[Randito]

[RumiDude]

[Just_Some_Hiker]

[joker]

I haven't been threatened (though have seen a few dogs that I didn't turn my back on as they passed off leash, given their vibe), but more than one off leash dog has come up with clear intent to go after my dog. I've always put myself in the middle (in major dog intimidation posture) which has at least bought enough time for the stupid owner to come running up and get their dog under control. I've also had a dumb guy hiking Rattlesnake ledges in big winter mountaineering boots stomp on my elderly dog's paw because he was too impatient to let us take a few more seconds to finish a tight stretch of eroded trail just below the first ledge (dog let out loud yelp, which may perhaps please Nordique? I was not amused...). Selfish and ignorant behavior abounds, but fortunately these types of events are fairly rare for us.

[Malachai Constant]

I have been threatened by by dogs on a few occasions without problems. That caused problems is when they threatened my kids, on green mountain one was menacing my daughter and I raised my ice axe to defend her, their kids yelled, "don't kill our dog"!. I kept cool, but I think the lesson was learned. Parents will attack anything that menaces their kids. So it goes.

[treeswarper]

So for the dog mangler wannabes, here's my bad walking person story. I had about a half acre, all fenced. It had a car sized double gate that was sometimes hard to manage. I had a less than a year old Golden Retriever pup. If you have had dogs, you will know that that is a hyper active age and a happy age. She escaped the yard while I was going out the gate to go to work. Right at our driveway was a little old lady carrying a baseball bat, about to swing and hit my dog, who was running up to greet her. I did some pretty loud yelling AT THE WOMAN and saved my dog. Yeah, my dog wasn't supposed to be out, but she got out and anybody who has had animals knows that they get out once in a while. I got my dog back in, unsmashed. Nordique, you sound like you have a real problem if you get delight in stabbing leashed up dogs or even friendly unleashed dogs. Please stay away from my area. I might make you give me your info and send you a vet bill. Don't touch my dog unless I say it is OK. Thinking about using pepper spray? A friend of mine does that while walking her dog and can't seem to spray the scary dogs without getting on her a bit. And, once again, LEASHES ARE NOT REQUIRED EVERYWHERE--in fact very few trails around me require dogs to be on leash. Period.

Loaded for the return to the pickup.

[Doppelganger]

[JonnyQuest]

[Patient Pete]

Perhaps a ZAP stick would well in these circumstances. Its a hiking stick that has one million volts and would give a good reminder that not all hikers like to see loose dogs running at them on the trail!

[robertjoy]

I could hardly believe the comment of Nordique, who actually sharpens the tips of his trekking poles to enable him to use them as a weapon. And not simply as a defense against an AGGRESSIVE dog, but on any dog LEASHED OR UNLEASHED that "gets too close". Trails are usually narrow, so this means any dog he passes is fair game? Do I need to carry a revolver to defend myself and my polite dog in case Mr Rambo Nordique is approaching us on the trail? This sort of talk is more contemptible than macho.

[joker]

His comment struck me as so absurd on multiple levels that I assume it was an attempt at humor, and not something he really does.

[KekistaniProphet]

LMAO at this thread. Yeah we are soooo going to make progress on this issue when certain viewpoints are censored outright. When I'm on some one else's property performing work (that they asked for!) I tell them to keep their dog away or they don't get their service. If they don't comply I leave. I'll never get fired for that because guess what I could sue both the property owner and my employer if my employer tried to send me back there. Similarly on a trail with an out of control off leash dog I make it very apparent to the dog and owner I will use whatever means I have to to protect my self from being injured. And guess what? It works because the owners with "such nice dogs" suddenly want their dogs on leashes. Then again not sure what I'm expecting here since this is the same crowd that claims dogs like to climb up broken talus fields and enjoy the views from the tops of mountains. Delusional thinking.

[KekistaniProphet]

[HitTheTrail]

I got attacked by two big unleashed aggressive dogs about 5 miles up the Icicle River trail several years ago when I was on my way to do the Chain Lakes loop . I held them at bay with my trekking poles that happened to be equipped with Trek Talonz rather than plastic baskets. The dog owner and I had a brief exchange of ideas and we both went about our day. She explained the dogs were being protective of her children who were playing nearby and I accepted that.

Trek Talonz

BTW, Trek Talonz also work great in rocks and on wet logs when crossing streams. I never leave home without them when there is no snow on the ground.

[JonnyQuest]

First off, CC, I'm sorry for your encounter. As a hopefully responsible dog owner, situations like this give all dogs and dog owners a bad rap. For your situation, a stern conversation with the owners would have been warranted, including a request for contact information pending the outcome of your bite. Now my take on the broader topic... IF dogs are aggressive, you should have a right to self-defense. Reasonable self defense. IF dogs are not aggressive, but the owners are not following the rules specific to the trail (dogs not allowed, not on leash, not under voice control, etc.) then a conversation with the owners would be reasonable. If dogs are not aggressive and the owners are following the rules specific to the trail, but you don't agree that dogs should be allowed on that (or any) trail, then take up the conversation with the managing agency. Don't play vigilante with the dog or owner, or expect bemoaning on social media to enact change.