Dogs loose in the woods-your opinion?

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I'd be worried about using lethal force on a possibly aggressive dog because I think there's at least some possibility you would end up in a lethal force confrontation with the irresponsible owner. Of course, that concern might lead me to wait too long before taking action. It's probably a result of living in a state that does not have much respect for the right of self defense.

DancesWithKnives
 
My dog is the biggest baby in the history of dogs - she wouldn't hurt a soul. That being said she does not listen well... err... I did a poor job training her to listen is more like it so I keep her on the leash when we are out and about. Although, were I live there are always people on the trail because of how populated it is around here. Keeping the dog of leash would be a hassle for me let alone against the rules of the park I would be in.

Personally I do not like walking past dogs that are not on leash because I don't know them and don't feel comfortable they will listen to their owners if they decide to go ape sh!t and bite me. I live near a lot of idiots....
 
kycolonel said:
As they tried to decide a course of action and pissed and moaned about how stupid a rule this was,
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I agree. It's a stupid rule.
How far does a person have to travel before his dog can run free?

I reminded them about the potentially dangerous confrontation (with both dogs and humans) that could have occured had I been less familiar with canine behavior.
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Really? Had you been 'less familiar with canine behavior,' something dangerous would have occured? Sounds like you got a fright from a barking dog, that's basically it.

So, I see people letting their dogs loose ALL the time on woods trails and many can't control them with voice commands. What are they thinking?
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Well I agree people should train and control their dogs. But 'what are they thinking?' I don't know, "let's go for a nice walk in the woods, instead of playing the WII again?"

Is it me, or are these people just incredibly stupid about what might happen to their dog
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Why, what might happen? I hardly ever hear of dogs getting stabbed to death by knife-wielding hikers. Most of the time the dogs does poopoo and weewee and goes home again.

or if someone were to get bitten in the backcountry? How do you handle the situation when someones dog charges you in the woods?
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If the dog charges you, actually attacks you, you defend yourself with everything you've got, and kill it if you get the chance.
But really, the chances of that happening are smaller than getting hit by lighting, three times in a row.
 
Nobody said:
I've run into as many hikers and their children that needed to be leashed as I have dogs.... just saying.... ;)
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Good point. I come across so many hikers that are way more annoying than any dog I've ever seen.
As for all the threats of violence towards dogs, please, my dear keyboard warriors, keep in mind that you may love your own on-leash dogs, your kids, yourself, but the owners of the dogs you threaten to stab, slash, bash, kick or shoot to death also love their pooches. You can imagine it wouldn't always stop there...
I understand the frustration of all those who get so riled up they feel a need to talk about man's best friend this way, but it's just not very productive. I too have been accosted by dogs (never in a forest or park though), I've always owned dogs that I had to protect other dogs from, so I totally agree people should have their dog under control, either because it's on a leash or because they control it by voice, wistle or sign. I've actually had legal problems because my dogs would finish a fight an off-leash dog had started.

I'm just saying, threatening to kill another person's dog comes close to threatening to kill another person's child - in the perception of the dog owner. I certainly feel that way. You may feel (or indeed BE) justified. Just keep in mind the consequences, and decide if such a confrontational mode is really the way to go. Unless a life is actually threatened, why talk so quickly of such extreme violence?
 
I love dogs, had several growing up, don't fear them, and have no desire to see a dog hurt. That said, I think it's naive to think of an unleashed dog as controlled in most situations. They need to be understood and respected for their nature, not the nature we'd like them to have. Although they act like it sometimes, they aren't little people and they can't be reasoned with in the same way.

Also, there's no good way to quickly determine if a dog is feral or domesticated when it runs up to you. We recently had a feral dog roaming the neighborhood I live in. I'd take evening walks and this thing would be off rustling in the trees nearby. I always kept a good distance from it and kept a sharp eye out. Didn't know it was feral for sure until I saw it in the daylight and could spot all the mange. Poor bugger was covered in it. Point being that if a dog pops in on you unexpectedly the smart reaction is to first act defensively.
 
Why, whenever the topic of dogs comes up, can we not discuss it without it turning into an emotion-driven bash of each other?

Am I the only one who thinks the topic is not really about dogs, but more about the philosophy of the golden rule?
 
philwar,

I agree. It's a stupid rule.
How far does a person have to travel before his dog can run free?

They can travel as far as their own property. This debate begs the simple and age old question: what if everyone did it? Ignored the leash laws that is. A quick thought of what would happen if everyone did this this in any park answers all of the questions that have been raised here. When I want to let my dog run, I take her to my farm or to a fenced in area (like a group of baseball fields) where noone else is around. It's not ideal, but it's better than taking the risk of what might happen otherwise to her or others.


Really? Had you been 'less familiar with canine behavior,' something dangerous would have occured? Sounds like you got a fright from a barking dog, that's basically it.

- Nonsense. I doubt there are very few people on this forum who are afraid of dogs; and neither am I. What I was afraid of was having my peaceful hike interurrupted and being forced to harm a dog and potentially fight his master because of his knucklehead owner. btw- they all think they can control their dogs.

Well I agree people should train and control their dogs. But 'what are they thinking?' I don't know, "let's go for a nice walk in the woods, instead of playing the WII again?"

- I take my dog hiking all the time-on a leash. Believe it or not, they still enjoy it. I wonder how much of the bantor here about letting dogs run is more about people who just don't feel like holding a leash on their hikes to protect their dog and others than it is about setting the dogs spirit free in the wild.


Why, what might happen? I hardly ever hear of dogs getting stabbed to death by knife-wielding hikers. Most of the time the dogs does poopoo and weewee and goes home again.


If the dog charges you, actually attacks you, you defend yourself with everything you've got, and kill it if you get the chance.
But really, the chances of that happening are smaller than getting hit by lighting, three times in a row.

- I see, so people should wait to see if your dog "actually attacks" them before taking any precautionaty defensive action. Then, you can use one of the iron clad "he's never done that before" lines or something. Where do you get off telling people that you have the right to set your dog loose in an area where its against the law and they shouldn't do anything on a charge until after they've actually been attacked? As I stated in the OP, I did not take any action to harm this dog. However, I do know people who would have. And that tragic result would have been 100% the fault of the owner- not the hiker.

If people wish to view their dogs as family members or children then they should protect them as such, or at least have them under their control in the wilds.
 
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First off, I never said people should unleash their dogs where there's rules or laws saying otherwise.
If it's a large area, where it really isn't a problem until it's made into one, it may be a stupid rule. But a rule nonetheless.

kycolonel said:
- I take my dog hiking all the time-on a leash. Believe it or not, they still enjoy it. I wonder how much of the bantor here about letting dogs run is more about people who just don't feel like holding a leash on their hikes to protect their dog and others than it is about setting the dogs spirit free in the wild.
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Maybe, but not me. Your dogs may still enjoy such a walk (at least you convinced yourself they do) but are you really saying there's really no difference for them? Lemme guess, they don't even pull on the leash, right? In fact, you had trouble rousing them from their nap?

Any dog that is not geriatric loved to RUN, for hours preferably.
- I see, so people should wait to see if your dog "actually attacks" them before taking any precautionaty defensive action.
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No, what you do is you stab or club it to death the moment it comes within range. :rolleyes: Just to be on the safe side, of course.

Where do you get off telling people that you have the right to set your dog loose in an area where its against the law and they shouldn't do anything on a charge until after they've actually been attacked?
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That's two strawmen in one sentence. :thumbup:

As I stated in the OP, I did not take any action to harm this dog. However, I do know people who would have. And that tragic result would have been 100% the fault of the owner- not the hiker.
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Really? How do you figure that? _You_ saw no reason to harm that dog, and there wasn't. How can you say it still would have been perfectly within your legal and moral rights to kill or maim that dog?

If people wish to view their dogs as family members or children then they should protect them as such, or at least have them under their control in the wilds.
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They're not children, they're dogs. They like to run. There's no realistic need to exert the amount of control needed to satisfy all the wannabe-dogslayers here. Clearly there are hundreds of thousands if not millions who barely escape with their lives after savage attacks by unleashed family dogs. Considering the extreme hazard in the woods out there, perhaps a WII or PS3 should be taken under advisement after all.

Please forgive the sarcasm.
 
There's quite a healthy dose of Internet Badass Syndrome here. Fortunately, reality is a bit more restrained.
 
philwar said:
I'm just saying, threatening to kill another person's dog comes close to threatening to kill another person's child - in the perception of the dog owner. I certainly feel that way. You may feel (or indeed BE) justified. Just keep in mind the consequences, and decide if such a confrontational mode is really the way to go. Unless a life is actually threatened, why talk so quickly of such extreme violence?
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philwar said:
They're not children, they're dogs. They like to run. There's no realistic need to exert the amount of control needed to satisfy all the wannabe-dogslayers here. Clearly there are hundreds of thousands if not millions who barely escape with their lives after savage attacks by unleashed family dogs. Considering the extreme hazard in the woods out there, perhaps a WII or PS3 should be taken under advisement after all.

Please forgive the sarcasm.
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Never mind the attempt at sarcasm (or logic)
 
Back home if one dog was running in the woods or just out exploring it was usually left alone. If two or more were running in the woods they would be deemed running as a pack and often times local folks would simply shoot them for running deer whether they were or not. My grandfather was a game warden in WV and I know he shot and killed many dogs for running deer in the state when locals would call him out to see what they witnessed repeatedly in their areas. I think thats where my dad got it and why it was instilled in all us boys growing up. I remember my father telling me on more than one occasion when we were getting ready to separate before going out into the woods, "now remember, if you see a dog or dogs running any deer you shoot them." I never saw any and don't know that I could have shot them if I did but am thankful I've never had to cross that bridge.

STR
 
philwar, your entire thesis is a strawman. You take a few of the most extreme statements here and foster them on all of us.

I have a right to go about my business in peace. I am not required to entertain or befriend every uncontrolled dog in the area. The law here supports me in this.

I do not want to wait until a friendly dog jumps on me or blocks my path. I have enough difficulty walking as is. Any dog owner unwilling to control his animal is taking a chance on legal action, at the least.
 
Esav Benyamin said:
philwar, your entire thesis is a strawman. You take a few of the most extreme statements here and foster them on all of us.
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I did not. My point applies to those who freely and liberally speak of killing and maiming other people's dogs without reasonable cause.

I have a right to go about my business in peace.
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No one is disputing this, certainly not me.

I am not required to entertain or befriend every uncontrolled dog in the area.
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Hate to say it, but this is another strawman. I never claimed or implied this.

I do not want to wait until a friendly dog jumps on me or blocks my path. I have enough difficulty walking as is. Any dog owner unwilling to control his animal is taking a chance on legal action, at the least.
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I understand. Doesn't that sound very different from "I'll bash in its skull the moment it comes within reach?"

Now let's take your last sentence as a literal example. Someone's free running happy out-of-control King Charles Spaniel runs up to you and jumps against you, greeting you in an ecstatic but totally annoying way, soiling your pants, almost knocking you over.
Wanna kill it? Sue its owners? Or just tell them to p**s off with their dumb dog?
In case I am not making my point clear (and that's not all that unlikely), what I am saying is, let's keep this real. Killing or maiming dogs almost at the drop of a hat... sheez... Lighten up already.
 
Theres some conservation land a mile away. It use to be a popular area for people to take their unleashed pets for a walk. I did it often. Now their are signs up forbidding it. I think it sucks, big time. If a person doesnt own acreage , his pets have to spend their entire lives leashed. Come on.
 
philwar said:
If the dog charges you, actually attacks you, you defend yourself with everything you've got, and kill it if you get the chance.
But really, the chances of that happening are smaller than getting hit by lighting, three times in a row.
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I have been attacked by a dog(s) four times in my life. Once as a child and thrice in my adult life. On one occassion I made a hasty retreat and suffered a little damage. That was because the owner was there, trying to get control. Another time on a Vancouver trail, my friends dog was attacked by two free roaming G.Shepards. One turned on me and ate the hammer poll of a camp axe. The most recent encounter happened a few years ago and did not end well for the dog (bull mix). Police were actually within sight of the incident and asked me if I wanted to press charges against the owner. I declined. I see the owner now and again and he still won't look me in the eye. I don't blame him... it was random and unexplainable... perhaps he hates me, now.... but I feared for my life and my kid's on that one.


Hell.... even KGD's dog nipped at me when I was over once. First time I had ever had a friends dog snap at me. Maybe its me.

I have never been struck by lighting.


Rick
 
Magnussen said:
I have never been struck by lighting.
Rick
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I've been bitten by dogs several times myself, and I certainly empathize. The last time was by a Rottie/Alsatian mix that ripped the artery in my right-hand wrist. It was pretty bad. All that happened in homes or streets however.

In 2007 33 people got killed by dogs, although an astounding 4.7 MILLION people get bitten every year (that's just insane).
About 90 people are killed every year by lightning. So about 3x as many people get killed by lighting... but 1000 people every day needing ER treatment 'cause of dogbites, that is just sick.

What other menace compares to that? Talk about man's best friend... :eek: Ok people, AFAIC, kill all dogs on sight! Just not mine!
 
Magnussen said:
I have been attacked by a dog(s) four times in my life. Once as a child and thrice in my adult life. On one occassion I made a hasty retreat and suffered a little damage. That was because the owner was there, trying to get control. Another time on a Vancouver trail, my friends dog was attacked by two free roaming G.Shepards. One turned on me and ate the hammer poll of a camp axe. The most recent encounter happened a few years ago and did not end well for the dog (bull mix). Police were actually within sight of the incident and asked me if I wanted to press charges against the owner. I declined. I see the owner now and again and he still won't look me in the eye. I don't blame him... it was random and unexplainable... perhaps he hates me, now.... but I feared for my life and my kid's on that one.


Hell.... even KGD's dog nipped at me when I was over once. First time I had ever had a friends dog snap at me. Maybe its me.

I have never been struck by lighting.


Rick
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Rick,

Actually I think this is a pretty common story. Over the years I've had both leashed and unleashed dogs come at me several times. I've only been bit twice, both broke skin but were minor. When I was ten we had a dog come onto our land and attack our dog. Being a little kid, and loving my dog, I tried to break it up and ended up getting bit. My dad shot the dog with a BB gun, trying to scare it away, and ended up killing it. Turned out to be a neighbors. My dad was really bummed about that as he didn't like killing any living thing, but I don't think anyone felt that he was at fault. I've also never been hit by lightening.
 
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