I think I violated dog park etiquette

[whackichic]

I took Deniro & Gabbi to the dog park and there were like 7 other dogs there. It was fine in the beginning. A female shepherd was barking in her face, and at her shoulder. Gabbi was ignoring her and giving her space. I started to throw the ball and the dog would bark at nip at her shoulder so Gabbi backed off the ball and came back. The owner called the dog and then she came back again barking at her shoulder. I said "Stop it" and went to throw the ball again, same thing. Dog barked at Gabbi's shoulder & face the whole time, they came back she she wouldn't stop, I said "stop it" again, and she did.
They left a few minutes later. Was I wrong to say stop it to her? I know I get upset when people tell my dog what to do, but on the other hand I wouldn't let my dog bark relentlessly in another dogs face like that.
I rarely go to the dog park but had to let them run today as they are getting evaluated at a boarding place. (Citizen Canine ? Deluxe Dog Hotel in Oakland California doesn't it look lovely?

In the future should this happen again, should I not say anything to the dog?

 

[Paige]

I don't think you are wrong for doing it. I've told other people's dogs off plenty when they are being rude. If an owner isn't stepping up to handle there dog and you aren't physically being rought with it, I see nothing wrong with a simple verbal correction.

 

[Fran101]

its rude to tell other peoples dogs to do stuff, like people who come to your house and tell your dogs to get off the couch even though they are allowed up there just because they dont beleive in dogs on furniture
. but not when it has to do with YOUR dog, like if a dog is barking, biting or just bothering your dog. I think telling the dog to stop it was totally reasonable, they shouldve had more control over their dog and controlled the situation so you wouldnt have to

 

[whackichic]

Whew, thanks. Luckily the other times I've gone nobody was there.

 

[SmexyPibble]

No, you did the right thing. There was a freaking huge Rottweiler all over Georgia once at the park, and I had to scream at the dog to get it off of her because the owner flat out insisted, "Oh, he's just playing" and refused to do anything about it. I ended up having to leave because the dog kept coming back and making Georgia yelp and cry. Georgia is usually a really tough dog, and it suprised me to see her like that.

 

[Maxy24]

I don't think what you did was wrong at all, if you had kicked him in the head or something, then maybe yes but yelling for him to get away is fine, you'd think the owners would have gotten the dog after the first time

 

[Paige]

I tell people's dogs off all the time. and heck if my dogs were running around off lead, a dog park or not, and were getting all up in some dog's face and I was being a lazy bugger and wasn't correcting them, then yeah. Sadly the dog has to be corrected for the well being of yours, though it is really the owner that should be getting corrected.

 

[Lilavati]

If the other dog is being obnoxious, especially in a way that might annoy or upset your dog, then you have a right to tell them off. Dogs barking right in Sarama's face makes her angry . . . because it is bad dog manners. So . . . I tell the other dog to go away . . .the alternative is to let them keep at it until Sarama tells them to go away . . . and then I hear about what I mean dog I have.

 

[colliewog]

Say all you want and it's okay. The fine line is when you touch the dog.

 

[SizzleDog]

I don't think telling off the other dog was rude - especially since you didn't make any physical contact.

What I do think is a bit rude, however, is bringing a toy to a dog park, when other dogs are present, and not expecting other dogs not to chase your dog. I know not everyone hold this opinion, but IMO toys at a dog park are inappropriate. Some dogs are resource guarders, some dogs feel threatened by strange dogs trying to "steal" their toy, etc. Same reason why (IMO of course) treats don't belong in dog parks.

I have no problem with people who bring toys to a large dog park and find a secluded section to use them... or people who only use toys in partitioned off areas in a dog park. But toys in a heavily populated park is just asking for trouble.

 

[sisco16]

agreed thank you sizzledog one of my sibes is a resource guarder and i have to keep him muzzled when we go to the dog park. because he will bite the other dog if there is toys or food present so its for his own good.

 

[Izzy's Valkyrie]

Izzy has a selected dog park ball (a glowing orbee) that she and I don't mind sharing at the park, I've seen people bring flying squirrels and whatnot to the park with no issue yet but there have some been some incidents when a fight broke out due to a resource guarder. However when dogs get in serious fights at the park, the owner of the agressor usually starts taking their dog to the park about 15 minutes away instead as to not cause further fights.

Here's my question for this thread: I was at the park on Saturday and when we arrived Izzy was the only dog there. The next dog to come was a GORGEOUS Catahoula that had recently (two weeks) been rescued by the new owner. She was a sweetheart if not a bit puppyish for her age (3 years approx) and played perfectly fine with Izzy and the other three dogs to arrive after her (including male dogs). Sky (The Catahoula) and her owner got along with everyone until this older couple came in with their two very obese probably lab mixes who both appeared to be unfixed males (one marked the bench EVERY time he walked past Izzy even if he had nothing to squirt). Long story short, the obese black labby mix starting picking a fight with any dog approximatly his size, trying to establish his dominance which did not go over well with Sky. Because Sky decided to defend her position, the black dog outright started attacking her as she ran away from him. When Sky got safely away to her owner's side, the elderly man who owned the aggressor had the gall to say "Your dog has a real problem" to Sky's owner. I wanted to punch him in the face as Sky and her owner left the park.

How do you react when another owner is very obviously ignoring their own pet's violent behavior unless it is to blame it on someone else? I feel like it may be a good idea to leave the park any time they show up but since Izzy isn't being bothered I don't want her to suffer. I don't want to start a shouting match to tell the guy off about watching his own fat dog's body language but otherwise it seems like he won't learn. In one of those "My dog's shat doesn't stink" Situations, what can you do?

 

[happyhound]

Sorry, I don't think any dog with resource guarding issues belongs at a dog park. And any dog that needs a muzzle at the dog park -- for any reason -- IS AT THE WRONG PLACE. Who is to say a dog wouldn't resource guard a stick that fell off a tree? A pine cone?

I bring a toy to the dog park (one I go to is 13 acres and the other 17) for fetching out of the pond. Fortunately, even during the busiest hours, I can go to either of the ponds and still get away from other dogs. If I don't want other dogs going after my toy then I just don't throw it.

 

[Brattina88]

I don't think telling off the other dog was rude - especially since you didn't make any physical contact.

What I do think is a bit rude, however, is bringing a toy to a dog park, when other dogs are present, and not expecting other dogs not to chase your dog. I know not everyone hold this opinion, but IMO toys at a dog park are inappropriate. Some dogs are resource guarders, some dogs feel threatened by strange dogs trying to "steal" their toy, etc. Same reason why (IMO of course) treats don't belong in dog parks.

I have no problem with people who bring toys to a large dog park and find a secluded section to use them... or people who only use toys in partitioned off areas in a dog park. But toys in a heavily populated park is just asking for trouble.

I have to say I agree.
I was suprised to read that the other people/dog/ owner left. Good on them

 

[Lilavati]

The dog parks I go to tend to have resident toys . . . things that people brought and left delibrately. So we don't bring our own toys . . . and I've noticed that when people DO bring their dog's toys, that when there tend to be problems . .. because the dog views that as THEIR toy . . . whereas they rarely get attached to the ratty tennis ball you just pick up and throw. Its not hygenic, perhaps, but it seems to work pretty well.

 

[Criosphynx]

mine has tennis balls....about 20 or so of them.... they seem to be low value to enough dogs that its not a problem...

anything that squeeks causes a problem...left there or not.

 

[Tankstar]

I have and would do the same thing. Just today I leashed a dog at the dog park for picking on another dog. its a bit different as i know the dog really well, and the person walking it isnt the owner (I know her really well. I called her to meet up with me actually) a rude dog is a rude dog and should be stopped. Blaze is a in your face barker. I only let him do it with dogs he knows well and I know well, as I know how they will handle the situation. i correct him if its with a unfmilier dog or a dog I know doesnt like it, lucky all his "friends" are fine with it lol. I always yell "shut up" to a GSD that lives near my house. he barks, all day, all afternoon and all evening long if any oen so much as walks down the street. it annoys me when play ball with Blaze. and no one else is correcting it any way.

 

[smkie]

A lot of the people at my park use sticks. THere are woods close by and plenty for all. Tennis balls are around too if your willing to walk the bank and find one. I once found a training bumper that i had lost the season before. AS to the barking in your dog's face and saying something to it, you do what you have to do.

 

[whackichic]

Just to clarify, I was using a chuck it and the balls that are already there. There are tennis balls all over that place. That dog was in her face the moment we walked in regardless of what was going on, including wiping poop off Deniro. There was no ball throwing then.

I don't think telling off the other dog was rude - especially since you didn't make any physical contact.

What I do think is a bit rude, however, is bringing a toy to a dog park, when other dogs are present, and not expecting other dogs not to chase your dog. I know not everyone hold this opinion, but IMO toys at a dog park are inappropriate. Some dogs are resource guarders, some dogs feel threatened by strange dogs trying to "steal" their toy, etc. Same reason why (IMO of course) treats don't belong in dog parks.

I have no problem with people who bring toys to a large dog park and find a secluded section to use them... or people who only use toys in partitioned off areas in a dog park. But toys in a heavily populated park is just asking for trouble.

 

[Buddy'sParents]

Izzy has a selected dog park ball (a glowing orbee) that she and I don't mind sharing at the park, I've seen people bring flying squirrels and whatnot to the park with no issue yet but there have some been some incidents when a fight broke out due to a resource guarder. However when dogs get in serious fights at the park, the owner of the agressor usually starts taking their dog to the park about 15 minutes away instead as to not cause further fights.

Here's my question for this thread: I was at the park on Saturday and when we arrived Izzy was the only dog there. The next dog to come was a GORGEOUS Catahoula that had recently (two weeks) been rescued by the new owner. She was a sweetheart if not a bit puppyish for her age (3 years approx) and played perfectly fine with Izzy and the other three dogs to arrive after her (including male dogs). Sky (The Catahoula) and her owner got along with everyone until this older couple came in with their two very obese probably lab mixes who both appeared to be unfixed males (one marked the bench EVERY time he walked past Izzy even if he had nothing to squirt). Long story short, the obese black labby mix starting picking a fight with any dog approximatly his size, trying to establish his dominance which did not go over well with Sky. Because Sky decided to defend her position, the black dog outright started attacking her as she ran away from him. When Sky got safely away to her owner's side, the elderly man who owned the aggressor had the gall to say "Your dog has a real problem" to Sky's owner. I wanted to punch him in the face as Sky and her owner left the park.

How do you react when another owner is very obviously ignoring their own pet's violent behavior unless it is to blame it on someone else? I feel like it may be a good idea to leave the park any time they show up but since Izzy isn't being bothered I don't want her to suffer. I don't want to start a shouting match to tell the guy off about watching his own fat dog's body language but otherwise it seems like he won't learn. In one of those "My dog's shat doesn't stink" Situations, what can you do?

Report them. Ignorant people ruin it for everyone. Ugh.

As for the OP situation- I don't think you did wrong at all. Any of my dogs would have put the other dog in its place, though, lol.