Hi,

I have encountered quite a few dogs which run around off leash at the beach. Some are pleasant dogs which I do not mind but some overly curious dogs irritate me while I am trying to setup my kite. Occasionally a not so friendly dog will approach me and repeatedly bark at me. I give a very cold stare at the owner when this happens.

Anyone have any advice on how to deal with a not so friendly dog?

Ha! Yes. I know a guy in particular that should chime in. He had one attack his kite at WBB a couple of years ago.

You don't forget a thing Rich...:P I don't think the dog in question was violent. He was just stupid.
I was trying to fold and pack a kite on the beach when some idiot decided to let his pitbull off the leash. The damn dog made a beeline right for my kite like he wanted to run right through it. He got all tangled in the bridle. What a mess !!! Not even an apology from the owner...

I frequently have been bothered by dogs. They always seem to want to mark their territory by pissing either on my kite or my bag...
Hate those @#$%&!

The beach where I play with my kites is quite crowded and luckily dogs are banned between May and October!
To bad they allow all those tourists on the beach during that timeframe...


On numeral occasions I have approached the owners and their responses differ from respectful, via ignorant to plain offensive.
I suspect those of the last type are also the ones that do not clean up after their dog.

Dogs aren't stupid. The owners that let the dogs harass other area users, they're stupid.

i fly w/ the dogs a lot..i most worry about them getting caught in the bridle which has happened a few times and makes for quite a mess...Buddy has peed on my bug and my bag and that doesn't bother me its kinda funny how that dog goes straight for my stuff...the big shepard that can go full bore for a 1/4 mile tests my nerves but when it quits i get the satisfaction that i made it again and the owners gotta come get his dog..i take my new pup down every wkend to chase my own kite so i say put the kite up and make that boy chase it till it drops

oh yea...no mistakes allowed

Quote: Originally posted by Feyd

Dogs aren't stupid. The owners that let the dogs harass other area users, they're stupid.

Ditto that. For the most part dogs don't bother me (I'm an animal lover) but it does irritate me when the owner takes them off the leash and can't control or recover the dog and it starts to chase you. That puts both the dog and the rider at risk as you can't just stop or pivot on a dime and I don't want to aggressively redirect or be forced into the water or soft sand or another rider by a dog. That behavior is annoying and highly irresponsible and dangerous.

I also have had my gear "marked". I screamed at the dog and ran towards him. That made the dog panic and stop midstream. The owner didn't acknowledge the dog or my yelling.

Dogs are just dogs doing what dogs do, are trained to do or allowed to do. Its the owners that are stupid, callous and irresponsible and mostly look at us like we're the ones with the problem because we take offense when the dog puts itself or us in danger or potentially ruins our gear with its teeth or urine.

I had one owner, years ago laugh and laugh and laugh as their two dogs jumped and snapped at my sport kites as I was tricking them at a local field. When I told them to knock it off because it was a $200 kite from Germany that was no longer in production they just encouraged the dogs to "get it". When I responded that I was going to call the police if they did, they became real argumentative which left me exposed as I couldn't land the kite for fear of damage and couldn't, if forced, engage the owner with my hands in my kite straps. Eventually they left hurling a string of expletives at me. I'd like to think they are the exception and most people are good at heart but simply unaware of the danger their dogs present and the dollar value of the gear we protect.

Feyd you are right, My buddy Kite (pit bull) come with me all the time to the beach to fly my kites. If he can he will eat a kite. So you as his partner It is my job to make sure he does not eat my kite or other people kites. He does not have a mean bone in his body, but he love to play being a pup. He plays ruff, So even so that he love chasing kites I have to keep him tied up. I mad a nice sand anchor for him. :D

Had a dog pee on my kite once and I chased him off. The owner was totally unapologetic and just left..

That better than peeing on you. My grab the kite line and took off running with it, right under a tree. the kite ended up in the tree and kite the dog ended up in the dog house.

yeah dogs seem to love urinating on kites.. I normally setup the lines and handles first and keep the kite in my hand or in the bag - this way I can layout my kite with the lines already set up and get it up in the air before an annoying mutt can urinate on it. With my stunt kite I also enjoy making it do nose dives towards any dog which comes close...

Quote: Originally posted by shehatesmyhobbies

Ha! Yes. I know a guy in particular that should chime in. He had one attack his kite at WBB a couple of years ago.

Looking back it was pretty funny. He hit that kite at full speed.

I've been chased twice by dogs that ice fishermen have brought out on the lake with them. Simply left their dogs to roam the entire lake. Fortunately neither dog was fast enough to catch me, whew!

Quote: Originally posted by lucifer911

Hi, I have encountered quite a few dogs which run around off leash at the beach. Some are pleasant dogs which I do not mind but some overly curious dogs irritate me while I am trying to setup my kite. Occasionally a not so friendly dog will approach me and repeatedly bark at me. I give a very cold stare at the owner when this happens. Anyone have any advice on how to deal with a not so friendly dog?

i like the trench knife approach, though a compact crossbow has been examined , the gloved fist has been effective as well the board itself which is sometimes necessary if the first blow lacked authority...and have been bitten 2 times and called cops on both , and avoid maybe 20+ events worthy of mention...what makes me take the protective route ? one animal easy, 2 big fast ones --->trench knife ...i'm showing up primitive and harvest some dog. best i can tell i am not dog food.

animal control is easy, the absence of control is liability, hence protection.

I am looking at an extendable baton.. at the same time I cannot walk around carrying offensive weapons for protection. There are enough irresponsible dog owners who let their dogs roam freely on the beach and I don't trust all of them or the owner for that matter. Kicking sand in a dogs face is a good tactic but thats only if you are on soft sand (most times I am on solid sand). A long stick can keep an incoming mutt at bay. Pepper spray can apparently make a dog more angry that it already is.. but some say it is very useful. Obviously I have to carry something which conceals and will only ever be taken out as a last resort. My biggest worry is stray dogs and bull breeds roaming the beach alone...

in this video noone had any effective weapons to protect against this out of control mutt... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EabbpT7Ab8

the extendable batons bend, decent stick works for me. a bit more action than some can stomach in application though. something easy and safe for what you can effectively use. my board and gloves have been effective and functional.

wow...this has taken a turn, no weapons or glass on the beach
id rather get bit by the dog and punch the owner in the face
and i've had my share of dog attacks

no animals not under control on the beach either,

protection from animal attack is easy defense and places owner of animal liable, assaulting the owner will get YOU charged with assault and battery.

what taught me the most about these situations is a big grey hound . big , playful, fast and intimidating. you have a right to protect yourself

Whoa, crazy turn this thread has taken. I'll just say I'll take the dogs over the tourists any day. Dogs can be trained. People, not so much.

well too many people allow their dogs to roam free on the beach at least where I live anyway... I will avoid a confrontation but I feel I need something to keep a dog at bay. It should be illegal to let a dog to roam around without a leash on in a public place. There are designated dog parks where people can let dogs run around without a leash...

all you dogs are welcome on my beach anytime, run around leash free, chase balls, play in the surf, eat crab legs and pee on my bug...whatever makes you happy...sure try not to bite anyone but i get it, its pbly the way you were brought up....and you people might not wanna buy my reactor or a bug from me:D

Quote: Originally posted by abkayak

all you dogs are welcome on my beach anytime, run around leash free, chase balls, play in the surf, eat crab legs and pee on my bug...whatever makes you happy...sure try not to bite anyone but i get it, its pbly the way you were brought up....and you people might not wanna buy my reactor or a bug from me:D

I always thought you smelled funny... now I know it's just your kite. won't be borrowing YOUR buggy....

I was flying on a local beach, or trying to fly that is. I was flying in the wrong wind direction for the location so it was a jank fest and I was struggling to keep the kite in the air and riding the buggy was impossible. A couple was walking the beach with their dog off leash. There is a dog beach literally two hundred yards away that allows dogs to be off leash, but the area I was in does not allow dogs off leash. The dog made a beeline straight for our pile of kite gear and pissed on one of Itay's kite bags. He was far away and didn't see it happen, but I did and I was close enough to land and anchor my kite, and run over to see the damage. Sure enough, the dog had great aim. I yelled out at the owner that they need to take their dog to the dog beach because it pissed on our gear. The female of the couple just started yelling expletives back at me and I stooped to her level. The guy didn't speak a word to me, but tried to rush her away from me ASAP. I feel for the guy obviously being embarrassed by his significant(ly rude and idiotic) other.

Now, I keep a very careful eye on every dog I see on my beach and try to politely remind the owner that dogs are not allowed off leash at our beach, but the dog park is directly adjacent.

Quote: Originally posted by lucifer911

Kicking sand in a dogs face is a good tactic but thats only if you are on soft sand (most times I am on solid sand).

Err....ummmm... no. This might work in the movies. In real life, no so much.

The dog can and will close his eye reflexively just like humans. That still leaves him with a sense of smell and scent that makes yours look like some evolutionary throwback to engage in combat with you.

When you sweep your leg to kick sand at the attacking dog, you are now wildly off balance while facing an opponent that can and will turn on a dime to take advantage of the opportunity you have left gift wrapped and presented him with.

Extending a limb outside of your "personal space" also provides a wonderfully convienent "handle" to latch onto and hang his 80-100+ lbs (assuming a good sized dog). A mastiff can top off at 190 lbs. Breed Weight Chart

Quote: Originally posted by lucifer911

A long stick can keep an incoming mutt at bay.

This works until the dog with a bite force in excess of 200lbs for medium to large size dogs captures the stick in its mouth. Than it is a game of tug-of-war.

Quote: Originally posted by lucifer911

Pepper spray can apparently make a dog more angry that it already is.. but some say it is very useful.

The only dogs I know of that pepper spray is less effective are trained police K-9s, but that's not your usual beach/park dog.

Not sure about other locations, but expandable batons are illegal in MD.

Most expandable batons are 7 inches or so collapsed and unyielding. Not something you really want to fall on if your get lofted or take a spill on the board.

A baton requires allowing the dog to close to "contact range".... no thank you.

If a dog gets inside of your "swing arc" and you haven't properly trained for it, aren't comfortable using the handle as a kubaton or in the worst case scenario transferring and using the baton on your weak side, expect to experience a special flavor of "fooked."

While an expandable baton is essentially a stick and akin to some of man's oldest tools, it still requires a fair amount of training to use effectively in a fight or flight situation. A significant amount of people have gotten themselves injured by failing to give this enough consideration.

Pretty much any ASP instructor will tell you get trained or leave it at home. Effective use of a baton is totally dependent on "muscle memory," the thinking part of your brain will not be present for the fight when it happens.

The notion of innate expertise with a expandable bation is akin to everyone's belief that they are an expert driver. The gap between belief and reality spans oceans.

There's 18 pages of "The Pepper Spray/OC Myth-Busting Thread" here.

Pepper spray comes in various dispersal patterns:

• Cone
  
• Foam
  
• Stream
  
• Gel
  

For dogs, Cone is the recommended dispersal pattern.

Blur (far right, in picture below), Sabre and several other OC (oleoresin capsicum) pepper sprays come in quick deploy sheaths that can be attached to your harness or other apparel.



Most, if not, all OC sprays come in a "for use" OC version as well as an inert, scented version that has no pepper in it for training purposes, so you can get used to the dispersal pattern and range.

Regardless of how paranoid it seems, the dispenser should be in your hand and "off-safety" as soon as you see the dog, not when it is already attacking.

GoPros and other similar devices are great for photographic evidence whenever someone tries to assert that they never let the dog off its leash after the fact.

ATB,
Sam

Guys I do not want to be an ass but be careful - defend yourself as required but if you get "too aggressive" or there will be more posts in the Land Access, Bans and Legal Issues sub-forum independent of the sanity/fairness of it.
The reality is there are a lot more "voters" with dogs than power kites...

As full disclosure - I let my dog run on the beach when I go bugging but he is supervised by my gf.
He has never attacked anyone - peed on a kite, bag or even a car tire...

The only issue I have almost had was with 1 large dog in a full charge but he decide my 3 square meter "eagle" which was headed his direction a lot faster than he could run caused it to put on the full skidding brakes and retreat.

i will say from experience, traveling on a board 15-20mph with large animal full sprint on you, if you do not see them coming...you are bit and its over like lightening. stop protect yourself is all you can do -->call sheriff /police. FOLLOW the owner FULL PRESS NAME ..etc. you have to they'll blow it off.

one time i tracked this lady down after her Weimaraner bite me...followed foot/ paw tracks down the beach crossed over dune HEARD THEM LAUGHING ABOUT! , showed up out of nowhere like boss and busted that party and as i was leaving, sheriff AND animal control shows up.

license plate ,pictures, all of it. you can demand immediate rabies test and have vet quarantine, if shot Hx is weak , Animal Control will take animal remove its head for labs.

cracking a dog across the nose generally will shut them down, but you have be accurate enough to be effective. and for the tender heart crowd i usually BARK BACK at them as go up on a jump right at them which puts the brakes on the chase.

the worse was a big dobermann he would chase ( seemingly playful) the clueless owner prolly had alot to think about on the 5mile stretch i took his dog on. as i returned i just waved as i passed by with his dog somewhere 5 miles down the beach.

we got laws and ordinances here, a dog without a leash not under exquisite control around here, will not be around here long.

Quote: Originally posted by PHREERIDER

the clueless owner prolly had alot to think about on the 5mile stretch i took his dog on. as i returned i just waved as i passed by with his dog somewhere 5 miles down the beach.

I did that once to an owner too. Not intentionally at first and I kept returning to them with the dog following me but after they failed to leash the dog after 3-4 return trips, I said "screw it" and road where I wanted with the dog following and the owners far behind. Our beach is 1.3 miles long so hardly the end of the world but I don't think they appreciated it. Oh well, that's what leashes are for.

FWIW, I'm opposed to violence towards animals. Defending oneself is one thing but far better to be the victim in these cases than the aggressor. That point was made by someone else earlier and I whole-heartedly agree. You smash a dogs nose and the cops ARE showing up and if you are deemed to have used excessive force... good luck to you - especially if the cop or judge is a dog owner / lover.

No way I'm going to let a dog bite me without a fight. You can usually tell when a dog means business and you have to face them and fight back if attack is eminent. Choosing to be the victim is not a smart option, I don't care if the judge is a dog lover. I'm a dog lover, but if your dumb enough to bring an even remotely aggressive dog around people than you can't get mad if it gets a bloody nose or mace in the face.

I haven't encountered any mean dogs, but if I did I would imagine it would be tough to defend yourself by any means while in motion and flying kite.

FWIW:

Few dogs are aggressive in the face of....



or if your James Brown impersonation is up to snuff..... @1:38



ATB,
Sam