We live in a zoo. In addition to two horses we also have three dogs. Our two larger dogs have always been my adventure sidekicks. Horse people always seem to have dogs around!
When Sonny, our australian shepherd, was a puppy I spent a lot of time working with him. A good barn dog doesn’t chase horses, enter the arena, pee in the barn… etc etc etc. When Bear, our german shepherd, joined the family I knew I wanted him to have the same respect for equestrian life.
It is no secret that having a baby changes things. This is true for parents of all walks of life. It is a special kind of different for people that have dogs and horses in their lives. Instead of my life revolving around my dogs and horses now there is a tiny human that dictates every move.
While I was pregnant and in the early days of Bea’s life the dogs were a bit grounded. Navigating uncharted waters of momhood was difficult enough without worrying about the dogs. When we moved I quickly figured out that our new barn has way too much activity to regularly bring the dogs out.
Everyone, including Bea, has been stuck inside more than normal due to the weather. Come Sunday Bea and I were fresh off a full day enjoying Pine Hill but the horses had been stuck inside for a week with the exception of maybe 2 hours of turnout and daily hand walks. I was able to leave Bea at home to head out to do more hand walking and figured the barn might be a bit quieter and perfect to bring the puppers out to the barn.
I didn’t think about the fact that a wild ginger mare and energetic herding dogs may not mix well. Normally my dogs have good listening ears. I usually take an extra precaution and my dogs wear training collars. The collar batteries were dead and I brought them with me anyways against my better judgement.
If you have picked up on the leading path of this post you can guess that that didn’t go as planned.
Just as I was saying “I can’t believe she hasn’t tried to roll” Annie went down to roll. Of course this was the dogs cue to run in and “help”. As expected this wasn’t well recieved by the dragon mare – I don’t blame her!
No one was hurt but it was a healthy reminder that crack head dogs out of practice and super fresh horses don’t mix well! The dogs will be getting a few boot camp sessions before they are allowed off leash at the farm again! I never want to be “that person” with “those” dogs and if my dogs can’t remember their manners their barn privileges will be revoked!
Omg I feel ya on dogs that know better but sometimes forget their manners 😂 I have a jack russell/blue heeler mix and sometimes that stubborn streak comes out and you have to remind her often that she’s supposed to behave and can’t do whatever she wants! Lol. But hope you can get your dogs out to the barn more so they’ll be back to being perfect again!!
My dogs have such selective hearing, I don’t bring them out to the barn if I can’t be attached to them. I totally envy people with respectful dogs though! I’m sure yours will be back to their old selves soon. All that being cooped up could give any pup (or horse) a little set back in the listening department.
Bahaha! Herding dogs are definitely another hiccup! My huskies quickly learn that horses aren’t for chasing, unless I’m galloping and they’re running along side (but that’s not chasing, right?). Herding dogs seem so much harder to control around big animals. I am the worst at keeping my dogs out of the arena, though. Usually I just keep them tied if others are around. I’ve been having a blast late at night recently letting them off while I ride Bast. Lyra goes a-hunting, and Asterid follows around Bast like a little carriage dog. She gets upset with him when he bolts off, which I kind of find hilarious.