leash your dog!

i dont know if any members on the board saw this, but i was walking out onto the croix from bayport today and got the surprise of my day. A couple that came in behind me decided to let their pitbull run loose across the ice, and the dog made a beeline right to my turned back, not making a sound until it was right at my heels. Now, Ive raised pits, and i know they read reactions. So other than sayin oh [censored] I didnt break stride, just kept my eye on the dog as it barked and circled me, running up to my boots each time it came in close. i walked another 50 feet with the dog circling me before the owners finally decided to call to their dog. Atleast the dog was some what trained and ran off when called, still, the owners deserve a swift kick in the [censored]. learn to use a leash! what would of happened if i was a father and son and the kid got nervous and started screaming?

AGREE I have had the same thing happen to me!!

Quote:

---

! what would of happened if i was a father and son and the kid got nervous and started screaming?

---

They would have both gotten mauled. I seen you said you have raised them, but IMO they have no place on this planet. Pitbulls, not dogs in general.

Sounds alot worse than having your tent pissed on that happened to me out there last year. Taking the mutt along great but yes keep it on a leash
zoomer

Quote:

---

, but IMO they have no place on this planet. Pitbulls, not dogs in general.

---

They are good dogs its all just a matter of how they are raised.

I’m not a fan of dogs on ice in general. In fact, I started a topic on it last year. I own a dog, and love dogs…….but mine will never be on the ice! Hell, last week he ate half of my fillets in the sink. I’m sure he’d take any fish laying on the ice and run!

Glad you handled the situation w/o an incident.

Quote:

---

Quote:

---

! what would of happened if i was a father and son and the kid got nervous and started screaming?

---

They would have both gotten mauled. I seen you said you have raised them, but IMO they have no place on this planet. Pitbulls, not dogs in general.

---

come on now.

Question
If you had been ‘carrying’, would you have ended it?
Seems to me it would be justified since the owners were’nt in any hurry to get control of the situation.
Not sure what I would do.
Very curious.

I’ll start this post by saying I had a pit bull mix dog for nearly 15 years and currently have a 2 year old Rottweiler. Both great dogs. I do respect people’s fear of these breeds.

I agree 100% with keeping your dog leased up on the ice. There is a time and place to let them run around.

I have had at least 3-4 unleashed dogs charge me and my dog on our daily (leashed) walks. My dog has been bit twice this year! All dogs running right out of a house or yard unrestrained. Both of those dogs were German Shepherds by the way.

Piece of advice. When you have a dog running up to you, don’t just keep walking. Turn and stop. Bark out a command like SIT/GIT/NO! If the dog responds, you have established some authority over the animal. Keep yelling commands at them. By continuing to walk, a dog will think he has dominance over you. You are inviting a bite.

If you are in a situation where they still show aggression ignoring your commands…well I’d draw down on the and blast him if I thought I was going to get bit!

People don’t forget there are a lot of guys carrying. This is a situation you are justified to use personal protection.

-J.

Quote:

---

People don’t forget there are a lot of guys carrying. This is a situation you are justified to use personal protection.

-J.

---

As a Dog owner for many years I would not let my dogs off a leash unless hunting or in another area where it is proper & legal to do so.

A I may be carrying at the time, Yes I do when Ice Fishing, overnights in Ice Houses I would NOT hesitate to Put a UnRuly DOG that seems by all means very threatening down. That is my Legal Right to Protect myself from harm when fearing for my life.

The owners of the un-trained dogs listed above should have them taken away and fined to pay for training to get them under control for new owners if possible.

No Apologies necessary when you or a family member are being threatened.

Even if you had not ended it by pulling drawing a bead on it the owners would have gotten the hint very quickly. I’m surprised you didn’t let the owners have it. From a distance. You’re more cool than I would have been.

thanks for the support guys. the reason i kept walking once i noticed it and didnt yell was in regards to my brothers 150# blue pitbull. when you yell around him he jumps on you thinking youre playing, and if youre not ready over you go. As far as the concealed carry, yes if the dog would have made more aggressive moves and I was packing and it was the absolute last thing to do to get the dog off me, then its the last resort. But considering im from WI and we dont have cwl’s I cant sit here and say thats a viable option anyways. An owners inconsideration for another fisherman doesnt justify maiming or killing their animal because they didnt think. i do agree though about fines and such if the dnr saw it or anyone else, the situation could have gone either way. i understand some thing pitbulls are a garbage breed because of the vick headlines and the notoriety for being raised as fight dogs, but rott, pit, pekinese, chihuahua it doesnt matter, any breed can bite someone if let to run loose and untrained.

No room for wondering dogs on the ice. Had a guy last saturday walk onto the ice checking things out and his damn mutt was barking the whole time as he made his rounds checking how everyone was doing next time I won’t keep my mouth shut, but will try and be polite about it enough that they get the point. Hopefully the guy will read this post so I won’t have to say anything.

I love having my dog in the boat with me but I dont think the ice is any place for him to be. I have never taken him ice fishing even though he is an extremly friendly dog there is just way too much going on and to many people that dont need to be bothered by him. How ’bout the dogs that feel the need to mark their territory on your shack or auger Thus another reason mine stays off the ice

Something these inconsiderate people never think of is if the dog bites you, you are 100% liable and will pay for any damages plus what ever else comes out of a law suit. I raised dogs for 30 years and would not hesitate to put a dog down if I was afraid and I would be afraid of an aggressive pit bull. The fact that they made no effort to control the dog is a very bad sign.

lookin4bigones,

I have loose dogs come up to me on probably every other outing on the Croix for ice fishing.
After reading your post and being injured by dogs this summer-I think maybe we should call the sherrif on the spot if this continues to happen.

A call to the police may soud severe- but we are out trying to enjoy ourselves and shouldnt have to deal with that.

My 2 cents,
Scott

How about a can of pepper spray in the face? Both dog and owners

I could envision a scarier scenario with my son. He’s scared of dogs (unless he knows them) and if they are running up to him he’s trying to get away from them. Most dogs seem to key in on his fear and get more aggressive until I step in!

I wouldn’t hesitate in capping a dog threatening me or my family! They are breaking the law not the pedestrian! Most of the metro cities have a leash law although many people disregard it. I run across barking unleashed dogs every fall when walking the gravels north of town and it pisses me off every time I see it. I don’t mind dogs who stay in there yard but when they chase you down the street that really bugs me!

Ferny.

I TOLD THE OWNER………..

I fished the area today and the guy was out in his shack while the Pit Bull was running loose. I got out of my shack to adjust my tip-up and the dog came running and barking immediately I knew this was the same dog as it was the same area and a pit bull. When the dog neared I turned with my ice scoop and let him know “GET” and he stopped in his tracks after sniffing around and barking at me the owner stepped out of his shack so I yelled over ” You should really keep your pit bull on a leash, people are starting to complain about him”. I got no response from the owner but he did put the dog in the shack with him after that. Hopefully he continues to keep him in the shack as he is a good sized pit bull, time will only tell. I could see someone easily being afraid of that dog.

lets hope he gets the point

I agree with the no dogs on ice. Not to changed the subject but I saw a couple posts mentioning C&C on the Croix. I was under the impression that was not legal on boarder water or does it use the “imaginary line” rule?

I wonder if one of you guys up there could contact the sherrif’s dept. and find out what your options would be in a case like this?
Live ammo?
paintballs?
aluminum ball bat?
I’d rather it didn’t get close enough to be able to use the bat, but!!!!!!!!!!!

And what is most unfortunate is the root of the problem is not the animal, it is the owner. I’ve seen all different breeds that are well behaved and poorly behaved and most of the time it is training or lack of training by the owner. I spent several years with poor neighbors in the town of Hudson letting their dogs run. Hudson has a leash law so I called the police and every time I was told to call animal control. Each time I called animal all that happened was a warning. No fines. I explained that i could take care or the problem the old fashioned way (bang), but was warned that I would be fined, sued, and go to jail for discharging a weapon in the city limits. And I love dogs. I just go tired of being threatend by their dogs and picking up the piles daily. As has been mentioned, the next time the owner and the dog is on the ice, maybe a call to the sheriff is in order. The other thing that can be done is to file a complaint at the local police station so that they have a record of it.

Just another thing to consider if you conceal carry. Using your gun isn’t an option most of the time and is too much force. Carry a can of pepper spray with you. If he comes running up give the dog a face full. No harm no foul. Works great. I’ll recomend a can of FOX 5.3

Quote:

---

Piece of advice. When you have a dog running up to you, don’t just keep walking. Turn and stop. Bark out a command like SIT/GIT/NO! If the dog responds, you have established some authority over the animal. Keep yelling commands at them. By continuing to walk, a dog will think he has dominance over you. You are inviting a bite.

If you are in a situation where they still show aggression ignoring your commands…well I’d draw down on the and blast him if I thought I was going to get bit!

---

Jon gives some very good advice and like others have said it is not the dogs fault it is the owners. If it were me I would be making a report with the local police or sheriffs dept. I was also wondering about pepper spray or masse but I wonder with some aggressive dogs like a pit bull if this could possible make things worse? I personally do not like pit bulls especially when you throw kids into the mix I would never trust them 100 percent even the most friendly pit bulls. The only thing these dogs should be used for is a guard dog behind a locked fence in MHO.

Maybe the guy is a little thick and didn’t realize that his dog was causing a problem for others. The fact that he took the dog inside after you scolded him was a start. Now I would go up and talk to the guy about your concern before running to the cops or animal control.

I think it would be much more effective to handle it like an adult (even if he is lacking in the adult part) rather than to run and tattle to the law before even trying.
The law has a way of messing things up.

My fishing buddy takes his dog everytime we go. He doesn’t urine on anyones things and minds our buisness.

The problem is not dogs on the ice. Its people that can’t control their dogs on the ice.

Quote:

---

Maybe the guy is a little thick and didn’t realize that his dog was causing a problem for others. The fact that he took the dog inside after you scolded him was a start. Now I would go up and talk to the guy about your concern before running to the cops or animal control.

I think it would be much more effective to handle it like an adult (even if he is lacking in the adult part) rather than to run and tattle to the law before even trying.
The law has a way of messing things up.

My fishing buddy takes his dog everytime we go. He doesn’t urine on anyones things and minds our buisness.

The problem is not dogs on the ice. Its people that can’t control their dogs on the ice.

---

Wrong answer.

When a kid gets mauled can we call the police then- or just talk about it?

Leave the dog at home.

they guy watched his dog run out after me, when i turned around he was still 50 or so yards from his setup with his girlfriend. I was the closing thing in sight to his dog, near impossible for him to miss. i think i did the “manly” thing instead of cracking his dog with my auger blades or confronting him face to face about it and just letting it go. some guy just lost his face to a similar kind of dog that was his pet, so why push it when theres no need? now, if it happens again, hard to say wether the dog will get a mouthfull of steel (auger/scooper) or not

Quote:

---

Now I would go up and talk to the guy about your concern before running to the cops or animal control.

---

Sorry I do not agree, no way would I ever approach this guy when he has a pit bull in or near his shack not a smart idea. The dog has been a problem more than once time to get the authorities evolved and let them handle it.

Quote:

---

The problem is not dogs on the ice. Its people that can’t control their dogs on the ice.

---

I think I said pretty much the same thing.

Quote:

---

A couple that came in behind me decided to let their pitbull run loose across the ice, and the dog made a beeline right to my turned back…….

---

This post could very well be titled “keep your XXXXX leashed” Where XXXXX is pit bull, rottweiler, or otherwise big mean looking dog.

The guy has a pit bull, he should learn how to handle it in public.

-J.