I arrived at the park in my golf cart, and proceeded to the gate with my sleight, 13-lb poodle Annie on a leash. Another woman pulled up and out bounded her 40-lb unleashed dog. I have learned at the park that there is a power dynamic between leashed and unleashed dogs; The bigger dog made for Annie and, feeling constrained and threatened, she pushed back. Suddenly the big dog began to REALLY growl and lunge, so I pulled Annie into the air by her harness. Her dog continued to approach growling, and I started yelling for the woman to control her dog. I got inside the gate and she began to scream that my dog "started it." I screamed back that she should have her g-damned dog on a leash, and she bellowed that she will do whatever she wants with her dog.
You need to know that when I'm scared, I grow about three feet and resemble the Hulk. I shouted initially because I was scared for my little hors d'oeuvre. Each time that has happened in the past, the other person usually grabs the loose dog and apologizes. Not here. I took Annie to the "little dog" section of the park and listened to the folks on the other side visit and have a good time. I sat alone and fumed.
The encounter was ugly -- and mutual. But I figured she could handle it. She wasn't some Mormon lady from Provo, she is a loud, outspoken woman from New Jersey. And after venting on the phone with a couple of friends, I let it go.
Fast-forward to the next day. I was sitting in the regular dog section chatting when the big-dog lady arrived. She asked if I was the person from yesterday and I said in a neutral tone that I was, and that I'd like to just move past it. She said she had been upset by our encounter ever since, and demanded, "I don't ever want you to EVER curse at me again." I calmly repeated that I wanted to move on. She kept up with her demand, and replied that I just wanted her to keep her dog on a leash.
"I will do whatever I want with my dog!" she shouted, and kept pushing the "cursing" issue. I got up, told the group I was going to walk Annie around the park so she could "make a deposit."
Then the woman's damned dog came after Annie AGAIN! I let them try to work it out on equal turf. They touched noses, and the dog growled and became aggressive again. So I picked Annie up and retreated to the small-dog section of the park.
The good news is that the leaders of this community dog park were there both times and the president took me aside and said I handled that day's exchange with grace and hoped I'd come back. If there is another incident with that dog (to heck with the woman), I'm going to ask the dog be banned from the park.
Sorry for the long rant. I feel better now.
And Janice you are right...not letting them see a reaction to your "buttons" being pushed, is more than most folks can stand..... 
