True, but they didn't post in the dog forum, and actually asked an honest question.Originally Posted by canoe
I've never had problems on the AT, but I have heard that sometimes dogs feel threatened by hiking poles. And also, dogs can sense if you are fearful, and that seems to make them more aggressive.
However, in my local state park, where I walk with my 60-lb. husky, I encounter unleashed dogs almost every visit (this in spite of the clearly posted "dogs must be least" regulations). Usually I just stop and politely ask the owner to call his/her dog, or step off the trail to let the pair pass. Some of the dogs are well trained and obey immediately, but others have minds of their own. Many owners apologize, but some are really clueless, and it is often the smallest dogs who are the most aggressive. Once or twice I've mentioned that dogs should be leashed, but then I get an eye-roll and a stony silence. It's an issue for me because my dog weighs 60 lbs. and has a strong prey instinct. If he pounces and I don't anticipate the sudden move, then we have a big mess and possibly an injured animal, or worse.
It's quite possible that someone is having a bit of fun on a Monday morning, especially since it is their first post. I just like to give the benefit of a doubt when responding.
Colorless green ideas sleep furiously.
bfayer--- we think alike. I was going to say it wasn't posted in the dog forum.
As it turned out, I don't think Gus posted his thoughts about g_ _ _ to stir the pot.
This is a test of the emergency dog postings system on WB! LOL Will we pass the test? We can do this!
Dang, I feel so used.
Like Bode Miller on a medal run.
Wait, no one told me there would be a test, I hate tests...bfayer--- we think alike. I was going to say it wasn't posted in the dog forum.
As it turned out, I don't think Gus posted his thoughts about g_ _ _ to stir the pot.
This is a test of the emergency dog postings system on WB! LOL Will we pass the test? We can do this!
HM, for me, one test of a troll is if they ask for advice and then tell everyone that gives them advice they are wrong. But heck, I'll give people the benefit of the doubt if it makes you feel betterMaybe we should start a "troll detector" thread in the general non AT forum.
In the neighboring state of Massachusetts laws are such that even a justified case of spraying a dog or its owner could put you in a world of legal hurt. In fact, simply possessing pepper spray here (without a permit) can be punished with serious jail time. Sad and dumb but true.
God help the poor SOB who sprays the wrong person's beloved pet.
Last edited by rickb; 02-10-2014 at 12:51.
Anyone remember the DEW line of northern defense against USSR missiles? We always joked that we had a DEW line at home, too: the dog emergency warning system.
People who have aggressive intact male animals, that cause serious problems, like attacking other people and other animals , need to be forced neutering,
dog and owner. Women don't put up with this stuff, Why do adult males feel like they have a right to attack others.
I worked as a jail nurse for a while, and jails are full of men who say " I didn't do anything wrong, the other guy mouthed off at me, so I shot him"
Not BS for real.
I hear ya bfayer! I think you would make a great "troll dectector", you are hired! You passed the test! I understand you wouldn't be right 100% of the timeWait, no one told me there would be a test, I hate tests...
HM, for me, one test of a troll is if they ask for advice and then tell everyone that gives them advice they are wrong. But heck, I'll give people the benefit of the doubt if it makes you feel better,niether would I. I'd still hire you, tho.
My feelings on the dog issue is this- I've never had a bad experience on or off the trail with a dog. Never. So, I don't have strong feelings attached to this subject. (many do)
Having said that, I can empathize with others that have. No prob. I shudder reading/hearing about accounts of those that have had bad experiences with dogs.
My daughter had a negative experience, on the trail, with an unleashed dog running around the shelter area. While running around camp, jumping off ledges & rock etc.. the dog "landed" on her tent. The dog's nail somehow put a hole in her tent. She was mad as a hornet. The owner of the dog felt really bad. He had a sewing kit with him and helped her repair the damage. He apologized profusely. She accepted it and moved on.
This is minor compared to the horror stories I've heard about dog encounter's on the trail.
My daughter has hiked with her dog, on sections of the trail, off leash & around the shelter area. Her dog is small. (12lbs) The only trouble Tamber got into was staring at hikers while they ate their dinner etc.. She was appropriately given a trail name.... "Yogi".
Other hikers told my daughter, Tamber was the coolest trail dog they had ever met. She's one of the friendliest dogs, ever!
And mini skirts lead to rape. No excuses - it's the dog owners responsibility to control their dogs. Pepper spray isn't a bad idea.
if ya hike with a dog on the AT it should always be leashed. and no dogs in shelters. ticks
Wow, 3-thru's of the AT, 2 of the PCT, and more trails around the world that I can't begin to count …never had a problem with a dog. It seems like some people are just born to be bitten.
P.S. I'd hate to see these people in bear, cougar, and wolf country. I can see one of them getting mauled by a bear crying out, "who's got a leash, I need a leash over here."
* Warning: I bite AND I do not play well with others! -hellkat-
I was thinking this as well. The spray is non-lethal so I'd be more understanding, but if someone stabbed my dog with a hiking pole they'd better be ready to stab me as well.
This thread does give me pause. I do enjoy letting my dog off leash when I feel it is appropriate. He's very well behaved and generally sits down and waits for me to leash him when we see others. In the six years I've been hiking with him, letting him off leash almost every time, I've only had one problem; a women with two dogs that she said were unfriendly. My dog stopped well short of the dogs, sensing they were not friendly, but the woman could barely control them and was still upset with me. I understand her point, but I also dislike the idea of a 120 lb woman walking two large, unfriendly dogs in a public place. If they are so unfriendly then maybe they don't belong in public (or anywhere?). I love dogs, but I don't see why an owner would keep a dog they feel is a constant liability.
I have been thinking lately, however, that letting my dog off his leash is a liability to him, as was said in here earlier. First off, he rolls in crap when he finds it. Not pleasant, and easier to control on a leash. Second, there is the 'coyote bait' incident posted in another thread. And lastly, and most disturbing, is the possibility that someone who simply does not like dogs will see my dog's friendly approach as threatening and take some kind of action. I would be beside myself with rage, and depending on the resulting condition of my dog, perhaps react quite unfavorably for the other person and for my freedom.
I'm sure your daughter has a nice dog. and would think that most hikers are well socialized, so their dogs will be also.
But do not accept unleashed, aggressive , dangerous dogs,
I live in a poorer neighborhood where some people have dogs as burglar alarms, don't feed them right, don't treat them right. and never get out every once in a while.
And there are many young men that scale their virility upon the aggression of their dog.
And every year in St. Louis there's a story about a loose pit bull etc. that chewed up some toddler.
So keep your dog on a leash and under control
All: I'm almost positive this was a troll thread, so I'm shutting it down.
Don't take anything I say seriously... I certainly don't.
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