Dogs

[Homer]

I enjoyed Mrs H's column in the latest CompassSport.

I've got to say that I agreed with all that she said, but suspect she will have upset a few dog owners. Good on you Mrs H, you're a braver woman than me!

Why should dog owners expect to be able to take their pets to orienteering events? What other sports can you take a dog to?

I've only been bitten once whilst our training, but suspect that's because I'm ultra cautious after a nasty experience as a child. I won't even go into the other unpleasant side effect they tend to leave around after they've exercised (their bowels)!

It would be intersting to hear of any other feedback from the article.

[King Penguin]

What other sports can you take a dog to?

.

... apart from Crufts (hardly a sport) and sheepdog trials.....

[greywolf]

What other sports can you take a dog to?

.

... apart from Crufts (hardly a sport) and sheepdog trials.....

...and sled racing with huskies (which can be quite alarming when you meet them on a narrow forest road)

[Ravinous]

http://www.canicross.co.uk/ is getting quite big - seems like they are always on leads.

[Little Hoddy]

Not many other sports are so universal either. When the whole family are going away for the weekend, finding somewhere for the dog to stay is difficult.
Normally enjoy you're articles Mrs. H, but sorry, not a fan of that one!

And yes...I am a dog owner!

[SeanC]

The percentage of dog owners bringing their dogs must be pretty small. There must be a good argument for organisers not worrying about them on cost/benefit grounds ie. we should be reducing the burden on volunteer organisers. Its only a little thing but organising orienteering events get stressful because of lots of little things.

That said she was a bit mean about dogs, there's no problem with a well trained dog. Using the same logic we could ban quite a few children and students.

[Oldman]

Using the same logic we could ban quite a few children and students.

I think you should have said most children and all students

[seabird]

Is it not the default position these days for all events that there should be no dogs unless the event literature specifically allows them?

[EddieH]

I once had a confrontation with a dog hating organiser when I failed to realise that "No dogs in the car park" meant that it was a heinous sin to drive in to drop off some equipment and drive out again with a dog IN the car.

I always respect the rules laid down, (even when insxplicably they are not allowed inside the car). Most organisers ban dogs because the landowner stipuates it - fair enough. Occasionally my request to know where I may be able to park the car is met with hostility - I guess they just HATE dogs. Reality is that I own one and I have a duty of care to it. There is always somewhere where I can park with her even if it is a few miles away - it s a bit disappointing if identifying such a place is a huge extra burden on the organiser, but when first dogs were banned totally from car parks I remember that details used to suggest what dog owners might do - very helpul all round.

Sadly there are dog owners that ignore restrictions and take their dogs anyway - this seems to me to be on a par with ignoring out of bounds areas - unacceptable.

I just plea for tolerance on both sides, not Mrs H's diatribe.

In her active days my dog gave hours of entertainment to young orienteers giving their parents peace. That was a positive service to many.

[DB]

http://www.canicross.co.uk/ is getting quite big -

We are already thinking of getting the husky downloadable calendar for 2008

[martyn]

Reading between the lines of Mrs H's CompassSport "article", it appears that the problems she experienced at SinSs, were not to do with the dogs, but more to do with their rude and ill-prepared owners who had not properly researched the event before entering, and then demanded that their pet be accommodated regardless of the restrictions on the organisers.

Unfortunately, it appears that there are a small minority of extremely rude people in our sport (why should orienteering be exempt, after all?), as we too experienced 4 years ago when we did entries for a National event weekend. An experience we have vowed never to repeat.

As orienteers of 25 years standing, and dog owners for 2, we take the view that if the event does not allow dogs, we will find some other activity to enjoy on a Sunday. If he is allowed, then we will respect the organisers' instructions (on lead, in assembly only, etc, etc), or on the occasions where there are no restrictions and we take him out on a course he always runs on his lead. As Mrs H notes herself, orienteers are generally a responsible bunch, and perhaps the bad experiences of which she (and others on this thread) speak relate to dogs [not] under the control of other users of the park/forest, and not fellow competitors.

Banning dogs is not the answer. Dealing with the minority of inconsiderate owners is.

[ER]

Well written and said Mrs H.

[johnloguk]

I'm with EddieH and Martyn on this one.

Some people can be horribly selfish and ignorant, they are the problem, not their dogs. I was a dog owner for 16 years and she never created any problems, quite the contrary. If dogs aren't allowed in the car park/assembly/competition area then fine. Like someone said, it is a rule, it is there for a reason like out of bounds, so obey it.

Let's find better ways of dealing with the people who constantly transgress these rules, rather than punish or malign the majority of responsible dog owners.

[freaky_phil]

As a dog owning family we also have to decide that if there is a "no dogs" ban then do we go to the event or not. If it is a multi day (JK/Scottish) then we may fork out for kennel fees (£10.00 per day) but usually for single day events we decide not to go at all. We always abide by the rules laid down by the organisers - "dogs allowed in car park only etc" but at many major events recently when this rule was in place there were more dogs in the assembly field than in the car park. It's not the dogs that are the problem it's dog oweners - as preached by Ceasar Milan - our hero - the Dog Whisperer.
I appreciate that in certain areas, especially in Wales, dogs cannot be accomodated due to sheep/lambing and we accept this but if the sport/organisers turn anti-dogs then our choice is easy - we'll find another sport to do.

[RJ]

As usual, in her inimitable style, Mrs H 'over eggs the pudding' with the picture of a snarling dog with fangs displayed. However...... the basic premise of her article is right.... dogs and their owners CAN be a problem at orienteering events.

The solution could be..... Dogs are fine on a lead in the car parking area only.... but only on a short lead, not one of those extendable 15m ones. Is that even a solution? Walk past a car with a dog in it and you may get barked at... scary for kids? Two dogs come face to face and start a 'fight to the death' in the registration queue. Perhaps we just need to put up with those minor disturbances... put it into perspective.... after all it is not any different to walking down the High Street and encountering the same. Yes, lets be tolerant and allow dogs in car parking areas on short leads.

Up here in Cumbria we have to be constantly aware of the farmers' requests for NO DOGS at certain times of the year, and by and large we have no problems. Some farmers are quite happy with dogs so long as they are under control (real, proper control!!!) on a lead.

However... a short anecdote....
We're parking for an event up a small valley where parking is at a premium. The farmer is very amenable. Sunday morning he is moving a dozen young cattle along the access road, right up against a fence. No problem... even the colourful lycra O tops don't excite the beasts! Suddenly, twenty metres away a Pekinese on a parcel shelf in the back of a car 'yaps' for all its worth. Cattle are now on a stampede. Farmer..... happy? Hmmmm!

Dogs at events.... yes... but on a short lead please!

BTW... I am not currently a dog owner, but in the past have had a couple of working dogs.