NRG -- Please leash your dog!

The degree of entitlement shown by about 10% of the dog owners in this thread is depressing but sadly not surprising.  I like dogs.  I have a dog.  But I do not think it’s everyone else’s obligation to like dogs or be OK with being approached by my dog or anyone else’s unless they’re standing in a dog park.   

William Kwrote:

The degree of entitlement shown by about 10% of the dog owners in this thread is depressing but sadly not surprising.  I like dogs.  I have a dog.  But I do not think it’s everyone else’s obligation to like dogs or be OK with being approached by my dog or anyone else’s unless they’re standing in a dog park.   

To add to that, the best part is they are the ones who will scream entitlement at you but their stupid dog is special or where they climb is so remote brah you'll never see me and my dog bs. Freaking laughable. If you bring your dog climbing you are part of the problem

This thread is hilarious and the reason I almost exclusively climb at unpopulated areas.  I have met a few cool crag dogs, but most are not.  I guess I haven’t figured it out since I know everyone’s little fur baby is perfect.  Maybe I’m just heartless.  Just like having a child, dog parents should held to a higher standard.  If you can‘t handle following the rules and being considerate then you probably can‘t handle much.  Just like a child being drug to a Baptist church, I feel sorry for your dog.

Other things are potentially annoying at crags too - kids crying, people spraying, climbers screaming when trying hard, unbrushed holds, ticked holds, etc. etc. etc.  But I don't think we should try and avoid all behavior that might annoy a handful of people at a crag.  Let's recognize that we should all be flexible with each other and have a good time.  

Eric Dwrote:

Other things are potentially annoying at crags too - kids crying, people spraying, climbers screaming when trying hard, unbrushed holds, ticked holds, etc. etc. etc.  But climbing would be pretty lame if all potentially annoying behavior were avoided.  Let's recognize that we should all be flexible with each other and have a good time.  

Eliminating all that annoying stuff you listed doesn't sound lame from here.

I can see arguing for tolerance but your argument is unconvincing.

MojoMonkeywrote:

Eliminating all that annoying stuff you listed doesn't sound lame from here.

I can see arguing for tolerance but your argument is unconvincing.

It‘s apex entitlement:  not only am I entitled to bring my dog wherever I choose, you’re required to be ok with it because, well...I want that, too.  Otherwise YOU are the one creating a problem.

I’d say stay at your own home Craig Or the gym if u have a problem with dogs.  The general consensus from all the  locals I know if your pup can behave there’s no issue if not it’s just like people  if you can socialize kindly then stay away.  If you notice none of the people with a issue live even remotely close to the new 

I think it's worthwhile for all of us to understand dog owners as well.

No it isn't. Dogs are immune to circle jerks.

Kyle Pricewrote:

I’d say stay at your own home Craig Or the gym if u have a problem with dogs.  The general consensus from all the  locals I know if your pup can behave there’s no issue if not it’s just like people  if you can socialize kindly then stay away.  If you notice none of the people with a issue live even remotely close to the new 

I can see the park from my front yard. 

Personally, I'd say roughly 70-80% of all interactions I've had with dogs at the crag are negative. From what I've seen, it's typically just negligent or irresponsible owners, not the dogs themselves. I think the problem is, people don't admit to themselves that their dog isn't trained and well-behaved, because it reflects on them and the effort they put in. Same kinda thing with parents not admitting their kids are obnoxious or rude.

I'm no expert, but I bet most dogs probably have the capacity to be chill and well-behaved. But people don't take the time to properly train, discipline, and socialize them. 

I don't mind a well-behaved crag dog, but unfortunately, the obnoxious ones ruin it. 

Jim Corbettwrote:

Just to really pee in the pot: The problem is too many f—-king climbers. I used to take my Lab to T-wall in the early ‘90s, unleashed, and she was actually quite popular. More people knew her name than mine. I wouldn’t do that today. I still take my dog climbing—unleashed—but where I climb there are rarely any other climbers. On those rare occasions that I do run into some they are usually quite happy with my very friendly and well behaved dog. I’ve never run into anyone who has a problem with the dog, probably because they’re not the kind of people who have to climb with a crowd and clip bolts. If I ran into a climber(s) in that situation that copped a ‘dogs don’t belong at the crag‘ attitude I would tell them he probably has more business there than they do.

Just to top off the pee bottle, I personally advocate for people to stop bringing dogs to crags as well as advocating a moratorium on almost all bolting even though I enjoy doing both. I'm convinced its for the greater good, both habits cause too much damage and problems.

Chris my bad must have missed that.  

"people don't take the time to properly train, discipline, and socialize them."

The only way to make them socialized and good dogs is to give them a chance. Let them hang out. This is the key. Given enough leeway and opportunity the dogs will be chill.

Russ Keanewrote:

"people don't take the time to properly train, discipline, and socialize them."

The only way to make them socialized and good dogs is to give them a chance. Let them hang out. This is the key. Given enough leeway and opportunity the dogs will be chill.

Lol

Russ Keanewrote:

"people don't take the time to properly train, discipline, and socialize them."

The only way to make them socialized and good dogs is to give them a chance. Let them hang out. This is the key. Given enough leeway and opportunity the dogs will be chill.

Russ you are HIGH. Untrained dogs aren't chill. They are the ones that fuck everything up. 

Where's Waldenwrote:

Russ you are HIGH. Untrained dogs aren't chill. They are the ones that fuck everything up. 

What Russ is saying is kind of true. Dogs don’t just magically socialize and behave around other people and other dogs. It can be a learned behavior and they do need the “opportunity” to learn correct behavior. But the crag, or any other uncontrolled public environment is not the place to learn this. Learn it in a more controlled environment and don’t use the public as an experiment. Maybe, when you are confident in your dog’s behavior, it is appropriate to bring them into such spaces.

I’m actually in the minority here (maybe?). I love seeing 90% of the dogs I see at crags. I can think of maybe 2 or 3 in 25+ years that have been a problem. 

Russ Keanewrote:

The only way to make them socialized and good dogs is to give them a chance. Let them hang out. This is the key. Given enough leeway and opportunity the dogs will be chill.

Fair enough. But I don't think the crag is the place to rely on when socializing your dog. There's plenty of better places that don't require the owner to leave the dog for extended periods of time while they climb, potentially placing a burden on random strangers. Many other public settings (breweries, parks, trails, etc) are excellent places to socialize a dog. Bring them to the crag when they're ready. 

Matt Swrote:

Personally, I'd say roughly 70-80% of all interactions I've had with dogs at the crag are negative. From what I've seen, it's typically just negligent or irresponsible owners, not the dogs themselves. I think the problem is, people don't admit to themselves that their dog isn't trained and well-behaved, because it reflects on them and the effort they put in. Same kinda thing with parents not admitting their kids are obnoxious or rude.

I'm no expert, but I bet most dogs probably have the capacity to be chill and well-behaved. But people don't take the time to properly train, discipline, and socialize them. 

I don't mind a well-behaved crag dog, but unfortunately, the obnoxious ones ruin it. 

This, unfortunately. I have usually had a personal policy of steering clear of other folks pups at the crag. i don't know the dogs temperament or the owners attitude and its just a safest approach. But this past weekend at the New was a first for me. I was walking around scoping the wall and saw a dog tied so I began giving it berth as I passed. Owner insisted it was friendly and it ran over, long enough of a leash, jumped up, and just bit my arm. Didn't break the skin but it held on until the owner pried it off. This dog continued freaking out every time a group walked by but the owners insisted on telling everyone excuses. I can tolerate sounds but that sucks. And I blame the owners, not the animal. Maybe as climbing gets more popular and walls get busier, climbing managers, clubs, etc. create a policy or stance? I don't know the answer. But being a crappy owner spoils it.

Edit. I remember another interaction a few years prior where we were approaching a wall and even from a distance away could smell something awful. As we got to the wall, some owners warned us their "friendly" dog took a dump and rolled in it then was running around the crag unleashed. I don't think the Nalgene bottle worth of water was enough to clean that dumpster fire up. But we kept way clear, especially because it wanted to come up 

We have one dog that is super friendly and chill while the other is not. If we bring the dogs to the crag, we do it when we know we will not have any other parties around. Thankfully in PA everyone and their brother isn't a climber and you can find areas that won't have people. It is a clear understanding that if we encounter climbers, we move to a different crag or just go home. Those are the rules. If we are on a trip to a popular area, we always hike/run the dogs early, and leave them in the insulated van (just like the couch at home). 

There are obvious issues with dogs with crags whether your's is a saint or a devil. Why not be a good steward of dog owners by not bothering a public space with your dog. Same goes for blasting music or hogging a line; you might love it but others hate it so just let it go.

I love most dogs and dont love most of their owners for sure.