random rant

[Judy]

Odd isn't it? No doubt we'll get back to normal soon.

[newf]

In considerate people and their garbage is definitely universal. In my neck of the woods, anything that can be driven on by two or four wheel is someone's convenient place to dump all sorts of crap. Snow gone, early spring and no leaf, highlights how low individuals can be with this abuse.

Out driving my atv I've come across half a dozen snowmobile helmets, large plastic buckets that contained kitty litter at one time and of course the ubiquitous broken beer bottle in the road side ditches. The latter, is my real concern since I do hunt logging roads and old trails. And it seems, no matter how far whether a 1 km or forty from town the brown 'shrapnel' is lurking as a danger to my dogs. Goes to show, unchecked behavior doesn't get better, if anything, it gets worst, even with today's emphasis on education about environment and personal responsibility. That is why, positive reinforcement is not always good Naj. The culprits feel good about unloading junk conveniently and cheaply.

[Naj]

In considerate people and their garbage is definitely universal. In my neck of the woods, anything that can be driven on by two or four wheel is someone's convenient place to dump all sorts of crap. Snow gone, early spring and no leaf, highlights how low individuals can be with this abuse.

Out driving my atv I've come across half a dozen snowmobile helmets, large plastic buckets that contained kitty litter at one time and of course the ubiquitous broken beer bottle in the road side ditches. The latter, is my real concern since I do hunt logging roads and old trails. And it seems, no matter how far whether a 1 km or forty from town the brown 'shrapnel' is lurking as a danger to my dogs. Goes to show, unchecked behavior doesn't get better, if anything, it gets worst, even with today's emphasis on education about environment and personal responsibility. That is why, positive reinforcement is not always good Naj. The culprits feel good about unloading junk conveniently and cheaply.

Positive doesn’t mean permissive, Newf.

[Judy]

Giving some of these little "rascals" a good punishment would be very positive in my book. Besides if positive isn't permissive how come your pup chases birds, Naj?

[MavRL13]

Good place for a rant you say…

Walking the dogs this aft, before i get to my desired unpopular muddy fields, one section of the route is quite popular with others. I clock this woman and her two largish dogs (some sort of doodle and a lurcher type) coming towards me and shes reeling in the extendies with her arms like shes on a cross trainer. A quick whistle and mine are at my heels. She stops about 20yard ahead in the middle of the bloody path, dogs on leads 6ft in front, the leads so taught you could play a decent oasis riff on them i reckon.

“Are they alright???” she shouts as i get nearer.

What? These two here with their noses in the back of my left knee? Who just span on the spot to run back here when told? What do you reckon? FFS

“Mine can be a bit funny” she adds after my audible laugh out loud at her question… you don't say!

I’m sure there was just some anxiety seeing two dogs with no leads approaching her two anxious dogs but c’mon, know your audience!!

[PRH]

/\ what amazes me with that picture his how utterly miserable it must be taking dogs like that out for a walk, yet how many people do it. Shoulders straining at the sockets, constantly flustered and stressing about any interaction with another dog. I'd rather not bother.

I think you missed an opportunity to sell her a magic whistle though....

[munstyman]

Yeah I feel your pain..... nearly every day I would add to your rant with the emphasis on the `stopping' in the way, the path, track, gateway or gap in the hedge!!! Do they expect the other person to turn around and walk away when they clearly are going past?
Head on head on is seen as a threat by dogs, more so in that if the dog is on a lead or being constrained it can not naturally bow around the other dog to make a proper assessment and give the right signals. The monkey on the other end of the lead fails to recognise this basic behavior and then wonders why their dog gets anxious/aggressive when they encounter other dogs coming directly at them ( Cani-cross take note )
When I can, I always bow around oncoming dogs out of courtesy to spare the other dog the ignorance of it's owner. But there is little I can do if the option is not there and they are standing in the way. It gets even better when their dog makes the decision to lie down and dictates to the owner to stay put, especially if the dog is an overweight lab ( all those treats have consequences )
I have to share this mornings observation of one lady `trainer' ( has all the kit, treat bag, etc ) With a young boxer cross on a harness ... and flexilead On the positive she was off the track in the field to one side. Dog is bouncing around clearly wanting to go see the spaniel 80m away on the other side of the field. I emerge through the hedge 30 m away having already spotted her before clearing the hedge. My dog is quietly returned to heel and lead is slipped on as we were going past, still 20m away. Dog spots mine so is now focused on mine, still excited. Woman is jibber jabbering to dog, eventually I hear her command sit, two or three times where upon the dog eventually sits ..... Nothing from the `trainer', no marking, no treat, no praise NOTHING Then `STAY' at which point the dog breaks its sit and continues jumping around and then the jibber jabber starts all over again.
While I was tempted to go over and give her a few tips, the first of which was to get the basics installed in a non-distractive environment, as what they have trained is still miles away from `proofing'. But I didn't have the kit on and treat bag and use a slip lead so what would I know I continued on my way , released my dog to continue her walk and listened to the jibber jabber continue on the wind for the next 50m thinking Naj you don't know how good you have it out in the back of beyond

[Nickheref]

Yeah I feel your pain..... nearly every day I would add to your rant with the emphasis on the `stopping' in the way, the path, track, gateway or gap in the hedge!!! Do they expect the other person to turn around and walk away when they clearly are going past?

Never mind dogs, walkers on very narrow lanes who split into two groups on either side leaving me with the decision of which group to run over!!!
No, Naj needs to see some of training going on out there, fortunately it is going back to pre covid numbers here particularly when the weather is bad!

[munstyman]

Never mind dogs, walkers on very narrow lanes who split into two groups on either side leaving me with the decision of which group to run over!!!

It is a time like that I wish I had my windscreen washers set badly like several I follow on the road, to miss the windscreen entirely and soak anyone either side or behind

[MavRL13]

I would add to your rant with the emphasis on the `stopping' in the way, the path, track

Oh man the blocking the path thing winds me up something chronic… also when they can can see me walking with my dogs at heel and putting them on my left and walking on the left side of the path, to allow their mardy dog some space, why the feck do they walk down the middle with their dog on their right (or just zig zagging)??!!