Our neighbors frequently go horseback riding through our vineyard and past the winery. Last year a couple pulled up to our winery in an SUV and let their large dog out to romp. One of our neighbors was riding up on his horse accompanied by his children, Jessa and Austin, on their ponies. The dog freaked and began growling and biting at the horses’ feet. Austin’s pony Angel reared, dumping Austin in the driveway just as a Porsche came barreling up the drive (way too fast for rural life and safety). All was well in the end—Austin bruised but otherwise unhurt, horses peacefully tethered, and chagrined dog stuffed back in the SUV. As of that moment I informed my staff that all visiting dogs must be on a leash. However, since that moment, my seedbeds have been dug up, the periwinkle has been rolled on and crushed (taking weeks to recover), and I found a strange man in the sunporch of our home trying to haul his dog away from the cats. The dog dove right through a screen panel to get at the cats.
Our cats are not barn cats—they follow Dan around in the vineyard and sleep on the back of the sofa while he watches sports. They sneak into the bedrooms for a snooze. They have their own personalities and voices, and we love each and every one of them. I’d really prefer that they not be eaten or killed in front of me and our children. We’re also fond of little old ladies walking with canes, and children on ponies, so please keep your dog on a leash.
If you bring your dog to wine country, please keep your dog on a leash and the leash in your hand.
A woman attended a local wine seminar recently with her large Bouvier in tow. "My Bouvier eats cats," she said. "Is that a problem?" "Only for the cats," responded the winery owner wryly as his wife ran around scooping up their four fat cats and locking them in the house. Then it turned out that the Bouvier also hates people, which was a bit of a problem since the owner was sitting in the back of the room with her dog draped across the passage to the bathroom. Please keep your dog on a leash, and ask permission to bring him into the winery, even if the winery dog is already lounging inside. Allow the tasting room staff to observe and greet your dog and get to know her. If your dog responds to your commands and seems cheerful and friendly, winery staff may invite you to let your dog play off leash. There is nothing that gives us greater pleasure than watching our dog enjoy a friendly romp with a new friend. But any dog, no matter how friendly and obedient, may respond aggressively when confronted with an unfamiliar environment or circumstance. On the morning of December 22nd, I had the back door to the wine barn open, and I was carrying in 40-pound cases of wine for the Christmas weekend. Suddenly a sheep dog entered the back door and went tearing past me in the confined aisle between barrels, nearly knocking me over. The sheep dog skittered into our private winery kitchen where he checked out all the good smells, and then he came back out and began thoroughly sniffing the front tasting area. Rebel Rose, our springer spaniel, also came barreling in to check out the new arrival. At this point, his owner poked her head in the back door and asked, "Is it okay if my dog plays with your dog?" First of all, the woman and her dog were on the crush pad, with equipment and tools propped everywhere, and now were invading my workspace. I’m unloading and stacking 30 cases of wine, and I have the last straggling Christmas orders to pack for FedEx by twelve noon. "Well, uh," I stammered, "we usually suggest that visiting dogs be kept on a leash . . . " The sheep dog rushed toward me, probably because he heard his owner’s voice at the back door. I was trapped in the narrow area behind the tasting bar, and Rebel Rose had doubts about that. She growled. Feeling threatened, the sheep dog turned on her. A full-blown dogfight erupted at my feet, right where the wineglasses are stacked beneath the back counter. Moments later the dogs were separated, unhurt. More angst than aggression, and no broken glasses—which could have resulted in some very hefty vet bills. I am pretty experienced at hospitality, having worked in the wine industry for over fifteen years. But I am still trying to figure this one out. What is ‘hospitality’ when it comes to dogs? Should they be allowed to gallop unsupervised around the property? We have lush green lawns and a dog on the label, so people can’t be faulted for thinking we are a doggie park, I suppose. But what about little old ladies on walkers, and children on ponies? And what about our cats? Are they the winery appetizers? One couple let their dog out of the car and it immediately chased Pepper and Spunky under the porch. "Oh, I’m sorry," the lady said. "Our dog really hates cats." "Our cats are accustomed to defending themselves against coyotes and bobcats," I replied, which is true. "You might want to collect your dog before he gets hurt." Please do not feed the winery pets. I would have to change her name to Porkpie if everyone gave in to our spaniel’s sad face and depressed sighs, and I have trained her (not very successfully, thank you very much) not to beg and annoy picnicking visitors. Some dogs, like Rebel Rose, have allergies and will suffer from painful hot spots when fed the wrong foods. And some people do not realize that certain foods are dangerous and can kill a dog—chicken bones, pork and lamb bones, chocolate, nuts. One day a lady completely ignored the "Do not feed our dog crackers" sign by the cracker basket and lifted a cracker up high, trying to get Rebel to sit up and beg. This is not a game we play, so Rebel didn’t understand the hand language. And Rebel Rose is a springer spaniel. Duh. She snapped that cracker neatly out of the guest’s hand at seven feet. The woman turned pale, and then bright red when her friends pointed out the sign. If you have dog treats in your car and ask permission from the owner, you may be invited to share treats. At Dover Canyon, treats are an ‘outside’ joy, and Rebel must ‘sit’ to receive one. If a dog is tethered, do not release it. Do not remove a dog’s collar. If you have concerns about a dog’s well-being, bring it to the attention of a winery attendant. When Rebel Rose was a puppy she quickly figured out that cars bring people, and people bring tummy rubs, which made her really anxious to greet cars, and we had a couple of terrifying close calls. I tied her up in front of the tasting room on a long line where she could play and greet visitors safely. While I was waiting on a rush of customers, a woman poked her head in the door and said accusingly, "Your little dog was whining. I let it off its leash. I hope that’s okay." Well, it wasn’t. I corked the bottles, excused myself from a full room and, after an entertaining chase, collected my wriggling puppy. I carried her up to the house and shut her inside. I then apologized to my customers for my absence, explaining that the leash was for the dog’s safety and training, and that she was now in the house, although she hated being banished, as evidenced by her loud, mournful howls. If a member of your winetasting party has a phobia of dogs, please, please do not drag this poor person around the countryside to all the small family-owned vineyards without making some advance preparations. Small wineries are basically farms, and your guest will be confronted at every stop by friendly, free roaming dogs, scaring the heck out of your companion and reinforcing her phobia. Stay on the main highway and visit the larger, more commercial tasting rooms where your guest will feel safe and relaxed. Better yet, call ahead and inquire. At Dover Canyon, you can request a dog-free visit if you call 24 hours ahead of time. If you make an appointment at a winery, have the courtesy to arrive on time so poor Scooter doesn't spend all day shut in a broom closet. I’d like to thank the many, many visitors who have brought their friendly dogs to our winery to play with Rebel Rose, and who have respected the safety and training of our dog and theirs. You are always welcome here, and Rebel Rose will look forward to your next visit.
Frequently visitors let their dogs roam free in the open orchard for a few minutes, which is perfectly acceptable. Sometimes guests parked near the shrubs and pin oaks at the perimeter of our property will let their dogs run through the scrubby growth along the fence line, sniffing at all the interesting woodsy smells. I don’t say anything (after all, how much dog-monitoring can I do?) but I do wonder if the owners noticed the poison oak which grows thickly there. (Even when poison oak loses its leaves in the fall, the bare canes exude poisonous sap, which I would not want on my car upholstery!) So far no dog has sniffed out the two bobcat cubs under the fallen log, or the litter of skunk kittens that play near a large black walnut, but you surely wouldn’t want Fluffy to annoy their mothers. When I found this baby skunk sleeping in the grass I had to perform some deft distractions on Rebel Rose, who wanted to play with the new black and white kitty.
I love my dog but I won't take her anywhere that I'm not sure if she's welcome. Any way you can get the word out is great.
Posted by: Dog Charms | May 10, 2008 at 07:04 AM