BajaNomad - Dogs at Santa Gertrudis

Dogs at Santa Gertrudis

AKgringo - 10-26-2024 at 08:58 AM

I did not want to hijack Cupcake's thread, so I am posting this to share my experience there last April.

As I pulled into the mission site, I was greeted by a small pack of dogs. I am a dog person, and my assessment of the pack was not that they were a threat to me, but they sure took an interest in my 90-pound bully breed, and the bark was on!

There were men and women there who were watching, but no one tried to call them off. My dog and I never got out of my Trooper, because I didn't want to be the Gringo whose dog left one of theirs needing stitches.

My guess is that the dogs would back off and leave a visitor without a dog in their car alone, but that is just a guess. I don't think I would want to ride a bike into there though, the pack tended to circle me.

David K - 10-26-2024 at 09:37 AM

On my three visits (2001, 2012, 2017), there was either nobody there or a lone caretaker. Too bad you couldn't have a look around... It is a small mission church (interior rebuilt and modernized about 1998 bu the Guerrero Negro parish priest). The remote bell tower is unique and overlooks the oasis below the mission terrace...

AKgringo - 10-26-2024 at 10:28 AM

There were several vehicles parked in the area, and it appeared that there was some sort of construction going on, but as I stated before, I never got out of my Trooper to check things out.

bajaric - 10-26-2024 at 10:46 AM

Sounds like Santa Gertrudis has gone to the dogs.. :lol:

[Edited on 10-26-2024 by bajaric]

AKgringo - 10-26-2024 at 11:19 AM

Quote: Originally posted by bajaric

Sounds like Santa Gertrudis has gone to the dogs.. :lol:

[Edited on 10-26-2024 by bajaric]

But my dog was not welcome! Where is the equity and inclusion?

4x4abc - 10-26-2024 at 07:30 PM

dogs are like humans - newcomers are always barked at

Lee - 10-27-2024 at 09:02 AM

Not sure how much more there is to discuss about dogs at Santa Gertrudis so I'll ask my question quickly.

Reference was made on another post to people (think it was women) being killed by dogs in San Felipe. Maybe I missed the media coverage and know it was never discussed here -- and I KNOW it would have been discussed here.

Really? More than one woman killed? Sorry I don't believe this. Not without lots of evidence.

cupcake - 10-27-2024 at 11:51 AM

I was at Santa Gertrudis for a couple of hours in the afternoon, last April or May. I went with Angel in his truck. There was a single caretaker at the Mision, but possibly other people living nearby. No dogs the day I was there.

Dogs are my greatest concern, when thinking of hiking the ECR. I looked at snake gaiters at a Bass Pro Shop the other day. Topping out just below the knee, they looked good for stopping snakes and cacti, but the clincher was that they also looked good for stopping a moderately aggressive dog bite attempt. Not sure they would stop an injury from a dog that latched on and was thrashing, but as most bites seem to be 'hit and go', the gaiters looked good for that so I bought a pair. Had I been wearing those in downtown Tijuana a few months ago, when I was bitten, I think sure the gaiters would have kept the teeth from breaking my skin. And yes, these gaiter could be worn on an evening stroll in town. I will be wearing them the next tome I go to Guerrero Negro (maybe under my loose fitting pants).

[Edited on 10-27-2024 by cupcake]

surfhat - 10-27-2024 at 12:10 PM

In my years of dealing with Baja dogs, specifically the four legged ones, haha, bending down and pretending to throw a rock has always worked to back them off.

I have never thrown a rock or anything at mans best friend. I have pretended a few times to great effect. The Baja dogs know all too well this particular human response.

Dog training in Baja is mostly lacking, comparably speaking. There are always exceptions. Some are just sweethearts from the get go.

Dog is love personified. They ask so little of us and give back so much. They are owed more love by each and everyone of us in whatever ways we can.

cupcake - 10-27-2024 at 12:30 PM

I have used the raised hand in the rock throwing position to good effect. But, then there is the dog that bit me in TJ, it ran up behind me, without barking or growling, and bit me before I even knew it was there.

[Edited on 10-29-2024 by cupcake]

mtgoat666 - 10-27-2024 at 01:05 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Lee

Not sure how much more there is to discuss about dogs at Santa Gertrudis so I'll ask my question quickly.

Reference was made on another post to people (think it was women) being killed by dogs in San Felipe. Maybe I missed the media coverage and know it was never discussed here -- and I KNOW it would have been discussed here.

Really? More than one woman killed? Sorry I don't believe this. Not without lots of evidence.

True. The dingos ate the ladies. Was discussed in another thread here in nomadlandia, and I recall it was on a baja FB page and some news sites.

cupcake - 10-27-2024 at 01:29 PM

Loved ones fondly remember St. Paul native killed by dogs in Mexico
https://kstp.com/kstp-news/top-news/loved-ones-fondly-rememb...
"Family members say around 3:30 p.m. on Feb. 3, Bast, a 48-year-old St. Paul native, was walking along the beach near her rental home in San Felipe when she was attacked by a pack of dogs."

This report states that she tried to save a dog that was being attacked by a pack, when the pack turned on her.
https://hoodline.com/2024/02/minnesota-woman-killed-in-mexic...

List of fatal dog attacks
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fatal_dog_attacks
I see two reported human fatalities for San Filipe on this list.

Over 100 people have been killed by dogs in the USA just since the year 2000.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fatal_dog_attacks_in_the_Unite...

[Edited on 10-27-2024 by cupcake]

surabi - 10-27-2024 at 02:49 PM

And bully-type dogs, while they only comprise 6% of the dog population, are responsible for 60% of fatal dog attacks on humans. It's beyond me why anyone wants a dog like that.

Lee - 10-27-2024 at 03:23 PM

Quote: Originally posted by cupcake

Loved ones fondly remember St. Paul native killed by dogs in Mexico
https://kstp.com/kstp-news/top-news/loved-ones-fondly-rememb...
"Family members say around 3:30 p.m. on Feb. 3, Bast, a 48-year-old St. Paul native, was walking along the beach near her rental home in San Felipe when she was attacked by a pack of dogs."

This report states that she tried to save a dog that was being attacked by a pack, when the pack turned on her.
https://hoodline.com/2024/02/minnesota-woman-killed-in-mexic...

List of fatal dog attacks
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_fatal_dog_attacks
I see two reported human fatalities for San Filipe on this list.

Over 100 people have been killed by dogs in the USA just since the year 2000.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fatal_dog_attacks_in_the_Unite...

[Edited on 10-27-2024 by cupcake]

Call me out of touch and in disbelief. No clue. Guess I'm not too paranoid carrying my knife on the beach at the ready.

Only plan to deter a dog attacking me -- unless they are wanting to rip my arm or leg off.

mtgoat666 - 10-27-2024 at 09:17 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Lee

Quote: Originally posted by cupcake

A knife might work, but dogs wont be visually deterred by a knife, and you’ll have to get into close combat to make the knife useful. Bear spray or a club might be more effective than knife, and help you maintain some distance. Better to carry a walking stick; fashionable, practical, and makes a good club.

pauldavidmena - 10-28-2024 at 06:33 AM

Our pitbull mix Bonita was a sweetheart - unless you were a woodchuck who unwittingly wandered into our backyard.

Timo1 - 10-28-2024 at 10:01 AM

In our little village we have many dogs. I have only been bit once and it was by a gringo dog

AKgringo - 10-28-2024 at 10:22 AM

My girl Cleo was a 50 pound version of your dog Bonita, except she was almost all black with a white chest and paws. In her 15 1/2 years on earth she never bit anyone, and to my knowledge, never took an aggressive or strongly defensive stance with a human!

I wouldn't change a thing about that wonderful, loving dog, and almost ten years later I still miss her!

The bully I fostered toward the end of Cleo's life is more of a challenge, but is no threat to any person. Bailey is a mix breed, American bulldog and probably ridgeback. She is especially fond of women and children, and like Cleo, has never displayed any warning behavior toward people.

Bailey gets along with most dogs and has even made friends with the neighbors cats on both sides of my yard. Unfortunately, if things go wrong with another dog, her bite is much worse than her bark.

Because she is so powerful, I never allow her to run loose (except on my 40 acres) and always have a leash and shock collar incase we are near any other strange dogs.

I have had other dogs throughout my lifetime, and loved them all, but the bond formed with Cleo, and Bailey, is something that cannot be explained to someone who has not experienced it!

surabi - 10-29-2024 at 12:45 AM

Quote: Originally posted by AKgringo

She is especially fond of women and children, and like Cleo, has never displayed any warning behavior toward people.

Because she is so powerful, I never allow her to run loose (except on my 40 acres) and always have a leash and shock collar incase we are near any other strange dogs.

You sound like a responsible dog owner.

But the fact remains that bully breeds are responsible for the vast majority of fatal dog attacks and the owners almost always say the dog was sweet and had never been aggressive before after it rips some kid's face off.

You can never be sure what a dog might do in some situations. I had a dog for 13 years who was totally non-aggressive with people, very sweet and affectionate with everyone around her. A good watchdog- she barked her head off at strangers near my property, but had never bitten anyone. Also could be aggressive with other female dogs, but never actually bit them- just terrorized them- getting them on their backs, standing over them snarling, baring teeth.

One day some neighbors were walking by and we started conversing. Their 5 year old son was sitting on the ground near my dog and must have been touching her around her tail, which always made her nervous, and suddenly she snapped at him. Just an air-snap, no bite, a warning, but it scared the kid and also me- it had never occurred to me to pay attention to the kid and the dog, because she had never done that to a person before.

No matter how well we think we know our dogs, they can be unpredictable. And the problem with bully breeds is the strength of their jaws. Not the dog's fault- that's their DNA, to latch on and not let go. There's a good reason why responsible people research the temperament and behaviors of different breeds before deciding on what breed of dog to get, unless they are just adopting a Heinz 57 rescue dog.

No one should assume that just because their dog has always been sweet and non-aggressive that they would never hurt anyone.

[Edited on 10-29-2024 by surabi]

[Edited on 10-29-2024 by surabi]

[Edited on 10-29-2024 by surabi]