Olive defends me at first day of obedience class...

[celloyogi]

The owner and his goldens did not show up to this week's class. I can't say I missed them, but I still feel sorry for his dogs. With such an irresponsible owner, I would have been more surprised had they returned to class.

As a bonus, Olive did a fabulous job in class. She's not the star pupil (yet!) but she's getting better every day.

[Tagg]

I wonder if the trainer decided to put the dogs in a different class. As you say, too bad that they were so uncontrolled.
I was riding my old friend Kass on the trails on a lovely October day. A lot of dog owners also use this tract and are wonderful about putting their dogs on lead as soon a rider is spotted. On this day I had met many GOOD doggie owners but a man came along with his black American Cocker. The cocker took it to mind that it was big enough to challenge the horse. Kassy, well versed in how to rid herself of dogs, stood absolutely still while the dog was under her belly growling and snapping. I didn't know what to do and neither did the owner of the dog. I couldn't start yelling because I knew that that would startle Kass into action. Finally I told the guy in as calm a voice as I could muster to move over as I was going to make the horse go forward and hopefully then he could grab his dog. I asked Kass to go into a working trot and the dog got clipped by her rear leg. It was okay but the guy started to yell at me. I walked Kass back and told him he was lucky that Kass hadn't sent his dog to kindom come as she knew exactly how to get rid of canines - she waited for them to get in firing range instead of running like most horses would. I found out later that this dog was a well known menace. I hope that it learned that 1100 lbs of horse is not something to dally with and that stupid owner learned to keep his uncontrolled animal on it's lead.

[celloyogi]

Originally Posted by Tagg

I wonder if the trainer decided to put the dogs in a different class. As you say, too bad that they were so uncontrolled.
I was riding my old friend Kass on the trails on a lovely October day. A lot of dog owners also use this tract and are wonderful about putting their dogs on lead as soon a rider is spotted. On this day I had met many GOOD doggie owners but a man came along with his black American Cocker. The cocker took it to mind that it was big enough to challenge the horse. Kassy, well versed in how to rid herself of dogs, stood absolutely still while the dog was under her belly growling and snapping. I didn't know what to do and neither did the owner of the dog. I couldn't start yelling because I knew that that would startle Kass into action. Finally I told the guy in as calm a voice as I could muster to move over as I was going to make the horse go forward and hopefully then he could grab his dog. I asked Kass to go into a working trot and the dog got clipped by her rear leg. It was okay but the guy started to yell at me. I walked Kass back and told him he was lucky that Kass hadn't sent his dog to kindom come as she knew exactly how to get rid of canines - she waited for them to get in firing range instead of running like most horses would. I found out later that this dog was a well known menace. I hope that it learned that 1100 lbs of horse is not something to dally with and that stupid owner learned to keep his uncontrolled animal on it's lead.

I'm guessing the dogs are not in another class, at least not for this session. The club has several locations and only the one class time at this location.

RE: the dog vs. horse: Sad thing is, the owner probably didn't learn. He's probably one of the ones I see at the frou-frou doggie store (which I shop at, too) who buys super-expensive tooled leather leads, and then never uses them. Kass sounds like a gem - I used to ride and I don't know that many, if any, of the horses at my barns would be that patient with a dog going nuts at such close range. Speaks volumes for both you and Kass at how the situation was handled!

Out of curiosity, did/does that owner still walk the dog off-lead in the area?

[Tagg]

I don't imagine the dog is still alive. This happened about 10 years ago. I never saw it again and none of my horsey friends ever mentioned having seen it.
Yes, Kassy was a gem and a fabulous matrioch of the herd. They knew when she "swore" at them to smarten up and she seldom had to get any firmer. My other horses never had bites or kick marks on them. I had her for nearly 23 years and lost her last August to a horrible colic. Still miss her dearly.

[dblock]

I'm sorry that happened, but, yes, the response is always typical, because the dog is friendly its all right for them to charge another dog or person

[Greenepony]

Originally Posted by celloyogi

Kass sounds like a gem - I used to ride and I don't know that many, if any, of the horses at my barns would be that patient with a dog going nuts at such close range.

First time I went out with a local hunt club I was terrified that the pony I was on was going kick one of the hounds (grounds for removal) since they love to wind underneath the horses when first let out of their trailer and his favorite game was to bowl over the chickens at our barn. Thankfully he used to hunt in his youth and was more irritated that the masters were leading and he wasn't allowed to pass them.
People say Shelties are noisy, they have nothing on a good foxhound.

Though I will say, introducing Olive to horses will be nerve-wracking for me.