camping with dogs?

[MSG Hall]

Ok guys, I’ll work on my sense of humor… I was joking, I thought it was obvious… guess not… 

I do not and have not intentionally started any arguments… I know my sense of humor is a bit off, but not that far off….

For the record…

on the gun issue I said exactly what I believe, I wasn’t joking but I did not realize I would get the response I did… I apologize for that and I won’t bring up guns again.

This thread… (I thought the picture was funny) I am a dog (and cat) lover, we have both. Right now Bear my Rot/Sheppard mix is getting old and the pain medication for his arthritis is expensive. But I pay it gladly because he is part of the family, as I am sure your dogs are to you. I would not hurt a dog unless it was attacking… same with a people.


I have all ways had difficulties with sarcasm, hints, and humor…. I will work on making myself better understood….

[Mary K]

SFC Hall, Thank you for replying and clearing that up. As you can see, we have folks from all walks of life here. So, sometimes its not that easy to know where the line is drawn.

I like to use the emoticons on the left to help express what I am writing. Like if I am teasing, I use the razz
But with your internet access you might not have the options of using them.

Mk

[Geron]

The next time I was riding my bike past this house sure enough the dogs were in hot pursuit & the human owner was rooting for his dogs. Well, I stopped stepped off my bike with it between me & the dogs, I pulled out of my handlebar bag my Walther .40cal S&W raised it and pointed my pistol at the most aggressive dog.

The sheriff's response... if a dog comes at you aggressively out on a country road (in my county)... and you are fearful of getting bit, and it does not stop when you yell at it... and especially if the owner does nothing to intervene... shoot it!!!

This is the same advice given by the sheriff in our county as well. No BB guns. No Air rifles. No sling shots (nothing that inflicts pain and not death) -- that constitutes animal cruelty and you can get into legal battles not only with the owner but PETA. To quickly and humanely dispatch an aggressive, unleash, free roaming, dog that threatens to destroy property or inflict human injury is the only "Acceptable or Legal" method of dealing with such a situation (According the the Sheriff's dept.)

That's why my Penny does not roam free. And if I let her and she caused a problem or was aggressive I'd have to live with such a decision from my neighbors. (I would appreciate prior notification, however, so I could work to rectify the situation.)

I'm not saying it's right or wrong. Just that, that is the stance of the "peace officers" of my county. (BTW we DO have a leash or under verbal command law)

Geron

[Catoosa Grani]

About a month ago, my husband went into a business that he has been in many, many times. They have a pet dog that stays in the office and Gene has petted it. Well that day as he entered the front door, the dog attacked him and bit him on the arm leaving a very bad wound on all sides of his arm. The owner was very apologetic and doctored his arm. Of course he was scared to death that we would sue him. He did go to the Dr. and got the shots, etc. The businessman paid for the Dr., shots,
medicine, etc. and didn't even charge him for the business they did. Now,
what I am thinking, this dog should be constrained. I understand that the
dog was on private property, but this is a business where people come and go all day. Seems it is kind of bad on his business if it continues to
happen.

Grani

Sorry, guess this has nothing to do with camping. Didn't mean to hi-jack.

[Rick Sheerin]

My wife and I found that it is easier to board our two dogs for a weekend than to bring them with us. Fortunately, the people we board them with really cater to the dogs needs. The only drawback is it gets kind of expensive

[Miriam C.]

We don't take our dogs. They are both scared to death of the car. Besides Penny would want to hug everyone and she is 80 pounds. She gives full body hugs like a puppy. Tucker likes to jump and kiss. Not a good idea for people unaware. No I didn't teach these dogs to do this. Penny got it of her own accord and Tucker was taught by my daughter.

My grandson's puppy might make a good camping pet. She almost never barks, is really small and well behaved. She is still chewing stuff though and was an outside dog. She is learning!

Penny with Hailey


Tucker (cause he was all tuckered out when my daughter found him)

[NutmegJoe]

Grani -

I'm sorry. I had no idea...I hope all the dogs at the Last Gasp weren't too much for Gene. You need to tell me these things...I would have kept Eli and Trance clear of your site.

Miss you!
Shelly

[madjack]

I think the bottom line is...we all love our dogs and dogs are welcomed at gatherings as long as the park allows it...AND...some common sense/courtesy is exercised...keep your dog restrained at all times in public areas, clean up after your dog and try and keep him quiet(easier said than done,,,sometimes)
Be aware that everyone does not love your dog(or kids) as you do so keep them curbed...dogs AND kids...it will make for a better camping experience for all.........
madjack

[Todah Tear]

Catoosa Grani,

I am sorry that Gene was injured. I hope that he is doing okay. The shock alone would be hard to shake, especially since he knew the dog from previous viists.

Growing up, my family had at least one dog most of the time and several cats. When I was a kid though, I witnessed a dog attack some kids on a bike. That made me very cautious around dogs that I am unfamilar with, even as an adult.

Peace,

Todah

[wolfiebites]

I've just got to say, that I have a dog who barks, when people seem to think,
it's OK, to walk into or through, my campsite. Now, I don't,
bring him to Teardrop Gatherings, anymore, because of that reason.
Wolfie is getting more under my control, but he is very protective, of me,
and since I'am a female, camping alone, I'am glad of it. So, if people walk into,
my campsite, or use it as a shortcut, to a trail, the beach, or a place to collect firewood,
I have a bumper sticker, that say's "WOLFIEBITES"!!!!

I follow the rules, keep wolfie quiet, on leash or lead, and pickup after him,
but I do have problems, with rude people, who don't follow the rules,
whether it's their dogs, or noise(parties, loud kids), dogs off leash, and fireworks(gunfire)
that go off in the middle of the night. Oh, and generators....early or late....ok did I cover everything.

I'am turning into a cranky old lady....

[Roly Nelson]

As soon as I set up camp, I fill "KILLER'S" 12" round food dish with an 18 inch long cow bone, hang up her heavy 2" wide leather collar with the log chain attached and wait for passers-by to notice and respond. Their usual question is, what kind of a huge dog do you have anyway?

I caution them to stand back and I will call her out of the teardrop........ Out jumps Liza Doolittle, my 5 lb white maltese, wagging her tail and always eager to make friends and be held by anyone who is willing to pet her.

Heck, bringing Liza along is half of the fun, especially when she sits in her 18" aluminum teardrop with her head sticking out, her last remaining 3 bottom teeth showing and her little tongue sticking out of the side of her mouth where there are no teeth. Ah yes, the perfect Kodak moment.

Sleeping is not a problem for Liza, since she doesn't shed, has no odor and loves to snuggle down below the covers with just her little nose sticking out. I think I'm gonna have to carve a sign that says........"Don't judge a person's manhood by the size of his dog!"

As for picking up poop, I have an eyebrow tweezer and a film canister with me at all times. Sure glad she isn't a Mastif or I would have to carry a scoop shovel and a 5 gal bucket.

Roly, just wanting to repeat what Liza always says..........Woof.

[George Kraus]

Kankujoe

I have multiple ways of dealing with dogs while bicycle riding. First, you can outrun most dogs. If you are already going a pretty good clip, pick up the speed a bit and Rover will go to bed early that night after trying to keep up with you. Next, I always ride with a full water bottle in the rack, I am equipped with two for longer runs. A dog hates being shot in the eyes with just plain water, I have seen big dogs whimper from this. They are running full speed and all of a sudden you blind them, scares the daylights out of them. I let them get real close so I don't miss. Both of these methods work well if you have some speed up. If you are running slow go to method three, stop, get off of the bike, keep it between the dog and you, if there is no immediate resolve, like a close by owner and the dog is aggressive, wait for your chance then use the bicycle as a club. If it is my leg at stake (steak) I will get agressive.

I am a dog owner also, currently own a 13 year old Sheltie we have raised since he was a pup, the last Sheltie was 12 when we put him down, and these are house dogs, so I do like my dogs. I am also a realist, and know that everyone is not a dog lover, if I take my dog somewhere I will ask first, if the response is it is not OK to bring it, pooch loses. While camping I expect other people to extend me the same courtesy, ask if it is OK to enter my campsite with your dog in tow, In all likely hood I will say yes, if my youngest grandson is with us, who is scared of all strange dogs, I will say no, and I expect you to respect that answer and not hold a grudge. We are working on the grandson, he'll get there, but until then he expects Grandpa to protect him from his fears, that is what Grandpa's do. Same way goes for potlucks or central gatherings when at any type of outing, ask the host if it is OK to bring your pet and respect the hosts reply. I find that if we all follow the rules of mutual respect there are few, if any, issues.

[kiacker]

I appreciate having my big boy Luke with me whenever I camp. As a female camping alone he provides good protection and has saved me from more than one scarey incident with other campers/strangers. I too understand that although I think he's a pretty cool dog, not everyone shares that same view. He's on a leash or in a kennel in camp, is trained to keep quiet unless someone enters our camp uninvited, trained to quiet down when told to, and is picked up after. (I've been known to jump other dog owners who don't pick up after their dog. They get the "zoonosis or how kids can get worms from dog poo left on the ground" lecture!) We do not approach anyone else and appreciate everyone else leaving us alone since we are there to "get away" from it all. I will let him run off leash to work on his retriever training in areas like hunting grounds or wet lands where I know there won't be anyone else (except maybe someone else field training their dog too). Now if I were at a gathering, he would stay in the kennel. He's the reason I built my teardrop - I wanted to camp, explore the country, and pursue all kinds of outdoor pursuits with my best bud who just happens to be a dog!