Re: [at-l] dogs in the smokies or anywhere else

[Jennifer Sawyer <jdsawyer@bu.edu>]

I hate hearing stories like this.  It only takes one jerk like this to
give all dog owners a bad name (or at least make non-dog owner-hikers
cautious/nervous/uptight around dogs).  I rarely  put Maggie on a leash,
because she truly does listen to me.  I put a lot of time and effort into
training her and she has NEVER disobeyed me -- even when tempted with
food.  I know that about my dog, and I know that she doesn't need a leash,
so it upsets me to hear stories like this about inconsiderate boobs 
who THINK they kno their dog but don't.  The only time I put Maggie on a
leash is when I sense that others may be afraid of her -- esecially
children -- and only to make them feel better. 

I'm sorry you had that experience with that dog owner and dog.  We're not
all like that!  :)

Pooh (& Maggie)


On Thu, 4 May 2000, Coosa wrote:

> -----Original Message-----
> . I am sorry so many
> >feel the way they do about dogs on the trail but my feelings on the subject
> >are that they have just as much right to be out there as we do.
> >
> 
> 
> I don't mind dogs on the Trail -- but I had a hiker tell me that their dog
> was VeRy well behaved and didn't need a leash, etc etc.  We were at the
> shelter.  I went over to my tent to fix my meal and this VeRy well behaved
> dog decided he was going to eat my supper.  I called out, hey get your dog,
> please.  The owner laughed and called the dog who totally ignored his master
> in favor of my mashed potatoes and bacon chips.  I squirmed around trying to
> get away from the dog who jumped between my body and arm and got my meal
> which spilled out all over my pants and me.  I tried to scoop up the plastic
> baggie and plastic cup and got growled at -- the dog owner was standing at
> the shelter calling the dog -- but if the dog had been on a leash none of
> this would have happened.  I backed off because the dog growled and yelled,
> HEY Your Dog Knocked My Dinner on the Ground and Won't Let Me Clean Up the
> Mess!  Come get your Dog!!  The dogownerhiker then got VERY huffy and
> started cursing at ME as if it was my fault that HIS DOG was so badly
> behaved.  Then he threatened to turn the dog on me 'with just one word I can
> get him to tear you apart so leave him and me alone, you $#@%$#.'
> 
> I packed up my tent and on an empty stomach hiked back to my car and drove
> home, shaken that I had been threatened.   This happened way back in the
> summer of 1991.  I still am very cautious around hikers with dogs when I'm
> out on the Trail -- no matter what they say about how THEIR dog is behaved.
> 
> And it was not the dog's fault -- it was the dogownerhiker's fault!   But
> that doesn't mean a whole lot when one is facing 75 pounds of growl.
> 
> Coosa
> 
> 
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> 

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