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

[Anonymous]

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."

Fast forward a year and another dog off leash was aggressive with my 6 year old who was ahead of us by 20 paces. He ran from off the trail, growled, bared teeth, barked and charged him, knocking him down. It was terrifying! The owner was around the corner and when I finally spotted her and yelled about a leash, started running in the opposite direction. I was shocked and couldn't do a thing since I had to tend to my child.

I am now fearful that every off leash dog in RCP is a potential threat and considering it is against the law, it makes me upset that our hike is being jeopardized by people who don't think the rules apply to them or their dogs.

I want to say something to every owner I meet with a dog off leash but that ruins my hike in the process. What can I do to remind people that dogs, no matter how friendly, need to stay on a leash for the safety of everyone involved, including dogs themselves?

[Anonymous]

^^attacked, not articles!

[Anonymous]

You lost me at articles.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You lost me at articles.

Thank you!

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

I too would love a way to deal with this that gets through to people. Twice, I have been bitten while running by off-leash dogs and was menaced by another just this week. For a while I thought - maybe they just don't realize how inconsiderate they are being. Every time I see an off-leash dog my adrenalin starts pumping. So, I thought I would start asking people politely to put a leash on their dog. Along the lines of if no one stands up to these people or calls them on their behavior they will think it's okay. I never got a remotely positive or polite response. To my "Would you please leash your dog - I've been bitten and it scares me" - I get "MYOB!" or other less nice things. And usually how their dog is so friendly and would never. Argh!

I use to like dogs but now because of inconsiderate and rather irrational dog owners - I do not like them at all!

[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.

So, if she was nonplussed, I guess he made an impression, right? I mean, she must have learned her lesson that her dog wasn't as "friendly" as she thought. So, you have your answer right there -- confront the owner, make them nonplussed, i.e. perplexed, and then maybe it doesn't happen again?

[Anonymous]

Yeah OP nonplussed doesn't mean what you think it means.

[Anonymous]

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.

[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.

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.

[Anonymous]

Call animal control and maybe they can bust those clowns in the act.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

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.