April 9, 2015

Temperature: 50 F. Cloud Cover: Sunny. Wind Velocity: Calm/Light. Wind Direction: SW. Tide Level: 5.0 feet.

Number of people: 22. Number of dogs: 3. Walking or running: 14. Playing in sand: 2. Sitting: 5. Surfing: 1. One out-of-control dog.

None

Wood pieces. Plastic bits.

Usual ongoing small slides

During the first half of my walk (walking south) I saw about 22 people. I saw an additional 6 or 7 people before I reached the south end of my mile. Some people who'd been on the beach when I got there had left by the time I was halfway back to the north end of my mile. So people on beach ranged from 17 to 30 or so. An annoying chocolate lab decided it was far more fun to follow me and my dog then stay with his people. Completely ignored the calls of the two members of his family who were nearby. I tried just standing with both dogs standing & waiting for me to toss the ball for a few minutes(hoping one of the dog's people would come over and catch the dog, but no luck). The dog completely ignored my request that it go away away.He was of those dogs who have learned to bark sharply/shrilly over and over again until whoever is around tosses the ball--regardless of a command to quiet or shut up. Annoying habit. After a few more tosses (my dog outraced him to the ball every time--that chocolate lab, like quite a few others I've seen tended towards chubbiness), he finally stole the ball out from under my dog's nose (she'd put it down for a moment), then ran away from the one of his people who'd finally decided to walk over to try to catch the dog. My dog and I continued our walk and started climbing up a path from the beach shortly after. I think eventually another family member actually caught the dog & got the ball from him. I was leaving the beach by then. I wish people would obedience train their dogs better before letting them off leash at the beach. The beach isn't a dog park w/out a dog park's rules.