Gem of an encounter at the dog park...

Woman brings her cocker into the dog park with a muzzle on. I figured maybe it was her first time there, and she was just being overly cautious (it's happened before).

Me: Hey, your dog would probably be more at ease without the muzzle. He's going to be on the defensive because you've inhibited his ability to communicate with other dogs.

Her: Yeah, but last time I brought him here I ended up having to pay for another dog's vet bills because he bit them.

Me: Uhh, your dog just wiggled out of his muzzle.

Her: Oh that's okay. I didn't think it would actually work. I mean, he's a nice dog, he just fixates on one other dog and then gets mad if anyone else wants to play with his chosen dog.

Me: (I call Lucy over, leash her up, and head for the gate)

Her: Why does everyone always leave when we come here? It's not fair.

Me:

Our dog parks are SMALL. The biggest ones are the size of a football field and will have anywhere from 20-30 dogs on a normal Saturday morning. SERIOUSLY? You bring your dog with a bite history there? There is no way to avoid interaction with other dogs there.

Crazy lady.

Yesterday was the woman who was convinced every time two dogs were wrestling it was a FIGHT!!!!! and she'd squeal and run around trying to find the dog's owners to alert them to the VICIOUS DOGS!!!! My dog park is normally great and perfectly sane...but apparently holiday weekends bring out the crazies.

Again, this is why dog parks are a bad idea.

Blanket statements are a great idea, on the other hand.

I live in a city with a postage stamp yard. Dog parks have been a wonderful, wonderful blessing for my extremely over-energetic dog. I adore my parks.

Gotta love the crazies, at least they make for good stories even if you want to bash your head against the wall

I have a regular at mine that encourages her very large, very not dog park safe chow/newfie mix to growl and snarl at any dog that comes by his "stick"

Yep, exactly

Dog parks are a great idea for those who have teeny yards and energetic dogs and know how to leave when a muzzled dog walks in.

Here's hoping the crazies go elsewhere soon so Lucy can have her fun.

Blanket statements are great for blowing smoke and fanning flames

Isn't a blanket statement about blanket statements still a blanket statement?

Yeah, there's a guy who brings his small, old, fragile cranky dog to the dog park. He always says "Don't worry, she's aggressive, but not fast enough to catch anybody to bite them." !!! Seriously?! He has been there several times when I take Auggie to play with his puggle pal at the dog park and always tries to reassure us the same way. We always leash up our dogs and let them play together on-lead or do some training until the guy leaves...

Yes, Dekka, it is . . . hence, a perfect illustration

I can't understand why people just ignore it when their dog clearly has issues with other dogs... why would you continue bringing them to a dog park? I sometimes want to strangle my friend when it comes to this. Her dog can't bark (they rescued him, not sure if he was debarked or if that's just how he is) and so he SOUNDS harmless, but any time a dog approaches him at the park, he lunges at it or tries chasing it away, And God forbid my friend should try petting another dog.. then he really gets upset. But she LOVES bringing him to the park and I can't understand it, because he obviously does not enjoy the company of other dogs. Hang out in your yard or at a non-dog park where you can play fetch and he doesn't have to stress out about other dogs....

There's my rant, lol.

I swear that most bad dog issues have to be from bad dog owners, I mean REALLY?! Why bring him back then?!

:rofl1: Perfect play mate...

Really? Lol. Thats like saying childrens Playgrounds are a abd idea because sometimes kids fight or that bars or general public areas are bad because sometimes people fight. Silly

Dog parks are bad ideas for some dogs and some owners but for the majority thwy are wonderful places.

Im sorry you ran into such a stellar member of the human race lol people are nuts

How about "stupid people are a bad idea."?

:hail:

We have dog parks on Long Island where they have attendants there who kick people out if their dogs are aggressive or even just being rude or annoying the other dogs. You've got to pay an annual fee, the dogs need to be screened, but it's totally worth it. You might want to see if there's anything like that, Cali

Nothing like that around here. There are a few in Baltimore where you pay $25 to use it for the year and get a key to enter, but there's no attendants or anything. The ones here are all just owned/maintained by the city.

99% of the time there's no issues. The regulars do a good job maintaining the order and recommending that the crazies leave.

That's really the way everything should work. Common sense will cover a lot of potential situations

I hope that cocker spaniel owner gets the idea soon, stay away!

We don't have dog parks in the UK and I think it is incredibly sad, as I know my dogs would love an area like that to play with other dogs.

LOL! Oh, I love people like that. We've had the crazies at our park too. Luckily, 99% of the time we have a great time. I still love our parks.

The dog park where I take Harley you have to sign a contract that says if your dog attacks anpther dog or another dog attacks your dog to report it. That way they can take away that dogs Dog Park Pass. Nobody wants their dog or themself to be uncomfortable at the park where it should be all about FUN!!