Quote

Anyway, it could help with smaller animals

Now I have used my walking stick for that. I always have my walking stick with me for poking in letterbox holes, but I have often used it to ward off dogs which are jumping up at me. Usually just as the owner says 'it is alright, it won't hurt you'.

I hate that phrase. The dog has already hurt me by frightening me enough to raise the stick! Also it is up to the owner to have it under control if it is off the lead.

I was on a trail the other day near a village, so the trail is used quite a lot. Every gate you go through said 'Keep dogs on a lead' (because of the deer in the wood there apart from anything else). I met one dog on a lead, I met about a dozen along the trail not on a lead and 3 of them got as far as jumping up towards me.

I don't often walk on popular trails because of this. Sorry, but I can rant about this subject for hours.

Thanks for letting me vent.

YT - who has been bitten by dogs three times, so don't tell me not to show I am frightened.

Quote

Keep dogs on a lead

I just love those English-isms. =)

I'm rather annoyed at the number of people who don't want to keep their dogs on a leash myself. The dogs might be perfectly nice and friendly, but I don't know that! Statistics show that the last thing an owner says before a dog injures someone is "don't worry, it's friendly!"

Okay, I just made up that statistic, but I have a gut feeling its true. Dogs don't even have to bite someone to injure them. Just jumping up on someone could injure them or knock them over. I know someone who recently came into a sum of money for an injury suffered by a dog that "wouldn't hurt anyone" after it ran into their knee and required medical attention. No bites, just a friendly dog wanting to play a bit too rough.

It also annoys me when I'm trying to hike through a peaceful forest and I hear someone shouting at the top of their lungs, "Fido! Come here, Fido! Fido! Where did you go, Fido?!" Grrr....

Good thing I like dogs. Imagine how mad I'd be if I didn't! =)

-- Ryan

Quote

I'm rather annoyed at the number of people who don't want to keep their dogs on a leash myself.

We have two dogs and one of them loves people, but is terrified of other dogs (the other one hates all people except us, just ask Chunna.) If we see another dog anywhere, she will walk with her head turned looking behind us and worried we are being followed for the ENTIRE walk. We never walk them off leash, but we constantly have to deal with a terrified dog with other dogs running up to her, barking at her, sniffing her, and being aggressive. She could probably get over it if we regularly saw people with leashed dogs. We have stopped walking them most places for this reason.

Keep dogs on a leadI just love those English-isms. =)

I hadn't thought a lead would have a different name in America. I was about to ask what you call it when you answered my question - leash.

I love your dog biting statistic. The third time I was bitten by a dog (in the ankle) was in a country pub. Unbeknown to me a dog was under the bench I was sitting on and it suddenly decided to go for my ankle. When my friend went over to the landlord and said "There is a dog under that bench" his reply was "oh yes, he's mine, he won't hurt you". My friends' reply was "Could you call an Ambulance please, because he has just bitten my friend in the ankle and we can't stop the bleeding!"

Trouble is when I am walking on my own in the country I don't say anything to the owners even if they are clearly in the wrong, for fear of retaliation.

YT

Quote

I have often used it to ward off dogs which are jumping up at me. Usually just as the owner says 'it is alright, it won't hurt you'.

I hate that phrase.

...YT - who has been bitten by dogs three times...

Having put many thousands of miles on a bicycle, I concur. There have been many, many times I'll be riding past in the street on my bicycle, and a dog and his owner will be in the front yard of their home. The dog will come running after me and proceed to try to bite my foot as it's going round and round. So I whip out the pepper spray -- then the owner starts calling his dog! Makes me want to pepper spray the owner, if only he were within range! Way, way more often than not, the dog pays no attention to his owner calling anyway, so I have to blast him. Then it's all my fault, of course. I've even had owners get in their cars and come after me and had to take refuge.

-- Kirbert

Ryan and I were letterboxing on a trail in UpState NY when a dog off leash (and out of sight of it's owner) came along the trail and jumped all over us. We were stamping into a letterbox at the time and everything got muddy from the dogs paws as he was all over us. Including our clothes and logbooks! Maybe if we were standing instead of sitting this wouldn't have been so bad. But these owners clearly did not have any control over their dog AND even when they showed up, they had a hard time calling him off of us. Very very annoying!!!

And like Ryan said, we really like dogs!
Dog parks are popping up all over the USA with off leash areas. I think it is great. It is a controlled place where the dogs can socialize with other dogs and people. And they can control the erosion caused when a dog runs in the same area going after a ball!! I had an ex-boyfriend who's back yard was torn up from the dog running from the deck to the back corner of the lot for the tennis ball.

-Amanda from Seattle

Ha Ha!
Where were you, six stars!

Quote

the other one hates all people except us, just ask Chunna.

LOL!! I just hope he didn't hurt himself..

When my son was 2 we would be at a private beach and almost every day a dog would come running up, jump on him and knock him flat. The person walking her dog along the series of private beaches, 'on leash' but unattached to a human and out of control, would tell us he is 'very friendly' grrr! To this day my son is afraid of any dog that 'jumps', tho he loves dogs in general.
Mind you I have had dogs all my life (I can't seeing not having one) and my latest one does not 'play well with others', I know that and keep her leashed, the 'loose' ones that I ask the owners to leash tell me that they only want to 'play' (when they are at a distance and can't see the teeth bared, hackles up and the imminent results)
As well as uncontrolled dogs, another pet peeve for me is those that don't 'do the doo', I guess it all comes down to those who are responsible and those that don't have a clue.

<quote?I've even had owners get in their cars and come after me and had to take refuge

Where was your pepper spray?

Shiloh

My sister had a dalmation, and was a real pussycat. When anyone came to the door they would ask if that dog bites, and my sister advised as she grabbed his collar "yes he does, and very well" (maybe there is some genetics envolved).

When we hike I keep Maggie off leash but use her electronic dog collar. She is actually more under control with that collar than when she is on leash, and I do not have to activate the collar. There is a great command that bird hunters need for their dogs, and that is "Whoa". That command means plant all four feet, and don't move. Generally if I see folks coming I have her go off trail and use the "Whoa" command. It is pretty impressive to see her standing staunch with all sorts of dogs, horses and people tromping by, or see her in a full run and stop.
If I'm sure the trail is clear then I'll let her roam to 30 or 40 yards.
Even if I didn't hunt with my dog I believe I would teach the Whoa command to any pup I owned.
Don

Quote

Where were you, six stars!

Just here locally in southern NH, but thinking that I had misinformed my DH and no-one knew where I was gave me the willies after seeing the activities that seem to take place there!
Six Stars-*see you in March- DEF*

Quote

Keep dogs on a leadI just love those English-isms. =)

I hadn't thought a lead would have a different name in America. I was about to ask what you call it when you answered my question - leash.

Lead works in the US, too. More at Dog shows, though!

Six Stars

Quote

Quote

I've even had owners get in their cars and come after me and had to take refuge

Where was your pepper spray?

When somebody is trying to run you over with their car, the pepper spray is not much help.

-- Kirbert

When dogs pounce on me on the trail (most recently looking for a CLUE or two at Flax Pond) I always
say to the dog, "want to smell my cats?". I have Snoop and Bitsy fur on everything I wear. It's clean fur as I wash my clothes frequently. But I make it clear to the dog and dog owner they are messing
with a cat sympathizer.

I went out today in the snow and cold to find a couple of boxes with my new pup, Jenny. She is about a year old. I always keep her on a leash at all times on or off the trail. We were on a trail headed back to my truck, when we were confronted with three large dogs whose owners were behind them and down the hill. The dogs wanting to do the usual greeting that dogs do, with Jenny. Jenny overcome by the three dogs, started making fast little circles around my legs, quickly tieing me up. The owners were yelling at me, to tell THEIR dogs to just "Go away". It was all I could do to keep from falling over. Then one of the dogs got a little aggresive, and started barking and thrusting itself at my cowering puppy. The two owners were now close by, one says "their friendly and won't hurt anybody, just tell them to go away. I wanted to Blow them away, like bang or boom. If I had pepper spray with me, the dogs attacking me and Jenny would not have been the only ones to get sprayed. I think after today, I will start carring pepper spray with me, the kind made to humble a large bear at 30 feet away. That way I can get two idiots with one spraying, the attacking dog and the idiot who calls themselves the owner.
I'm a dog lover and have always had a dog or two. But today takes the cake.

tk

My daughter was knocked down by a German Shepard going after her sitter's beagle when she was 4, it literally jumped over her back, using her to gain some leverage. It even ripped a whole in her brand new Barbie winter jacket w/its claws. The owners, who swore he is usually so friendly, had let him out of their car to go into the house w/o the leash. luckily Gweny was young enough that she has mostly gotten over it, and thank God it was winter because the coat saved her from some severe damage, even with it on she had a huge bruise and some scratches on her back....

on the trail now the kids always want to pet the dog, and we always respect the owners answer to the question if they can, but it is annoying when the over friendly dog w/no owner in sight comes bounding up and tries to jump. You just never know what its intentions are, after all its a dog and he can't tell you wether or not he likes you and is just saying hi or hates you and wants to get closer to a vital point before biting. So I always try to say loudly enough for that absent owner to hear DON'T TOUCH THE DOG.....that's usually when said owner pops up w/the overused phrase "He's friendly"

AND TO ALL OF THOSE WHO DO WALK THEIR PETS ON A LEASH: (we even keep our pom leashed when we walk her on the trail) Thanks, it is appreciated!

My question about people who allow their dogs off the lead is do THEY run up and jump on people?? and then rub on them and sometimes pee on them? aggressively making advances to make themselves known...NO- well then how on earth can anyone think it is OK to allow an animal to do so?
I am a total dog person!!! Love my pup !!! Love to let them roam free and natural but NOT in a place that is inapropriate or with a pup who is learning or not in control. There is NO excuse and truly it is NOT the dogs fault at all...it's like blaming a 2 year old for their behavior when their parents are awful....dog owners seem to want a pillow to watch TV and a jogging buddy but do not want to do any work to avoid the issues we ALL have seemed to have had !!! My boys are not allowed to even talk to strange dogs on the trail - even with that ever holy PERMISSION- it seems to be the way to get in trouble. A dog on a lead is not the same dog as a dog able to move on it's own....they are different and react differently to things....especially SHORT things...like kids!

I think in general all those of us who have dogs can do is hopefully set a good example...there are idiots everywhere and that's life...pack your pepper spray for the owners cause "owners suck" and they deserve the squirt NOT the pups. I know they need to be moved but if the owners are close enough....just acidentally pepper them!!! hehe ; ) Maybe they will have an obedient moment...?? We can dream!!!

taking her "vicious beast" to bed, grrrr......all furr no fight....; )
teekasue

If all pet owners not just dog owners were like Teekasue there wouldn't be a problem.

I like all animals especially the *exotic* ones. I don't own any at the moment because I can't afford to properly take care of one.

It seems that more and more owners think that their pets are *human*...news flash...they aren't. On a simular note not everyone is going to love your pet like you do. Not everyone is a dog/cat lover.

To those that control your pet....,I salute you...........SAAAAALUTE!!!

Shiloh

I guess I'll share my "bad dog owner" story too (one of them at least). I was at the vet's office with my rats. My appointment was over, so I was just waiting for my bill and medicine, so I was sitting on the bench in front of the front desk, with my rats next to me in a hard-sided cat carrier. In walks this guy with a huge dog. Now, the dog was on a leash, but he might as well not have been for all the control he bothered exerting. The dog sniffed me a little, so I reached out a hand and gave him a little pat. Then he turned to my carrier, sniffed and lunged at it. His owner didn't even turn around, so I tried to push him off, but he was determined. Finally the owner turned and gave a little tug on the leash and said, "Come on, Buddy, it's just a cat." Then he looked again. "That's not a cat. What is it?"
"Rats," I said. "Oooh. Hey, Buddy, wanna get the rats. You wanna eat the rats?" he said in that "go get 'em" voice. Grrr...

Yes, I love dogs, too, would love to have one, but so many dog owners just raise my hackles.

Yeah, it always makes me nervous when we have to haul in a guinea pig in a little box and sit among the mastiffs at the vet for 30 minutes. I wish they had a separate little waiting area for the exotics!

Mommo

Quote

Good thing I like dogs. Imagine how mad I'd be if I didn't! =)

I'm one of those people who doesn't like dogs. I won't go into the history, but suffice it to say it involves someone I knew being disfigured. All three of our children have dogs-- so I didn't let my phobia destroy them. Maybe I'll buy a walking stick now. Another use I hadn't considered.
Chickadee

I had a similar thing happen at the vets office....where you would think you'd be a little safer!

I was sitting in the waiting area with my old dog to get her puppy shots. This guy comes out with a pit bull on one of those chain things and is standing at the counter to sign his reciept..I'm not all that fond of pit bulls, and this guy was a little "country", if you know what I'm saying? All of a sudden the dog went from standing there, not even looking at us, to practically in my lap barking and snarling! I covered my pup ( natural woman thing, I guess! ), and braced for it, but thank God the chain wasn't quite long enough! I almost peed myself!!!!

It hasn't turned me off of dogs, but I'm alot more hesitant with bigger breeds....especially with the kids! My 6 yr. old is a bit nervous around them, but my 3 yr. old has no fear yet, and it's all I can do to keep her from running up to strange dogs! We encountered two dobermans (?) on the trail today that were taller than her! Luckily, the owner saw us coming and leashed them up. She also told us which way she was going, so that we could stand a safe distance and let her pass. But, my hubby pointed out that with two dogs that big, if they decided to go after us, she wouldn't have been able to do anything about it!

Luckily, we haven't ran into unleashed dogs on the trail, but I think my walking stick can handle them....I hope!

moonshowr

Quote

Maybe I'll buy a walking stick now. Another use I hadn't considered.

Walking sticks can be fashionable there are tons to choose from ... and very useful...they are handy when whapped upside the right end of a living thing...at least that's what my 15 year old says when he gets to loud on the trail...hehehe...my arms get really long ....amazingly long! Dogs and other beings seem to be detoured by them as well! I like the balance they give me and my bum leg - It's a lemon but the stick makes up for the weak parts.

enjoying the journey even w/ a limp, happy hunting,
teekasue

I hope I don't offend anyone with the "country" thing!!! That is not my intention!!! Maybe I should have said uncouth, but I don't think I can spell that right!!!!

Ahhhhhh!!!! I don't want to offend, I really don't....please...


moonshowr ( who is dreadfully sorry, really! )

Quote

Maybe I'll buy a walking stick...

A .45 works well, too, if you don't mind the noise.

Quote

A .45 works well, too, if you don't mind the noise.

LMAO


So says the peace officer....

Quote

Quote Maybe I'll buy a walking stick...

A .45 works well, too, if you don't mind the noise.

Unfortunately, those are banned in the parks around here. (insert grin here) I don't own one either. I might go with the pepper spray though. I have my Mom's cane I could carry with me, but the telescoping walking sticks sound more user friendly. Jolly Roger's knee is currently out of commission, so I haven't gone letterboxing recently. I'm too chicken to go solo. I did it just once. Of course, I ran into unleashed dogs on the trail that day. Those are banned from the park as well. **shaking head in dismay at irresponsible dog owners**
Chickadee

Quote

A .45 works well, too, if you don't mind the noise.

Film at 11! : )

teekasue

Quote

A .45 works well, too, if you don't mind the noise.

The noise wouldn't be too discrete, now would it?? ;)

TG

Quote

I covered my pup ( natural woman thing, I guess! )

Yes, as soon as it was over, I thought, "Boy, that probably wasn't a very smart thing to do, trying to get between a dog and its prey." But in the moment, all I was thinking of was protecting my guys (and keeping them from having a heart attack). Thankfully they grew up in a house full of dogs and cats before I got them, so bigger animals don't scare them as much as they might, but they still weren't very happy.