redbarber
Well-known member
I'm a dog lover. I've almost never been without at least one dog, and I've had as many as 15 at one time. (Okay is was mother, father and 13 pups, but still...). Currently I have a 16 pound terrier mix named Scruffy. He goes EVERYWHERE with us, even riding in a special carrier on the back of my DW's three wheeler when we ride bikes. Naturally he goes with us camping.
Nearly every camping facility I've ever stayed in over the past 40 years has had the same policy regarding dogs. That is, dogs must be kept on a leash or in a pen or cage at ALL times while in the campground. I don't think I've ever seen it any other way. That's fine with me, I have a 30 foot "trolley" that I put out between my trailer and a nearby tree, to give Scruffy plenty of room to stretch his legs. Even then, I don't just leave him out all the time, but he gets put on the leash a few times every day, sometimes when we are not outside with him.
Last weekend, we were staying at a campground on Lake Lanier here in Georgia. A new neighbor pulled in above us in a Class A MH. The next thing I know there are two BULL MASTIFFS wandering around sniffing my campsite. Luckily my mutt was inside at the time! I asked the owner to please observe the leash rules, and he blew me off. He said that his dogs were friendly, harmless and never left his immediate area.
Before I even recovered my composure, another neighbor pulled a 5er in just below my site. Within 30 minutes, a huge Boxer (I'd estimate well over 120 lbs), was walking around that site with no leash or control whatever. Honestly, I was afraid for my little dogs safety. Scruffy doesn't realize he's little, and would bark his head off if he saw these other dogs. With him restrained on a leash, and the other dogs free to roam, he'd be a sitting duck! I spoke to the boxer's owner, and got the same kind of response I got from the Mastiffs owner.
I spoke with the campground staff, but the best I can tell, nothing became of it.
I don't remember this happening more than one or two times before in a lifetime of camping. Now to have two separate incidents in the same day, I'm blown away. Is this "the rules don't apply to me" attitude spreading? I understand that EVERY dog owner thinks that their puppy is somehow special and better behaved than the rest.
I'd love to hear what others have experienced, how they've dealt with it, and any suggestions should it happen again. I realize that at least one or two people will say I'm making a mountain out of a molehill, and at least a couple will insist that I thrive on drama. So be it. I just hope nobody tries to justify why THEY don't keep their dog leashed. I'm not sure how nice I could be in response.
Nearly every camping facility I've ever stayed in over the past 40 years has had the same policy regarding dogs. That is, dogs must be kept on a leash or in a pen or cage at ALL times while in the campground. I don't think I've ever seen it any other way. That's fine with me, I have a 30 foot "trolley" that I put out between my trailer and a nearby tree, to give Scruffy plenty of room to stretch his legs. Even then, I don't just leave him out all the time, but he gets put on the leash a few times every day, sometimes when we are not outside with him.
Last weekend, we were staying at a campground on Lake Lanier here in Georgia. A new neighbor pulled in above us in a Class A MH. The next thing I know there are two BULL MASTIFFS wandering around sniffing my campsite. Luckily my mutt was inside at the time! I asked the owner to please observe the leash rules, and he blew me off. He said that his dogs were friendly, harmless and never left his immediate area.
Before I even recovered my composure, another neighbor pulled a 5er in just below my site. Within 30 minutes, a huge Boxer (I'd estimate well over 120 lbs), was walking around that site with no leash or control whatever. Honestly, I was afraid for my little dogs safety. Scruffy doesn't realize he's little, and would bark his head off if he saw these other dogs. With him restrained on a leash, and the other dogs free to roam, he'd be a sitting duck! I spoke to the boxer's owner, and got the same kind of response I got from the Mastiffs owner.
I spoke with the campground staff, but the best I can tell, nothing became of it.
I don't remember this happening more than one or two times before in a lifetime of camping. Now to have two separate incidents in the same day, I'm blown away. Is this "the rules don't apply to me" attitude spreading? I understand that EVERY dog owner thinks that their puppy is somehow special and better behaved than the rest.
I'd love to hear what others have experienced, how they've dealt with it, and any suggestions should it happen again. I realize that at least one or two people will say I'm making a mountain out of a molehill, and at least a couple will insist that I thrive on drama. So be it. I just hope nobody tries to justify why THEY don't keep their dog leashed. I'm not sure how nice I could be in response.