Howdy,
Oh how many times have each of us humans said If I could Only Go Back In Time? Seems life is not fair in so many ways and if we make a mistake the mistake can have life long effects on us and those we love so preventive care is the best plan. Please understand Dogs, Horses, Donkeys and Mules can be a deadly combination! Some can learn to get along and respect the owners commands to NOT pack and chase the equine and some cannot. Some equine can learn to not fear our domesticated dog meaning attack them kick them in the head or stomp them to the ground and some can not “One Size Does Not Fit All”, use extreme caution when working with dogs and equine.
Lessons learned the hard way; Dogs, Donkeys, Horses and Mules take extra caution, keep your dog on a leash until the donkey and dog respect one another. Dogs seem to like to chase a donkey, horse or mule and the equine can kick the dog killing our dog or leaving our beloved dog with brain damage. Shortly after our donkeys and horse came home to live on our farm I made the mistake of thinking I had control of my dogs in the same place as the equine. My dogs have always been honor dogs minding me in public places on lot’s of camping trips and traveling and yet on this new matter I had no control over my dogs.
What I could have done better?
Looking back all of my dogs should have been introduced one at a time and on a leash with at least two humans working to make this introduction a success, one human holding the donkey, one holding the dog. Letting the dogs and equine loose in one space is an accident waiting to happen. This was my mistake and a mistake I have deeply been regretting over and over. I pray my transparency helps you learn the right way of introducing dogs and equine to one another. In a matter of seconds the dogs broke from my command to stay and Buddy our little dog was kicked in the head. He was knocked unconscious for about twenty minutes and then four years later the seizures started so no doubt it is all connected.
Here is an article I wrote why Donkeys hate dogs for more information.
Living with epilepsy in our dogs can be managed but it is never easy and always leaves my face wet from tears and wondering Is this the last moment we get to have with our dog?
Select Canine Epilepsy to learn more about what Epilepsy in dogs and how to treat, help and give our most beloved doggies the best life possible. Remember head injuries can look like all is well and then like in the case of our little dog four years later the seizures start.
Perhaps this link will help you and your dog. Please do not be shy, leave a comment and a link if you have information to share be a human angel for a sweet dog and his/her owner.
GOD bless you and your family two and four-legged!
Melody
Thank you for sharing that. It must have been a difficult thing to do. Yes, hindsight is such a wonderful thing. When I had my farm, my Dalmatian used to chase the cows. She’s seen us try to encourage them to move away from the pool and thought it her job to help us. Luckily she never did get kicked but it was really close!
Hi Susan,
Yes our little Buddy had another seizure this week and this made me think I should share and help others to have a plan. Little Bud man is still here on earth and we are grateful to GOD for all of our blessings this is for sure. Hope all is great in your part of the world. 🙂
One of our team lost her dog to a stamp from one of her horses. A heartbreaking event. You learn your lesson but at such a cost. Poor little Buddy, they are so remarkably resilient.
Hi thank you for reading and sharing. Bud Man is comfortable but I will forever have a hard time with my poor decision as I have no doubt the kick in the head four years ago caused the seizurs.
[…] 5 Interesting Facts About DogsAllegations of sexual misconduct by Joshu Sasaki make it into the mainstream pressCarpe Diem ~ BirdsongFood pricesDross from the Net Trawl: the vile things that could be post-human.Polar bears and dogs playing – Animals, Dogs video – LOLCatsTheory: Humans are pack animalsDog Trainers Frederick And Domestic DogsWhat to Look for in a Dog TrainerDogs, Horses, Donkeys and Mules – Just Takes One Kick […]
I really thank you for sharing. We have mini donkey, mini horse and a standard donkey. We have 4 dogs, all strays. One we have I feel is a herding dog mixed with pit we are thinking. She got into the pasture and tore up my mini donkey up. Not real bad, but enough. I love my dog, now husband is wanting me to take her to the pound, I don’t want to. I can’t I tried, I even had a friend do it for me and I stopped her in the drive as she was pulling out. I feel this is my fault for not working with her harder and properly. She 1-1/2 years of age. She is a bit aggressive especially when it comes to attention. She does get a tad bit jealous of the other animals. I am going to try the leash approach as you mentioned. Do you have another suggestions? If it happens again my husband will shoot her. He doesn’t like her anyway. So any advise you my have will be very much appreciated. Thank you so much!
Hello,
Yes. Your dog should be in a controlled environment at all times. Perhaps you could look into hot wire to keep the dog out of the donkeys pasture?
Our dogs are never authorized to enter the horses or donkeys pastures. One kick or a grab of the neck and it is over for the dog. Your dog must learn to follow the rules of the farm hot wire works wonders. Sometimes depending on the dog and or the donkey, mule or horse it is never going to work out unsupervised. Simply do not let the dog get into the pasture with the donkey ever.
Thank you for the hot wire advice. We don’t let her in the pasture, she jumps the fence like a deer. I am going to try hot wire, if that doesn’t work I’ll keep going till I find something that does. LOL!
Thank you so much for your advice and thank you for replying back to me.
Hot wire works. 🙂
Reblogged this on Donkey Whisperer Farm.