Dakota the Defender (long)- a bad situation on a trailride

[Dakota Sunrise]

ETA: wow, I wrote a lot more then I thought I did.:o If you actually read all of that you get a cookie! :D If not you can probably just scan it and still get the basics of what happened.:innocent:




Dakota and I went trail riding with my neighbor Donna and her little granddaughter today. We were having a great time until we came up to this house that has a German Shepherd dog.
This dog is mean (not sure if it's mean to people too or just to horses) and always tries to bite the horses- it's gone after us before. Dakota has kicked at her several times but the dog isn't taking the hint.:mad:
We told the owner, and once she was even standing there while the dog was nipping at their heels, but she couldn't catch her (the dog).:rolleyes: It happened again (no one got hurt, but the dog kept coming up behind the horses to bite, following us, etc.) so we started avoiding that house, although it's on one of our favorite roads to ride on.:(
But for the last two months or so the dog has been tied up so we started riding there again.

Well today we were riding by their house and out comes the dog, loose and not wearing a collar. Crap. :eek:
Kenadee (neighbor's granddaughter) was scared and I was worried if Dude (the mini horse she rides-- Donna ponies her) kicked out Kenadee might fall off. Dude as never been around loose dogs before so we had no idea what he would do.
So I told her that I would keep Dakota between the dog and Kenadee because he will kick at her, and if he does I obviously won't fall off (but Kenadee might- she's only five and doesn't know how to ride that well). Plus he had his back boots on which I hoped would give him a little bit of protection in case she nipped him.
I obviosuly didn't want him to get bit, but I wanted to protect Kenadee and I was hoping that if the dog did try to bite Dakota would kick her (I am a dog lover, but if a dog bites my horse...).
Well the dog tried to go after Dude, Kenadee started crying, so I sent Kota at the dog to chase it back. The dog went at Kota (not like etremely forociously, but barking and getting back behind his legs), he kicked out (I think he connected but not sure) and the dog jumped back. But she kept coming back. So I turned Dakota and kept trotting him toward her and everytime we advanced she jumped back (obviosuly we were yelling at the dog to "git!" and "go home!" "bad dog!" but it didn't work).
I swear it was like he turned into a cutting horse! He'd charge and block her, then pivot back away to get some distance between them when she retreated, and then if she came at us again I'd spin him back around and send him after her again. I felt like a real cowgirl, riding loose in the saddle and neckreining the way they do when they're herding cows. If it had been a cow it may have actually been fun. But this dog was really getting annoying, and dangerous (it wasn't like it was jumping up to attack, but it did keep trying to get at their back legs to sniff and bite, and wouldn't stop when we yelled at her).

It was really kind of amazing because before this happened he wouldn't go in that dirrection (away from home) enless Shadow and Dude went too- but they were way ahead of us and going the opposit way, trying to get away from the dog. Dakota's only bad habbit is being barn/herd sour so if he decides he doesn't want to go he'll just plant his feet and not move. Which is what he was doing earlier when I tried to get him to leave home (I always win one way or another, but he can be quite stubborn about it). But when the dog was coming after us he was really acting like he was trying to protect us, and keeping himself between the dog and Dude.
Finally I got the dog to run away from us and when it did I pivoted Dakota back around and ran after Shadow and Dude and we left the dog behind.

I'm actually very proud of how well Kota listened to my dirrections (and the way he acted like a cutting horse, that was cool- I didn't know he knew how to pivot!) and the way he seemed to be almost "guarding" the other horses. That's my boy! Dakota the Defender- protecting and serving since 2006.:cool:

Well I didn't think he had gotten bitten because we didn't see any blood and he was acting fine, and every time the dog had gotten too close back there he had kicked. But when I got him back home and to the hitching post I found a tiny spot, like maybe the size of a quarter?, on his hind leg just above his boots. It wasn't bleeding, but there was a tiny spot where his hair was matted together and it was red and sticky. I looked and looked but I couldn't find an actual wound- it must have been really really tiny and under the sticky hair. So I pored iodine all over the spot and rubbed it in all over to make sure I covered it. I didn't want it getting infected.

I took him back to the pasture and he started eating hay with Beauty and was acting normal... until I went to leave and saw him pick up that back leg, curl it up towards his belly, then push it out like he was going to kick, then set it back down. He continued to do it and I started freaking out and went in and looked at him again. Well I found two TINY tooth marks more towards the inside of that leg. They were red but not running blood, weren't deep, and really small. But he kept picking his leg up like that and stomping when I felt his leg so I started having a pannic attack. :rant:
If I had known the vet's number by heart I would have called him right then and there while out in the pasture, kneeling by Kota's leg because I was freaked out (I thought he must be in terrible pain, or be having some kind of spazam (sp?), or about to drop dead from rabies, etc). But I didn't have the office number in my cell so I called Donna. (She's had horses for a long time and is more experienced then I am). She lives just like two miles away from me so she said she'd hop in the car and come right up. So I ran down to get my first aid supplies again and then put his halter back on and took him outside the pasture.

Well right before she got there he stopped doing the weird leg thing and just munched away on the grass, and acted totally fine. She looked at his leg, said it wasn't bad and not deep (which I knew, but the leg lifting, etc was really worrying me), to put iodine or corona or something on it, and just to keep an eye on it incase it got infected.
I started feeling really stupid for calling her because the bites are tiny and barely even noticable, and he'd stopped doing the leg thing.
So while she's there I put iodine on the other two marks I found and she starts to leave a few minutes later. And what does Kota do? Start doing his leg curling/kicking/stomping thing again. And you know why he was doing that? Because idoine stings when you put it on (good tip from Donna:innocent:), and his whole leg was covered with it and that couldn't have felt too good (but on a good note it's definately been well dissinfected!):rolleyes: Duh. *smacks self in head* How stupid do you get? Here I am having a pannic attack thinking he's having some rare leg spazam ordeal and he was just doing that because the iodine was stinging. That's good to know, I'll make a note of that for future iodine usage. :innocent:

I'm really quite mad at the dog's owner because she know how it acts, and we've asked her before to please not let it run loose unattended (especially since she doesn't wear a collar on her and can't catch her). We told her we would hate to see the dog get hurt bad if one of the horses kicked her, but we can't have her biting them. It doesn't seem fair that we can't ride on that public road because she lets her mean dog run loose.
I do live out in the country and lots of dog run loose, but they never give us any problem. They bark at us a bit, we say "it's ok, go home" and they don't bother us. This one on the other hand..
I'm hoping my dad can maybe talk to the owner and ask her again to keep the dog tied up when outside alone (but he (my dad) will probably just blame me- he wants me to carry mace or a handgun when I trail ride... but I can't imagine firing a pistol or shooting mace while on or around a nervous horse..:eek:). I also want to find out if the dog has all its shots, although I know it must because she got her from the humane society (she told us that the last time this happened), and I'm sure they vaccinate all dogs before allowing them to be adopted.


So anyway that was my eventful ride!:eek: I'm really proud of Dakota for behaving so well under preasure and trying to protect everybody the way he did (that may sound stupid, but I swear that's what it seemed like he was doing), and I'm sooooo relieved that I was worrying over nothing. The bites are tiny and not serious at all. He should heal up in no time. I don't even think they'll bother him at all (he's not limping or anything) unless I put more iodine on!:rolleyes::p

[rocknK]

Time to start learning to swing a loop & take that dawg for a little ride.:cowboy:

[luv2show]

I get a cookie :D LOL.

That's really neat Dakota did that. :D It's too bad he got marked up a bit, though. I would ask your dad to talk to them again. If you see the dog on the loose again, I'd call the police. ...and I wouldn't have a second thought about doing that. It's putting everyone in a dangerous situation.

[WashingtonBay]

Well good job on your part for putting yourself, and your Dakota, in the line of fire and protecting the little girl!

And I should take your word for it that he's not hurt bad, and I do, but if you doubt it at all, make that decision before your vet heads home for the night. Infection is bad anywhere in a lower leg. There's nothing on the lower leg of a horse that is not vital. Injuries don't have to be deep to be serious.

But beyond that, a vet bill might get the lady's attention, because taken to small claims, she would indeed have to pay it.

(Please :)) Don't go that way again. Don't count on her to take care of the dog. I've been barked at by a lot of dogs when I used to ride the road, but none would hold ground and bite a horse who was coming at them. You can't trust that one, or his owner, and the dog just has to get lucky once to really cause you a lot of heartbreak, if not injury.

[Mercury]

Huh... You haven't had Kota for very long... you never know what he's done before. Maybe he was a cow pony in a past life! I don't mind loose dogs, but it's when they start chasing me that I get mad! Maybe start carrying some rocks with you...

[Tatesgram]

Great Story DS. Sounds like you've solved the buddy/barn sour thing, put him to work defending the defenceless :rolleyes:.

My girls pretty much ignore dogs, but you never know when you'll run into one like the shepard. I think you handled things very well and I'm glad the day turned out so well. Leg bites and iodine included. :)

[livaward]

If any dog chases me on a trail or anywhere I chase them back..............The horse is WAY bigger and every time I turn and start towards the dog they tuck tail and run.......Glad that Dakota isn't hurt really bad it could have been worse.......he's your gardian

[Arrow]

GOOD BOY!!!

Wow, what a tale! Sorry he got bit, as WB says, keep an eye on it. Great story, though, what a team you two are!

[Toodlestoo]

I like chocolate chip! Yay Kota for being such a good horse. My donkey had dog bites in the same area once and healed up just fine. It's just a scary situation. Please be careful.

[shewasmyshadow]

http://www.sallys-place.com/food/columns/zonis/Best_Cookie-20.jpg

Gimmi, gimmi!!! Yum! :D

What breed is Dakota? Yeah, if you can get 'em to chase their fears if they've got any cowy instincts they should kick in!! You're lucky he's not too cowy, though. My mare was cowy and her first instinct was to chase (charge) her fears. That can be SCARY on a green horse. :O

[Blue]

Aww, Kota's such a good boy! :)

[oursarge]

I'd like my cookie please!!!! I like Chocolate Chip!

Good for you and Dakota you are both heros!!!!! I hope that you will avoid that way again though since I don't think that woman will do anything with the dog. We have neighbors like that and nothing will make them keep the dogs tied, not the dog warden, game warden, me threatening to kill them, nothing. I don't think that woman will do a thing about hers either and it will get nastier next time you go that way. It'll probably be waiting for you and it really seems she doesn't have any control over it. I love German Shepherds and everyone who has experience with them says that I'm not alpha enough to have a GS because any dog I had would end up like the one you are talking about.

When I used to go on trail rides the stable owner takes the dogs and one time they got in a fight with other dogs that came out after us, that wasn't pretty. We stopped taking that route. One of her dogs was a GS [Sadly she died, she was such a great dog] but she didn't want any other dogs near her horses and both stable dogs would guard the horses and it got scary that one time.

Poor Dakota got a war wound. I hope he's OK. I had a feeling his leg was hurting and why he was doing the funny leg thing. If I didn't have Rompy I wouldn't know that but he will do it even if he suspects something anywhere on his body might sting. The boys get playing rough and will bite each other and when I go to put salve on the bite he will lift his leg up even though the bite is on his side. It is scary to see though and makes me feel bad because I know it's hurting him. I get so stressed too if I think anything is wrong, I can't stand to see them in pain even if it's a little hurt.

I hope your next ride will be uneventful with no dogs or wounded horses. You would think that woman would be afraid that her dog might hurt a little kid but it sounds like she's clueless. If can go after anyone or bite anyone, she doesn't seem to care or else has no control in which case she shouldn't have the dog.

I'm really happy things turned out how they did except for the fact that Dakota got injured.

[ImaBronsonBear]

I get a cookie! And Dakota should too, he's such a good boy.:)

Can dogs be taken to the pound because they're aggravating livestock? I know you have license to shoot them, but....

Check out your animal laws, see if you can get the dog impounded or something. Make that woman wake up and pay attention.;)

Just FYI, i carry mace whenever i go trail riding, although i've never had to use it (thank God!), but it is there if i'm ever in a situation where i need it, especially travelling alone as i nearly always do.

[AUEquine]

I think at this point I'd call the vet out anyway. Not that I'm worried one bit about Dakota's wound, but for the reason that I think that woman needs to pay for something! You're dad needs to have a talk with her and tell her that the next time that dog is out he's suing! And he needs to sue for any and all emotional distress caused, all first aid that had to be administerd, and any damage to tack/wraps/etc. This is not a light issue, this needs to be taken seriously! What if a younger lesser rider goes that way one day. Like you said it's a public road, they may not be as lucky!
If nothing else... call the cops, tell them what happened! They'll at least go talk to her, and maybe she'll listen to them!

Glad you guys are ok! Definatly start taking mace with you! Just make sure you spray it behind you! I never walk my dog without mace, after I was attacked by stray dogs! Its a nonlethal way to scare them off quick!

[sarhound]

I'd probably put a bullet in that dog's skull, but you could carry a paintball gun with you and blast him with it. They hurt when they hit, and there's no denying the paint markings that they leave behind, so someone can't come along and say, "My dog NEVER does anything like that."

A squirt bottle with jalapeno juice and a direct hit in the face is also a good deterrent.

I don't tolerate dogs that exhibit dangerous behaviors.

[farmers_wife]

I get a cookie also. But good for you for protecting that little girl. I would call that lady up and tell her the story and say if my horse gets bit again then she will pay for the vet bill.

[Gypsy Rose]

I want a chocolate chip cookie!

Glad Dakota isn't hurt seriously. Hopefully, he'll be fine.

When I was growing up, I had a similar situation with a loose neighbor dog. This one was a big German Shepard, and a bully.

Back in those days, it was pretty hard to take someone in a rural area like mine to court for a minor issue like that. Now if it was a cow in a pasture, on the other hand, the dog was liable to end up dead after one warning. The arguement was that the road was community property, so to speak. A lot of dogs chased cars, and there wasn't a darn thing you could do except talk to the owner. However, by the same token, if the dog got hit on the road, and was a known chaser, the one that hit the dog was not liable, normally. I taught Gypsy to chase this particular dog back in the yard, my parents had repeated talks with the owner, but that darn dog was chasing horses that went by on the road until the day she died, lol!

[vicklynn]

I get a cookie, but can I trade it in for a brownie;):p
Great job Dakota. Im thinking Id be calling the sheriff and report that lady with the dog. Im serious.
Then I would have her pay the vet bill.
Im proud of you for protecting the youngun. Very cool!!
I think I would of gotten off the horse and gone after the dog. I have really long reins though. I can undo one and beat the tar out of it.

[HeartofSteel]

Glad no one is hurt to bad!
That was brave thing you did. I would have gotten off my horse though. I used to carry rocks with me when I would have to walk down the road at my cousins house because of the dogs chasing our dog. Maybe if you do go back you could bring a squirt gun or some rocks?

[Country Girl 43]

I'm glad you took care of the little one. But that dog needs to be dealt with.

Remember my thread on the dog that was chasing Dallas...Well....the dog is gone...I'll just leave it at that.:innocent:

[vicklynn]

I'm glad you took care of the little one. But that dog needs to be dealt with.

Remember my thread on the dog that was chasing Dallas...Well....the dog is gone...I'll just leave it at that.:innocent:
Dog, there was a dog?? What dog??? LMBO

[Dakota Sunrise]

Grrrrr- I just typed out a very long reply only to have my log in time out on me and I lost the whole thing.

So here we go again...


Thanks for all the replies and well wishes for Dakota.:) *passes out cookies* He did awesome and I'm proud of my boy. I feel bad for getting him into that situation and putting him at risk, but I was afraid for Kenadee and I didn't want her to fall off and get hurt. I made a choice to protect her, and Dakota decided to agree and protect us all. He really took one for the team. That's my boy.

Who knows, maybe he was a cutting/team penning horse at some point in his life and does have some herding experience. Or maybe he's just amazing. xD


For those that are concerned about his wounds- to be honest I am confidnet that they are superficial and do not need vet care. The two little bite marks I found are litterally about the size of my pinky fingernail with just a dot of blook on the end. I actually don't know how the dog managed to make a wound so tiny and just barely breaking the skin.
They've definately been cleaned thoroughly.. the iodine got a little out of hand. It spills easily.:whistle: At least I know I certainly got it disinfected well, and tomorrow I'm going to put some salve (probably Corona) on them and I think that will pretty much be the end of it.
He's walking normally on it, and he will have the next few days off anyway so if it is sore at all he'll be able to rest. He did have that leg cocked when I went out to check on him again, but he does that all the time anyway and that leg is the one he prefers to cock for whatever reason. And I saw him walk after that and he wasn't limping.
I don't know if the lady would pay the vet bill or not, but I promise that is not why I didn't call him (the vet). He just didn't need that kind of medical attention. For once my limited skills are sufficient enough- I'm great with iodine and Corona!:D


I did tell my dad about the dog, and his reaction was basically what I expected it to be. He said he won't talk to the owner because there is no point, they will not listen. There is also no reason to call the police because they do not handle dog complaints and would only refer us to someone who does. Same with the Sheriffs Office, and my dad is the sargeant deputy of our county so I got that first hand.:cool:
He does have a friend who is the State dog guy.. Don't know what his real title is, it's definatley not "Dog Guy" but he is the one that handles these kinds of things. He would issue a sitation (sp?) and a warning first, and when that didn't work he'd remove the dog and destroy her. Which I can't say I'm overly comfortable with letting a dog be put down because it's owner is too stupid and irresponsible to tie the dog up when outside unattended... I don't have a problem with loose dogs unless they cause a problem and become an annoyance or danger to people and animals.. which I have to say this dog is. Whether or not she's mean to people too I don't know (which is why I didn't dismount- I wanted to look bigger and scarier, and be able to run if I had too), but the fact that "NO!" and "BAD dog!" had little effect on her is not encouraging. If you say that to my dogs they cower, tuck their tails, and get this ashamed look on their faces. They instantly know--and care--that they did wrong.

Anyway, this dog guy is out of the office until the 17th, so until then we do nothing. In the mean time I'll think about what I want to do and stay clear of that house.

[JackieB]

Good job, Kota! I'll take my cookie, please.

[Mercury]

For those that are concerned about his wounds- to be honest I am confidnet that they are superficial and do not need vet care. The two little bite marks I found are litterally about the size of my pinky fingernail with just a dot of blook on the end. I actually don't know how the dog managed to make a wound so tiny and just barely breaking the skin.



The suggestion of a vet mainly is for documented proof that the dog came after your horse. Take GOOD quality pictures of the wounds, just in case you need them. Totally believe you that it isn't serious but it's just the documentation.

[ProvenPaint]

How awesome of Dakota! Glad no one got seriously hurt...that dog should have though...

I was just thinking today of how when I'm working cattle, I don't remember doing cues. I just move; Pooh moves with me. He's a Paint, no previous cattle working - we just....work! I'll bet that even though you haven't had him a long time, Dakota can understand you much better than what you may think ;)

I've chased a dog back to the property line on my horses before. If that wouldn't work I'd bring my rope & beat them...grrr...no tolerance for horse-chasing dogs! I don't know about your area, but here dogs get 1 warning. Generally if your dog is caught chasing cattle/horses/chickens, you get a warning & if not heeded you may not have a dog much longer...

Hope Dakota heals up good & soon! I also hope the issue gets resolved - soon.

[Dakota Sunrise]

Just a little update on Dakota. :)

He still isn't limping and is standing on that leg so that's all good. He didn't really like me touching it this morning, not that I'm shocked by that. When I get an injury like that I don't like it being messed with either. I couldn't really tell if it was swelled up at all.. if it was it was very minor.
Just to be on the safe side I took him out and hosed his leg for 15 minutes, couldn't hurt. It ended up turning into a grazing party.:innocent: Beauty followed him right out the gate before I could stop her so I just let her hang around with us and munch grass, and then Oreo (my Pygmy) wormed her way through the gate (I didn't have it latched, just propped shut) and joined us. So it was quite the little party.:rolleyes:
After that I felt his leg again and he didn't seem to care that time. I put some Corona on it and put him back in the pasture, and now he's way out in the farthest part of the pasture grazing with Beauty.:) I think he'll be just fine.

[alittleoffkey]

I'm glad everybody's alright now. Sounds like Dakota was trained to cut at some point in time. Very cool!

[vicklynn]

My dad would of HAD that mans @ss, and he was the Deputy Sheriff, and he would of taken it personal.
Dog attempts attack of CHILDREN on horseback. Dont mess with Deputy Schroeders kids.......LOL

[Dakota Sunrise]

My dad would of HAD that mans @ss, and he was the Deputy Sheriff, and he would of taken it personal.
Dog attempts attack of CHILDREN on horseback. Dont mess with Deputy Schroeders kids.......LOL


Yeah... I was hoping my dad would get mad and go marching down there to give her an earful. I know that it's not the Sheriffs Office's job, but still... just his Deputy Sargeant title can be very persuasive (sp?) and my dad is a big guy (weight lifter).. and well.. he can just be very intimidating and could definately get the point across. But I knew that wouldn't be his reaction and I was right. He said it wouldn't do any good anyway.

He did offer to call his friend the dog guy who does handle this kind of thing, but he's out of the office until the 17th. He said basically I had the choice of telling the Dog Guy would would first issue a warning, and when that didn't work he'd remove and destroy the dog. Or I could just not ride there.

[vicklynn]

YOU have the right to ride where ever it is legal. If anyone, human or dog, interferes, you have the right to have it taken care of. Id have your dad call the guy when he gets back in town.

[AUEquine]

He did offer to call his friend the dog guy who does handle this kind of thing, but he's out of the office until the 17th. He said basically I had the choice of telling the Dog Guy would would first issue a warning, and when that didn't work he'd remove and destroy the dog. Or I could just not ride there.

Yes, but what about someone else who may ride there, or jog there? What if a young woman is pushing her child in a stroller... what then?
I really think you and your dad have a responsibility to public safety here! And your dad, as a law enforcer, should realize this! I'm sorry I'm completely shocked at how lightly he's taking this! When I got attacked by 2 dogs one day my dad raised all sorts of he!! until the kid who owned the dogs was in Juvie!

I know you don't like the idea of this dog being euthanized, but sometimes public welfare must come before a dogs! What if this dog bites a child, or kills YOUR dog/goat/horse! Once an animal shows outward aggression it must be addressed!

Please, for the sake of everyone else in your area.... don't just let this die!

[miatapony]

well im very glad to read all of it too it was a nice story . but i think you need to call the animal control and let them in on the bites .

[Diane of Buck's Hollow]

Time to start learning to swing a loop & take that dawg for a little ride.:cowboy:


Good Idea!!!

Wow Dakota...I am very proud of Kota!!!!! I am glad Kota didn't get bitten worse..but I really wish the dog would have gotten a good kick...sorry, but I do.

[Arrow]

Glad he's o.k. today!:)

[oursarge]

Chances are even when the dog is reported nothing will be done. I don't know what PA law is but when we had dog issues everyone including the state police was called and they all just shrugged it off. I even wrote and sent a registered letter to the dog warden so if the dogs did hurt someone or kill a kid she could not say she wasn't warned. One dog might have died of old age now, I haven't seen him, the other is still around but is very old. Still not tied. I had a couple screaming matches with the owner, he asked why I hated his dogs I told him I don't hate his dogs I hate him.

The dog warden informed me that they could not do anything without photos, not only photos but DATED photos of the dogs running off of their property. Videos would not do, only dated stills. Even though there were at least 6 witnesses to the aftermath of when the dogs killed the cat she said we needed dated photos because it was just our word against theirs. I was like THE GAME WARDEN WAS THERE, guess his word wasn't enough either. It was a nightmare and as far as I'm concerned nobody did their job. I was ripping. The people were told if the dogs came on our property they would die [I wasn't going to kill them I just threatened] that worked they've never been here since. The people haven't been on our property either since I think I scared them, I am crazy when I get mad and nobody has ever seen me madder. I scared my husband and my brother in law. They were shocked when I went after those people.

I didn't want the dogs to die I just wanted the dogs tied but other than fining the people when the dogs killed deer nothing else happened. The cat killing nobody was fined, they barely blinked. The dog warden told me she'd talk to them but as far as I know she never did. When I called the state police I was told to kill the dogs if I wanted to but the police couldn't do anything to help. The dog warden was ZERO Help, I don't know why we have a dog warden. We have leash laws here even though we live in the middle of nowhere, we have the laws, nobody enforces them.

I hate to see a dog die because the owner is an idiot. I would like to see the dog rehomed with someone who knows how to deal with it.

[Dakota Sunrise]

I hate to see a dog die because the owner is an idiot. I would like to see the dog rehomed with someone who knows how to deal with it.

Exactly. I feel the same way. I don't know if the dog is a danger to humans or not. It wasn't snarling at us, but definately didn't want to leave the horses alone. I wasn't *too* afraid about it leaping up and attacking us (that didn't seem to be her intentions), I was more afraid that if it tried to bite Dude (which she did), he would kick out and that would make little Kenadee fall off. I don't really think the dog was after us, but then I definately didn't want to take any chances. I really didn't want to get off and find out. If the dog isn't a danger to humans all they need to do is tie him up when he's outside, or keep him on a leash and the problem would be solved. Stupid people don't deserve to have animals.


Now I'm stuck between a rock and a hard place. I was sort of hoping my dad would tell me what to do, or know what should be done. But he pretty much is saying either don't ride there or he'll tell the Dog Warden and he can issue a warning and then have the dog put down when that fails. If he'll (the dog guy) even do anything- wouldn't it just be my word against theirs? Even if I did take pictures of Kota's injuries, how can I prove that it was their dog that caused them?

If I had been the one attacked, like if the dog had actually bitten me and came after us snarling and biting- then my dad would probably go through the roof. But having it not leave the horses alone and nip Dakota isn't that big of a deal to him I guess.... he just sees it as I shouldn't ride there anymore, since the people will not change and do anything about it even if he did talk to them (he did tell me I could carry mace, but I'm not comfortable with that. If the wind was going the wrong dirrection or if I did it wrong we'd probably all end up with a face full and that would not help the situation any.)
Even my mom is saying "well I'd hate to see the dog put down..." And so would I. But I definately don't like having my horse bitten, and I don't like that Kenadee could have fallen off and gotten hurt if the dog had gotten to Dude and he kicked out.

I just wish the dog belonged to responsible people who would realize the dog was a nuisance to livestock even if she wasn't to people, and take actions to resolve the problem (which would just mean tying her up when she's outside alone, or keeping her on a leash).

[oursarge]

It's such a mess isn't it? According to the dog warden here to prove that the dog did that to Dakota you would need pictures of when it was happening! Now how many people carry a camera with them all the time? Well I know a couple people who do but most people don't. If Dakota was a deer then it would be a whole different story I guess, the Game Warden seems to have more power than the Dog Warden. The only thing is if you call the Dog Warden [Or Dog Guy, I love that!] maybe he can warn the person that the dog needs to be leashed when not in the house and hope she listens. Then there is the whole thing I don't think they can actually tell you what you can do as far as leashing your dog if it's on your own property. She told us that we'd also need the dated photos if she talked to them about leashing and we saw them off the leash when not on their own property. It's all nuts. You can only hope that if the Dog Warden does talk to the person they'll be scared enough to do what is asked of them. The dog probably thinks that he was doing a good thing protecting his property and owner even though the road isn't his property! He's a dog and needs proper supervision which is the owners responsibility, unfortunately too many idiots have animals and the animals suffer for it.

In the case here I really like the dogs, the dogs were strays in NY City and probably used to getting food how they could. They are doing what unsupervised dogs might do. My dog might do it if he was left unsupervised, I don't know. It's the owners I want to suffer not the dogs.

I hope Dakota is feeling better [an extra pat on the head to him for being such a good boy] and hope you'll get this all straightened out. I know you were hoping your father talked to the lady, I would have hoped that too but he probably knows that he has no power to do anything, that's the Dog Guy's thing. The only thing I guess you could hope for is if she doesn't know it's the Dog Guy's thing and would get scared enough she'd leash the dog because your father told her to!

[shynbvs]

something like this happened to me a couple summers ago. I was on a trail ride with 2 friends and two dobermans came running out barking/snarling. The horse i was riding jumped forewords into my friends' horses' butt. he did move though. we think the owner let them out on purpose. i hate some people...

[IrisGreen]

I'm glad Dakota is going to be fine. Sorry about the dog dilemma. Sure sounds like a rock and a hard place.

Around here we have a ton of lose stray dogs and dogs that the owners just let roam around. They chase the horses but most people will fend them off like Dakota did or they just bring 4 of there own dogs along with them riding and there dogs protect there horses. You put a wide leather spiked collar on your dogs so if they do get in to a fight the other dog can't grab there neck. Most dogs will fun off when faced with another dog that is protecting there horses.

Dogs know that the horse is pretty defenseless if the dog stays low and goes in for heel bites. So, they think it's a game and keep going after the horse when it goes to walk away. Bring your own dogs with you and you won't have that problem.

Muffin heads off dogs in a very intimidating way with his head real low and looking straight at them. If they go to bite his face he pulls it up and kicks his front feet at them. If they come from behind he stops and waits to see what they are going to do and if they go after his back legs he kicks while standing still watching them. He is dog broke and not scared of dogs but he herds my dogs out of his pen when he gets sick of them rolling around in there. My dogs learned to not push him or he will push back.

[MyHorseBiggs]

I haven't read it all yet but I'll read it this afternoon. :D

[Dakota Sunrise]

Thanks everyone for thinking of Dakota. He thanks you too.:D


I don't really understand how the laws and stuff work with this, but is there any way you and your dad can talk to the owner and say that if he/she doesn't do something about the dog then you'll have to talk to the authorities...or something like that? Sorry if you already mentioned talking about this, I skimmed through some of the thread.

It's not a bad suggestion, but A.) my dad won't do that, because/and B.) it will not work- these kind of people will not change, at least that is what my dad says.:(

Bring your own dogs with you and you won't have that problem


Unfortunately I don't have a dog(s) I can take with me riding. My indoor dog isn't allowed outside off a leash, and I'd be too worried about her running off or getting hurt in a dog fight. My other dog is a Beagle and the poor guy is old and has a hard time getting around. My Lady was the protective one, the dog I could always count on, but she passed away earlier this year.