SCREAMING match at the dog park ...

[dpf]

(in my best gangsta voice) Ya wanna I should send Radar? She's the 'hood Guido' and has all large dogs scared sh!#less of her...but her little four legged fur friends love her.

[BarbaraRose]

It would be hard to react calmly and keep your composure when your dog is in danger because of someone's ignorance and stupidity. She sure would have heard a lot more swearing out of my mouth!

[snowball]

I think you handled it the best you could Janice
I would think that she should have had the dog on leash until she got in the
park unless it's posted leashed dog's only and then kept her's on...I've only had Shadow to
a dog park twice and since I didn't know if he would come back to me I left him on the leash
he didn't stray far...next time I'm in SLC will have to see what he does off leash
just seems like you can control the situation on leash easier than off
sheila

[retiredhappy]

You handled it better than I would have. I really dislike people with big dogs who don't control them. On the other hand I once had a little Jack Russel terrier growl, lunge, slip his leash and charge my two Labs who were just walking by. My two lunged back and pulled me down in the gravel face first while the owner of the Jack did nothing. You're right, you can't fix stupid.

[Sandersmr]

I'm sorry you and your poor pup were subjected to this. One bad dog can spoil it for the rest but I think dog parks have their place.

Oscar found out what it's like not to be the biggest dog in the pack in December - there was a Great Dane at the dog park! But both behaved themselves. Jazz on the other hand is a social butterfly and thinks all the hoomans are only there to pay attention to her - she's such the diva!

But I'm grateful for an area to be able to let my 2 off leash for just a little while. They are allowed to come and go freely at home as they have the dog door to go out into the fenced backyard. So when we go camping and they are required to be on leash the whole time, they aren't used to it. And because I don't walk fast, a leashed walk is not satisfactory to Jazz (Oscar's slowed way down in his old age). So being able to just run is the order of the day when we get to an off-leash spot.

[Getupngo]

Maggie, my yard is not fully fenced and so Annie is basically a "condo dog." She walks me three times a day, plus a visit to the dog park, which is the only place where she can run freely & greet dogs and people without restraint. Annie is a happy, bouncy girl. And perhaps a bit of a diva as well.

In addition, the dog park is the only place right now where I get human companionship. Most of my friends here leave for the summer.

[JoanE]

Janice, sorry you had such a rotten encounter at the dog park. My attitude about dog parks has changed since my Maggie was attacked earlier this year in the fenced area before I even unleashed her. The attack was totally unprovoked. Now Maggie is leery of any dog larger than her. She is likely to growl if a larger dog comes close. I can't risk her being the aggressor now. No more dog parks unless she is the only dog in the fence.

You handled the situation correctly.

Joan

[Getupngo]

Joan, what you describe is what I mentioned initially as the dynamic of a leashed dog approached by an unleashed dog. I make sure Annie's leash is off before she enters the dog park. Usually a scrum of dogs run to the gate each time a newcomer arrives. When Annie is off the leash she trots in and starts on the butt-sniffing circuit. If she is on leash she can be aggressive when the dogs overwhelm her. Go figure.

I would be wary going to a public dog park where I didn't know the dogs or the owners. Or if anyone can enforce standards. I went to my dog park with my SIL for a couple months before I got Annie. I was beginning to feel like a child molester hanging out by the school yard. "Wanna come home with me, little dog?"

[Cudedog]

Man.

I am not a big fan of dog parks. I think they are more for the people than for the dogs. There is a dog park fairly near to where I live, and I visited it three or four times to "check it out" before bringing my dogs along.

Way too many idiots with large unruly and uncontrolled dogs running loose, having near-confrontations with other dogs and people. I had one of these largish dogs run up to me and curl a lip and show some teeth. The twenty-something doofus (can I say doofus on this board?) smiled and said that he was friendly and wouldn't bite. This of a dog that was giving me the Canine Stare with a hint of hackles.

I'm sixty-five. I came late to the dog game - early thirties - but when I fall, I fall hard. For the last 35 years I have lived with dogs in my home (not tied in the back yard), trained dogs, shown dogs and (for about 10 years) bred dogs. During this time (and still) I read everything I can get my hands on about dogs. I love dogs. Period. People sometimes not so much, but that is another story.

Do I think I am a dog expert? No way. I'm "still learning". Do I know an aggressive dog when I see one? Can I read dog body language? You betcha.

Never did bring my dogs to the dog park.

Anyway, I think you handled the situation perfectly, and a lot better than I would have. Good on you.

If this woman would have kept going at me like she kept going at you (I've done this before) I would have smiled very sweetly at her and said: "Excuse me, can I ask you a question?" The smile gets them off base, they generally then give the affirmative. Then: "I'm curious. Just what part of 'I want to move past it' do you fail to understand?" Still smiling. It works really well if there are other people present who are listening.

I wouldn't try this with someone who had smoke coming out of their ears, of course, but there you are.

You go, girl.

Going back to lurking now.

Cudedog

[Getupngo]

Cudedog, do come out of lurking more often. Thanks for the feedback.

And yes, it was a steam-coming-from-ears baiting session. If I had engaged her, it would have been a "pox-on-both-of-your-houses" situation. I was delighted to allow her to act like the south end of a northbound horse.

Now that I think of it, I haven't seen her back at the park. Oh, boo-hoo!