Palio, Dogs, Kids, and the SCA

Me and Shaggydog at Harper's Retreat in Stonemarche

The Palio di Stonemarche was this weekend.  It was filled with silly fun and nonsense as well as wonderful, welcoming people, all of my favorite merchants, and a dayboard to rival some feasts.  Yes, Palio is an event that I will go to again and encourage others to join me.  But while I have great memories of the day, and great pictures besides, what I really want to talk about today is Dogs and the SCA.

You see, there was one black mark on the day.  The site was dog friendly and while there were maybe half a dozen dogs in attendance, there was an altercation between a larger dog and a small service dog.

Now, I am not entirely clear of the details.  What I do know is the smaller dog was punctured in four places, went to the vet today, and should make a full recovery.  This is good news, but it does lead to the discussion of whether dogs belong at SCA events or not.

As a dog owner, I'm well aware that this sort of incident is not exclusive to the SCA.  Dog owners need to be accountable for the actions of their pets no matter the setting.   There is certainly a lot of blame placed on the owner in this instance.  There has also been blame placed on the breed of dog, and strong opinions offered on now irresponsible some SCA parents are with their kids and dogs.  I think as dog owners (or parents, if you prefer), we should take a lesson from the SCA horse folks.

Horses, the other period "pet".

Dogs, like horses, should be part of the SCA.  Both animals have been with us a long time and I think they add to the ambiance of an event.  Dogs, like horses, have their own personalities as well as likes and dislikes.  Watching the experienced horsewomen and men at Palio, they paid close attention to what made the horses uncomfortable.  They made sure to not put the horses in situations that might become dangerous to the spectators, the horses, or themselves.  I think they tend to regard their horses as their babies, just as we dog owners do, but they also remember that they are in control of a huge and powerful animal, and neither the horse nor the rider can forget who's boss.

If horses are at an event, it's usually because there is some horsey activity going on.  If dogs are at an event, it's usually because their owners didn't want to leave them or didn't have anywhere else to leave them for the weekend.  Perhaps this is another area where we can take a tip from the horse folk.  Maybe dogs need activities too.  Naturally, bringing them onto the battlefield is out.  Likewise for hunting live game, but we could set up flag coursing tracks, such as the ones in Caid.  We could have a tracking event or hunt-themed obstacle course.  There are activities that we could figure out how to host that would give dogs something to do.   No, it's not a cure for irresponsible owners, but it is an option that could give us a better connection to our dogs in relationship to our favorite hobby.

Dogs are not People Covered In Fur.

I think it's easy for dog owners to forget that their pet is an animal of instinct, not rational thinking.  My own dog is a loveable goof who I like to think of as extremely well behaved with kids and small dogs.  He is a talker who makes all manner of ridiculous noises to get the attention of people. His good nature has won over more than a few folks who don't like dogs and we get many compliments on his behavior.  For the most part, he's a good boy.  As a responsible dog owner, however, I have to look at Shaggy through the eyes of someone who doesn't like dogs.  In that light, he's a loud, slobbery mutt who likes to jump up on people.  His vocal nature sounds like growling.  He's very tall and when his hair is grown out, he looks huge.  In short, he's a cynophobes nightmare.  In this light, I can't let my own love of my pet override my common sense and responsibility.  

It's the fault (or not) of the breed.

Blaming the breed of dog is also a common occurrence and with that comes the equally vocal defenders-of-all-breeds who call for breed blindness. Yes, the onus of dog behavior falls to the owner to train their dog and to make sure the dog knows who's boss, but the whole reason we have dog breeds because humans desired certain traits over others.  Greyhounds were built for speed.  Labs have that retrieving instinct.  Border collies will herd anything that moves.  Huskies want to pull.  Dobermans were breed as guard dogs.  My mother-in-law's Cairn terrier will wait still as stone by a hole for hours if she thinks a small critter might pop out of it.  Of course there will always be exceptions to this, but we do a disservice not only to dogs but to the ability of dog owners to bring our pets to public venues if we foolishly choose to ignore what we've engineered a breed of dog to do.

Dogs and kids and childish parents, oh my.

Dogs and children are often brought up together when discussions of "what's wrong with the SCA" happen.  I'm not going to argue that there aren't people who are blind to the faults of their kids and dogs. We all know that there are people who show up at an event with pets and kids in tow and then turn them loose for the community at large to look after.  That is a recipe for disaster.  As dog owners and parents of children, it's not other people's job to police what is our responsibility.   We need to be able to hear when someone criticizes our "perfect angels" and not take it as a personal attack, but as a request for us to tighten the reigns.  If, heaven forbid, your dog is aggressive with another dog or, worse, a person, saying "She's never done anything like that before" isn't going to make the situation better.  We are responsible for any bills, vet or otherwise, caused by kids and our dogs.  Appologize, exchange information, and accept the bill (and perhaps the request that you remove the dog from the event) with grace.  

Likewise, folks having a problem with kids and dogs shouldn't let it get to the point of anger before they speak up.  Most of the time, a quiet word to parents or owners will bring a situation back under control, but for folks uncomfortable with that or who haven't found a resolution to the problem, that's part of what your Event Steward is there for.  Autocrats should be very clear what the dog policy is for the site and what the penalties are for failing to abide by those guidelines.  If everyone knows going into an event that they will be asked to leave if their dog is ever off leash or they don't pick up after it, there are no surprises.  As dog owners, we should play by those rules or leave our buddies at home.

How we can do it better.

Every event should have a pet policy.  If dogs are allowed at an event site, what are the rules?  Can dogs be off leash?  Can they be on a long line?  Are there specific areas of the site that they aren't allowed?  What happens if dog owners don't abide by the rules?  Will owners receive warnings before they're asked to leave or is there a zero tolerance policy?  Make sure everyone knows what the rules are so that we're all playing the same game.

Owners need to be sensible about their surroundings.  Events can be small and low-key or crowded and busy.  Folks with dogs should give other encampments space, if they can.  If you're unable to find a spot away from the crowds, dogs should be kept on a short 5' leash, not a 20' leash.  Talk with your neighbors and find out how they feel about dogs.  If you have a neighbor that doesn't like dogs, it might be worth the headache to consider moving to a more dog friendly location.  Consider bringing a covered crate so your dog has a space of their own that they can retreat to.  Make sure they have fresh water available at all times.  Dehydration makes both dogs and people cranky.

Event stewards at larger camping events might want to create a "dog friendly" area or a "no dogs allowed" area so that people can camp in their comfort zones.

Attendees without dogs need to speak up if they are uncomfortable around dogs or if dogs are being a nuisance.  Owners need to respect the feelings and wishes of the other attendees.  Dogs at events is a privilege, not a right.  Have a realistic plan in the event that it's just not working out with your dog at an event.  Please don't make that plan "I'm going to leave him in the car until it's time to go."   It seems condescendingly obvious, but you know there are people out there who would do just that.

If you plan to drink to excess or make the rounds to all the best parties, leave your dog at home.  That way you still get to have the good time you want, and you don't have to worry about your buddy.

Take a realistic assessment of your dog and set your expectations accordingly.  Some dogs are startled by loud noises and crowds (both of which are not uncommon at an SCA event) and a skittish dog is a hazard.  Every dog has the potential to be a biting dog.  Even if your dog plays wonderfully with every other dog they've ever met, today may be the day they meet the dog (or the kid, or the adult) they don't like, or the dog that doesn't like them. 

Don't let children walk dogs unattended and if you have to leave your dog with someone while you run to the bathroom, make sure that person knows not to let folks pet him or her until you get back.  Dogs in unfamiliar surroundings may behave totally different when you are out of sight.  

While the bark of a dog amidst the calls of Vivat! adds a charming note to the chorus, the dog that won't shut up will not make you a welcome attendant.  Have a plan for what you're going to do if you have a barker.

Finally, give your dog something to do every once in a while.  If the event isn't hosting a dog activity, consider running one.  At the very least, take her for a walk that's more than just a trip to the bathroom.  Happy dogs make for happy events.

Thus endeth my time on the soapbox.