Just got back from playing a round . Threw off to the first tee. Before I could move a German Shepard ran out from the trees grabbed my disk and ran back into the trees. I managed to find the owner who was very nice but told me his dogs are never on a leach because they are so well behaved. .............KEep you dogs on a leach in public
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dogs on leases
- Thread starter Disc Golf Doctor
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riltim
Eagle Member
I've been bit by a dog in the past and consequently am uncomfortable/nervous around dogs I do not know. My home course is lousy with park goers that let their dog off leash and run free. Sadly I now carry a folding knife in my bag for that reason alone.
I don't own a dog, but I like dogs. My experience while playing dg is this, I have never had a problem with a dog who was with a disc golfer and fellow players. What I do have a problem with is the person who brings their dog to the park and turns it loose and then bury their head in their cellphone while the dog roams 300+ yards from him/her, and if that person has two or more dogs, it is way worse.
Dogs need exercise and the stimulation of being outdoors and parks are a great place for it. But, at the end of the day, most parks have rules that a dog is supposed to be on a leash and the owner should be aware of that. If they choose to not obey this rule, they should be very aware of where their dog is and what they are doing or may do.
Dogs need exercise and the stimulation of being outdoors and parks are a great place for it. But, at the end of the day, most parks have rules that a dog is supposed to be on a leash and the owner should be aware of that. If they choose to not obey this rule, they should be very aware of where their dog is and what they are doing or may do.
slowplastic
* Ace Member *
- Joined
- Jul 11, 2014
- Messages
- 6,254
Yeah all this is why I keep my guy on a leash when I play. Everyone is there to disc golf and focus on disc golf, and I don't want to affect that for others. He couldn't care less about flying discs, but he'll also wander under the basket and be unaware, which would definitely affect someone's putting focus.
There are areas of courses where there will be a pocket of a few holes off on their own and then they come back to the main course...if noone is there I will let him off. He is good, he comes, but the main thing is there is nobody to affect.
The thing is...lots of people have their dogs off leash. They will come over and want to play with mine. One dog on leash and one dog off leash is a bad combination. In that situation the way to avoid aggression is to actually let mine off for 30 seconds so that it isn't an unfair situation, then he can get back to me after a jog and get back on leash. This is obviously the "wrong" thing but the other people are not coming to leash their dogs. And it is less of a situation to everyone around than trying handle a dog on leash running in circles trying to trip up people like they are AT-AT's.
There are areas of courses where there will be a pocket of a few holes off on their own and then they come back to the main course...if noone is there I will let him off. He is good, he comes, but the main thing is there is nobody to affect.
The thing is...lots of people have their dogs off leash. They will come over and want to play with mine. One dog on leash and one dog off leash is a bad combination. In that situation the way to avoid aggression is to actually let mine off for 30 seconds so that it isn't an unfair situation, then he can get back to me after a jog and get back on leash. This is obviously the "wrong" thing but the other people are not coming to leash their dogs. And it is less of a situation to everyone around than trying handle a dog on leash running in circles trying to trip up people like they are AT-AT's.
Lazerface
Eagle Member
Put your dog on a leash.
I believe your dog is nice, but I had a guy's unleashed pitbull try to murder me one time and that guy said the same thing. "He has never done anything like that before, he's a nice dog". Dogs will do crazy stuff in unfamiliar areas around unfamiliar people and other dogs. I walked up on a tee pad that was the notorious chill spot at this particular course with some railroad tie style benches. This guy's dog was sitting under the bench between his legs and when I came around the corner heading straight toward the owner the dog felt threatened. I don't blame the dog. It literally took 3 steps and leapt into the air, jaws open, heading straight for my throat. I leaned back a bit and the dog somehow only got my teeshirt - he ripped a large triangle out of it from my collar down. I was VERY LUCKY. With my adrenaline high I had some choice words for the owner and reminded me how bad that could of been if it was a young kid walking around the corner. I know this is an extreme example, but it's exactly why you ALWAYS leash your dog in public areas, especially parks. I 100% believe this was a nice dog who never showed aggression before and that is why the owner thought it would be OK for it not to be leashed.
I have buddies that don't leach their dogs and they are great dogs. Fun to have around honestly, but animals can be unpredictable at times you know.
I believe your dog is nice, but I had a guy's unleashed pitbull try to murder me one time and that guy said the same thing. "He has never done anything like that before, he's a nice dog". Dogs will do crazy stuff in unfamiliar areas around unfamiliar people and other dogs. I walked up on a tee pad that was the notorious chill spot at this particular course with some railroad tie style benches. This guy's dog was sitting under the bench between his legs and when I came around the corner heading straight toward the owner the dog felt threatened. I don't blame the dog. It literally took 3 steps and leapt into the air, jaws open, heading straight for my throat. I leaned back a bit and the dog somehow only got my teeshirt - he ripped a large triangle out of it from my collar down. I was VERY LUCKY. With my adrenaline high I had some choice words for the owner and reminded me how bad that could of been if it was a young kid walking around the corner. I know this is an extreme example, but it's exactly why you ALWAYS leash your dog in public areas, especially parks. I 100% believe this was a nice dog who never showed aggression before and that is why the owner thought it would be OK for it not to be leashed.
I have buddies that don't leach their dogs and they are great dogs. Fun to have around honestly, but animals can be unpredictable at times you know.
SampsonDog
Newbie
- Joined
- May 29, 2017
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- 2
That may be a thing in the south, lol. You're gross
Have you ever thought of less lethal means for dealing with dogs?
Deej
Par Member
Cattle prods are "less lethal". I bet that'd stop a dog right in his tracks. Might work on an owner of an unleashed dog as well...
mistabman
Bogey Member
Dogs are super annoying on the disc golf course, leashed or unleashed. Please leave your pets at home.
riltim
Eagle Member
Like what, tell the dog "Please don't bite me."?
I'm not some lunatic that takes any joy in hurting anything. Hell if I accidentally run over a squirrel with my car it ruins my day. But I've had 2 instances over the past 8 years playing disc golf where a large dog has charged me, ears back, and barking. Luckily the owner was able to call them back and I wasn't bit but it's not a chance I'm willing to take anymore.
I've been charged while hiking quite a few times, but no problems at the course. If I did, I guess I'd carry pepper spray or mace. If the owner doesn't like it I'd say, "Hey, consider yourself lucky it's just pepper spray...I know a guy who carries a knife"!
Because how is anyone else to know?
Even extremely well trained dogs, like professionally trained dogs, can react unpredictably. How would your "truly" well trained dog react to another dog charging and biting him? I can tell you: he'd fight back. And now you have a fighting dog off a leash. GL getting that under control.
Literally everyone I know with a dog would tell you theirs is "truly" well trained. Literally everyone I know with a dog would be lying.
Sounds like Doc is your typical entitled dog owner, and upon seeing the backlash for admitting to having his dog off leash and STILL complaining about other dogs off leash, he's trying to backtrack like that's not what he meant.
Couple of thoughts that haven't been covered.
First, if there are leash laws in the jurisdiction where you are playing, and the park is public, keep your dog on a leash for the sake of all of us. I've been playing disc golf for 16 years, much longer than most. There is a lot of time and effort that goes into getting a course established on public property. Unfortunately, many folks in the communities may not like disc golf and are looking for any reason to bring it before a city/county commission to have it removed. I'm serious when I say that allowing your dog to go without a leash, despite whether or not you think it is a "well behaved" dog, jeopardizes the course. That's just a fact. I can assure you that public courses have been pulled for much less than dog bites, and those of us who've been around for a while understand. If the course is on private land and the owner is cool with a dog, by all means. But in a public park, they need to be on a leash or at home.
Secondly, I am an insurance executive by trade. Currently, the largest claim my company is facing involves a vicious dog attack. There are about 15-20 breeds of dogs that are excluded from most homeowners insurance policies. An HO policy does cover your liability stemming from activities outside of your premises. This was one of the excluded types of dogs, however, the underwriter allowed the dog because it was a professionally-trained service dog. The owner took the dog to a park and sat down on a bench to read. A child, age 6, was walking her small dog, which was on a leash. The parents were only a few feet away, and they assumed a service dog was obedient. The service dog bit the small dog, killing it instantly, and in it's fervor curled the child into the fray as the leash was wrapped around the child's wrist. The service dog then continued to maul the child until the parents were able to wrestle the service dog off. The resulting damage was nearly 7 million dollars in medical bills and plastic surgery. The child did survive. The owner was an old rich guy with a huge Umbrella policy so he had enough insurance that the company is covering the entire claim. All that to say, dog attacks are a huge issue. Most people think they have coverage for their animals, but if you have a Pit bull, Rottweiler, Akita, German Shepherd, unless you have a specific endorsement on your policy, you don't have coverage in the event of that liability loss. And if you're a renter, I can guarantee you don't have enough liability coverage for any dog attack regardless of what type of dog. Bottom line, anytime you let the dog off the leash, you could be setting yourself up for HUGE financial ruin. On top of that, you could be sued for negligence and hit with punitive damages as well. It's not worth it, and I see these claims daily. Be smart.
First, if there are leash laws in the jurisdiction where you are playing, and the park is public, keep your dog on a leash for the sake of all of us. I've been playing disc golf for 16 years, much longer than most. There is a lot of time and effort that goes into getting a course established on public property. Unfortunately, many folks in the communities may not like disc golf and are looking for any reason to bring it before a city/county commission to have it removed. I'm serious when I say that allowing your dog to go without a leash, despite whether or not you think it is a "well behaved" dog, jeopardizes the course. That's just a fact. I can assure you that public courses have been pulled for much less than dog bites, and those of us who've been around for a while understand. If the course is on private land and the owner is cool with a dog, by all means. But in a public park, they need to be on a leash or at home.
Secondly, I am an insurance executive by trade. Currently, the largest claim my company is facing involves a vicious dog attack. There are about 15-20 breeds of dogs that are excluded from most homeowners insurance policies. An HO policy does cover your liability stemming from activities outside of your premises. This was one of the excluded types of dogs, however, the underwriter allowed the dog because it was a professionally-trained service dog. The owner took the dog to a park and sat down on a bench to read. A child, age 6, was walking her small dog, which was on a leash. The parents were only a few feet away, and they assumed a service dog was obedient. The service dog bit the small dog, killing it instantly, and in it's fervor curled the child into the fray as the leash was wrapped around the child's wrist. The service dog then continued to maul the child until the parents were able to wrestle the service dog off. The resulting damage was nearly 7 million dollars in medical bills and plastic surgery. The child did survive. The owner was an old rich guy with a huge Umbrella policy so he had enough insurance that the company is covering the entire claim. All that to say, dog attacks are a huge issue. Most people think they have coverage for their animals, but if you have a Pit bull, Rottweiler, Akita, German Shepherd, unless you have a specific endorsement on your policy, you don't have coverage in the event of that liability loss. And if you're a renter, I can guarantee you don't have enough liability coverage for any dog attack regardless of what type of dog. Bottom line, anytime you let the dog off the leash, you could be setting yourself up for HUGE financial ruin. On top of that, you could be sued for negligence and hit with punitive damages as well. It's not worth it, and I see these claims daily. Be smart.
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F.Luke
Double Eagle Member
Besides, the knife in the bag is inaccessible in a sudden situation. A large stick cracked across the dog's head is a capable deterrent and WAY less messy.
dysmike
Double Eagle Member
Good luck with a leash, to be honest. (actually, that [having a leashed dog and an unleashed dog that are fighting] can just make the situation worse... go figure)
Future_Primitive
Double Eagle Member
- Joined
- Nov 15, 2012
- Messages
- 1,770
Best practice is to assume not everybody likes dogs so keep them leashed. It shouldnt be up to the dog to decide who he/she interacts with, it should be a decision by each individual person you come across. If they like dogs and want to meet/pet your dog then most likely they will ask you if its okay. And if they dont like dogs they will pass right on by without any issues. I dont want to put my dogs health in jeopardy simply because I chose to let him run loose and unsupervised so I keep him leashed and safe as possible.
- Joined
- Dec 19, 2009
- Messages
- 6,855
And, please, if your dog is on a leash don't give him so much slack - or bring him over - so that he can come "greet" me. I'll walk closer if I want to interact.
joecoin
* Ace Member *
- Joined
- Aug 14, 2013
- Messages
- 2,335
E) leech
Hampstead
* Ace Member *
Dogs, please spay or neuter your humans and if in public, please keep them on a leash.
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