Best way to introduce a puppy to horses?

[Emura]

I am getting a puppy and while I am at school he might be living at my friends barn (they aren't 100% sure yet, but it is a big possibility, even if he doesn't stay there I will be taking him with me from time to time). He is 6 weeks right now and by the time I go to school he will be a couple of months old (end of August). He would either be crated, tied, or locked in an area away from the horses while no one is there, and leashed (for a while at least until he learns his manners around horses and knows not to run off) when he is out.

Has anyone has any experience in introducing puppies to horses?

BTW the horses are used to dogs. There is a dog who lives out there already (she is dog friendly, my friend just got a dog also and they get along great) and they almost all come from farms that had dogs that worked alongside their owners.

 

[Kristy]

Leash at first would be good, also having another older dog around he can learn from would help too.

 

[Calinda]

Introduce your puppy first to the smell of the horse without the horse even being there.
So take a towel and brush over the horse so that the smell comes on the towel and let the puppy sleep with all the time and one week before let him see the horse.

Next step is let the puppy see the horse and by that you turn your puppy butt to the horse so that the horse can smell the puppy then you let the dog smell the horse but Not face to face, let him smell the back or the side first then introduce face to face.
Then you can give him treat so that he get a good experience with the horse.

After that then let the puppy be with you all the time when you around the horses by teaching him to sit, wait,stay and lay down. Stay means stay until I say you can come and wait means wait until the horse goes out of the stable then you can come. Then you have to correct dog when he does something you do not want him to do around horses RIGHT away and praise when he does something you want him to do.

Best of luck

 

[LiveTheMoment]

Try having you're puppy on a leash and everyday try taking him near the horses to see his reactions, At some point he'll get used to them. After you see he's used to them, try introducing him.