How do you handle unleashed dogs at a park?

[Anonymous]

You will almost ALWAYS get a better response with a humble, kind approach than an entitled approach. Whether it is the law or not, people don't want you to jump all over them.

I would not get confrontational, I would just call the police, if they are jerks about it. Easy. Why make it difficult?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why don't dog owners already know the law?

They know it, but think their precious snowflake is exempt due to stellar behavior.

The same could be said for your child.

Yes! Did you know 4.5 million people are bitten by children every year?




Oh wait -- I meant dogs. PP, you are an idiot.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't get either side of this.

I'm a dog owner and our dog is just never unleashed - he'd chase a squirrel right into the middle of the street, so it's not a personal issue to me. I used to live a block from lincoln park, which is a bit of a de facto dog park, and I cannot even imagine the moms running around telling all the dog owners to leash the dogs. Especially if their dogs were showing no interest to the children at all. On the other hand, the person who is allowing his dog to sniff at other kids, etc? Out of line.

at the same time, there are always long cry fests on MOTH listserv about how these big scary dogs are just running around unleashed and in most of the cases, the mom is freaking out, scaring the kids, and creating hysteria for no reason. I mean, these are moms who will shout across the park to a dog owner to leash their dog even if they aren't going anywhere near the dog, if the dog is paying them no mind. They pick up their kids, and scream "leash your dog! I don't want your dog biting my child! He barked at us! He could bite us!" etc.

I realize the law is the law, and people SHOULD leash their dogs, but I just want to tell these moms that they are creating a terror of dogs in their children.

Really, ppl post about little kids bitten in the face, and you don't get the other side?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
You will almost ALWAYS get a better response with a humble, kind approach than an entitled approach. Whether it is the law or not, people don't want you to jump all over them.

I would not get confrontational, I would just call the police, if they are jerks about it. Easy. Why make it difficult?

Why would I even bother being humble? Would you humbly request someone not mug you?

I just call animal control immediately.

[Anonymous]

I agree that if your kid is running up to leashed dogs, you should not be giving the dog owner a hard time. Kids need to be taught how to safely and politely interact with animals. I also agree that freaking out when there is no immediate threat (the dog is on the other side of the park, say) is not a good way to handle it. I'm not scared of dogs, and I don't want my kid to be scared of dogs, I just want the dog leashed like it's supposed to be. (If you dog rushes my kid, though, watch out!)

But dog owners need to leash their dogs--you may know that your dog is gentle and non-aggressive, but (1) I don't know that, and (2) even good dogs can nip or bite, especially as kids + dogs = unpredictable. I'll be responsible for my kid's interactions with your leashed dog, and you be responsible for leashing said dog. Everyone wins!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why don't dog owners already know the law?

They know it, but think their precious snowflake is exempt due to stellar behavior.

The same could be said for your child.

Yes! Did you know 4.5 million people are bitten by children every year?




Oh wait -- I meant dogs. PP, you are an idiot.

Actually, given the behavior I've witnessed at the playground, I'd believe that 4.5 million people are bitten by children every year. And those little buggers have sharp teeth!

[Anonymous]

Our dogs are always leashed unless they're in the dog park. We get so many kids running up lunging at them to touch them without ever asking. Either my husband or myself will use our bodies to physically block the kids. It amazes me how few parents teach their kids how to ask before trying to touch dogs. We just joined a private dog park to avoid all of the kids who go to the neighborhood dog park even though the sign clearly states no children under 12. Not every dog loves children

[Anonymous]

I will respectfully tell any law breaker that they are breaking the law. Don't worry, dog lovers, I'll put on my nicest voice for you, so as not to offend your delicate egos. And I'll be sure not to have an element of panic in my voice so my children don't become neurotic.

Seriously ... !

A toddler in this area has stitches on her face and a spell in hospital and you want to lecture us on manners and how to avoid anxieties in our children. Jeez ...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I will respectfully tell any law breaker that they are breaking the law. Don't worry, dog lovers, I'll put on my nicest voice for you, so as not to offend your delicate egos. And I'll be sure not to have an element of panic in my voice so my children don't become neurotic.

Seriously ... !

A toddler in this area has stitches on her face and a spell in hospital and you want to lecture us on manners and how to avoid anxieties in our children. Jeez ...

+1

[Anonymous]

Dog owners are the worst. Spoiled, self absorbed and think the law doesn't apply to them. Happily letting their dogs foul up the sidewalk and public parks. Call the police or animal control straightaway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why don't dog owners already know the law?

They know it, but think their precious snowflake is exempt due to stellar behavior.

I think this really is the problem. They don't take the law seriously and think that because their dog is so gentle around them, it will never be a threat to anyone. They also believe that other people are nuts if they aren't comfortable around their sweet dog. They expect them to trust their (the owners') judgment that their dog is harmless. And they can't understand that there are people who have no desire for any physical contact with their dog even if it is friendly.

[Anonymous]

Well this thread certainly illustrates why this is such a problem. People can't deal with, talk to, or see another person's point of view.

I don't see a single dog owner on here failing to acknowledge that they should leash their dogs, follow the law, etc... Not a single one.

I do see some pretty inflexible, rabid, neurotic, angry parents.

I don't want my dog OR my kids around you or your kids. Guaranteed you'll be in the thick of any problem on the playground - regardless of what other living creatures are involved.

Responsible dog owners, responsible parents, responsible citizens - that equals relative peace most of the time.

People who can't talk to others calmly, without judgment, start trouble - whether by calling cops needlessly or panicking needlessly. It's unnecessary trouble.

FYI, those are also the people who get bitten by dogs who are afraid/threatened/scared. '

And don't go nuts on me about the child who was bitten - that is obviously awful and tragic. I'm talking about the larger issue of calm, reasoned, adult behavior (on all sides) which would solve 95% of the problems on this issue.

[Anonymous]

We were going to the playground by my house once and an unleashed dog ran up to my car and nosed his way into my front seat, almost getting into my car entirely. There were a ton of people there, but no one paying any attention to this dog whatsoever.

We ended up leaving the playground and finding another one, because there were a ton of unleashed dogs. Its not that I haven't taught my son how to behave around dogs when we do see them. I always tell him not to run up to dogs and not to touch (then if the owner says its OK I supervise closely). It's that my son is 17 months old (14 months at the time this happened) and hadn't really learned yet.

It wasn't a big deal because there are like 3 playground in a 5 block radius, but, I shouldn't have had to leave, but there were dogs running all over the playground.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well this thread certainly illustrates why this is such a problem. People can't deal with, talk to, or see another person's point of view.

I don't see a single dog owner on here failing to acknowledge that they should leash their dogs, follow the law, etc... Not a single one.

I do see some pretty inflexible, rabid, neurotic, angry parents.

I don't want my dog OR my kids around you or your kids. Guaranteed you'll be in the thick of any problem on the playground - regardless of what other living creatures are involved.

Responsible dog owners, responsible parents, responsible citizens - that equals relative peace most of the time.

People who can't talk to others calmly, without judgment, start trouble - whether by calling cops needlessly or panicking needlessly. It's unnecessary trouble.

FYI, those are also the people who get bitten by dogs who are afraid/threatened/scared. '

And don't go nuts on me about the child who was bitten - that is obviously awful and tragic. I'm talking about the larger issue of calm, reasoned, adult behavior (on all sides) which would solve 95% of the problems on this issue.

No, nobody came straight out and said that, but there were several who were trying to shift the blame to the parents, just like you are. Nobody should ever have to approach a dog owner to put their dog on a leash where it's the law. People shouldn't have to deal with this, and they wouldn't if everybody behaved reasonably (i.e. put their dog on a leash). That's why there's dog parks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, nobody came straight out and said that, but there were several who were trying to shift the blame to the parents, just like you are. Nobody should ever have to approach a dog owner to put their dog on a leash where it's the law. People shouldn't have to deal with this, and they wouldn't if everybody behaved reasonably (i.e. put their dog on a leash). That's why there's dog parks.

I'm one of the PP dog owners. And I do agree with you that dog owners should follow the rules. I wish that all dog owners were responsible, because those that are not give the rest of us a bad name. That being said, these rude people do exist (just like rude people exist in all walks of life, unfortunately), and the OP asked how to approach someone when she encountered the situation. I think there was a great suggestion by another PP with a reasonable response on how to confront someone without looking like a crazy or causing unnecessary trouble. I don't understand why people are getting all riled-up, rather than just helping out OP with her question.