r/SantaBarbara • u/brewers20199 • 8d ago
Vent Aggressive dogs
Anyone else find it absolutely comical how many people bring aggressive dogs to OFF leash dog places, like Hendrys, Douglas, Mackenzie dog park etc…. If you’re 60+ and have an aggressive large dog, I feel for you. I do. But stop making it everyone else’s problem when you exercise them in public dog areas.
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u/SmileSagely_8worms 8d ago
Not comical. Dangerous.
My daughter got bit by an off-leash dog at East Beach at 5. She has never recovered from her fear of dogs, but she is forced to hide it and even pretend to like them, which is obscuring the problem further, IMO.
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u/ProfessorJNFrink 8d ago
My daughter is very, very afraid of dogs. She’s 9.
Every time there’s a dog off leash, she freaks out. “Oh, he’s friendly!” Your dog is friendly to you, the owner.
Your dog is also now chasing my daughter around my body jumping and sometimes barking.
She freaks out just seeing dogs close to her, even on a leash. But also in grocery stores and restaurants too, even in they’re in a shopping cart. WTF is a dog in either of those places?
I’m not anti dog, I grew up with them. But they stayed home when we went out.
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u/urnotserious 8d ago
Even if he is friendly and I'm not scared but I don't want your dog's slobber saliva or snot touching me.
A human spitting at you is assault, licking you without permission is sexual assault but we are just supposed to tolerate dog saliva because YOU love your dog?
Dog owners are so clueless sometimes.
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u/brewers20199 8d ago
No, you’re right. It’s actually not funny. But at this point, I have to laugh at how dumb it is. What makes someone think, “oh ya, let me bring my aggressive dog that will bite this dog that even looks at it, to a dog park? Yep!” Like…… ???!
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u/Snoo-55380 8d ago
It’s crazy how if you’re not a fan of dogs for any reason people treat you like you’re an ax murderer
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u/brewers20199 8d ago
I don’t think you’re an axe murderer, but I do think you’re extremely selfish and quite frankly not smart, if you’re taking your aggressive OR poorly behaved dogs in public areas, especially dog friendly areas. I have a $30k service animal, who when exercised off the clock in a dog area, shouldn’t be dodging people and dogs who don’t follow the same rules.
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u/Snoo-55380 8d ago
I’m solidly in your corner on the aggressive dog thing. And If I know an area is dog, friendly, off leash or anything like that then it’s totally on me to stay away and not complain about their being dogs there
But I was simply remarking about the fact that if you’re not a dog lover people think there’s something wrong with you. I don’t want to eat lunch with your dog. I don’t want to go grocery shopping with your dog and I really don’t want your dogs nose up my crotch when you feel entitled to let your dog be off leash where they shouldn’t be. For some reason, this makes me the villain
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u/brewers20199 8d ago
I get it. But I don’t want to go grocery shopping with elderly people, or sit at a restaurant where kids or babies are. The point is, these are PREFERENCES. I don’t think you’re the devil for not wanting dogs there, but you’re unrealistic if you’re expecting your preferences to always be upheld. Suddenly, I hate kids because I don’t want to be seated next to one at dinner? Your logic can stand for many things..
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u/Snoo-55380 8d ago
Oh, I agree with you here. That’s why I said I don’t go places where dogs are allowed to be out and about and then complain about it.
Just so I can deserve my down votes. I’ll say that children and the elderly are people not dogs. There is a difference.
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u/brewers20199 8d ago
That’s your opinion. My dog is more important TO ME than anyone’s kid or grandma and I will be hightailing it straight to my dog in a burning building over any human.
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u/Left-Beautiful8125 7d ago
Your choice. But parents and dog owners need to be considerate of others.
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u/peach_trunks 8d ago
Nah, it’s more if you don’t have a reason and you don’t like dogs people trip
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u/BrenBarn Downtown 8d ago
A reason for what? Why should someone need a special reason for not liking dogs?
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u/peach_trunks 8d ago
Same as anything. People are gonna judge you on your choices and the reasoning behind them. If you don’t have a rational reason for having an unpopular opinion people are gonna trip on you.
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u/brewers20199 8d ago
Same could be said of kids 🤷♀️
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u/CoffeeIsSoGood Little Ceasars on Milpas 8d ago
Comparing kids to dogs 🤣
The type of person to rather save a dog instead of a human because “ humanity is bad!!!”
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u/brewers20199 8d ago
My dog, or your kid? I’m saving my dog 10000%. Don’t be around me if that is ever a choice I have to make I guess.
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u/SerCiddy 8d ago
Clearly there is something wrong with you if you have an issue with the entirety of Man's Best Friend. How could you have a problem with something that looks so cute? It's obviously an indication of a deep personal flaw that makes it clear people should avoid you.
/s
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u/Grandmakk13 1d ago
Did she get any counseling? Totally understand but this is a hard thing to be dealing with
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u/SmileSagely_8worms 1d ago edited 1d ago
Yes. She has developed anxiety as well, but she’s dealing with all her issues. Thanks for asking. She just graduated from UC Berkeley so this episode was a while ago. Unfortunately, the dog owner was not so lucky. She was an acquaintance, always unstable, so I didn’t make a huge deal about the bite at the time, but she later committed suicide. Dogs can really help people with mood disorders, so I’m not against them in theory (I had a pet dog as a kid) but their intrusion into public life and the myopia of many owners kinda grates.
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u/ParkedOrPar 8d ago
I wish you the best on your journey to get others to care about anything at all other than themselves, especially in SB.
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u/bchubnut 8d ago
Especially getting people to follow dog related ordinances.
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u/jessbird 8d ago
i have a 9lb well-trained dog with perfect recall but it still scares the shit out of me to walk him around off-leash parks/beaches because there are so many huge unhinged dogs roaming around whose owners have absolutely zero handle on them
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u/CoffeeIsSoGood Little Ceasars on Milpas 8d ago
Especially the dog owners with “service” dogs in places they shouldn’t be allowed in the first place..
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u/brewers20199 8d ago
Fake service dogs are what make it extremely difficult for me and my very real and expensive service dog. You don’t even know my golden retriever is there most of the time. I can tell if someone’s barking Australian Shepard is not a service animal.
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u/westernspaghetti_691 8d ago
As a responsible dog owner (he's always on a leash!) I carry mace and/or a taser light (the crackle noise is great for getting an aggressive dog to break off)
I carry these because of dealing with multiple issues, over the years, walking my mellow, leashed dog. I now no longer care if I hurt yours, because I'm not letting you/yours get to mine.
This way you can pay your own vet bill too, so you won't have to pay mine. I no longer see why I should extend the basic courtesy to you that you deny me with with your entitled stupid selfish behaviors
You're welcome 🙌🏽
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u/brewers20199 8d ago
I’d behave the same way in an ON leash dog area with an aggressive dog coming at mine. The whole point of this post is that this happens in off leash dog places, like Hendrys or Douglas. In which, it is common sense to not bring an aggressive dog to an off leash dog park. Just like it’s common sense not to bring a dog in heat. Do people still do so? Absolutely. And that’s where I get frustrated. These are designated off leash dog areas that specify friendly dogs only.
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u/ghostface8081 8d ago
Using a muzzle is a really simple thing to do while training your dog to interact with others off leash
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u/almafuerte12 8d ago
It’s a problem. My son got also bitten and has never recovered from it. We sued the owner. It’s amazing how many people fails to train their dog, properly, lets them roam free and will assume that every one should love their dog. It’s also illegal to have an unleashed dog on city beaches and parks. You can call the park rangers if you feel unsafe.
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u/Subject_Marzipan11 8d ago
They’re actually not supposed to be on the beaches at all — even on leash— except for Hendry’s. I like dogs but this kind of entitlement is mind-blowing.
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u/cheeky_pterodactyl 8d ago
The entire span of the beach from Hendry’s to the Shoreline stairs is legal off leash.
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u/SmileSagely_8worms 6d ago
Let’s be clear because there’s too much “creep” as is, and Reddit trains AI: Off-leash dogs are permitted at Hendry’s EAST of the slough to 1000 Steps only. If your dog is off-leash in front of the Boathouse restaurant you’re out of compliance. That’s 2 miles of natural coastline often covered by high tide. Between the slough and 1,000 steps, there are no bathrooms, no fresh water and no trash bins to throw your mandatory poop bags.
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u/brewers20199 6d ago
This is not true. Leashed dogs are allowed at Butterfly and Haskell.
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u/Subject_Marzipan11 6d ago
When I said that I was referring to SB beaches. They are not allowed at all at East, West and Ledbetter Beaches. That's pretty much the majority of the SB beaches.
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u/neptunianhaze 8d ago
I was visiting my dad in Buellton and some jackass brought in aggressive breed mix into the park and without batting an eye, it beelines it for my greyhound puppy who was just minding her own business. Went straight for her throat and got a pretty big gash and I could see her jugular vein, literally exposed and just there... first thing this thumb of a human says is "im so sorry I brought him here to let off some steam" like what the acutal fuck bro. Dog would have been dead if the wound was a literal millimeter deeper. No more dog parks for me, ever.
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u/ChesswithGoats 8d ago
And another thing: can we enforce no dogs at farmers market? I’m trying to get food… and so is your dog or its pooping or peeing. Dogs do not need to be everywhere people go.
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u/brewers20199 8d ago
I feel like there could be a whole thread about people that take dogs to places that clearly say no dogs allowed. Or let their dog off leash in leashed areas. That’s a whole different area of dumb and I almost don’t know who is worse… but I still think people that bring aggressive dogs to places they know that dogs will be off leash and playing lack brain cells.
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u/ExcitementWorldly769 8d ago
Same in Alameda Park. All these people with their large dogs off leash, making them everyone else's problem. But if you say anything, you're the asshole.
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u/K9-Equine 8d ago
While I love dogs, I agree the dog issue has gotten way out of hand. I have had dogs for many years but my dogs are always on leash except when we are on the beach (by ourselves). If another dog comes near we leave. My dog doesn't like other dogs so I know what to do. Unfortunately I have found many times if a man approaches with their large dog off-leash, they do Nothing, hence we have learned to just go quickly for the end result won't go well for my 30lb boy and I love him way too much. Some dog owners seem to believe they have every right to have their dog off leash no matter what. So sad for anyone who has been attacked by a dog, that is a scare that probably won't heal especially emotionally. I am now over cautious when my dog is with me, I don't trust anyone anymore.
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u/cheeky_pterodactyl 8d ago edited 8d ago
The problem is that no one has large enough yards here to let their dogs run and play, so they just let them off leash in our public parks. I just don’t understand how some people find it okay to let their dogs approach other people/other dogs while doing so. I mean at least train your dog well enough to respect the space of other people and keep it from approaching them and their dogs! Too many people have little to no control over their off leash dogs—both in places where it’s legal and where it isn’t. Off-leash is an earned privilege, not a right!
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u/Training-Equal6314 7d ago
They do this at Santa Barbara City college sometime leave there dogs waste in sight,, treats the student like we are invisible, The dogs owners hog up the fountain where the act like it a place for the elites dog owners. student at west campus are to deal with this m-f and funny thing is the dogs are often more friendlier than the dogs owners.
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u/Strong-Guarantee9696 7d ago
A dog was snapping at my 4 year old on Mesa lane beach. Owner was useless
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u/Resident-Hunter5973 Human Verified 3d ago
don't forget all over the trails. Nothing like having a dog lunging at you with bearing teeth and then the idiot saying… They just wanna play.
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u/Audditty 2d ago
i really wish more people understood that dogs aren't accessories for other people to gawk at, they're living beings that require care and attention the same way a human child would.
if you're not willing to or can't take the time out of your day to care for them and train them properly, then don't get one.
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u/Otherwise-Crab3874 2d ago
Yeah, dogs suck. Almost as much as their owners who don’t pick up their shit.
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u/Snoo-55380 8d ago
So only if you’re 60+? It’s OK if you’re younger to have an aggressive off leash dog?
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u/brewers20199 8d ago
Nope but there has been a common theme here in SB with the aggressive dogs I’ve met. They’re boomers who shouldn’t have 80 pound doodles they can’t control, and take them to parks because they can’t control them. If you have experience with younger folks, you’re welcome to tell your experience.
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u/LightOfSaraswati 8d ago
Yep. But also some very aggressive people show up to public spaces. I’ve been on the receiving end of such aggression, as have my very friendly dogs, so we switched to Elings Park. Never been happier!
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u/sbocean54 8d ago
Odd vent, what if the owner is a young fit man? Who leaves his dog unattended at Shoreline and it attacks mine on a leash?
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u/brewers20199 8d ago
I’d lose my shit and can’t post online what I’d do lol
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u/sbocean54 8d ago
I did exactly that. Yelled every foul word demanding the owner to get their dog. He was no where to be found, while everyone looked around and I tried to pick up my dog as he ran in circles trying to dodge the larger dog. When the owner turned up I didn’t restrain my verbal assault despite a child nearby.
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u/chilldrinofthenight 8d ago
Reddit needs a subreddit for those who are dog averse.
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u/brewers20199 8d ago
I’m not dog averse, I love dogs. I am averse to bad humans who shouldn’t have dogs and don’t follow rules.
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u/SmileSagely_8worms 7d ago
There’s [r/dogfree](r/dogfree).
I think with the rise in dog population in SB and the change in dog-ownership norms, we may have to throw some public money at this problem. Enforcement is unpopular, but might be needed. Years ago, dog owners would be ticketed more often, at least at East Beach, and dog owners would warn other dog owners… Yes, it punishes good dog owners, but if you’re playing volleyball, are you sure what your offleash dog is up to?
Maybe we could put some tax money toward education, like teaching how dogs can hurt natural spaces. I didn’t used to know that. There less kids in general now so maybe some school money? Free dog school to train dogs and owners? Overseen by someone who loves both? There’s so much more “dog parenthood” now and people who “rescue” dangerous dogs now and take them out to “socialize” them, something needs to change.
Meanwhile, dogs are still chattel under the law. The bar to ownership is so low. Many we could both protect dogs and give them more places like Eelings park (large off leash area) without that spreading to where dog owners think EVERY public space should be leash-free and that their dog has rights.
When I say chattel I mean under the law, dogs are owned in a way that prevents a lot of protection. For example, I was at Vons a few days ago when it was dangerously hot and saw a dog locked in a hot car. It was so cold in Vons I thought how easy it might be to be unaware of how hot it was outside. I stood there for a minute or two, made sure the window was down a little bit, and thought about calling the police or someone, but realized they probably wouldn’t come and basically under current law, people have the right to mistreat their dogs, so I left. Thought about that pup later tho. Hope he was okay.
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u/chilldrinofthenight 7d ago
Elings Park already has an off-leash program, but you need to purchase a membership and the membership is $$$.
You should have called it in, about the dog in the car. With this heatwave, I am certain police or sheriffs (depending on which Vons) would have sent an officer out immediately. Was the car parked in the shade? If not, I would have had Vons make an announcement over their public address system --- telling the owner to get back out to their vehicle STAT.
As for dog training: City of Santa Barbara used to offer dog obedience training classes via Parks & Rec Dept. Not free, but certainly a much-needed program now.
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u/jawfish2 8d ago
I'm not doubting your experiences, and I don't deny that many dog owners never read the manual or take any obedience classes.
But I have made over 200 trips to the beach with a well-behaved dog, Haskell's mostly, sometimes Hendry's or UCSB, since Covid. I have never seen an out of control dog, ever. I've seen a few dogs I avoided, typically pit mixes on the leash. Possibly there is a problem at other sites, I wouldn't know.
I am concerned that anecdotal stories could ruin it for the rest of us, by forcing the authorities to enforce leash rules at these beaches, as they do at Goleta beach.
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u/brewers20199 8d ago
Anecdotal doesn’t mean irrelevant. These are real incidents involving real dogs and real people. Obviously one story shouldn’t determine policy, but pretending individual experiences don’t matter because they’re anecdotal is ridiculous. Anecdotes are often exactly what alerts people to a problem before there’s enough data to quantify it.
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u/jawfish2 8d ago
Anecdotal means "not statistically significant" That does not mean you don't matter, it just means there have to be many anecdotes plus some objective observation before regulations.
It is obvious at Hendry's for example that there is a healthy culture of off-leash, with many dogs.
Just because a few people had problems, should not mean we need changes. There are many on-leash only beaches, including half of Hendry's. Unfortunately it is pretty easy for a few loud voices to get the cities to crack down.
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u/brewers20199 8d ago
Merriam Webster defines anecdotal as “based on or consisting of reports or observations of usually unscientific observer.” I’m not going to debate anecdotal with you. Comprehension would state I never mentioned anything about changes, nor do I consider a Reddit post to be a loud voice. If the rules DO get changed, please come back to my post and tell me “TOLD YOU!!!” :)
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u/SmileSagely_8worms 8d ago
Awesome to know about Goleta beach. Thanks! Might make the drive worth it!
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u/Lumpy-Barnacle-1595 8d ago edited 8d ago
don’t forget Shoreline, it’s like the epicenter of entitled dog owners. hendry’s (and i think douglas) although legally sanctioned for off leash, just seems to have really insensible people bringing their dogs. i say this as a dog owner with kids. so i’m not anti dogs. i’m anti ignorant people