Dogs!

Mark_B.

Mark_B.

Location
Basel, Switzerland
This one is definitively off topic, but here you are anyway...
working in gardens and parks, you will sometimes have brushes with dogs. I had one beginning of the month that I won't be forgetting in a hurry. In this incident I had a kick-ass big alsatian decide to attach itself to my thigh, a spur of the moment thing, I suppose. Then it wouldn't let go anymore, no matter what anyone said. Everybody screaming and shouting, the handler pulling on the leash on the dog on my leg... ouch, you get the general picture!
SO, luckily, one person kept a level head (thanks, Peter!) and punched the dog on the nose until it fainted.

Don't get me wrong here, I'm not inciting people to go gratuitously punching strange doggies on their noses, but if something like this does happen to someone around you, don't try to pry open it's jaws (you can't)- just go for the nose.

I've been home for almost a month now, driving my family nuts, trying to stay in shape and focus for the various upcoming TCC's.

The whole incident sucks, don't try this one at home, kids!
 
I was bitten on the leg while riding my bicycle as a child (6-7 years old) down my street so I've always had an aversion to large dogs. If a client has a dog then I insist it be put inside while I'm on the property. The dog may be used to people walking in the yard, but not climbing the trees. To the dog, I am nothing but an intruder doing what people shouldn't be doing. Even gentle dogs can become aggressive once they see a tree climber.

Not to mention that every single one will sniff your rope/ gear and then piss on it. I do not tolerate dogs on the jobsite. This is not a negotiable subject.
 
Re: Dogs! AND ITCC QUESTION

Ouch!! Not what you need during any season, especially the busy season. Hey, maybe you could use this to help motivate you to come to the TCC's stronger and more prepared than ever!

On another subject, Jim Skiera has been looking into some of the gear that might be brought to the gear inspection at the ITCC and was asking for some of the testing info for the Rope Guide and Positioner. Any chance you might be able to email him the CE and EN standards? Or maybe ask Hubert to email or call the ISA? Jims email is jskiera@isa-arbor.com Get well soon Mark and hope to see you in Montreal!
 
Re: Dogs! AND ITCC QUESTION

Early in my career I went out with my boss to cut down a large lilac clump. There were many canes over four inches and maybe 18' tall. The people were supposed to put the dog inside. When we got there, it was chained nearby and really upset with us being on the property. Snarling and snapping and ripping at the end of its heavy chain. It would have torn us to shreds if it could get to us. The job was a long drive so we needed to get the job done. We serviced the two Mac 6's, warmed them up and went to work. I had mine going and faced the dog, keeping him at bay. Marv went to work on the lilac. When he would move, I'd shadow him. We ended up working back to back. I was praying that the saw didn't puke. The saw kept the dog away and we got the job done. The dog was snarling and snapping the whole time we were there. I didn't feel safe until we were back in the chip truck, doors closed, windows up and driving down the alley.

whew!

Tom
 
Re: Dogs! AND ITCC QUESTION

About 5 or 6 years ago I had a 35-40 lb. boxer grab my leg and would not let go. It was on a chain about 50' long. All I did was knock on the door to let the customer know I was there to do the work. As the dog would not let go I started chocking it.The dog laughed at me and took a bigger bite. The husband was comimg with a baseball bat and a co- worker(hispanic) was comming with an axe.The wife is pulling the chain saying stop princess stop.The dog bits harder. In fear or getting axed or hit with a bat. I hit the dog with everything I had between the eyes. The dog passed out for about 5 seconds and I broke my little finger. The wife then starts yelling at me for hurting her little princess. The husband says do not worry the dog is crazy and so is my wife.
 
Re: Dogs! AND ITCC QUESTION

Let's not forget the suprises that dogs can leave for you even whenthey are locked inside. I had a crew drive for 1 hr to do a tree for a friend of a friend (always the worst jobs) Crew called me up and said they refused to enter the backyard because there was no safe place to step. The owner knew we were coming but had not scooped since before the winter and this was spring!
Can't blame the crew, imagine coming down the tree and having dog crap squishing through your hitch.
Sent the crew back to do another job and when I finally got in touch with the owner, he was very unappologetic.

Dave
 
Glad to hear that you are relatively OK and it sounds as if at least, your spirit isn't broken.

Not that it matters, or that I have a right to ask, but why do you think the dog latched on to you?? Did you move fast, take a bath in bacon grease, make eye contact, wear a funny hat? Or was the dog just a poor judge of character?

Nathan
 
Here's a tip to deal with any future canine attacks, I am quite an expert on this subject, I spent many years of my life after leaving school, working with these fiery animals. The best way to get a dog to lose his grip on whichever part of your anatomy that he's sunk his teeth into, is get someone to grab a hosepipe, normally there's one nearby, especally if your'e in someones garden, a sudden blast in the face with cold water will normally work a treat, it's the shock more than anything, and it won't hurt the dog!
Most dogs latch on and just hold, the damage is caused when you try to remove it, so this way the sudden shock does it for you, aim right into the mouth/eyes, it worked for me many times, also good for splitting a pair of fighting dogs too! Hope this helps the next poor victim?
There's not many bad dogs, just bad owners!!!
L.W
Some lead, others follow!
 
After you are bit is too late, before you are bit try this a few drops of pure vanilla extract on your hands and wipe them on your pant legs. It has a calming effect on dogs.
 
So now we should carry DEET for the mosies and vanilla for the dawgs? :) Garlic for the vampires? Help me LW, what else should we need to keep all of the biters at bay? :)

My Dad worked as a letter carrier and he had a spray can of Halt on his pouch at all times. One shot of that was enough. He said that he only had to squirt one dog twice.
Tom
 
What else would you bothered by, flies? Bees, wasps? I was attacked by wasps once, trying to catch a young bull, he ran through the hedge, disturbing a nest of wasps (which, unfortunately I didn't notice,) as I climbed over the gate I felt something pricking my leg, when I looked down there were loads of wasps, I was wearing jeans but it didn't stop the stings. They were then all over me even in my hair!! I noticed a water trough nearby and jumped into it, (lucky I'm small)! I had to put my head under the water to get the wasps out of my hair, it worked, but I was covered in stings, luckily I'm not allergic to them! The two people who were with me were laughing, I wasn't!!!!!!!
So always carry a water trough, just in case!!!
L.W
Some lead, others follow!
 
A fist is so easy to carry with you and you don't have to worry about accidentally leaving it in the truck. Even if you don't have a fist with you at the time of attack, you can easily make one at a moment's notice.
 
My wife works at the Zoo. About a year ago it was decided that the keepers who work with the more dangerous animals would carry pepper spray.

So far no animals have been sprayed, but a couple of keepers have been. Usually while getting into their truck with the spray on their belt. One of the Stupidvisors ended up with a pretty serious chemical burn on his butt.

The things we do to ourselves in the name of safety...

Louie Hampton
 
Re: Dogs! and their deposits

Are other cities producing pooper-scooper companies like Austin? We have at least two now that I know of. They usually get a weekly contract and charge by the dog, but maye we need to make alliances with these people for the occasional one-time shot. Put it in the contract: if dog waste is not cleaned up before we arrive, a professional removal service will be hired and the bill will be added to tree care services.

The two problems I see are that people won't like it (not good for customer relations) and it might be tricky to negotiate the timing--we can't wait till we show up for the job, see the problem, then wait for the cleanup crew to arrive. Still, in extreme cases, it might be worth it to stop by the day before and make sure things are ready. One or two piles I can deal with, but not a minefield.

keith.

keith
 
Re: Dogs! and their deposits

Efluent debris from humans, cats, or mice bother me. Dogs, no. Surrender your hand before the dog goes for your throat, and choke him with it. I've only been caught off guard twice with dogs. Once when I was about six, and the other with dogs I've previously met. Foolishly thinking they wouldn't defend their territory from me. Both times I was just nipped. Dog more scared of me than I it. Water trick sounds good. I believe that over agressive dogs should be put down along with their irresponsible owner.
Matt.
 
Reminds me of a job a few years ago I DID NOT get because as I was estimating the tree, I asked the owner to please calm the dog down or put him in the house (the dog was snarling and barking just waiting to get a piece of any human).

The owner immediately told me to leave her property and she did not want an estimate from me due to the fact I did not talk properly around the dog. I could not believe it.
 
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