A**HOLES W/DOGS

“was in the white mtns. (nh) this weekend and i was on my way to a spring to replenish my H2O. just before i got there i ran into 3 guys who were just starting to eat lunch on the side of the trail. i had to wiggle my way through their stuff blocking the trail but the worst part was they tied their big brown dog (dobberman ??) up right at the spring.they kept telling me he was alright but the dog did not seem that friendly. i finally persauded them to remove the dog and with a few comments which i did not fully hear they did. when i finally got to the spring the dog had stirred it up so bad that my filter would have plugged up in no time. i made a few civil comments to them as i was heading away without water and they told me if i wanted to make something of it to come back down (3 on 1 is not very fair odds). next water was a good little hike away. i have had other instances with ignorant people (not the dogs fault) in other ways but this one takes ALL of the cake.
i hope you three guys had a wonderful weekend.”

“Don't blame the dogs because their owner is an idiot. The Whites get full of jerks, especially this time of year because they are so close to the cities. I take my 1/2 lab, 1/2 pit bull with me on day hikes and we do just fine,, but I'm never inconsiderate, I never let her drink from anything but her bowl, and I hold her at the edge of the trail when others walk by. Do try to keep an open mind,, a dog will always treat you honestly, they only ask for your attention and you get theirs back a hundredfold.”

“Sounds like those guys would still be buttholes even if they didn't have dogs!”

“Man!
I have never run in anyone on any trail who made treats like that!
That stinks.......backpacking sh!theads!”

“threats!”

“The dogs were probably better than the people you ran into.”

“uh, was it practical to report them to a ranger?? Where are the "police" when you need them.

Actually, I'm kinda glad that you don't run into such jerks out there. A couple of weekends ago we were at chimney pond and spied some moose up close. Some one found a perfect vantage point for pictures, a three foot rock. He took his shot, then got off it and every one, in turn took a shot... If this was in town, I can just about hear it: " I'm standing here, this is my spot, go get your own spot." I tell you, most hikers a alot better than those 3 jerks.”

“Those folks would a-holes with or w/o dogs.

"Swomp" Yankee -
(that's how it's pronounced by Okeefenokee locals)
I step aside with Sarabelle only if we encounter others while moving uphill or on flat terrain. While moving downhill, we walk through, which is in accordance with bp'ing etiquette(sp?).”

“Backpacking etiquette, etiquette???”

“every dog i ever seen had an a-hole!”

“No question those clowns were particularly bad.

However, I'd like to make a comment about dogs on trails.

Whenever we do book signings or make presentations, the first question we always get is "where can I hike with my dog?" The answer we give is, "hopefully, nowhere."

Between us my husband and I have more than 50 years backpacking and hiking experience. In all that time, we have _never_ seen a dog on the trail that was under control.

This is not an anti-dog post, by any means. We have dogs, ourselves. But we do not take them out on the hiking trails with us. And we wish other's wouldn't, either.

Sorry if this offends anyone, but that's the way we see it.”

“You never hiked with Buddur, Mrs.Colonialmiss.

And I'll bet you never came across most trail dogs out there, did you?. Your opinion seems to be based on a biased and possible prejudice point of view.

Do you now have ill feelings about all Middle Eastern people after this latest terrorist attack?”

“Can you call experiences based on 50 years of hiking bias/prejudice?”

“How 'bout next time I unnecessarily spend $$$ to put my dog in a kennel (which does disturb the mental state of some dogs), refusing to allow my dog to enter and enjoy the wilderness while selfishly enjoying it all to myself. What a great idea!

Next time I'll do that and actually hike solo...with noone to talk to but myself, noone to care for but myself, noone to cuddle with at night but myself, noone to share each moment with but myself, noone to enjoy watching as they joyfully roam their new unconfined area (unlike the small confines of his yard).

You're luckey to have a husband to hike with...and I feel luckey to have my dog to hike with!”

“If your are on a trail,
And you have a dog
You qualify!”

“FU...cause yer full of BS!”

“Buddur, Buddur dog is an exceptionally well trained animal. I don't think that you should take offense because if any of the people who criticize dogs on the trail ever have an oppertunity to hike with you and him I'm sure they'd change their mind about ALL dogs. The dogs they're refering to are dogs like Birch and Cully who ARE out of control and who are staying in a kennel this weekend (Poor doggies). They've probably never seen a dog as obedient and well behaved as Buddur Dog. I never had before I met you guys!”

“I think the revelation that Buddur cuddles with his dog is significant. He has developed an unnatural relationship with a dog that distorts his perspective of humans.

Last weekend I actually walked past a dog on the trail that ignored me. I can't remember the last time that happened. I was still pissed that the owner chose to ignore the leash law.”

“Pac, so the dog totally ignored you and you were pissed the dog wasn't on leash. Why were you pissed?

It appears there will always be some a$$hole who takes offense at the mere sight of a canine in the back country. As long as it is allowed I plan to hike with my dogs, and the everyone else can just learn to deal with it.”

“What revelation, Mr.bacpac? You don't have cats that sleep with you, er, I mean, don't most pets (dogs and cats) sleep with or near their owners. So your saying it isn't normal to show caring and compassion for the ones you love? What's so unnatural about that?

And what's so unnatural about dogs being allowed to run free in the wilderness? Chain 'em up, keep 'em at home, and don't give 'em a chance to run free for a weekend...while you do just the opposite. That seems to be your point of view, and that doesn't seem natural to me.”

“sarabelle is an unnaturally well behaved dog. quite an unusual case.

i've heard others say that about their dogs, and they were wrong. their dogs were just average, bad dogs.”

“Buddur, What is wrong with walking them on a leash? I personally don't think it is normal for a grown man to cuddle a dog.”

“and even thou sarabelle doesn't need it. gojo keeps her on a leash.

buddur, what is that saying about it not being the dog, but the owner?”

“BobK, I was pissed, because of the uncertainty I had to endure. I had to ready myself for an attack.

I get pissed off at a drunk driver even if he makes it home without a mishap. If dog owners would not make an exception for themselves on every occasion it would be nice.”

“I don't "cuddle" with Belle, but she does share my solo tent. She has slept in my bag once - got down to 17 degrees that night (in the Deep South). We slept oh-so-toasty...

Peeps (hunters, explorers, trappers, etc) have been using dogs for warmth since their first days of domestication.

colonialmiss is a liar - plain and simple.”

“Today I sniffed many
Doggie derrieres - and I celebrate
By kissing your face.”

“Buddur sez, " you're lucky enough to have a husband to hike with..."

Maybe if you're lucky, you can find a husband to hike with too!

That does sound like a great dog!

Maybe you could cuddle with bacpac and he wouldn't be such an ornery varmint!”

“I sound the alarm!
Paperboy - come to kill us all -
Look! Look! Look! Look!”

“Honestly people, if a dog doesn't bite you or sh!t on you, what's the freakin' problem?

Bacpac, I don't think you need to assume a dog is going to attack you. They are generally quite easy going. In any case, you should make it a point to learn a little doggie body language, and that should ease you canine stress factor a little. Or you can do what I do when my dog and I encounter an off-leash dog, which is yell out to the owner asking if thier dog is friendly. This works well. I do think that keeping your dog on leash is a good idea on crowded trails, like in state parks and the like.

And there is nothing wrong with someone cuddling their dog.”

“>colonialmiss is a liar-plain and simple.<

And I would guess, gojo, that your dog is about as courteous and well behaved as it's owner.

Buddur: No, can't say we've come across _most_ trail dogs. Never even hinted at that. But we've come across quite a few, and not one of them was under control. We've even seen dogs on leashes lunging and growling at other trail users.

For the record, we have hunting dogs who are fully under control at all times. If we whoa them, for instance, they stop dead in their tracks, and look at us to see what the next instruction is. Can all you pro-dogs-on-the-trail say that about your pets? I think not.

More to the point: A dog under control (assuming you do have one) still doesn't make them any less intimidating and threatening to others on the trail.”

“Mebbe Mr.pac associates cuddling with fondling? I'd agree with him on that point.”

“Some of these people don't need dogs to be A$$holes.”

“For the record, ... If we whoa them, for instance, they stop dead in their tracks, and look at us to see what the next instruction is. Can all you pro-dogs-on-the-trail say that about your pets? I think not.

I can! I didn't obedience train to establish communication (and still spend time with him) for nothing!”

“Mr.terrific...I take it you don't have a dog, or a husband (yet)!”

“Well gee, Buddur. About 16 or 17 people have posted on this thread and you're the only one (besides me) who claims their dog is actually under control.

The more typical response adds up to "I'm taking the dog, and if you don't like it, learn to cope."

Kind of sums up exactly what you find on the trials.”

“So true, Mrs.miss...there's alot of unkind hikers out there who don't have or bring their dogs with them!”

“Buddur..... you need a woman...... BAD!! (I think Steve Hiker might have some leads on TT available women! lol)

I think calling colonialmiss "a liar" is uncalled for. She makes very good points coming from someone who has all the reason in the world to say the OPPOSITE.

I've both hiked with, met people hiking with, and seen a good number of people who think their dogs are courteous and under control, and -- truth be told -- they're NOT! You're biased to the truth, just like parents think their kids are good, when they might be the meanest, dumbest kids on earth.

"Oh, little Johnny shot his teacher?? I don't understand that. Little Johnny has the greatest home life. We spend lots of time with him as a family. Well....... err.... We spent the afternoon with him last......... uhhhh... Easter. Sure he runs with his 13-year-old friends till 10 p.m. at night, sometimes 11. Isn't that what friends are for?" ETC ETC.

OK, I digress. But I'd say 98 percent of dog owners saying they are no problem on the trails are blinded to what is really going on.”

“Mr.Buddur-
I had two nice(and wild) Labradors when I lived in Vermont.
They weren't OH-bedience trained, but were lovable friends for us when the boys were little.

I haven't found a husband yet, but if I can dump my wife.......ya go a nice dog, huh?”

“So colonialmishap is the ONLY person on Earth that can control a dog? Kewl!

Listen, Missy -
I don't for one minute believe that in 50 collective years you and hubby have never seen an ubder-control dog in the backcountry, therefore, I believe that your statement is a lie.

Honestly, Belle did chase a deer once. One crossed the trail at full tilt about 100 feet ahead. That got her (our) attention. Within a few seconds, another crossed right under our noses - that sent Bell a'flying. When she returned, I gave her the "what fer". She was an angel for the rest of the hike (one more night). Then, over Labor Day, two deer crossed the trail ahead, and as much as Belle may have wanted to give chase (she was twitching something fierce), she did not dare. My command was a simple "no". I was quite pleased, as this was the first test since the chase of last year. (Actually, we did have three close encounters in the Sawtooths this summer [two muleys and an elk], but they were moving slow, and were nothing more than curiousities).”

“BOL!”

“There's a children's book titled "Seven Dog Night" about an old man who has a bunch of dogs and calls them into his bed based on the temperature. I sleep with two dogs and a husband. The only time I don't tolerate or enjoy them in our bed is 1) when the temp tops 72* and/or 2) When I don't want an audience. I'll even admit I snuggle 'em.”

“I lie belly-up
In the sunshine, happier than
You will ever be.”

“That was the origin of the name of the rock group Three Dog Night. If you count your hubby as a dog, you're THERE Joy!! LOL!!”

“Dogs on the trails should be on leashes. I think it is the law in most places, although it is not enforced. I have been growled at, barked at, and bitten. The bitten one was bad. I reported it, and the dog ended up dead. If I had not reported it, the dog would not have had to die. It was sad for me, and I felt like it was my fault.
Please keep dogs on leashes in the woods and on the trails.”

“When I asked my wife to marry me, she said yes, but only if we could have a dog. Do you think I would leave that dog home on a hike? Would I want to spoil the joy of watching that German Shorthair Pointer run free by leashing her?

The inconveniences that I have experienced on the trail from other people's dogs are nothing compared to those caused by horses (all under control). You couldn't fill a paper sack with the amount of dog poop I've seen, but you could fill a Pontiac Aztek with the amount of horse flop I've stepped over. And when was the last time you saw a trail hip deep through a damp meadow caused by excessive dog traffic?”

“Hiking this weekend we ran into two mountain bikers with black labs off leash. We were just giving our boys a snack. Both labs ran over looking for hand outs. Neither responded to voice commands from their owners. One of them forcefully butted my hand to knock the animal crackers out of it whie his owner said "oh, watch out for *****, he'll steal the food right out of your hand".

I regret not reading them the riot act. With my wife there, sister in law, and my two children, I opted not to. My youngest (age 3) is scared of dogs. He was in the backpack so he was fine. I didn't want him to think that seeing dogs was a cause for concern, and didn't want to cause his anxiety level about dogs to go up, so I let it go.

Reading this thread confirms it was a bad decision. I should have said something.”

“"More to the point: A dog under control(assuming you do have one) still doesn't make them any less intimidating and threatening to others on the trail."

This is absurd. I should deny my dogs the joy of being in the woods becuase *someone* out there might possibly have an irrational fear of them? I don't think so. My wife has an irrational fear of snakes. I have an irrational fear of spiders. Should we rid the woods of snakes and spiders? Of course not.

If someone believes dogs are threatening creatures, then they should recognise this as the *personal* problem that it is, and endeavor to transcend such a fear.

Colonialmiss, I find it extremely hard to believe that you have never in 50 years met an under control dog on the trail. I was hiking at Red Top Mountain State Park a couple of weeks ago, and out of about 12 dogs Sprocket and I passed on the trail, not a single dog was out of control. They were all happily walking along the trail with their owners, not a tight leash in the bunch. How can our experiences be so completely opposite?”

“Because BobK., you view of dogs is warped by your love of them.

Just as much as people who dislike dogs have had their view warped.

The long and tired history of "dog-fights" on Trail Talk proves only one thing: People who love dogs love dogs. People who hate dogs, hate dogs.

Occaissonaly you get a rationale middle ground like ColonialMiss. She has and loves dogs, but recognizes that others don't shre her appreciation and takes steps to be sure she isn't interferering with others ability to enjoy the woods.

PS: BobK. Your dogs have no f-ing right to be inthe woods. The "its their natural habitat" "they belng In the woods" crapola arguement was trotted out 20 dogs threads and three years ago. It's every bit as much bullwaste now as it was then.”

“One time in the Cohutty Wild Woods, ther was some dogs sleepin in the woods that I could heer. They was yellin "hey ever buddy, I am standin on a log!" and "yall look over ther - that rok looks like a BIG BARE!" They was gettin on my nerfs! I wanted to go over ther and bite off ther heds but my daddy sayed "no". I wanted to yell at them to but my daddy sayed "no" agin.

I think my daddy can not go walkin in the woods with out me cuz he would prolly fall off a clift or get ate by a bare so I have to pertect him.”

“For the record, my dogs are completely under control when we hike. Typically they are leashed, and understand the "Leave It" and "Come" commands.”