Dear Rocky, This is a good question because at the crag, a dog has to be particularly careful. This is probably why our humans have always kept me on the leash when they take me climbing. They don't want to have to deal with any dog-shenanigans when they are belaying each other, nor do they want me running off to bother another climbing party while they are trying to belay someone. Likewise, I don't usually go to the top of a crag; who knows what sticks or stones I might kick over the edge in my excitement?To answer your question, Gladys was perfectly behaved... which doesn't say much, since there isn't much opportunity to do much wrong other than bark. Which we did at one point when someone else's dog (off the leash) came over to us. We pretty much went berserk -- can you blame us? A perfectly good opportunity for some rollicking good dog ruckus wasted. Oh well -- it's all in the name of safety.
One interesting fact about the leash at the climbing area is how we are fixed to the rock. Obviously if Mark is belaying Alison, he can't be holding me on my leash at the same time. So they have taken to attaching us to the crag using Camelots -- that is trad gear more commonly used as protection for a lead climber. But Friday they were top-roping, so the trad gear was available. Attached is a photo of a size 3 BD cam and a red Metolius cam attached to two nylon dog leashes. Excuse the tech-talk, but you know how climbers are. That's right, total gear nerds.Your friend, Oscar
