Dog Park Vent

janmark · #1 1st May 2012, 12:05 PM

Jada just recently turned 3 years old and we have been going to our local off leash dog park ever since she had all her shots as a puppy and recently was my first bad experience. Jada is a regular at the park so I'm familiar with many dogs and owners. Our park is over 2 acres and is split for small and large dogs although may small dogs still play on the big dog side. Jada is great with dogs of all sizes and on this day was playing well with some Pugs, a Siberian Husky puppy, and two English Bulldogs on of which is also a puppy. Then things got ugly. A woman came with two dogs both of which were bigger and more Jada's size but which also seemed to be puppies. I say seemed to because we barely had a chance to interact with them. One of her dogs wanted to play with Jada but was a little intimidated and laid down in the submissive pose even though Jada had not yet even got ruff with the dog (it was cute). Well you could tell that the owner was "one of those" as she was leaning down to interact with her dog Jada who was still close let out 1 bark, you know the I'm ready to play let's go bark and this woman had the nerve to smack Jada on the nose with her leash. Needless to say I lost it. I got into that woman's face, I was so mad I was shaking, and used quite the colorful language to inform her that she should not have hit my dog. I also told her that if she even thought about doing it again she better dial 911 because I will be laying her out. After my rampage I told Jada to come and her and I went down to the beach area to play since that area is fenced off from the main park and I could tell this woman's dog still wanted to play. The family with the pugs followed us to the beach and continued to play. The woman's dog followed as well but of course was not permitted beyond the fence. I just could not believe this woman had the nerve to lay hands on my dog let alone any dog for the matter. After the woman left which was only about 15 minutes after the altercation the other owners and I were talking about how my dog could have been a rescue and have been traumatized by the event. Needless to say Jada is such a sweet spirit that she was oblivious to the whole encounter.

Gatorblu · #2 1st May 2012, 01:53 PM

My mouth is still hanging open! God bless you for having the strength not to deck the witch! Of course I think I would have told her if she tried again, I would be the one dialing 911 and reporting her for abusing my dog. Then she could be bloodied and arrested.

joannaryan · #3 2nd May 2012, 10:33 AM

Thats when I would have taken my leash and smacked her right back on her nose and asked her how it felt! People can be so ignorant! That just gives you an idea of probably how her dogs are treated.

avaboxer · #4 2nd May 2012, 12:33 PM

I know many assume boxers are pitbulls rather than do their breed research...several times I take my boxers out and other owners will just go the other way which is sad because my dogs are all friendly and they will do the playbow and woo woo and people think they are growling...makes me sad for the dogs.

I know what I would have done to the person. Colorful language would have been included as well as telling her about boxers and how she just hit one of the sweetest breeds in the world.

Gatorblu · #5 2nd May 2012, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by avaboxer

they will do the playbow and woo woo and people think they are growling...makes me sad for the dogs.

I have actually had a serviceman in my house ask me if I was going to tell my dog to stop growling at him. Granted Arabella's woo woo's do sound more like a pirate's Arrrgh arrgh, but once I explained it was boxer speak for "play with me" he just look kind of confused and said "Really?" Once I gave Arabella a command to get a toy she wiggled herself to her toy box. He just kind of shook his head and went about whatever he was doing.

Chowder · #6 2nd May 2012, 06:03 PM

I know this lady was out of line by smacking your dog and I'm not trying to defend her, just hear me out. Chowder is this first dog I have ever had (he is now ten months

), the day I picked him up I also picked up a copy of "Puppies for Dummies" having almost no idea how to raise a puppy. Had I not read that book I wouldn't of known that positive reinforcement is always better then discipline. Before I read this almost every time a dog would for example jump on me the owner would tell me to "just push him off and if he does it again just give him a little smack to remind him." Watching TV you always see a misbehaving dog get smacked with a news paper. This to me, not being around dogs much, was the norm. I think a lot of people growing up with dogs were taught the same. I know it can be infuriating when something like this happens and you were right to inform this lady, but IMHO you went about it the wrong way. When you yell, scream, and curse at a dog, the dog doesn't get the message you are trying to convey, people are the same way. Think about the last time you did something wrong unaware of it, and someone got in your face and screamed. Did you come out of it with a different point of view or angry, frustrated, or just thinking that person was crazy? Humans are more intelligent then dogs, but not by much especially when over come by emotions. So in my opinion, next time take a step back, breath, and approach the situation with more tact. You will get your message across, it will be received better, and that person will be more likely to employ your message.

-Tyler

janmark · #7 4th May 2012, 11:23 PM

I do appreicate everyones opinion and that I was able to unload and vent. I do want to say however that how someone chooses to raise and train their dog is completely up to them. But dogs are like children you do not have the right to lay hands on my dog. If my dog was actually getting physical with either her dog or her that would be another story but Jada has always been good and if she does get a little too rowdy we leave the situation and the dog. A good example was today we were again at the park and she was playing well with everyone but there was this one dog that, as I put it, she was trying to bully into playing. She just kept barking and the other dog did not like it. The other dog's owners were not bothered but I was and I told Jada if she could not play nice she couldn't play at all and we went to another area of the park. The moral being if you first reaction to a situation is to get physical you should not be at a dog park.

furrykidmom · #8 6th May 2012, 10:55 AM

I am also sitting here with my jaw on the ground. To me that is like hitting someone's child in the grocery store. I am tempted but it is not my place. We do not hit our dogs, period. My dogs would have been stunned, devastated and confused. She is lucky that you have a well mannered and socialized dog because some dogs may have bitten in retaliation.

I am not certain I could have refrained from hitting her myself. The fact that I am a licensed professional has stopped me so far for fear of being arrested and losing my license. But if someone hit my dog I don't know how I would have reacted. You were right to say something. I could not have lived with myself if I did not. As far as physical confrontation between people is that the dogs may have reacted to protect their owners. I commend you for sticking up for your baby.