I have not been a fan of retractable dog leads since I was young and suffered friction burns when walking a family member’s dogs on such leads. Granted, I was young, and foolish to think that grabbing a thin wire lead to try and stop a dog running at full pelt was a good idea, but there are many things that can go devastatingly wrong when using retractable dog leads.

This isn’t a combination to make without careful consideration of how necessary it is to introduce your dog and horse to each other. Even with the best trained and most carefully introduced animals, freak accidents can occur, causing serious injury, or worse, to animals or humans alike.

For those of us living on or near farms, it can be very important for our dogs and livestock to exist side by side without any dramas. However, this isn’t necessarily an easy task. These species are not natural allies. So, how can we encourage a relationship whereby they can both co-exist without stress to either party, or ourselves?

Unless your dog is training to work around livestock and/or horses, the best advice is to keep them well apart. Animals can be unpredictable, no matter how well trained or how well you think you know them and, especially where horses are involved, it’s nearly always your dog that will come off worse. However, there are times when bringing the mix of species together is unavoidable, particularly if you live on a farm or need your dogs to accompany you when at the stables. Let’s look at what you need to consider before you even step out with your dog.

Rawhide is one of those dog treats that many people know are thoroughly unhealthy and somewhat dangerous, yet almost an equal amount of people are completely unaware of the risks of this longstanding staple of the dog treat industry. Education is key.