Upset woman at dog park. AITA?

[Anonymous]

Not in the wrong OP, but this is a good example of why I never frequent dog parks. Lady who can’t read good dog behavior could have just as easily had an unaltered aggressive dog who was dominating all the dogs there and trying to start something, and she’s saying “look how much he loves the other dogs.” People are idiots and dog parks are the worst.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dog park people are the weirdest. Only thing I don’t miss about my old dog is having to interact with those weirdos. You are NTA, OP.

I go to one with my young puppy that's kind of a hike because the owners are really normal, cool, and responsible. The 2 parks closest to me seem to be total sh*tshows and some of the people are so, so weird. I'll walk an extra 10 minutes for the sane owners with nice dogs before going to one of those free-for-alls.

[Anonymous]

You did nothing wrong. New dog owners have all kinds of bizarre expectations. I remember a new owner of a Rhodesian Ridgeback firmly instructing me to keep my beagle from sniffing his dog’s butt because she was clearly “too aggressive.”

[Anonymous]

Yep, all the weirdos at the Guy Mason dog park in Glover Park are why we stopped taking our dog there. So many weirdos.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Was your puppy much larger than hers?

Some dog owners cannot read dog behavior, which is the source of most dog issues.

Oh well. Not your fault, OP.

Very true. And it could be that OP is the one who can’t properly read dog behavior. He/she believes they were on the right instead needs to step back and consider that maybe she did misread the situation. It could be here dog next time that she is freaking out about. Believe me I have seen this happen. the one owner thinks they are so cool and knows it all and the next visit they are upset because another dog was too rough.

[Anonymous]

Dog parks are just not good places for dogs, unfortunately. You’re creating an unnatural pack with dogs you know nothing about. Most trainers (myself included) tell clients to avoid dog parks.

[Anonymous]

Likely that your puppy was probably playing a bit rougher than you are understanding/admitting. But still, it is a dog park, and that type of behavior is totally expected and not your fault. If your puppy is playing rougher than she would like, then she needs to be gracious about it and leave the dogpark.

[Anonymous]

OP, you didn't do anything wrong. I swear, you encounter some really odd ducks taking a dog out in this city. (I'm looking at you, Lincoln Park dog owner cliques.)

I respect the PP trainers' advice about how dog parks actually aren't all that great and could lead to problems. That's all true and fair enough. But realistically, we have dogs, we want to let them run around a bit close to home. It's not crazy to want to get your dog comfortable at a dog park and to regularly use it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In all honesty, as a professional trainer, this is a good example of why I tell my clients to avoid the dog park. People don't understand how to read dog behavior, and different dogs have different play styles.

Likely everything was fine. But equally likely, the dogs were under some stress (being somewhere new, with new dogs) and therefore react quicker and behave differently. It just takes a single bad incident to create a lifetime of fear and reactivity.

Much better to have backyard playdates with one or two dogs you've met and know to be a similar play style to your own. Dogs are much happier to have recurring friends rather than a new mix every time.

But yes, if you plan to go to the dog park around here you have to accept that dogs are going to interact. In other parts of the country there are off leash parks that are acres of trails and woods and lakes where it is reasonable to expect your dog to avoid other dogs. In the DC metro, they are half acre plots with dirt and nothing to do other than rough house with other dogs.

Just don't bring toys. Then you are the A.

Yup, counterintuitively, dog parks can be really unsafe for dogs. It drives me nuts that MoCo is converting park space to dog parks.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/06/smarter-living/the-dog-park-is-bad-actually.html#:~:text=One%20of%20the%20biggest%20dangers,choose%20to%20disregard%20those%20spaces.&text=From%20minor%20scuffles%20to%20serious,common%2C%20even%20from%20rough%20play.

Yep, i get why others use them but they're a no for me. I know too many dogs who have been injured at dog parks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In all honesty, as a professional trainer, this is a good example of why I tell my clients to avoid the dog park. People don't understand how to read dog behavior, and different dogs have different play styles.

Likely everything was fine. But equally likely, the dogs were under some stress (being somewhere new, with new dogs) and therefore react quicker and behave differently. It just takes a single bad incident to create a lifetime of fear and reactivity.

Much better to have backyard playdates with one or two dogs you've met and know to be a similar play style to your own. Dogs are much happier to have recurring friends rather than a new mix every time.

But yes, if you plan to go to the dog park around here you have to accept that dogs are going to interact. In other parts of the country there are off leash parks that are acres of trails and woods and lakes where it is reasonable to expect your dog to avoid other dogs. In the DC metro, they are half acre plots with dirt and nothing to do other than rough house with other dogs.

Just don't bring toys. Then you are the A.

I wish someone would come up with something so my dog can meet new dogs. Like I see dogs walking and my dog wants to play but, it is super awkward to exchange numbers etc without them getting a wrong idea ( no, I don't want to date you but, my dog likes your dog!) so people suggest having backyard playdates but, how does that work? Most of the time people are keeping their dogs away from other dogs. How do you know if their playstyles match? So, we sign up for classes but, everyone is busy and leaves far away from each other! My dog has one dog he plays regularly with and one occasionally ( also his brother) It isn't easy!

[Anonymous]

Just another crazy person, OP. You can relax. Every other person there thought she was crazy too At least she didn't threaten YOU. My husband has had that happen to him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Was your puppy much larger than hers?

Some dog owners cannot read dog behavior, which is the source of most dog issues.

Oh well. Not your fault, OP.

Very true. And it could be that OP is the one who can’t properly read dog behavior. He/she believes they were on the right instead needs to step back and consider that maybe she did misread the situation. It could be here dog next time that she is freaking out about. Believe me I have seen this happen. the one owner thinks they are so cool and knows it all and the next visit they are upset because another dog was too rough.

Yeah, no, I really don't think so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You did nothing wrong. New dog owners have all kinds of bizarre expectations. I remember a new owner of a Rhodesian Ridgeback firmly instructing me to keep my beagle from sniffing his dog’s butt because she was clearly “too aggressive.”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In all honesty, as a professional trainer, this is a good example of why I tell my clients to avoid the dog park. People don't understand how to read dog behavior, and different dogs have different play styles.

Likely everything was fine. But equally likely, the dogs were under some stress (being somewhere new, with new dogs) and therefore react quicker and behave differently. It just takes a single bad incident to create a lifetime of fear and reactivity.

Much better to have backyard playdates with one or two dogs you've met and know to be a similar play style to your own. Dogs are much happier to have recurring friends rather than a new mix every time.

But yes, if you plan to go to the dog park around here you have to accept that dogs are going to interact. In other parts of the country there are off leash parks that are acres of trails and woods and lakes where it is reasonable to expect your dog to avoid other dogs. In the DC metro, they are half acre plots with dirt and nothing to do other than rough house with other dogs.

Just don't bring toys. Then you are the A.

I wish someone would come up with something so my dog can meet new dogs. Like I see dogs walking and my dog wants to play but, it is super awkward to exchange numbers etc without them getting a wrong idea ( no, I don't want to date you but, my dog likes your dog!) so people suggest having backyard playdates but, how does that work? Most of the time people are keeping their dogs away from other dogs. How do you know if their playstyles match? So, we sign up for classes but, everyone is busy and leaves far away from each other! My dog has one dog he plays regularly with and one occasionally ( also his brother) It isn't easy!

I’ve asked several people who I meet on walks if they want to hang out with my puppy. It was weird at first, but I’ve made a lot of great friends in the neighborhood this way and every single one of them was in the same boat as me - wanting a dog friend to play with their dog. If I’m out on a walk and a dog we meet plays nicely with my dog on a leash and the person seems cool, I just ask.

[Anonymous]

Our trainer strongly advised against dog parks for a lot of the reasons laid out here.