To the American Fork climbers with aggressive Rhodesian Ridgebacks...

I suspect the aggressive dog and owner were only part of the problem and that there were unleashed dogs approaching it too (total speculation btw). Unleashed dogs that haven't been trained to immediately come is just bad if not worse. In fact the unleashed dog would be at fault if an injury or property damage were to occur. Also there are other animals besides dogs and cats outside that don't appreciate your pet approaching them. 

My dog is super aggressive towards other dogs and I have him on a short leash on walks outside. I won't bring him climbing because that would be just inviting trouble. However, on hikes when unleashed dogs come up to him I warn the owners (if they are even around) and will use a stun gun, trekking pole, and even mace depending on how severe the situation. 

Bottom line if you can't control your dog, leave it at home. But if there is an aggressive dog, it's your responsibility to control your dog around them as well. 

edit: re-reading it sounds like it was aggressive towards people as well. what idiots? what if somone brought their kid. side-note: don't bring a goddamn baby to the crag

What kind of trouble can you get in, in Utah for shooting the dog? For example, if it bit you? Just wondering.

Tradiban wrote:

What kind of trouble can you get in, in Utah for shooting the dog? For example, if it bit you? Just wondering.

I don't know what the legality was in PA/WV, but the threat of it kept most of the dog owners in line.

I'm here to argue about dogs because of the AccessFund article on the side of MP.

I would say someone should drop a dog treat covered in laxatives when the owner isn't looking so that the dog shits all over the owners car on the way home...but if the onset was too soon then you would have a shit puddle at the crag and unnecessary discomfort for the dog. 

If the dog comes up to you, just start talking to the dog and say, "Why did you have to bring your human to the crag, not cool dawg." Reminds me of dogs running into the road during The Tour de France and causing crashes. Dogs may be a "member of the family" but you don't see people bringing their toddlers to the bar. If you want to drink while you're with your baby, you have a beer at home; if you want your dog to "watch" you climbing, build a wall in the backyard.

I find bringing dogs bouldering to be more acceptable than roped climbing areas. Both annoy me, but if you keep it on leash and tie it to a tree bouldering, then its alright.

notmyname wrote:

I suspect the aggressive dog and owner were only part of the problem and that there were unleashed dogs approaching it too (total speculation btw). Unleashed dogs that haven't been trained to immediately come is just bad if not worse. In fact the unleashed dog would be at fault if an injury or property damage were to occur. Also there are other animals besides dogs and cats outside that don't appreciate your pet approaching them. 

My dog is super aggressive towards other dogs and I have him on a short leash on walks outside. I won't bring him climbing because that would be just inviting trouble. However, on hikes when unleashed dogs come up to him I warn the owners (if they are even around) and will use a stun gun, trekking pole, and even mace depending on how severe the situation. 

Bottom line if you can't control your dog, leave it at home. But if there is an aggressive dog, it's your responsibility to control your dog around them as well. 

edit: re-reading it sounds like it was aggressive towards people as well. what idiots? what if somone brought their kid. side-note: don't bring a goddamn baby to the crag

You sound insane. 

notmyname wrote:

I suspect the aggressive dog and owner were only part of the problem and that there were unleashed dogs approaching it too (total speculation btw). Unleashed dogs that haven't been trained to immediately come is just bad if not worse. In fact the unleashed dog would be at fault if an injury or property damage were to occur. Also there are other animals besides dogs and cats outside that don't appreciate your pet approaching them. 

My dog is super aggressive towards other dogs and I have him on a short leash on walks outside. I won't bring him climbing because that would be just inviting trouble. However, on hikes when unleashed dogs come up to him I warn the owners (if they are even around) and will use a stun gun, trekking pole, and even mace depending on how severe the situation. 

Bottom line if you can't control your dog, leave it at home. But if there is an aggressive dog, it's your responsibility to control your dog around them as well. 

edit: re-reading it sounds like it was aggressive towards people as well. what idiots? what if somone brought their kid. side-note: don't bring a goddamn baby to the crag

100% insane and 100% obsessed with dogs. I think you should change your MP name to "Insanedogloverwoof!"

grog m aka Greg McKee wrote:

100% insane and 100% obsessed with dogs. I think you should change your MP name to "Insanedogloverwoof!"

god forbid i protect my dog and other peoples dogs. fuck off

Ahh!  Rhodesian Ridgeback.  Smoke the ribs with a mix of apple and hickory for about 2.5 hours at about 250.  Near the end of the cooking time slather on some vinegary sauce of your choice.  BBQ heaven.  You can also get a bit of a rolled and tied roast from the hind quarters.  You will need to braise these for a few hours a bit lean but they are too bad.

s.price wrote:

This is a prime example of insufficient and /or improper training. If this was a child would you walk around telling people to stay clear of the kid cause they were aggressive to to other children? 

Quality time and a shock collar would do wonders for your dogs aggressive stance towards other dogs.

Well, how do you know he's not using the stun gun or mace on his own dog? After all, it's his dog that's "super aggressive", right?

s.price wrote:

If he is he is aiming at the wrong end.

True enough.

I'm still just trying to wrap my head around the image of a guy walking with an aggressive dog, and because his dog is so aggressive, the owner attacks any unleashed dog that comes near... ("If you get too close, my dog will attack you, so to prevent that from happening, I must attack you!")

Andrew Krajnik wrote:

True enough.

I'm still just trying to wrap my head around the image of a guy walking with an aggressive dog, and because his dog is so aggressive, the owner attacks any unleashed dog that comes near... ("If you get too close, my dog will attack you, so to prevent that from happening, I must attack you!")

About as logical as most other dog owners...

I feel like I gotta chime in on the cat thing.

I would never take my cat to AF.  For lots of reasons. But how ridiculous is it? My cat likes being outside, just like a dog.  My cat wants to spend time with me and vice versa. May cat has met many other dogs and not been aggressive to them.

So what is the unreasonable side here? I can bring a companion animal that will not chase and terrorize other people and animals, or you can bring your dog?

I am all for dogs (and pets) joining us on adventures.  Just raise them to be respectful.  

My dog is on a leash and under control. If an unleashed dog runs up to him and doesn't back off, yeah fucker's getting zapped. Well within my legal right to do pretty much whatever I feel necessary if your dog is off leash and not under direct control. A stun gun is a non lethal deterrant, does a lot less harm than hiting it with a stick. 

It's completely selfish to say I can't take my dog for a walk and to be left alone by your out of control animal. And it's not just my dog, there lots of other animals that may not get aggressive but have anxiety and stress, and also lots of people and kids that really are afraid when dogs run up to them. 

notmyname wrote:

My dog is on a leash and under control. If an unleashed dog runs up to him and doesn't back off, yeah fucker's getting zapped. Well within my legal right

Zac Robinson wrote:

So what is the unreasonable side here? I can bring a companion animal that will not chase and terrorize other people and animals, or you can bring your dog?

For the conversation part about what is legal or not regarding what you might do to a dog that threatens you or your pet, etc.  It would of course vary from state by state as well as larger municipalities which no doubt have specific laws addressing same.  In Canmore, Alberta, the city fined a man $1000 for his dogs chasing an elk ( would have applied to any wildlife) .  It was approximately ten years ago and I imagine that fine is considerably more today.  The Mounted Police came to my house to arrest me for threatening these same dogs (he requested I be prosecuted for such after he received his fine).  In Canada, these are federal police but possibly acting on provincial law, I never looked into it.  After 30 minutes of me refusing to sign some document they had in their possession promising to not react the same in the future, the threat of arrest diminished regardless.  What I assumed changed their boss's mind was me encouraging my own arrest so the local media could shed light on the situation of dogs chasing wildlife in Canmore  There were approximately twenty witnesses, that although they stood to the side,  for the most part thought my actions were appropriate vs illegal.  As I recall, the Mounties rattled off some law that stated that threatening to kill, which I did indeed do with a rock in my hand standing between the elk (foaming at the mouth, could no longer run) and the mans two rottweilers, domestic pets, was some sort of lower class felony in Canada.  I doubt you find too many places in the US that would treat that as a felony because this is not an animal rights friendly country, but obviously it would be some sort of misdemeanor in many municipalities and sought out where cops did not have much else to do (don't expect a Vegas cop to give you the time of day for something like this).  I killed a dog with my bare hands before, in front of the owner, but no charges were ever brought, pretty sure in the US most dog owners whose dogs bite people are so worried about a civil suit (tort reform, not) , that they would never seek criminal charges for you maiming or killing their pet if it tried to cause harm to you or your family.