How to Train Your Dog to Behave Around Horses

Hello Julie, First, you need to work on a really solid off-leash heel around the horses, when not on horseback. Teaching pup to heel calmly around the horse when you are just walking past the horses comes first. Next, choosing the calmest, most well-socialized horse, practice having pup heel next to you while you walk next to the horse on your other side, going in the same direction as the horse. It's probably best to have a second person actually leading the horse even though you are next to it, so that you can focus all of your attention on the dog. Next, have pup heel while you are riding on the horse, but have another person managing pup on a long leash to correct him back into position just as needed - the leash should be relaxed when pup is doing well so that he is heeling because of obedience and not because he is being forced too most of the time. This can also be done through off-leash heeling with e-collar training if pup has been trained to heel to an e-collar ahead of time. The e-collar can be used to correct pup when he begins moving out of position. I would have another person who is super experienced with e-collars managing the corrects though, so that you can focus on the horse for safety reasons. You may need a long leash and an e-collar for a bit in between this step and the previous step too if you use an e-collar. You will practice with the extra person helping for a really long time, spending lots of time on this step because pup needs to be 100% on this before it's just you on the horse alone with pup. Once pup is 100%, then you are ready for just you, pup, and the horse in calm areas. Only progress to more distracting areas when both the dog and the horse are fully in the habit of obeying you and traveling with each other even around distractions. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

Hello Angel, Check out the Passing Approach method from the article linked below and the Turns method from the second article linked below. Passing Approach: https://wagwalking.com/training/greet-other-dogs Turns method: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-poodle-to-heel Have a second person handle your calmest horse. Practice a structured obedience walking past the horse using the two methods above, adding in turns to get pup's attention back on you - like the turns method, and passing back and forth from a further distance, rewarding calm responses as they walk past the horse. Be careful not to spook the horse and give the horse as much space as they need also. Reward pup for being calm and ignoring the horse, and gradually work the animals up to being closer over the next few weeks. You want pup to become bored around the horse, focused on you, and able to be calm and responsive to training by adding in the structure of the heel and managing the interaction with distance and lots of repetition to create a good, calm habit when near the horse. When pup is doing well, check out the walking together method from the article that the passing approach method is found in, to teach pup to heel along the horse. Only use that method when both the horse and dog are completely calm around each other, to avoid spooking the horse. Have a second person walk the horse while you walk pup during that training too. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

Thank you for the question. It sounds as though Rex is trying to put his innate herding skills to use. As for the jumping up at the doors, I am really not sure why he would be doing that. I think you may need to spend some time at the yard with Rex on the leash. Put some gentle yet corrective training to work while there. When he shows too much interest in the horses, correct him so that he learns what you expect and that the horses deserve respect. You could join either a Border Collie forum or even better, a horse forum and ask questions there. You may run across a similar problem and someone there can give advice. How does Rex do in obedience classes? He has a keen, working mind and is a breed that thrives on having a job to do. He would excel at obedience, flyball and agility. Put him to work and maybe he'll be calmer around the horses. Good luck!

Hello Natalie, Check out the videos linked below. I suggest working on some structured obedience with pup from further away from the horse, while someone else manages the horse. The videos below show dogs with a cat, but the commands like Place can be used in this situation to increase pup's self-control and desensitize them too. Gradually decrease the distance between pup and the horse as pup improves. When pup can handle being calm around the horse with lots of boundaries, then practice pup heeling with you on leash in a very structured, focused heel around the horse in closer range. Have someone else manage the horse and be careful not to let the horse spook due to the dog. Mild issue - teaching impulse control: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWF2Ohik8iM Moderate issue - teaching impulse control using corrections and rewards: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dPIC3Jtn0E Quiet method: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-shih-tzu-to-not-bark Place: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O75dyWITP1s Heel - Turns method: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-poodle-to-heel How pup responds to the training will determine whether other things like interrupters or more structure is needed. If things are getting worse, not improving, or you feel uncertain how to proceed, I suggest hiring a trainer with experience with reactivity and introducing animals, to help you. Even working with the right trainer over video right now could help determine what methods to use and be very helpful. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden