dogs my whole life, but this situation is driving me absolutely crazy. It could be worse......these dogs could bite and they haven't.......yet, but they come charging out at full speed and get really close and bark up a storm in a very aggressive manner. It gets my horse all prancy and nervous and if we
almost make it past the house and they come running up from behind, it's even worse because the horse wants to bolt. She's an awesome 20 yr old, experienced trail horse, and I spin her around to face the dogs (2 or 3 dogs depending on the day) but her instincts are to run and she gets all sweaty and worked up.
I haven't contacted the sheriff's department. This only really escalated in the past two weeks or so. Before that the dogs were behind a fence and only showed up loose a couple times a year. Now they are loose every ride. I want to keep on good terms with my neighbors. These people aren't right next door but our neighborhood is small and everyone knows everyone, I would like to keep the peace. But I don't feel I should have to put up with these dogs risking my safety. Not loose in the road. And I told the guy that.......these dogs are going to get me killed. Sigh. If they want to keep the most obnoxious dogs in the world on their property that is their right to do so, but they should NOT be allowed run loose and chase people on the road.
I did take a video of the dogs surrounding me about a week ago. But I think I am going to keep my phone out each and every time I ride by, so if I DO have to contact law enforcement at least I have video of what's been happening and how often it happens. It just seems so stupid that something like loose dogs has to ruin my enjoyment of riding my horse. Horses are so peaceful, we can ride down the road and not bother a soul. And then the dogs have to come out and make a big circus out of everything.
Yesterday we went out with one trained and experienced horse (rider in the saddle) and two youngsters (led by hand). We went into the woods on the trail and also did some urban areas (to expose the horses to road signs and traffic signs, etc...)! We rode/hiked for approx 2 hours. And yes I am aware that one of my stirrups wasn't dropped enough.
