Missy_Goat wrote:
Vaughantimothy, I'm very happy to know you are looking out for your dogs health and safety :D
Exactly...I am about as far from anti dog as it gets, yet it appears some people seem to think bringing up an instance where neither a dogs nor fellow hikers safety and well being was taken into account is being "anti dog". I have hiked with many dogs, and always enjoyed it. But I have also just had a few encounters where it appears as though people seem to think their dogs have the same decision making ability as a person does. As owners we are responsible for their safety and well being, and what conditions we subject them to . Any animal that can be scared of a vacuum cleaner is probably not always capable of making the best route decisions
Which is why we have to make these decisions for them, and ensure their safety. I don't think most of us would drag a friend up a mountain with exposure and loose rock unless we knew for sure that they were capable, so I would think the same thought process would go into decisions when it comes to your dog. Just because the owner is capable doesn't mean the dog necessarily is. That is all I was saying earlier, owners need to take into account a lot of things before taking their dogs up high. Not just simply say "I love mountains, so that means my dog does too. He will go everywhere with me now!". I know that is not indicative of most people's thought process haha, but I do think that it exists. Again, I truly love dogs and have always had one since I was a small child and always will so there is no animosity toward people that climb and hike with theirs.