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apogee
climber
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Topic Author's Original Post - May 10, 2010 - 02:01am PT
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Yeah, I know this is a well-trodden subject. Anyway....
I was at Tahquitz yesterday, and on our way to our chosen route, my partner & I happened upon a puppy (~7 months) secured with a leash to a tree at the base of a route. There was one of those dog water/bowl deals nearby, but the bowl/tray was empty. The owners had just started up a classic, very easy Tahquitz route, and were working on the first pitch (a jungly pitch that goes at about Cl. 4.d). Noting that the dog's bowl was dry, I asked if this was their dog, which they confirmed- I then let them know the dog had no water. They said not to worry, that the dog had had lots to drink already- not satisfied, I offered to pour more water from the bottle lying next to the bowl. They said fine....unfortunately, the bottle was empty. So, I poured the pup some water from my own pack, and informed the owners that I had done so. They said thank you, and continued on their route.
Since our arrival, and for hours afterward, the pup barked and leaned anxiously towards the crags. The dog shook nervously, and was obviously quite afraid of everything around it. Our route was adjacent to theirs, and I watched them climb it...very, very, very slowly. The dog continued to bark periodically, and we could hear it all afternoon. We topped out, and returned to our packs to find the dog still there, barking, and the owners nowhere in sight. Still terrified, and had soiled it's water dish, which we rinsed and replaced. My partner was especially disturbed by this, since he has recently acquired a pup of a similar age. The pup had a shock-collar on, which was exceptionally tight- the contacts were placed on each side of it's throat. Not sure where the remote control was. Eventually, we moved on.
That really sucked.
As we walked off, we talked about things we would have liked to have done- had we a pen and paper, we talked about penning a respectful note describing the concern, and offering that they might consider alternatives for the future. We also discussed more drastic measures, like taking the dog with us, and leaving a note on the owner's car as to how to contact us and retrieve their dog.
I know a lot of people really like having their dogs with them at the crags, and in many cases the dogs do just fine, and are quite enjoyable. (I've been known to do the same with my pup.) Too many times, though, bad shite like this happens, and it really sucks. I don't know any of the circumstances behind the type of dog owners these folks are- they very well may be good people, and at worst, simply ignorant (in a non-pejorative sense). What I do know is that an innocent animal had a really sucky day at the crags for reasons it has no understanding of, and there were lots of other people around that heard all about it.
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labrat
Trad climber
Nevada City, CA
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May 10, 2010 - 02:07am PT
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Nice post!
Erik
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Sherri
Trad climber
WA
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May 10, 2010 - 02:38am PT
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Well stated, Apogee. So sorry for the pup's bad day, not to mention the unfair burden its owners placed on any compassionate climbers within sight/earshot of it. :(
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Delhi Dog
Trad climber
Good Question...
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May 10, 2010 - 02:48am PT
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Tie the owners to the tree with a shock collar (tight!), with an empty dish and leave 'em for (let's see 1 human year equals 7 dog years...so one human day equals...) that long. Let them whine all day and ignore them.
No excuse as far as I can see.
Cruel.
You are to be commended for your self control.
That dog will remember to bark whenever it goes to the crags, and will probably associate rocks with depression, fright, and frustration...
Cheers,
DD
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W. S.
Sport climber
Montana/France
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May 10, 2010 - 03:16am PT
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A dog once dug into my pack and ate my sandwich while I was belaying. That was irritating, but I think the dog was pretty happy. As much as I like dogs, I don't think they belong at the crag. With single pitch climbing, it can maybe be done reasonably, but if you're multi-pitching I'd say tying the dog up at the base is unacceptable. If you want to climb, climb. If you want to spend time with your dog, spend time with your dog. But don't fool yourself by thinking that tying up your dog while you climb is a good idea for anybody involved.
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Prezwoodz
climber
Anchorage
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May 10, 2010 - 03:25am PT
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I dont really feel dogs belong at crags, they are usually just annoying and distractions to their owners or others. It can be frustrating looking at your belayer and having them yelling at their dog. Who cares about the stupid dog? Pay attention here!!
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Tom
Big Wall climber
San Luis Obispo CA
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May 10, 2010 - 05:00am PT
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What sort of dork takes his best friend out for a day outdoors, and then says, "Hey, now watch what I get to do .... and you can't." And then ties the hapless animal to a tree, and leaves it to wonder if it's been abandoned.
Anyone who wants to take their pet to the crag should get a monkey. And train it to set top-ropes.
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Chiloe
Trad climber
Lee, NH
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May 10, 2010 - 08:16am PT
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This is like a crag version of that Animal Planet show where animal-control officers have to rescue abused pets from their owners. Confronted, the owners more often seem just stupid than cruel.
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rlf
Trad climber
Josh, CA
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May 10, 2010 - 09:13am PT
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Idiots.
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tooth
Trad climber
The Best Place On Earth
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May 10, 2010 - 10:21am PT
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Was climbing at Sakha yesterday and there were at tonnes of people there with their dogs. What a great place!
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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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May 10, 2010 - 10:26am PT
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Simply stated- dogs DO NOT belong at climbing areas unless they are well behaved and well cared for which is often not the case.
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Studly
Trad climber
WA
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May 10, 2010 - 10:28am PT
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I thought this thread was a reference to UGLY CHICKS at the crag, imagine my relief to find out it was just another bitchethon about dogs.
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Studly
Trad climber
WA
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May 10, 2010 - 10:51am PT
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and no as#@&%es! Sorry Medusa!
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Chaz
Trad climber
greater Boss Angeles area
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May 10, 2010 - 12:02pm PT
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A seven-month-old puppy shouldn't have even been forced to make the approach to Taquitz. At that age their joints are prone to over-use injury that will dog them the rest of their lives.
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quartziteflight
climber
Who knows?
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May 10, 2010 - 12:03pm PT
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Studly,
Ugly chics at the crags, hahaha thats f8cking priceless!
beware the hosebeast!
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Seamstress
Trad climber
Yacolt, WA
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May 10, 2010 - 12:11pm PT
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I am not a dog lover. You might get me to agree that a well behaved dog can be at a single pitch crag with a party of 3 or more - so someone is always with the dog. When we took our little kid to the crags, we always had a party of 3 so someone could be with the child.
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Daphne
Trad climber
Mill Valley, CA
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May 10, 2010 - 12:16pm PT
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This post comes at a timely moment for me. For months I have been yearning to get a dog again. My old Charlie was put down in 2005 and during his life I wasn't climbing/skiing every weekend.
I just can't figure out how to climb and ski and also have a dog. What do you do with your dog every weekend when you are away on climbing trips, either multi-pitch routes or routes with hard approaches, and what about skiing all day-- the car is too cold, and in summer, the car is too hot.
I guess this is why people have cats.
I like cats.
But I love dogs.
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Mighty Hiker
climber
Vancouver, B.C.
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May 10, 2010 - 12:19pm PT
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donini: Simply stated- dogs DO NOT belong at climbing areas unless they are well behaved and well cared for which is often not the case. What if they're belayed to a blue camalot?
Anyway, generally agreed - most dogs do belong in nature, running about under the active supervision of their owners. They don't belong at crags. I expect that eventually dogs (especially off-leash!) will be banned at Skaha, given their adverse effect on wildlife, especially mountain sheep, but also general anti-environmental behaviours. The area became a park as much for the sheep as the humans, after all.
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GDavis
Social climber
SOL CAL
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May 10, 2010 - 12:24pm PT
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A while back at tahquitz I was coming down the friction descent and passing Open Book when from the bushes there was a pretty gnarly sounding bark. Having been mauled before as a child I have a natural disdain for agressive dogs, so went over to see, and there was an angry pit bull 'guarding' the packs while the climbers were on some route, we couldn't see. At first I thought it must have been a stray who wandered up the trail, but nope, about a 3 foot leash and no water. Barking like MAD - echoing hard off the big walls next to us. I started yelling up to see if someone owned it, and no response came. Never found out who brought it up there.
I never get why you would do that. "But honey, we gotta bring the dog."
What the hell? Sport crags, thats cool, even if they are a bit annoying, I can usually deal without being bothered. I love my 2 year old boxer and would love to take him to crags, but he is just too intense and hyper, so I don't. Some people don't give a sh!t.
And of course there are always those cool dogs with good owners who make your day nicer, but thats a seperate thread :D
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bluering
Trad climber
Santa Clara, Ca.
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May 10, 2010 - 12:35pm PT
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Daphne, for day trips leave the dog home. Weekends or longer, my mother-in-law is kind enough to welcome a 5th dog into her home.
I suppose a friend works just as well, if they're a dog person and willing.
Some dogs are o.k. at the crags, most aren't...
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