Re: Dogs and Trail Riding

[Chris Paus <paus@micoks.net>]

I agree. I love to take my dogs on rides, but not to competitive rides,
only on training rides.

chris paus & the pack

At 11:45 AM 1/19/98 EST, SandyDSA wrote:
>In a message dated 98-01-19 09:31:08 EST, you write:
>
><< We have two GREAT trail dogs, who go out with us on all of our
>      conditioning rides (and whine miserably back in camp when we leave
>      them while competing).
> 
>      The younger of the two is a black lab cross (and is so injury prone
>      --impalings on branches, porcupines, tangles with farm equipment,
>      stepped on by the lead horse on a ride, etc.-- that there was a time
>      we called her 'Deathwish Deva', who last week ripped her dewclaw while
>      playing.  Our vet wrapped it up, gave us some antibiotics, and made a
>      surgery appointment for us for TOMORROW to have both dewclaws removed
>      (since we do so much riding thru woods with the dogs).  She'll be on
>      'restricted activity' for two weeks, during which it will be difficult
>      to determine who will go lulu first, the dog (from lack of exercise)
>      or us (from having to put up with same).
> 
>      So, here's the question.  Should we do it?  Have any of you done the
>      same?  Any warnings, words of wisdom, or suggestions?
>  >>
>I think this is a related topic since so many seem to want their canine pals
>along for the ride. In the words of our close vet friend, "they would rather
>stay at home and sleep in the sun anyway. The commotion of public places is
>disconcerting to your pets". Not only THAT, but in order to keep my pets
safe,
>AND keep them from being a nuisance and a hazard, I must attend to them much
>more than I truly have time to, and there is enough to do at an event - show,
>ride, etc. It is one mor ething to concern with, and you HAVE TO. I consider
>loose dogs, barking dogs, and dog excrement all over the place a bloody
>nuisance when I am readying for a ride or show - and so ours stay home -
>happily. Certainly there is a concern for the safety of the dogs, but in
>addition, there is the safety of other riders, understanding that not ALL
>horses are accustomed to having dogs racing about or jumping at their heels. 
>
>So...in answer to this question: Well, do you want more to worry about and do
>you wnat to have to babysit your pets on a ride? If you bring them you will
>have to do so.
>s
>p.s. more rides are not allowing dogs to attend. We like this.
>
>
>