Off leash dogs in Rock Creek Park. What to say?

[Anonymous]

Pepper spray + cell phone photos of dog and owner.

Can't stand people who let their dogs off-leash, and it's even worse when they think it's no big deal that their dogs are attacking/menacing/bothering people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Carry pepper spray.

Spray the dog, or tell the owner that if their dog comes up to you again, you will pepper spray it. Unfortunately, it's not the dog's fault it has a jerk of an owner, but it's the only way bad dog owners will learn.

This.
I am a dog lover and have 2 currently but I understand that not everyone loves dogs. I hate people that let their dogs off leash at inappropriate places and/or let their dogs go up to everyone. My husband is like this and it drives me crazy.

Yup. This

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Carry pepper spray.

Spray the dog, or tell the owner that if their dog comes up to you again, you will pepper spray it. Unfortunately, it's not the dog's fault it has a jerk of an owner, but it's the only way bad dog owners will learn.

This.
I am a dog lover and have 2 currently but I understand that not everyone loves dogs. I hate people that let their dogs off leash at inappropriate places and/or let their dogs go up to everyone. My husband is like this and it drives me crazy.

If your husband does this, better up your home insurance.

[Anonymous]

In NY, dogs are allowed off leash in Central Park before 9am. It seems to work. Why can't we have a rule like that here

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We love hiking on a weekly basis in Rock Creek Park and DH runs through at least twice a week. Last year, he was articles by a large dog who leapt at him while he was running and tore a hole over his tshirt by his kidney. He was very lucky and only had a scratch. He stopped, yelled at the dog, and it backed down. Meanwhile, the owner still wasn't even in eyesight. When my husband did run up to her she was nonplussed and declared the dog "friendly."

She was nonplussed? Did your DH berate her or something? I could see her brushing it off if she thinks the dog is "friendly," but to be nonplussed, your DH must have been yelling at her or something similar.

He doesn't yell but definitely upset since he was just attacked by a dog.

Not excusing the behavior of the dog or the owner. But that's not at attack. My German Shepherd has torn plenty of our tshirts in simple play. And he's very well trained.

[Anonymous]

I work for NPS, sometimes assigned to Rock Creek. I am on the trails mutiple times a week for my own recreation. (I'm also a dog owner but they don't come with me). So with that as your background, dcum, I will tell you that is unapologetically carry a cannister of a substance stronger than pepper spray in Rock Creek and I've used it on unleashed dogs over the years.

I carry it in case I need it to defend assault by another human. The substance is rated to take down a bear, and it easily takes out aggressive dogs.

[Anonymous]

Absolutely. Always carry a can of pepper spray or something stronger. When you see and unleashed dog, take it out of your pocket and hold it ready. If the dog approaches, give it a spray. That will distract them and hopefully make an impression on the owner.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Carry pepper spray.

Spray the dog, or tell the owner that if their dog comes up to you again, you will pepper spray it. Unfortunately, it's not the dog's fault it has a jerk of an owner, but it's the only way bad dog owners will learn.

This.
I am a dog lover and have 2 currently but I understand that not everyone loves dogs. I hate people that let their dogs off leash at inappropriate places and/or let their dogs go up to everyone. My husband is like this and it drives me crazy.

Totally agree. My previous dog was awesome off-leash and loved roaming off the trails in rock creek. He had no interest in people or in other dogs so I felt confident letting him off leash and was never let down. My current dog is a sweetheart but she does lunge at people and at dogs when she's on her leash so I would never let her off leash in rock creek or another trail. We're taking her to obedience classes and agility training in the hopes that she won't be as reactive but until then, no. All that's to say, OP, people who let their dogs off leash inappropriately really suck.

If by inappropriately you mean ever, then yes. Dogs must be on leashes, whether your dog is "awesome" at being off-leash or not.

This. No exceptions.

I also agree. Other people do not know what dog is "awesome" or not, and it is not the responsibility of other people to wait and find out. It's the same excuse people use when they say their dog is just "playful." Unless you are in a designated dog park or your personal, fenced yard, your dog needs to be on a leash at all times.

[Anonymous]

Rock Creek Park is a national park and dog are to be on a leash at all times. Complain to the park service and they will send Rangers out to ticket people who have dogs off leash.
People seem to think it is a dog park. It is not.

As a side note, there are coyotes in the park and they take dogs(of any size).

[Anonymous]

PEPPER SPRAY!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Carry pepper spray.

Spray the dog, or tell the owner that if their dog comes up to you again, you will pepper spray it. Unfortunately, it's not the dog's fault it has a jerk of an owner, but it's the only way bad dog owners will learn.

This.
I am a dog lover and have 2 currently but I understand that not everyone loves dogs. I hate people that let their dogs off leash at inappropriate places and/or let their dogs go up to everyone. My husband is like this and it drives me crazy.

Totally agree. My previous dog was awesome off-leash and loved roaming off the trails in rock creek. He had no interest in people or in other dogs so I felt confident letting him off leash and was never let down. My current dog is a sweetheart but she does lunge at people and at dogs when she's on her leash so I would never let her off leash in rock creek or another trail. We're taking her to obedience classes and agility training in the hopes that she won't be as reactive but until then, no. All that's to say, OP, people who let their dogs off leash inappropriately really suck.

If by inappropriately you mean ever, then yes. Dogs must be on leashes, whether your dog is "awesome" at being off-leash or not.

This. No exceptions.

Exceptions would be: Inside your own house, or your own fenced yard, or the house or fenced yard of someone who has explicitly invited you to let your dog off the leash, or at a fenced dog park.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Carry pepper spray.

Spray the dog, or tell the owner that if their dog comes up to you again, you will pepper spray it. Unfortunately, it's not the dog's fault it has a jerk of an owner, but it's the only way bad dog owners will learn.

This.
I am a dog lover and have 2 currently but I understand that not everyone loves dogs. I hate people that let their dogs off leash at inappropriate places and/or let their dogs go up to everyone. My husband is like this and it drives me crazy.

Totally agree. My previous dog was awesome off-leash and loved roaming off the trails in rock creek. He had no interest in people or in other dogs so I felt confident letting him off leash and was never let down. My current dog is a sweetheart but she does lunge at people and at dogs when she's on her leash so I would never let her off leash in rock creek or another trail. We're taking her to obedience classes and agility training in the hopes that she won't be as reactive but until then, no. All that's to say, OP, people who let their dogs off leash inappropriately really suck.

If by inappropriately you mean ever, then yes. Dogs must be on leashes, whether your dog is "awesome" at being off-leash or not.

This. No exceptions.

Exceptions would be: Inside your own house, or your own fenced yard, or the house or fenced yard of someone who has explicitly invited you to let your dog off the leash, or at a fenced dog park.

The subject is "off leash dogs in Rock Creek Park." So, no exceptions.

[Anonymous]

+1 for the pepper spray.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We love hiking on a weekly basis in Rock Creek Park and DH runs through at least twice a week. Last year, he was articles by a large dog who leapt at him while he was running and tore a hole over his tshirt by his kidney. He was very lucky and only had a scratch. He stopped, yelled at the dog, and it backed down. Meanwhile, the owner still wasn't even in eyesight. When my husband did run up to her she was nonplussed and declared the dog "friendly."

She was nonplussed? Did your DH berate her or something? I could see her brushing it off if she thinks the dog is "friendly," but to be nonplussed, your DH must have been yelling at her or something similar.

He doesn't yell but definitely upset since he was just attacked by a dog.

Not excusing the behavior of the dog or the owner. But that's not at attack. My German Shepherd has torn plenty of our tshirts in simple play. And he's very well trained.

Um, sorry, but op's DH wasn't playing with this dog. The dog came up to him unsolicited. So I think op is correct in saying the dog attacked him. He is lucky he wasn't hurt.

[Anonymous]

I will always walk my dogs off leash. They don't bother anyone. Sometimes I park illegally too.