Dogged On Winter Hill

by James Patrick, Bolton

Christmas Day, 2000. The Morecambe & Wise Show (repeat), The Sound of Music, Quality Street Chocolates, too much food. . . or a walk on Winter Hill. No contest.

We parked the car near Rivington and walked along the shores of Angelzarke Reservoir in fine December weather. Then we climbed gently and steadily up to the summit of Winter Hill with its mass of Aerials and Telecommunications equipment.

As we approached the summit were were caught-up by two guys with Labradors. The black one didn't seem to like me at all and started barking aggressively and bearing its teeth.

I expected the owner to put the dog on its lead. Instead, he just said something about how the dog was friendly and that we shouldn't worry. I don't know much about dogs, but it didn't look very friendly to me.

We hung back and let them pass, but instead of striding off across the summit, they decide to spend time adjusting gaiters and messing about with their rucksacks. As we approached, the dog started barking and snarling again. Then the other dog, a light coloured Labrador, runs up to my partner and jumps right up at her. The owner just shouted at the dog - but offered no apology to my partner.

We got past and started across the summit trying to get away from them. Next thing we know, this bloody dog is barking and snarling again and being generally very aggressive.

This was rapidly becoming intolerable. I politely enquired (with a few choice expletives) whether this particularly brainless dog owner could put his dog on a lead. I pointed out how we had come up here on Christmas Day for a pleasant walk, and were now subject to blatantly aggressive behaviour by his out of control dog.

The man said he had apologised for the dog jumping up at my partner (he had not - he had just shouted at the dog. The dog hadn't apologised either!) and that he could not put his dog on a lead because I hadn't asked him nicely!

Now if he'd put the dog on a lead when it first showed signs of aggression - the whole nasty situation could have been completely avoided. Some people have no consideration for other people at all.

They eventually headed off the summit towards Ramsbottom, no doubt to cause more havoc and mayhem with other walkers, leaving us to continue back down to Rivington in peace.

Why do some people have to be so bloody selfish?

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“I have had a recent experience of a loose snappy dog. On July 8 this year, I walked from Carnforth Station to Arnside Station, the walk including the Lancaster Canal and Fairy Steps. The walk was great, apart from an incident with a small black mongrel at the disused canal locks above Tewitfield. This dog suddenly appeared in front and started barking and jumping up. I kept saying "Down, dog, back to your owner" without any success, then another trick I have learnt - "Pah! Pah! Good dog" (which has actually worked with other dogs) but again to no avail. Finally the owner appeared with several other people and put him on a lead. I said "Can you please keep him on a lead, he's been barking and snapping". He said "I have done". The point is he could do that to a child and put him/her off dogs for a very long time!”

David Dawber, Lytham St Annes

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“As I always say 'there's no such thing as a bad dog, just a bad owner'.”

Rob Howden, Leicester.

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“I read the Dogged on Winter Hill article (above) and couldn't help thinking that I knew exactly how the hikers felt.

I own 3 dogs and like to consider myself a responsible dog owner. I pick up after my dogs, I don't allow them to run up to other dogs or people, and I make sure they aren't bothering wildlife.

I encounter unruly Labradors and their even more unruly owners more often than any other breed of dog. Why is it that Lab owners seem to think it's OK for their 80lb dog to run up to me or jump on me?

Just because he's friendly doesn't mean that I want his muddy paws all over me!

Also, how do these stupid owners know that my dogs are "friendly?"

The answer is they don't.

Once when walking around Ardingly Reservoir in West Sussex my female who was recovering from a ligament injury was strolling along sniffing at the water's edge when a large, un-neutered male Lab came bounding around the corner.

I immediately grabbed the collars of both my male and female dogs and made them sit. Then I positioned myself in between the Lab and my dogs.

The Lab owner upon seeing that did what most Lab owners do - NOTHING.

I called out that my male didn't like un-neutered males and could she please call her dog or there will be a fight.

She calls back "oh he's harmless."

Well that's not the point is it as I just told you my dog isn't harmless.

Anyway, the woman saunters over while my 2 are sitting being good and I am holding her dog by it's collar (at considerable risk to me I might add) so that it cannot (a) fight with my male, or (b) try to mount my female with a bad leg.

Anyway, the Lab owner comes and grabs her dog by the collar and takes him about 20 feet away then let's him go again. Now for any other breed this distance would be enough for the dog to have lost interest in us...not for Labs!

The Lab heads straight for my female and tackles her from behind trying to mount her. When my male dog saw that he ran over and started attacking the Lab.

So now I have a situation where my female has re-injured her newly healed crutiate ligament, my male dog has become involved in a fight, and I am risking my personal well being to split up a dog fight.

Now the Lab owner finally does the right thing - she puts her dog on a leash. Then, looking at my female who's wailing loudly, she says "is your dog ok?"

"OK? OK!? Does she look bleeping OK?" I shout.

The Lab owner starts to tell me that I didn't need to use such foul language. At this point I am as close as I'll ever get to wanting to strangle someone.

Through gritted teeth I ask her to get her bleeping dog out of my face and get the heck away from me. She stormed off as if I had done something wrong.

Needless to say the last 1.5miles back to the car was very long and very tiring as I had to carry my 65lb female all the way to the car. What a nightmare.

At that moment I was hating dog owners as well...even though I am one!

So, I guess what I'd like to say to all hikers out there is don't tarnish all dog owners with the same brush. There are over 6 million dogs in this country and many of them are owned by responsible individuals.

And to everyone who takes their dog hiking I beg that you respect other hikers, bicyclists, animals, etc.

Remember just because Rover is your best friend doesn't mean everyone loves him!”

Melissa Tuttle, Haywards Heath, West Sussex

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“I have to disagree with you there mate. Fair enough I don't like keeping a dog on a lead either but if for any reason a dog starts to bother someone whether encouraged or not it should be 'reeled in' quickstyle as much for the dogs sake as for any other reasons. You don't want the dog to get used to haranguing people.

It doesn't sound from the story that the guy was hassling the dog, but maybe you are the dog owner in question and know otherwise?

I generally get on well with dogs but on a trip a few year ago (West Highland Way) while walking up the Devils Staircase a couple of guys were working repairing the path. One of them had a horse disguised as an Alsatian and as soon as I got within 20 feet it just looked up, saw us coming and started running and barking at us.

We both knew dogs and held our ground and it soon backed down but the owner barely batted an eyelid and returned to his work.

My point would be that as much as I love dogs and as much as I like to see them out in the countryside enjoying themselves, dogs and their owners who can't/won't control them threaten their own right to take dogs into the countryside. Some people don't like dogs and the owner of even a playful dog that jumps on or barks at someone who doesn't like dogs or is scared of them for whatever reasons could be at best re-enforcing this persons fear, at worst, subject to legal implications.

So all dog owners should be especially wary when taking the dog 4awalk in the countryside.”

George Forbes, Falkirk

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“I read the comments made by that idiot on Winter Hill (Dogged on Winter Hill).

He was clearly provoking the dog - why else would it bark like that?

Besides Winter Hill is open land and I am perfectly entitled to let my dog off the lead if I choose.

If Mr Patrick doesn't want to 'share the countryside' with dogs perhaps he should choose to walk in his local park and leave the open countryside to us true countryside lovers!”

John Holter, Ramsbottom, Lancashire

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NB. You may find the pdf booklet: You and your dog in the countryside produced by Natural England useful.

Mike (Editor)

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The views expressed by contributors are not necessarily those held by go4awalk.com.

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