Pet etiquette in Quartside

[Traveling Vanlady]

This will be my first time at the RTR.  Originally, Bob said that dogs ran in packs and then recently there was a video stating the Rangers required dogs to be leashed.  

I have a service dog who is always leashed in public.  She can be off leash but she won't leave me. What should I expect at the RTR ?   Is there something I should train for that is not normal good dog behavior?  I am the new kid and am not asking for changes or special accessions. I want to fit in comfortably with my dog.


Any suggestions or comments will be greatly appreciated,
Dell

 

[MrNoodly]

They don't actually run in packs. Most are left off leash and they wander and play. However, some dogs are territorial or poorly socialized, which can lead to fights and attacks. So leashes are the new policy. Some people might say, "But my dog is well behaved and friendly." Fine, but other dogs might not be, and if one wants to get into it with your dog, you'll be able to yank your dog out of trouble.

The other problem is that some dog owners seem to be deaf to their own dog's barking. Sometimes hours of endless barking. Dog etiquette means keeping your dog quiet. "I tried" is a lame excuse. It really just means someone is a crappy dog owner. Because if he/she had really tried, had really trained the animal, it wouldn't bark like that.

 

[akrvbob]

This will be the first year with a leash rule, so it's too early to know how it will go. Remember, no one at the RTR has any enforcement authority so we are going to depend on common courtesy, I'll make the rule well know every day and if there is enough social pressure, I hope it will be well followed.

But we can't make any promises.

 

[StarEcho]

Well that kinda sucks for my poor dog.  Guess he will have to stay in the trailer and whine while I attend any seminars, if I get to attend any seminars since if he whines in the trailer it will "bother" someone.  And being the crappy human that I am, I haven't trained him out of being attached to me and whining when I leave.  

Just for my info, where is this video that says there is a leash law?  I googled leash law quartzsite, az and got nothing pertinent.  Is this going to be on all blm land in AZ then?  If so, then for my dogs's sake I might just have to suck it down and be cold in Colorado because at least here he has a yard and can run free at times during the day.

 

[dragonflyinthesky]

Star echo, ck your inbox here.

 

[ArtW]

you can still have your dog with you, just on a leash, if the dog is truly welll behaved, there should be no issue

 

[dragonflyinthesky]

Sometimes you just want to express frustration. As I recall, starechos dog is fearful of other dogs while it's on a leash. Off leash it's good and not afraid of being attacked.

 

[rvwandering]

Let's keep this discussion civil folks. I've had to delete three posts and don't want to close the thread.

 

[DannyB1954]

So is this a BLM rule for all BLM land, or somebodies control issue?
At the lake havasu buildout my small dog, (20lbs), had one negative encounter. Mine was off leash, theirs was on leash. I think the other dog was protecting it's food bowl. Still I see no real reason to regulate friendly dogs.

 

[DrJean]

Usually leashes have to be 6' long or less. Is this what they're saying? There's plenty of time to socialize a dog to feeling confident while on leash, imo... but it will require taking your dog to the areas where other dogs are... or visiting the local pet store more often (and that could cost money!)

 

[highdesertranger]

yes it's a BLM rule everywhere. it just that it has never been enforced at RTR. in fact I have never seen it enforced anywhere on BLM land, except your tourist areas. highdesertranger

 

[Sameer]

Mr. Pico has never worn a collar or a leash, he follows voice commands. We will do.. like we always do.. and camp where this isn't an issue. 12 years without a leash or collar. When I began this adventure I made promises to my dog and myself. I left conventional Society for good reason. Neither my dog nor I will wear a collar because of the behavior of others. A promise made is a promise to keep. We will be having the time of our lives somewhere else.

 

[DannyB1954]

Some dogs get aggressive on a leash as they know escape is not an option.
Still haven't heard if this is from the BLM. I went to the AZ BLM and didn't find it there https://www.blm.gov/az/st/en/prog/law-enf/rules.html

 

[DrJean]

NP here as my service dog has always been on leash or I'm hanging onto his harness when out in public. It's the law down here in FL.... unless you're in a dog park when they are forbidden (we can't go to those) or on the dog beach.

It seems leashes aren't allowed in dog parks because the average dog DOES become anxious about the dogs running loose. I ca't do that because if he were to get into any kind of an issue, I ca't run over to intervene and would have to rely upon the other dog owner. Nah.

If the owner works with the dog and isn't upset or anxious about the collar and leash, the dog will quickly learn there are times he has to be on one.

 

[GotSmart]

Mr. Pico has never worn a collar or a leash, he follows voice commands.  We will do.. like we always do.. and camp where this isn't an issue.  12 years without a leash or collar.  When I began this adventure I made promises to my dog and myself.  I left conventional Society for good reason.  Neither my dog nor I will wear a collar because of the behavior of others.  A promise made is a promise to keep.  We will be having the time of our lives somewhere else.

Mr Pico is not part of the problem.  He is caught up in the fallout because of dogs that are part of the problem.  He has come around my camp when my cat was out, and showed complete respect and courtesy.  You two are always welcome in my camp site.  I would love to discuss the solutions to the problems of society with you some day. 

 

[#1BonBonQueen]

LEASH LAW. Animals must be kept on a leash not longer than six feet and secured to a fixed
object or under the control of a person, or otherwise physically restricted at all times. (43 CFR
87365.2-1{c})
BLM supplementary rules reestablished under authority of 43 CFR 8365.1-6. Violations of the
rules are punishable by a fine not to exceed $1,000 and/or imprisonment not to exceed 12
months (43 CFR 8360.0-7). Also, all OHVs must be operated in accordance with State laws
and regulations relating to use, registration, operation, and inspection of OHVs(43 CFR
8341.1{d}).

This is what I found on the BLM site, and it states all the codes and such, to help us understand what is required, and what the fine will be, if we don't leash our pets.
Just wanted to put it out there, incase someone thinks they may get away with not leashing their pet.
Sharon

 

[DannyB1954]

yes it's a BLM rule everywhere.  it just that it has never been enforced at RTR.  in fact I have never seen it enforced anywhere on BLM land,  except your tourist areas.  highdesertranger

So why is it going to be enforced now?

 

[highdesertranger]

I have no idea. maybe someone could shed some light on this. highdesertranger

 

[akrvbob]

Why enforce now:

1) Because every time a BLM LEO has come into our camp at the RTR (which is 6 years straight now, big groups draw attention) the very first thing he says is "All these dogs need to be on a leash." He's saying that to me because he knows I'm in charge and I can be held accountable.
2) When the LEO kicked us out of the Flagstaff RTR and issued me a ticket, the very first words out of his mouth when he stepped out of the truck was "All these dogs need to be on a leash." As he was going down the long list of things he could cite me for, but decided not to, that was at the top of the list.
3) I'm in charge, I'm accountable, I can be cited.
4) Whether any of us like it or not, by being in charge, I open myself up to an immense liability. You get bit, your dog gets bit, I can be sued. Doesn't matter if I win or not, the court costs will wipe me out.

Any of you who know me know my dog is NEVER on a leash, but, he can be on leash for two weeks for the greater good. He won't die or be permanently damaged or scarred for life by being on-leash for 10 days and off-leash for only 355 days a year. He will survive the horror of it.
Bob

 

[Stargazer]

My dog(s) are always on leash.  I view it as a way to protect her/them (when I had more than one), not just from other dogs but from wildlife, too.  The objection I have to dogs off leash is the mess they have made in my camp.  I've had my outdoor things (chair, camp table, whatever) peed on by roaming dogs.  And once one dog leaves its scent, it attracts others to do the same.  In a large group camp, with many dogs, one must watch where one steps or risk tracking dog poop into their rig or tent.  Ugh!  As for picking up after the free roaming animal, it doesn't happen.  And not everybody keeps current on immunizations and deworming so that's always a risk, too.

I also believe that any dog has the potential to bite if circumstances are right.  It just takes once.  Who hasn't heard of or maybe even experienced the family pet biting a family member (perhaps provoked but it's still a bite).

I have been charged at by others' "well behaved" dogs more than a few times while walking with my dog on leash.  Thankfully, she is small enough that I can pick her up to keep her out of harms way.  When a strange dog off leash approaches me, I do not know its intentions or how my leashed and under my full physical control dog will respond so I must always be on guard for the potential of aggressive behavior.  (Come to think of it, same thing with people...hmmm.)

Three times, if I had had a weapon (bat, stick, gun, pepper spray) on me, I would have used it on the aggressive dog in self defense.  Think about that when you let your large dog roam.  What will the other people do?  Perhaps your dog isn't even being aggressive but someone interprets its behavior as such.  Or just simply pisses someone off for whatever reason?

I'll keep my little barker on leash, always!  And if your dog, whom I don't know, comes running at me, I will be forced to make a quick decision on how to react.  Please don't force me to do that.