Dog Park Ethics

There's a sign at the entrance to the dog park that states "Those who have intact dogs need to keep special watch over them."

 
If there is a sign, perhaps there is also a town official responsible for handling complaints - the ACO, perhaps?  Not much you can do about ignorant owners - yet again why I don't visit dog parks...[sm=lame.gif]
 

if it was the vaccine then why didn't he react this way w/all the dogs, just that one, and to this day if that dog is at the park or comes after us we leave.

 
I'm thinking you are correct and it wasn't the vaccine.  I do know that dogs pick their own friends, and it only takes one dog to change the whole dynamic at a gathering.  Perhaps the Poodle is not savvy at canine language and your dog perceived a threat, or an unanswered calming signal.  Who knows?  But, I think you were smart to leave.  No sense allowing him to practice being mad at Poodles LOL.

This is something I haven't really encountered.  There were no dog parks near where I lived with any of my previous dogs, and where I live now there isn't one at all.  As far as I can figure out, if you are in a park here you have an 80% chance of meeting an off-leash dog, but no way at all of knowing whether that dog is friendly or not.  Since people here are not out with their dogs for the purpose of letting them play with other dogs, most owners I have seen are often not looking at their off-leash dogs, and many times are nowhere near them.  Dogs are allowed off leash in any park if they are "controlled" but I have encountered too many dogs to think that rule is followed.  Basically the best I can do is train my dog to the best of my ability, and pray.  Ben had the cr*p scared out of him the other day by an incredibly bouncy Dane who's owner couldn't get her to return and have her leash put on - she just bolted for Ben and couldn't be called off.  She wasn't aggressive, just playful, but she wasn't controlled, either.
 
I honestly would have opened my big fat mouth in your situation, but my big fat mouth does get me into trouble.   I am no good when people are rude to my face, not always an admirable trait.  I do agree that the guy had no business being at the park and allowing his dog to act like that, but then from what you have said it sounds like this guy simply has no business owning a dog.
 
Kate
 
 

the "regulars" have rigid, though unspoken rules, and they are enforced basically by shaming the offenders. If someone doesn't pick up their dogs' poop, for example, someone else will pointedly stalk over and dispose of it in front of the owner. Passive-aggressive, yes, but it does keep things in order.

 
That's the way our dog park works, through shaming. []  Though instead of pointedly stalking over and disposing, we'll say "Hey, So-and-so, I have an extra poop bag. Your dog went over there." Then we hand over the bag. []  Of course, for true regulars who are responsible, we pick up each other's poop, recognizing it's a once in a while slip-up rather than a pattern.
 
For bad behavior, shaming & "education" works well on most visitors.  For others, there are a few regulars who have no problem saying "You can't come back" to poorly behaved dogs/owners.  Interestingly, that actually works even though there's no real way to enforce that.  It's a semi-private/semi-public park, though, maintained and financed by private donations/volunteers but on public property.  It also helps that most of the regulars are pretty knowledgable about what is good behavior and what isn't (i.e., don't get uptight about rough play but don't have the attitude "dogs will be dogs" when a potentially harmful situation arises)

ORIGINAL: jensw

the "regulars" have rigid, though unspoken rules, and they are enforced basically by shaming the offenders. If someone doesn't pick up their dogs' poop, for example, someone else will pointedly stalk over and dispose of it in front of the owner. Passive-aggressive, yes, but it does keep things in order.

That's the way our dog park works, through shaming. []  Though instead of pointedly stalking over and disposing, we'll say "Hey, So-and-so, I have an extra poop bag. Your dog went over there." Then we hand over the bag. []  Of course, for true regulars who are responsible, we pick up each other's poop, recognizing it's a once in a while slip-up rather than a pattern.

For bad behavior, shaming & "education" works well on most visitors.  For others, there are a few regulars who have no problem saying "You can't come back" to poorly behaved dogs/owners.  Interestingly, that actually works even though there's no real way to enforce that.  It's a semi-private/semi-public park, though, maintained and financed by private donations/volunteers but on public property.  It also helps that most of the regulars are pretty knowledgable about what is good behavior and what isn't (i.e., don't get uptight about rough play but don't have the attitude "dogs will be dogs" when a potentially harmful situation arises)

Ah yes shaming.  It does work pretty well.  The peer pressure thing works too.
I've got to say that I do alot of poop cleaning myself because if I don't, Xerxes will.  And I wouldn't mind so much if he cleaned up his own...but I have no idea whose poo he's cleaning up.  (Sorry I know that's a bit gross.) 

If I see a dog go, and the owner ignores it, I'll ask him/her if they need a bag and point out the dispensers. 

Our park is privately funded on public land, but we do have official "monitors."  They make sure that everyone is licensed and vaccinated.  We also have a good feedback system to the president of the park.  If you are curious about organizing, PM me and I'll send you the link to our park's website.

I have no choice but to keep a close eye on Xerxes because I know that some neutered males have "issues" with intact males, besides it's irresponsible to let him run wild.  Plus, as I've mentioned in another thread, Xerxes s two particular dogs and wants them both dead. (he's fine with or ignores everyone else)  So when those dogs come in...out we go.  Otherwise Xerxes will round up and rally the troops for an assault. 

If he was a nice, responsible person he definitely would have left, but it seems pretty obvious that he isn't.   He sounds horrid.

Today a small terrier tried to mount my puppy.   I told him "off" and he listened, but then he tried it a second time and I decided that was enough and we left.   The owner was standing 20 feet away and didn't intervene at all.    I've decided to have this 'two chances' rule for other dog's (non-dangerous) bad behaviour because it's so much easier to go in with a plan and it helps me with my frustration.

i wish there was a dog park in beaumont[sm=cry.gif]