Sunday morning we went hiking at Wildcat State Park.
The State Parks have a rule about leashed dogs which I follow strictly. When I stop to take photos, along a trail, I generally step on the leashes and tell them to sit. Hannah is learning what it is like to be a 'photography' assistant.
It has taken all of my dogs at least a year to understand that they have to be near me when I stop for photos. Charlie is an expert now and I expect Hannah will be in another year [I hope!]
Anyway.
I was pretty unhappy to have to scramble when a gent with two angry Corgis and one angry mixed breed dog came charging at us growling off leash.
To his credit, the owner tackled them and struggled to hang on to them while they were snarling and growling.
He grabbed them by their vests in the brush and it was all he could do to hold them.
I passed without saying a word. But you bet I had a few things I wanted to say.
Hannah is trying out a reflective vest that Charlie has worn for a few years. It fits her perfectly. It never fit Charlie very well but I did find a new vest for him which should arrive some time on Monday.
This is a cool little footbridge over a ravine.
I knew that we'd meet other hikers as this is a well visited trail. When we saw other hikers coming, I'd take my dogs off the trail and work with Hannah on her sit and reactions to other people walking by.
She did pretty good when the other hikers ignored her, she came undone and bouncy when people started to coo to her.
The Old Settler's Trail at Wildcat is a no hunting/no trapping zone in the park which is why I decided to go there.
Pheasant season opened this weekend and the Reserve is usually packed with hunters and their pheasant dogs. The hunters I've met there have always been polite and mostly in complete control of their hounds.
I got this beautiful abstract of lichen growing on the side of the sandstone.
Snakeskin Liverwort
It grows in high moisture areas along bluffs and near springs. This was evidence of a fairly wet year for our area.
Reminder to myself though, on a perfect fall weekend day, don't chose the most popular hiking trail in the area to explore.
I did not know about this blog until today. Nice post and certainly a celebration of fall. And I hear you about the dog problem. Why people can' t bog off when they see you are training is a mystery.
ReplyDeleteToo often people see my small dogs as 'cute' and can't resist the urge to coo and go a bit overboard with them.
DeleteCharlie has learned to ignore them unless of course they get all gooey, then he cannot help himself.
I hope we get to the point where Hannah can just sit and watch others go by.
A few years ago some lady let her little dog attack Charlie and then said for me not to worry about getting bit myself. Her dog liked people, not other dogs.
I was like, huh?
Pepper spray works wonders in that case.
If you truly care about your dogs, you have them on a leash and train them to stay with you. I am just as livid as you are about the other dog owner. How dare he. And it's cruel to his dogs too. Steam is coming out of my ears.
ReplyDeleteYou are such a good dog mama. I know you are very proud of them. But I agree. It's no fun to hike with a busy crowd.
Well dogs do get reactive, especially in a pack. I really wondered about the guy's sanity in trying to control his mob by not leashing them on a public trail.
DeleteI will not go on a busy weekend again.
When it is fiercely cold, I'll have that trail to myself.
Charlie is well trained and obedient and Hannah will be as well. I think she does remarkably well, still being a puppy.
ReplyDeleteYour dogs are training well. All 3 of our dogs are rescues. They have been trained to ask, no beg, for treats and to hit a button by the door when they want to go outside. Our female Catahoula Leopard is psycho and cannot be trusted around ANYONE! Our part border collie is trainable, but loses all training when he sees a S-q-u-i-r-r-e-l! We have to spell it, and now he goes berserk when we start spelling. Our German Shepherd is the absolute calmest dog in the world and obeys perfectly and respects other people. Every dog is different. RHill, TX
ReplyDeleteVery true. Charlie is laid back, Hannah is puppy bouncy excitable, but can listen.
DeleteHannah came from a Foster which I think comes from a rescue?
She is quite the lover.
LOL on the squirrel! Our first dog when we were kids, went nuts when we said 'Squirrel' and barked like crazy and ran out the door and stared at the trees.
Charlie's nemeses are Chipmunks.
A very popular influencer with 2 dogs that were much featured in her posts, lost a dog because they let it off leash in the wild, it never came back, and several days later they found it's dead body. Grim. Not only is it dangerous for everyone around when a dog is off leash, it's dangerous for the dog, too.
ReplyDeleteMy dogs are often off leash in my pastures and forest but they also wear beeper collars and when I beep, they come and sit for a treat.
DeleteWhen off leash while hiking the Reserve they have learned the 20 foot rule. They are not allowed to go more than 20 feet from me before I recall them.
Ouch, I have lost Charlie as a pup for an hour and it was frightening.
I trained hunting hounds too before GPS collars and they were good at recall too. That is a key. Hannah is 9 months old and has a solid recall now.
Anyway, I agree, loose dogs can get hurt!
Such restraint you have! I would have told the crappy dog owner what the rules are, and taken a picture of them. Bear spray comes to mind, for those dogs and the owner. Yea, I know, owner could've had a snarl and gun. Coat looks cool! Linda in Kansas
ReplyDeleteSome arguments aren't worth having. I think he was surprised and knew he screwed up. No one got hurt so I moved on.
DeleteI'm sure my look said everything I was thinking.
We all try to be good owners, but some just don't put the time in.
Ugh, too bad the three dog owner didn't have more sense on a public trail. Three dogs is a lot to handle, especially loose. Glad you and your pups did not get hurt.
ReplyDeleteThe nice weather draws more people out than usual. Even during the week. Rural private property is priceless!
True, that is why we avoided the Reserve b/c pheasant season just opened. Most of those hunters have always been very pleasant and mindful when I've seen them at the Reserve.
DeleteI step on Jake's leash if I want to take a picture when Sue isn't with me. There is no command to stay, but he seems to hang around fairly well. I don't think he has been trained well, but at least he's good in that situation.
ReplyDeleteAgreed! Stepping on the leash[s] is what I do often. It works quite well. I've also tied them to trees.
DeleteYou sure are in your element. Lori
ReplyDeleteLD...Too many dogs on a walk with no leashes. I am glad no one got hurt. We have people walk their dogs here all of the time. Once in a while some thinks he has perfect control and the not leashed dog wanders in the front as he walks. It looked like you had a good place to hike.
ReplyDeleteI am quite sure that for some dog owners ignoring the signs telling them to keep their dogs leashed is an affirmation of their desire for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. They drive me crazy!
ReplyDeleteMe too!
DeleteThat’s a real interesting walk and I’m sorry about the wild dogs. I didn’t know corgis could act like that. Years ago when he was a puppy, our golden lab was bitten on the nose on an walk and bled heavily. Forever more he didn’t like little dogs. It was a terrier though. I am sure he would have loved Charlie and Hannah.
ReplyDeleteAww what a shame, Charlie was bitten by a terrier too and I owned a terrier for 14 yrs pre Charlie who was never reactive or nasty.
DeleteLittle dogs can be testy, mine aren't.