Dog rant

First let me say, I own a dog that is a habitual thief, so I get it. That being said I keep my dog on a leash if there’s anyone around, or I leave her at home, because I know she can’t be trusted

I roll to the crag today and am greeted by a dog running up on me kinda aggressively. Was friendly, so I let it slide. Then the dog came over while I was belaying and started walking all over my rope and trying to make a bed. I ask the owners to call their dog. They did but didn’t put it on leash.

We just did a couple warm up pitches before heading to another crag. I go back to my bag and find an open Tupperware that used to be full of beef jerky next to my pack. The owner said sorry and gave me a shitty pepperoni stick as a replacement. Still didn’t put it on leash.

If you’re a dog owner and think your dog is so cute, and think everyone is going to love it even though it’s all up in everyone’s shit, think again.

If your dog isn’t under control, put it on a leash or leave it at home.

I wanted that beef jerky…

End of rant.

Since you are for sure going to get hated on for this post, I will back you up a bit. 

While I lived in Leavenworth WA: 

I was doing volunteer trail work, a dog got into my backpack and ate my sandwich. Man that pissed me off; however the dogs owner just kinda laughed and didn't think it was a big deal at all. 

I was trail running and a dog ran up to me and bit my calve and run back to his owner. As I yelled to the dogs owner she gave the the classic "Oh my dog has never done that before."

Not to mention the dog shit completely surrounding every trailhead parking lot and all over the trails. Often times in nice little plastic bags. People who do not own dogs really really don't like cleaning dog shit off their shoes BTW

It is interesting how dogs are the exception to every rule we put on humans while being in the outdoors.

I loudly exclaim "who's fucking dog is this?!" whenever I see one acting poorly. I make it very known they aren't welcome around me and usually their owners keep them away. 

Once one started going at my pack and I told the owner that I would treat it like a human thief if it stole my food. They asked what that meant and I said I'd punch it in the nose. (I never would, to dog or human, but they don't need to know that I'm a pacifist.) Problem solved, they kept their dog away. 

Be an asshole to asshole dog owners. They don't understand any other language. 

Before y'all go nuts, nice dogs, even off leash, are totally ok with me. My first reaction to an off leash dog is to holler to the owner, "friendly dog?" Then I give the good boy lots of pets. But if they start acting up.....

Sorry about your jerky. That's an expensive dog treat 

When a dog eats my lunch I stand on the owners rope, scratch myself and wait for a reciprocal lunch. I also bark out my cashapp and venmo if they don't have scooby snacks.

You should have whipped the owner's ass.

Cherokee Nunes wrote:

You should have whipped the owner's ass.

Or wiped their ass...

While walking the carriage road I the Gunks, I had my dog on leash. My companions that day let their dog off leash. We get to the Uberfall area and the off leash dog steals half a sandwich.  There really is no way to make someone whole.  Walking and driving to the deli is like 1.5 hours (1 hour if you run).  Maybe you lose your parking spot toO.  you go hungry and ruin your day.

I was very embarrassed.  My companions offered money which the climber more than graciously refused.  

As much as I love dogs at the crag, there are many many unmannered dog owners.

My companions that day are very good people.  There dog is mostly good. A leash would have averted  that issue.

Dogs will be dogs. Don’t be surprised that your dog is a dog. 

I’m with the OP. My dog is one of those dogs that’s an asshole towards others dogs on a leash, but friendly as can be off leash. I still keep his dumb ass on a leash away from things when I’m climbing on a rope or belaying so that he doesn’t mess with anyone else, even though I’m confident he wouldn’t.…Only problem I have faced so far is off leash dogs coming up to mine on a leash and getting growled at.

Not Not MP Adminwrote:

I’m with the OP. My dog is one of those dogs that’s an asshole towards others dogs on a leash, but friendly as can be off leash. I still keep his dumb ass on a leash away from things when I’m climbing on a rope or belaying so that he doesn’t mess with anyone else, even though I’m confident he wouldn’t.…Only problem I have faced so far is off leash dogs coming up to mine on a leash and getting growled at.

Everyone is with the OP, except the entitled fuckwads that bring their poorly trained or non-trained "babies" to the crag.  I can't bring myself to take it out on the dog, even though in the moment the dog is the source of the threat, the dipshit owner is the root of the problem- and I'm a dog owner and lover myself.  There has been a myriad of threads on this subject, and they always say the same thing.

Most people will agree with the OP sentiment, eventually some dickbag will chime in about how he fucked up some dog, and it'll devolve into a shitshow.  Sorry you had to experience that, it definitely can ruin an otherwise fun day of cragging.  If it's any consolation, I leave my dog at home.  Yes, he "loves the outdoors and loves to be with me".  He also loves AC, treats, and not being on a leash.  And other climbers like not having to deal with a spastic animal that only marginally takes to training- hint hint to all you morons out there that refuse to train your dog or have dogs that aren't trained that for some reason you still just HAVE to bring with you.

Did someone say beef jerky?

Yes, a cute crag dog thread, these are my fav!

Jerky, please?

No dogs no dogs no dogs. They are hated, they are not welcome. They may be your emotional crutch because you suck at human interactions but the rest of us don't find them amusing!

grug gwrote:

No dogs no dogs no dogs. They are hated, they are not welcome. They may be your emotional crutch because you suck at human interactions but the rest of us don't find them amusing!

Awww grug angry again, grug mad. :)

The worst you're gonna get with this one is a long sniff of your butt, with perhaps some minor snoot penetration if she likes what you have to offer. 

Also, anyone else think that the owner of an off leash dog should be legally responsible for its actions? Like, if a dog comes up and nips at me or aggressively barks and bluff charges at me, that’s battery/assault. Assuming I am minding my own business and not baiting the dog.

I guess I don't really understand what you get by bringing your dog to the crag. I mean you don't really interact with them much.  Why make the dog and other humans go through unnecessary discomfort?

Brandon R wrote:

Post limit Edit @ Brandon - I own a dog Pickles, he's a great dude we go out a lot he's terrified of horses and is very much okay to be at home while I go climbing.  Whataboutism isn't a good argument to have dogs at a crag. Speakers and crappy people shouldn't be at the crag either, its possible to want both.

Final edit Sorry- @Brandon some spots and times are okay to have dogs if you're going there which you probably are awesome.. That said I climbing a lot in south west Utah and a lot of out of towners come and bring their dogs. The desert is a very sensitive environment with sensitive soil and no rain to wash away shit. Its not a place for dogs but there is always Sprinters rolling in with dogs and not leashing them. Your dog should limit you from premier spots. Its your choice to have a dog, don't ruin access and other peoples times because you choose a dog and can't find a place for it when you want to go somewhere not suitable for a dog. My favorite bouldering spot is always in constant threat because of inconsiderate dog owners and people trying to camp where they shouldn't.  If your life choices limits you its on you respect that you made that choice. Keep being a good dog owner she looks sweet.

Jordan Wilsonwrote:

I'd guess you're over estimating how endearing this is to the majority of people. 

Uh, you might be taking that a little too seriously. I do get enjoyment out of bringing my dog with me climbing, though I don't do it all the time. Maybe you'd understand if you had one? 

John Clarkwrote:

Also, anyone else think that the owner of an off leash dog should be legally responsible for its actions? Like, if a dog comes up and nips at me or aggressively barks and bluff charges at me, that’s battery/assault. Assuming I am minding my own business and not baiting the dog.

The main expense for liability portion of homeowners insurance is either people dogs biting other people or people doing dumb drunk/high stuff. People constantly sue for dog bites, so there is monetary compensation already being paid to victims of dog bites regularly. 

I believe assault is an attempt to injure a party and battery is actually injuring them. It would be hard to argue that someone trained a dog that attempted to injure you unless you could show that the dog was trained to do so.