14ers.com

BillMiddlebrook wrote:Summer is officially here!

Damn it. I haven't finished last year's can of worms!!

BillMiddlebrook wrote:Summer is officially here!

For this reason alone, Bill... Snow is not dumb.

DanaMac wrote:I'll come at it from another side. My dog is great with people, but she is not friendly with other dogs. So she is ALWAYS on a leash with us. Over Memorial weekend, we camped near the Shavano trailhead to climb on Sunday. On Saturday evening we did a little hike around the area, and were encountered by two off leash dogs. Of course they came barreling over and a dog fight ensued, with me pulling so hard on the leash that I my dog partially blacked out. Just because your dog may be fine off leash, mine may not be, and she doesn't appreciate getting sniffed up.

My last dog was like that - he was a rescue and already old when I got him. He flipped out any time he saw another dog. Off leash dogs approaching us were nerve-wracking because I never knew what would happen.

I got bit last weekend trying to prevent my leashed, friendly dog from eating the unleashed, unfriendly dog that was attacking her.

Somewhat of a prick wrote:Riveting tale, chap.

So well written, too.

I believe that I'll carry a couple canisters of pepper spray with me this year. [One for the dog. The other for its owner.]

Tortoise1 wrote:"I'll take your dog out" is not really a good starter for the conversation.

I'm Sorry.
The dog started the conversation.
I'm with jeffs,
just not nearly as polite.

What were you gonna do, shoot the dog? Because that is a whole other conversation that we should just go ahead and get out of the way for the summer - guns on the trail.

Hmmm, seeing a lot of emotion here. I personally, love dogs, have dogs, but I also get Jeffs point here, big dog, probably scared the crap out of he and his wife and things get said before thought comes into play. Taking the dog out to protect you and your wife, sure, I can see that, natural reaction. Responsibility is the key here. If you take your dog on trail, be damn sure you know your pet and keep it on leash. I have one dog that thinks anything and everything is nice and friendly (she is a pitbull), then I have another who wants to start crap with anything and everything (he stays at home). Still wouldn't let the pit off leash though, she is too stupid to know when to chill and the last thing I would want is for her to go after someone, or wildlife or accidentally hurt someone wanting to play. Animals, domesticated or otherwise are not always predictable. Hell, neither are people. Glad you weren't bit, that can get nerve wracking.

Check out Dog Flags.

They're kind of the dog version of putting a red ribbon on a horse's tail to let others know he kicks - the idea is that you put a brightly colored flag on your dog's leash to advertise their personality. I wish they would catch on more. But then again, I also just wish more people would practice common sense and responsible dog ownership.

I understand being defensive when an unknown dog barrels up to you. Especially since I have a small dog - he could easily be injured by a large, out of control dog. I've had to grab him out of harm's way a few times.