How to Handle Dogs ??

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[Kitemac]

Yesterday I went to my favorite kite flying location and had a frustrating day with 3 mph winds.  The kites often stalled and floated down to the ground.  As luck would have someone was walking their dog without a leash and he took an interest in my kite which was in the air.  The winds died, the kite floated down and the dog and I made a mad rush to the kite.  Fortunately I won and the only damage was a twisted set of dyneema lines.

Any advice how to handle dogs?

[Brian O]

Another flier experiences the joy or irresponsible pet owners who think the whole park is their unleashed dog's playground and everyone elses possessions is their dog's toys. 

Is shooting the dog out of the question ?  

[EnergonCube]

pepper spray.

[indigo_wolf]

pepper spray.

To be used on the dog    or owner  ?

ATB,
Sam

[EnergonCube]

If the conditions are right, both. 

I'm a bike rider and I have a small bottle tucked under my seat. I've been chased by a large dog on my bike before and it saved my ass. Literally.

I'm a dog lover myself and this is the only method I can think of that doesn't harm the dog and has the possibility of keeping you/the kite intact.

FYI.. small bottles are sold at most bike shops.

[indigo_wolf]

I'm a dog lover myself and this is the only method I can think of that doesn't harm the dog and has the possibility of keeping you/the kite intact.

Not something I feel compelled to get into a religious debate about... everyone is going to do whatever they are going to do. Forums don't change people's minds 

Just having a hard time reconciling with the whole "pepper spray doesn't harm the dog." theory.  Long term probably not (unless the dog has a pre-existing condition... asthma in young/middle aged dogs/cats is just not that uncommon). 

Any Oleoresin Capsicum overspray that lands on the grass will take a long time to break down and remains there for a toddler to find long after the fact (reactivating when exposed to the moisture of a wee one's mouth/eyes).

If it was a ongoing annoyance here, my very personal preference would be an alternative. 

ATB,
Sam

[chilese]

Take a picture of the dog and the owner and phone the Marshall. Have that number on your cell phone. If the guy leaves, get a picture of his license plate. Tell him, his citation will be mailed to his house.

At least this way, the dog owner gets to mull over his actions. 

[EnergonCube]

In a perfect world that's all well and good. But I'm afraid that doesn't always happen:

http://www.bluemoonfabrications.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=914

And taking a photo of the dog/owner means your kite is lost anyways and recovering the loss will most likely require a good deal of time and expense.

As I said before, I love dogs and I do not advocate pulling the pepper spray unless it's absolutely necessary. A level head and some good ol' common sense should factor in here.

As and alternative, might I suggest an air horn? It might be loud enough to scare the mess out of a dog even at a distance.

[kiteking]

I agree with John, the only way a pet owner will abide by the leash law is to be sited. Once they start paying for there "dogs are free" attitude they will think twice about letting the animal run loose. As for the kite, yes you may have trouble collecting money for replacement. As with most of my kites that are no longer manufactured the problem of replacement is mute. But my understanding is that a pet owner is liable for any damages there pet causes. I know my insurance company has no problems in reclaiming losses incurred. 


As for being at the park, I also have no problem approaching a pet owner and advising them that my kites are not intended as chew toys for there pet, and I would appreciate them keeping the pet at bay so I can enjoy the park as well.

If I get attitude then I follow Johns advise

[ezme6]

In all my years of flying I have never had a dog go after my kite.

Now bulls are a different story Had a nice MYSL stomped on once, took my lines too!

I fly in a pasture if not on the beach

[Zeke]

if they are aggressive and chase you on the bike, get a small squirt bottle and fill it with water and add a couple drops of ammonia.  Ammonia from the store is about 3%..a logical progression is... bigger dog with more aggression, add another drop of ammonia. If it keeps up, eventually the dog will be clean, smell nice and be missing a few fleas as well.  If it goes past that point, add some bacon bits to small pieces of bacon rind, suet, salt pork or other fat items, and happily toss them to the offending canine as you pass.  Years ago this method was used on a dog who had been known to knock a passing motorcyclist of his bike.  The dogs' speed and lunge was really frightening.  The total score was 2 trips to the vet for the dog, 4 visits from the rug cleaners to the house, a new rug for the living room and at least 2 visits from the police in an effort to enforce the leash laws.  A fence was put up around their yard and motor- and bicyclists advised to avoid the area if possible. The dog did eventually pass away from natural causes. As to kites being attacked, check local leash laws.  If things go from bad to worse.......................................lets just pray that the dogs master doesn't have a car with leather seats....... you just never know what a dog will find on the beach...

I was the dogs last 'almost' victim ..he missed me and slid in some sand ending up in front of an oncoming car and got bumped....

[gwm]

  I normally fly alone in a field between a hedgerow on the south and a woodline several hundred yards to the north. Twice I've had a near miss encounter with a pair that runs loose.
 It's just me against them and I just don't go out anymore without a sidearm. At 300.00 for a good kite and 2 dogs against me, I would hate to do it, but I will if I have to.

[SKITCH]

  I normally fly alone in a field between a hedgerow on the south and a woodline several hundred yards to the north. Twice I've had a near miss encounter with a pair that runs loose.
 It's just me against them and I just don't go out anymore without a sidearm. At 300.00 for a good kite and 2 dogs against me, I would hate to do it, but I will if I have to.

Kinda makes Pepper Spray look a little more animal friendly doesn't it???   

Much like kids....people should manage their animals.  In a perfect world there would not be kids screaming and running around the restaurant or running up and down the isles of the airplane...let's not even get into kids-babies in movie theatres! 

The choice of how to deal with dogs destroying property and their (at times) POS owners is a tough one that should be handled carefully. 

[Kantaxel]

At Kite Hill Seattle, I'll not take a boutique kite out of the bag on a weekend and never an irreplacable kite like a Vapor, anytime.  You see, there is an off leash area at the base of the hill and next to the lake, and the owners frequently do not leash up their dogs after visiting the dog park section.

If they pass close enough to me, (you know how the unknowing will frequently walk under your kite and lines?) I will politely tell them that this is not an off leash area, and they will usually leave.  It's as if they think no one will notice

Jim

[indigo_wolf]

It's as if they think no one will notice

Jim

My cat is the same way about food on MY plate.  I swear it was like he was raised in a barn.   

Have you ever seen a Springer Spaniel slink?

ATB,
Sam

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