First of all a very Happy Christmas to everyone.

We went out for a drink with a bunch of friends at the fabulous BC's this afternoon. Denis Wolfe was playing, as always, and everyone was relaxed and having a good time.

When we moved here, we were adopted by a beach dog. He gets on really well with other dogs and he decided to follow us down to BC's to celebrate Christmas Eve with us and our friends. There were a couple of dogs on leashes amongst the many dogs that were there. Our dog wanted to say hello and had a little sniff and play with one of the dogs.

A guy freaked out. He came over to us and his words were 'this is a public place and you should have your dog on a leash'. I responded that if his dogs were not well enough behaved to be off the leash and join in the fun (the other dogs were getting on well, playing and not causing anything but merriment), that wasn't our problem. He then got more forceful and again told us to put our dog on a leash because we were in a public place.

I'm afraid to say that I wasn't polite. So I have a couple of things to tell this person in a more polite manner:

1. Our dog is well socialised with other dogs. He is a lover, not a fighter. You appear to think you know a lot about dogs, but the huge fuss you were making only served to aggravate the situation and it is only down to the good nature of the dogs that there wasn't a fight.
2. You are in San Pedro. Beach dogs are a way of life here. If you have a dog that doesn't get on well with other dogs, bringing him to a popular beach bar, keeping him on the leash and getting unnaturally protective and aggressive towards other dogs yourself is not a good idea.
3. It is Christmas Eve.
4. It is Belize.
5. Ok it is more than a couple of things.

The reason I've gotten on my high horse about this is because there are many individuals who move to Belize and try to introduce rules so that it is just like back home. My advice to you is please stay back at home and follow the rules you like.

Thank you. I'll get off my soap box now and go eat some more. Merry Christmas everyone. xxx

So right. I can't wait for my dogs to be beach dogs. They are also lovers and not fighters. Perhaps his dog isn't so well behaved, and was afraid either his dog would start something, or his dog was a weenie, and was afraid of others. In any case, you hit the nail on the head. If they aren't social animals, leave them at home.

Unfortunately this island seems to attract as***les. If you ignore them they willgo away if a short time.

my dog is the friendly-est dog around. but if he is on a lease, he gets a bit wierd. if another dog is on a lease, my dog is fine with that?
i used to bitch about a few nieghborhood dogs who were allways loose causeing the dogs i had at the time to freak out, as mine were not free. i see it now as it was not the free dogs fault, it was mine,, somehow. i am sure they just wanted to be loose as well. now,, with my 'free range' dog, he is one of the most well behaved, liked, dogs around.
and as you may know,, i allready agree with you about the people you are refering to.
if i ever find that elusive 'genie in a bottle', one of my three wishes will be to communicate with the animals.
i would love to know what is going on inside them little heads.
the other two will no doubt involve money and sex.

Sun and Sand, May Santa bring you and your beach dogs your freedom to roam barefoot in the sand.

San Pedro Daily, May Santa bring you an a&&hole free Christmas.

Barnacle, May Santa bring you plenty of money and sex (not sure which order you would prefer that in or if you want Santa to wear something 'special'). Hopefully, with those wishes granted, you'll be able to let the animals keep their privacy.

Merry Christmas to Scurvy, and his human too.

santa skips my house,,the fat bastard,, i pissed him off years ago.
that's why i count on the genie therory.

scurvy and fuzz say "back at cha",, i think.

Collyk, thanks for the Christmas wishes. I wish you and yours, and your furry family good things in the years to come. I hope the leash never has to be a part of their lives unless THEY want it.
Merry Christmas!!

Jesse's right if you ignore them they'll go away. People like that don't last long down here.

You go girl!