Just leave your dog at home

I used to take my dogs into the desert and when climbing  leave them tied up with a harness in the shade ( if no natural shade I used an old fly sheet) with water and of course, had no problems.I have seen some problems with loose dogs one being them attempting to find their owners and getting themselves into dangerous situations. , also wandering around they may come in contact with rattlesnakes. So this is a simple solution that will keep your dog safe and if it is aggressive (get it trained) it will not bother other climbers. 

Don’t bring dogs to the crag - period.  They can’t dodge loose rock, bury their shit or belay you and end up tied up all day, running loose or barking / fighting with other dogs. OP is 110% correct.  This is not cute, it’s about adhering to a leave no trace ethic and keeping a low profile on a natural resource that is the backbone of our sport.

TKeagle wrote:

Don’t bring dogs to the crag - period.  They can’t dodge loose rock, bury their shit or belay you and end up tied up all day, running loose or barking / fighting with other dogs. 

My dog can. 

This is the quality content that I come to MP for.

Luke Koetje wrote:

Absolutely right.  Some idiot had their dog in the Pearly Gates near to top of Mt. Hood at 11,000 feet in April.  It was like 5 degrees F and the dog was running around not on a leash.  It really almost caused a serious accident.  Take your dog on a hike all day long, but if you're climbing a mountain, use your freaking brain and leave your dog at home.  

I had a springer spaniel that made  four ascents of Hood, preferring Cooper Spur as it was more direct. She was surely to summit all the NW volcanoes but we moved to the Sierra.

Adam Password wrote:

Leave the damn dogs at home. I don’t care how “seasoned” your dog is. Especially those junk pit bulls that people think it’s so cool to own. Hiking with them is fun because you’re there to intervene but climbing is the same principle as going to the grocery store but instead of leaving them in a vehicle you tie it up at the entrance of the store. 

Agreed (except for the jab at pit bulls). There are lots of great outdoor activities you can do with a dog; a sport that, by definition, leaves you and your partner unable to attend to your pet for long periods is not one of them. Bring a third or leave the dog.

I posted this on the other dog thread last night. Same applies here. None of you so called dog haters is going to do a damn thing. You might go home and whimper into your keyboard, and that makes me wish my dog was misbehaving more.

"Feel free to bring your snarling and shit eating drool beast. Bring the dog you like. It'll be fine. I'm quite serious. Sure it might eat someone's lunch or shit in the middle of the trail. Nobody will say anything to you. You might get passive aggressive comments online from the cum dumpsters in this thread, but in real life, you're good.

I've been climbing about 25 years, seen all sorts of dogs. Seen some awesome ones and seen some bad one's. Only once in that time have I seen someone mention something to a dog owner. Funny thing is, the dog owner wasn't even a climber."

highaltitudeflatulentexpulsion wrote:

"Feel free to bring your snarling and shit eating drool beast. Bring the dog you like. It'll be fine. I'm quite serious. Sure it might eat someone's lunch or shit in the middle of the trail. Nobody will say anything to you. You might get passive aggressive comments online from the cum dumpsters in this thread, but in real life, you're good.

MountainFart is absolutely right.  This whole issue could benefit from a lot fewer keyboard threats of pretend violence and a lot more talking to people like adults at the crag.

highaltitudeflatulentexpulsion wrote:

I posted this on the other dog thread last night. Same applies here. None of you so called dog haters is going to do a damn thing. You might go home and whimper into your keyboard, and that makes me wish my dog was misbehaving more.

"Feel free to bring your snarling and shit eating drool beast. Bring the dog you like. It'll be fine. I'm quite serious. Sure it might eat someone's lunch or shit in the middle of the trail. Nobody will say anything to you. You might get passive aggressive comments online from the cum dumpsters in this thread, but in real life, you're good.

I've been climbing about 25 years, seen all sorts of dogs. Seen some awesome ones and seen some bad one's. Only once in that time have I seen someone mention something to a dog owner. Funny thing is, the dog owner wasn't even a climber."

The weird thing is- a lot of people on this thread, including the OP, seem to think that it is OK to attack a dog that is barking at them. No, it isn't. By law, a dog is the property of the owner. So, say I bring my dogs to a crag (which I don't, because they would get bored, but just for example). Say I tie them up, and they bark at somebody. That somebody is afraid of dogs, or clueless, or whatever; and kicks the dog- potentially causing injury and expensive vet bills. One poster said "No dog owner is gonna get upset because you put the dog in its place". Bullshit! My response, if I witnessed this, would be to defend my dog; and then proceed to sue the kicker if the dog was injured (knowing plenty of lawyers comes in handy sometimes). If, on the other hand, my dogs actually attacked somebody- well, then I would be in legal trouble, even if the attackee provoked the dogs.

As far as I can tell from the posts here- there was no actual attack. The OP was not injured- he was apparently simply scared. The dog was tied up. The OP proceeds to attack the tied-up dog. Other people apparently found a way to get around the dog on the trail. So, who was in the wrong here? Perhaps the owner, who tied the dog up in an inappropriate place; but the OP definitely reacted inappropriately. In my experience, most adverse incidents involving dogs in the outdoors result from people who are scared of dogs, or simply don't know how to deal with a dog that in their view is behaving badly. There is plenty of information on the web on how to deal with badly-behaving dogs, and there are classes for those who are afraid of dogs and indeed feel as if they have to attack a much smaller animal to "defend themselves". 

Dogs have been partners with people for thousands of years. Many people, including myself, consider them part of the family and routinely recreate with them. Personally, I don't take my dogs to popular places where I will have to leave them unattended outside for long periods of time, but plenty of people do- and everything is cool. I err on the side of non-confrontation by basically going hiking with my dogs where there are few people and few dogs. I really don't understand the dog-animosity displayed by many of the posters here. If they are afraid of dogs, then they should take a class on "how not to be afraid of dogs". Kicking or hitting dogs is simply not acceptable, unless you feel your life is in danger- which is highly unlikely at a typical crag, trail, or park. The kicker/hitter also runs the risk of getting the shit kicked/hit out of them, and/or sued. So, if you want to climb or hike in an area with a lot of dogs, and you are afraid of dogs; perhaps go somewhere else, or deal with your fear via a class.

climbing friend,

So Noodle here was tied to the very small boulder cave across from the rack up rock. It’s was the best spot to shelter him from the sun and 40mph winds that day. Leaving him tied to a tree at the campground or in the car on a high 70s sunny day may have been better for your experience but would likely cause incendiary comments about cruelty there too. I’m a cheap bachelor and there is no cost effective way to just “leave him at home” for a long weekend. 

We watched the dog bark at some passerbyers as we climbed the North Face up and down in about 3 hours. The dog is scared by guys with sunglasses for some reason, shelter dog. The Japanese woman was later taking selfies with this vicious beast as he was barking at her male partner racking up. But yeah, he ain’t friendly in 40mph gusts but same with many of us. He was scared, defensive and in the way. I know he gets like this, he had a 6 foot leash on a 20ish foot wide ridge and I thought smart people could hop up onto the rack up rock and avoid him if needed. If you needed to slap him or whatever you need to get by without leaving scars on him, I get it. I would do the same.

 I didn’t hear any yelping or see scars or bruising later so I assume your punches are bad or there is someexaggerating here. He was cuddling with another climber when we got down. 

I made some choices not totally in the best interest of everyone around but chose my dog’s comfort on a stupid windy way instead. It happens. 

Apologies for making all those on the Tower that day have a heroing epic. May your grandchildren revel in your tales of the slaying of the Noodle.

I still fail to see how this is a climbing gear discussion. 

Kyle Elliott wrote:

I still fail to see how this is a climbing gear discussion. 

Perhaps the OP was so freaked out by this cute, cuddly dog that he posted this on the wrong thread?

RCLee wrote:

Perhaps the OP was so freaked out by this cute, cuddly dog that he posted this on the wrong thread?

I can see that. "Noodle" looks pretty vicious. 

Adam Block wrote:

The dog in question’s owner here. Wow, where to start.... 

So Noodle here was tied to the very small boulder cave across from the rack up rock. It’s was the best spot to shelter him from the sun and 40mph winds that day. Leaving him tied to a tree at the campground or in the car on a high 70s sunny day may have been better for your experience but would likely cause incendiary comments about cruelty there too. I’m a cheap bachelor and there is no cost effective way to just “leave him at home” for a long weekend. 

We watched the dog bark at some passerbyers as we climbed the North Face up and down in about 3 hours. The dog is scared by guys with sunglasses for some reason, shelter dog. The Japanese woman was later taking selfies with this vicious beast as he was barking at her male partner racking up. But yeah, he ain’t friendly in 40mph gusts but same with many of us. He was scared, defensive and in the way. I know he gets like this, he had a 6 foot leash on a 20ish foot wide ridge and I thought smart people could hop up onto the rack up rock and avoid him if needed. If you needed to slap him or whatever you need to get by without leaving scars on him, I get it. I would do the same.

 I didn’t hear any yelping or see scars or bruising later so I assume your punches are bad or there is someexaggerating here. He was cuddling with another climber when we got down. 

I made some choices not totally in the best interest of everyone around but chose my dog’s comfort on a stupid windy way instead. It happens. 

Apologies for making all those on the Tower that day have a heroing epic. May your grandchildren revel in your tales of the slaying of the Noodle.

So, you tie your dog up at the base and leave him in conditions you know freak her out. Guys in sunglasses at a crag are a dime a dozen, which also freak him out, and you notice him barking at people but decide to keep climbing? 

Are you fucking serious?

The bottom line is this - Keep your dog under control at all times.  It shouldn't be incumbent upon me to have to "deal with" your dog.  I like seeing dogs on leashes behaving themselves on a trail.  I don't like running into off leash dogs while I'm down climbing with an ice axe and crampons at 10 thousand feet.  Everything in moderation.  This shouldn't be an absolutist conversation.  There's no way to say people should always bring their dogs or never bring their dogs.  Just be respectful of other people and use your brain.  

Marc801 C wrote:

No, it isn't.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255

I know you're being snarky, but it's a serious problem that doesn't deserve joking. Suicide became the second leading cause of death among 15-34 yr olds as of 2013. 

I could’ve sworn it was dog bites? You sure?

Adam Block wrote:

We watched the dog bark at some passerbyers as we climbed the North Face up and down in about 3 hours. The dog is scared by guys with sunglasses for some reason, shelter dog. The Japanese woman was later taking selfies with this vicious beast as he was barking at her male partner racking up. But yeah, he ain’t friendly in 40mph gusts but same with many of us. He was scared, defensive and in the way. I know he gets like this, he had a 6 foot leash on a 20ish foot wide ridge and I thought smart people could hop up onto the rack up rock and avoid him if needed. If you needed to slap him or whatever you need to get by without leaving scars on him, I get it. I would do the same.

The picture and the excuses don't justify any of it. 

Useful recommendations / free dog sitting coupons anyone?

Thanks for commenting Adam. Ya the dog is cute...it was annoying that day, but cute.

The mean dude is my climbing partner. We hiked up and passed the Japanese and were there when he started barking, she was afraid of your dog. 

Yes, some of us got around your dog...I went below him on the sketchy, steep, loose hill, that was nice. Noodle was still barking at the guy in sunglasses when we got started up P1 of the North Chimney. Not only was the dog acting aggressive the obnoxious noise in an otherwise serene place is just selfish. Leave your dog elsewhere on mulit-pitch climbs man, lesson learned I hope. 

Cheers.