Annoying Dog Park People Rant

That is why I made Dakota wear the "DO NOT FEED ME" vest. It worked wonders! 

Our dog park here doesn't allow dogs in under 6 months old, and all dogs much have all their shots.

I don't understand how people think it is okay to act stupidly.  I would never think about feeding another person's dog! The dog park here is very small, not many people go to it (the most I have seen was 3 other dogs other than my own two) i bring treats, but i don't give them to my dogs with the other dogs around.  The one thing I did do that I am not sure if it was right, was I brought a ball lol.  Well, my two aren't as interested in balls as this lab was lol so I ended up playing fetch with this woman's dog lol.  The woman was very very nice and laughed because as soon as her dog saw the ball he was sitting in front of me waiting with such anticipation.

I think jewliee's idea about the vest is a good thing, but it does suck though that people will feed your dog anyway. 

The vest is a good idea. I've never had a problem with someone feeding him before. He has a corn allergy so it is really a problem because it is in a lot of treats. He seems to be fine from this womens treats, but it was still rude. I would never even think of feeding someone's dog unless I asked the person first. I don't bring food with me since it's against the rules at this one. The other park that I go to doesn't have that rule, but I still don't bring treats only because the other dogs won't leave me alone if I do, lol.

This lady was just all around unpleasant anyway. I shouldn't let her bother me.

Looks like a dog park is not the place for Bonnie and me, I'll stick to just walking her and taking her to the dog store.

And then on top of it that guy thinking it was funny that his dog peed on you?!?  WTF

Ideally the dog park idea is wonderful for the dogs....its mostly the humans who make it a not so fun place to be. I have long ago ruled out dog parks, I rather not put my girl in a siutation with a bunch of pent up unruly dogs who have a large level of anxitey which is typically the case.

It's a shame i don't take kaiser to the dog park anymore, he loves it and is such a good boy. Unfortunately, i guess that the majority of people hate his breed and his size. Last time i was there, it was the last straw. Kaiser was play bowing with a lab and they were running around together. Then they started wrestling (with  biting) i was watching, smiling becasue they were having a good time. The lab's owner came up to me and screamed at me, telling me my dog was attacking hers. what??? 

This is the icing on the cake...a guy walked up to me and told me not to sweat it, and told me what happened to him the week before. He had a pit puppy, which was like 4 mos old. The pup was rough, but not hurting anyone. He said someone came up to him and told him to get that dangerous dog out right now, it was too aggressive. He refused, since the pup was just playing, so the other dude called the cops. So, the police came and observed the pup playing for an hour, but then left because they said it was obvious he was playing. 

I love the dog park, but UGH, some of the people!

First we have Ben, Mr Huskies Should Be Free Because They Are Wolf-Hybrids. His dogs are massively obese (over 120 pounds and 23ish" tall- he claims they're not overweight but that 'show dogs are undersized because of inbreeding and that's why they have brown eyes sometimes too!' and that his dogs are the 'true size';) except for the oldest (14) who has hit that point where she just can't keep weight on any more. They've all had multiple ACL repairs except for the puppy. The puppy is from a stray huskyish bitch that his friend brd to HIS found as a stray husky. Supposedly the bitch is 'pure wolf' and that's why she doesn't look all husky. Because we have SO many stray wolves in Texas. When the pppies were 6 week old, they brought the whole litter to the dog park 'to advertise'. He NVER has his dogs on leash coming in and out of he park, and he tells other husky owners that you CAN teach a husky to be safe off leash by just letting them off and ltting them learn. UGH.

Then we have.. I don't know her name, but she's an idiot. "Getting hit by a car will teach her not to run away and I don't want a dog that can't learn not to do that'. How about you know, actually TRAINING her?

 There's the pit bull idiots (and I quite like pits but these owners just do not GET that their dogs are not suitable for parks- just because THEIR dog is having fundoes not mean it's okay that they're scaring the pee out of other dogs), and the labradoodle people who won't neuter and are planning to breed MORE hybrids.  The idiot with the cane corso that's dog aggressive that is 'just playing' when he knocks other dogs down and then stands over them staring and growling.

I love the whole idea of dog parks, but if I ran the thing, I would fit every owner with a shock collar when the came in so I could zap tem when they (or their dogs) were being idiots!













 

Dog parks. Oh, dog parks. I took Eko last week, prepared to exit at any point I didn't like the action. He was fine, and too young to get caught up in the drama but oy....

Another owner politely asked the owner of  large dog to leave - because that dog was starting stuff. He was, too. The owner of the macho dog got instantly mad, saying in a very heated way "Does that look like an aggressive dog??? His tail is wagging! Ask anyone!" Yeah, that tail was wagging - straight up and pretty stiff. The dog was mounting other males and getting growly.

I'm sorry Kaiser gets misunderstood. So many people don't have the first clue about what is play, and what isn't. Freaking out over rough but happy play, ignoring or excusing actual bad behavior.

Eko made friends with a delightful 4 month old BC mix. They were the cutest - everyone is the park was oohing and ahhing at them. But the puppy owner had a pocketful of treats and a clicker, and was click-treating any dog who came up to him. Doh! He was a very nice man, and totally clueless about the risk he was creating.

On the bright side, I met some cool people and got to drool over a gorgeous 1 year old mastiff. *swoon* 

The dog park has it's place and while I wish everyone was polite and mannered, it seems that's just asking too much.  No food in the park is just common sense people!  Bringing in a pup that young is foolish; if he did come from a mill, imagine what he could have or could get if he's got a weakend immune system.  Not to mention his lack of all puppy shots yet.  I would have been rather miffed at the owner who's pooch peed on me!  Accidents happen - that's why you don't wear your 'good' clothes to the dog park! - but if it happens repeatedly, correct the behaviour or don't bring him!!  Can't say I have many complaints at our park other than the people who don't know NOT to bring dogs that are aggressive.  Which leads me to a question I've been itching to ask.  Sorry if this hijacks your thread!

Joey is a very loud player.  He always has been, even when he would play at home with his ex-roommie.  He's playing, no doubt about it.  His absolute favorite thing at the park is for another dog to chase him.  He'll spot someone running and then join in, sometimes barking to get them engaged.  If they catch up, he barks and nips and then off they go again.  As soon as the running stops, he stops barking and usually loses interest in the dog if they don't want to run anymore.  Also, if he sees a group of dogs getting rowdy, he'll run up and sort of 'referree,' barking in the process.  He's not trying to incite, he's trying to get everyone in line.  I can see how this behaviour could be misunderstood by people but wouldn't 99% of dogs know he's not looking for a fight?  He's loud, he's playful, but a fighter he is not.  But what I'm noticing is that owners usually get a little sideways whenever Joey's being a loudmouth.  IF he's getting too big for his britches, I take him home (he went through a round of wanting to hump a special girl each trip).  Am I wrong for letting him hang out if he's just being loud?

Joey dog....I hear ya! Rory plays the same exact way, she is extremely vocal but unfortunatly she is a pit bull so she is automatically deemed vicous. It dosnt matter that she visits the local hospice, has had more socialization then most dogs I know and has been bitten 3x and never even thought to bite back. It dosnt matter that she has 100% recall EVERYTIME and remains in a stay position when confronted by aggressive dogs snarling in her face becasue she is a pit bull. Just like the person above whom lumped all the "idiot pit bull owners" into the same category probably dosnt realize their interpretation of play is much different in doggy language.  I'm not blind to the fact that a majority of pit bulls dont belong in the dog park however how many of you would really know a good pittie if you saw one? Do you really look at the dog or the breed, if it was a poodle acting the same way I'm sure they'd be less offended? Thus......the dog park is a joke.

So now that I've totally hi-jacked this thread I apologize but you all need to understand the dog park is a example of the melting pot of America. There is breedism just like racism. There is ideals of play just like there is of living and there will always be someone to butt their nose into your business, ruffle your feathers. Think ot of how youy would like the setting to change but what YOU can do about it or how you can better equip yourself for it. Don't go in guns a blazin or you'll get nothing but defense, it is possible to apporach people nicely about the dog park but most of the examples of dog park correspondence I've read has really lacked curtousy and respect "get your dog out of here......idiotic pit bull owners.......unalterd bitch". Gosh people with a attitude like that no wonder the experience is awful. How about a littel understanding that not all dog owners know what they are doing but a rude remark is not the answer to helping. If that were the case I'd slap everyone who said a bad word about pit bulls.....like that would help the cause. Geez

 scrubs- i don't think it's wrong to let joey go to the park. Some dogs bark when they play, and i see no problem with that. Wyatt is growly and kaiser is mouthy and the majority of people realize it's play, but there are a few who don't. As long as mine don't get too rough, i let them be.

aurora- good post. I would love for rory to play with k&w at the dog park! :) 

Every trainer I've known hates dog parks for all kinds of reasons like ours.  But I know we all have reasons that we balance out these risks and go.  (BTW, Kaiser, you are a good boy and Gracie would play w/you any time!!)

Jada is a growly, strong player at the dog park.  But she doesn't belong there until her training is under control - and her recall is improved.  I bring Gracie because it's the only safe convenient place to let her run off-leash.  She is super in the park with other dogs of all ages and temperaments.  Achilles has no need for the park - he doesn't want to interact w/other dogs and gets his exercise w/his dad playing fetch.  (I learned the hard way on that one - because I wanted him to "stretch his legs" and the other dogs just bothered him - no fun.)

I was peeved the other day when a man brought his two large white GSD-looking dogs in on head halters, and just unclipped the leashes and let them run around w/their head halters on, growling, trying to mount or roll other dogs.  I know aggressive dog play, versus aggressive dog posturing - these dogs were jerks.  Don't subject other people to your problems when you clearly don't have control... and haven't asked their permission.  Go join a group class where a trainer can help, but also protect everyone else participating.

I also get sick of picking up other dogs' poop.  I am CONSTANTLY watching Gracie so that I can pick up her poop.  Nobody is perfect - you might not see it behind a tree, but GEEZ - pay attention and pick up after your own dog.  If I haven't seen G go, then I go ahead and pick up at least 5 or 6 piles just as a sign of courtesy.