Training Dogs to Get Along with Horses

Training Dogs to
Get Along with Horses

Ed's dog CJ with his horse Jack

2 Hrs. 45 Min.

Here at Leerburg we own horses and a number of dogs . We breed German Shepherds and Belgian Malinois and we also own 2 Corgy's. We also own Rocky Mountain gaited horses and quarter horses.

A number of years ago when we decided to add horses it quickly became evident that we needed to train our dogs to get along with our horses. We did not expect our dogs to become good buddies with our horses but we did expect them to learn to live peacefully with the horses.

Cindy and I have years of experience with both horses and dogs. This DVD teaches people how to desensitize their dogs to their horses. In our step-by-step program we teach our dogs to accept our horses as part of their family pack.

This DVD was filmed over a 2 1/2 year period. We followed the training steps for one of our personal dogs (CJ). The viewer will have the opportunity to see CJ's first exposure to a number of the training steps we recommend in this DVD People can see the issues that came up with him and then relate to problems they may have with their own dogs and horses.

The DVD has the following chapters:

Introduction

Introducing Puppies to Horses

Equipment

Introduction to the Remote Collars

Desensitizing Dogs to Horses

Dogs That Chase Horses

Ground Work for the Down

Riding with Your Dog

Appi Kamps in Holland

Outtakes

collie and horse
Our DVD is not breed specific- our methods work on all dogs

We have a segment on how we safely introduce our puppies to horses at 8 weeks of age. By starting young dogs this entire process goes much easier. We understand that most people who buy this DVD will have horse aggressive dogs. We have included this puppy section so their next dog does not have to be that way.

We demonstrate dogs with prey drive that chase horses and explain how to solve that problem. We also have a segment on dogs that are aggressive to horses. This segment shows how to safely handle these dogs and their training around horses.

We have a detailed section on desensitizing a non-aggressive dog to a horse. This starts with work around the round pen and progress through the training steps to have your dog be safe while you are in the saddle.

We have a detailed step by step section on preparing your dog to be controlled from the saddle. If you can't control your dog from your saddle you can never take your dog with you when you ride. To have complete control your dog must know and understand the DOWN command and the RECALL under distraction. The DVD explains how to accomplish this.

dog horse photo
Think of the trust that must be there for a dog and a horse to allow this to take place.

When a remote collar is used properly it is the quickest, safest and most humane training tool available for this work. The main problem with collar training is that people don't understand it and they think it is abusive. I have a section in this DVD on the introduction of the remote collar. I explain and demonstrate how I use a collar with my dogs while working with my horses. I am 100% sure that anyone who watches this DVD will come away with a new found respect for the value of correct collar work.

Our program is a simple step-by-step program that produces excellent results. Dog training (and horse training) is not rocket science. You will find that the steps in my program are simple to understand and easy to follow.

We prefer to train our dogs (and horses) by first developing a bond with the dog and then using that bond of trust to guide the guide the dog into the behavior we desire. Once an dog has learned to trust and respect us as their pack leader training is always quicker and easier.

This DVD is a "Dog Training DVD" not a "Horse Training DVD". For one reason or another some horses are dog aggressive. While the end result of our training may help to get your horse used to being around dogs, it's not the intent of this DVD to train dog aggressive horses.

In closing I like to tell people that dog training is not breed specific, it's temperament and drive specific. That means that our methods work for all breeds of dogs.

horse and dog

CJ and Bree

A 10 week old Leerburg puppy that has been properly socialized with horses.
We have a section in our DVD on how to do this.

Photos I have taken of our horses

our jack

Jack - Always aloof - but ALWAYS loveable

Question:

I recently purchased a sport dog collar. I watch your video that then that confirmed my thoughts that the shock collar wasn't working constantly. When the collar was not turned up it seemed to give different levels of intensity. I then sent it back and got a Tri-Tronics collar. My question is which Tri-Tronics collar do you recommend? This collar also seems to give different levels of intensity I would also like to know what is the test or evaluations that you would observe to know if a dog is horse aggressive or prey drive in regards to chasing the horse? I have been around dogs and horses all my life but the dogs we had as a child would help us around up the 100 horses we owned. They would bite at their tails to get them to move but they never drew blood in doing this. Sometimes the leader dog would chase a horse the wrong way or do it without being asked but it was easy to get him to stop. My dog is a very big 125 lb pup and when he chases the horse he will not stop when being told. He has been around the horse since we got him at 6 weeks old and he used to even sleep with our cat. He has changed from moving out of the way of the horse to wanting to bring the horse down. He has punctured the horse's leg while trying to get the horse to move and once he even got him on the mouth when the horse went to bite him back. If my dog is horse aggressive then I would just like to get rid of him even if my children don't. I think that now a days its harder to find the right type of dog that is a guard dog and a family companion we had about ten to fifteen dogs at our ranch. They never hurt our horses but at night if a stranger would come around they were very protective of the horses and us. I have had three dogs before this one at my house now and we have had to get rid of one and two were hit by cars. In the past we never had these kinds of problems with our dogs. It seems that people are breeding the wrong type of temperament dogs. I feel a good dog will stay around the house and listen when being told no.There sure are a lot of stupid dogs out there. I be waiting for your answer.

Thank You for your time.
Michelle

Answer:

Michelle,

I assume that you did not purchase these remote collar products from us - correct me if I am wrong but when I checked our database it just reflected the horse-dog dvd.

I prefer and recommend that Dogtra Collars. For a dog of this size I would be using a Dogtra 1900 NCP – that’s what I use on my personal dog.

The fact is – it does not matter if your dog is aggressive or has prey drive – your dog needs drop dead serious remote collar training. HIGH LEVEL training. You have my horse dog DVD – you need to study it – because you have the extreme dog who requires extreme measure. This dog should be wearing a muzzle every time he goes out around the horses. He needs long line work and HOGH LEVEL STIUMULATION. When a dog is this size and you describe him as “trying to bring a horse down or having drawn blood on a horse leg” – well you need to step to the line and back up your work. Muzzle – long line – high level stimulation for even looking at a horse much less interacting.

In my opinion the root of this problem is you and not your dog or the breed or the breeder. You allowed this dog to become this and you should have stepped to the line a long time ago. You should have dealt with this when the dog was a puppy and then staid on top of it as the dog matured. You didn’t do this.

We own 5 horses. My dog, mare and I spend a good deal of my time on my cousin's very large cattle ranch in Sooth Dakota - the drive way is 9 miles long... So I know a little about horses and dogs.

You are drop dead wrong in saying that a dog should stay around your place. A dog should be well trained, understand its place in the family pack and it should not be allowed to run loose – not even if the drive way is 9 miles long. Sorry to point out the obvious but you have had two dogs killed on the road. Obviously this didn’t teach you much.

I too feel that a dog should mind when told to do something. But I understand this comes with respect, leadership and training. This is not a breeder issues. It’s an owner issue.

I am sure your probably pissed right now – but the fact is I am right and you have made mistakes. It’s NEVER a dog problem – it’s ALWAYS an owner problem.

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