plain water, spritzed into the face most dogs, is usually enough to make them back off. Add a splash of vinegar if you need something extra. Pepper spray isn't necessary.

I adopted a rescue from WARL, now HRA, that came with the descriptor "not a dog park dog." If I walk him on a leash, he's a safe dog. If your dog surprises him by suddenly rushing up to him off leash, he'll bite. I've seen other dogs running up to us and shouted out with increasing urgency "My dog's not friendly. My dog is not friendly! MY DOG IS NOT FRIENDLY!" Inevitably the other owner trails behind and does not have his or her dog under adequate voice or shock collar control.

I understand that some dog owners want large off-leash spaces for their pets to play in. I support having designated areas for that which are away/fenced off from from children's play areas as well recreation paths with passing joggers and cyclists. Unfortunately, NIMBY's in DC often work against dog parks (see the years long struggle around the Takoma Rec Center), and The National Park Service, which controls much of DC's green space, won't be allowing dog parks any time soon for a number of reasons.

Nothing if the dogs are under control and well behaved.
Do not confront dog owners directly, call animal control or police and have them ticketed.

Anonymous wrote:
Why are people in DC so freaking uptight?

A few reasons:
I have a fear aggressive dog that I must walk leashed. Through behavioral intervention he was overcoming his issues and making progress. Then off-leash dogs who were not under voice control ran up to him one too many times (including by running across the street in traffic). Now my dog is just straight-up aggressive outside the house. I can only walk him off my property at 11 at night. Eventually, I’ll need to have him put down because his aggression is too much of a risk. We almost overcame it, but other people’s behavior made that not possible.

I was attacked by an off-leash dog while canvassing. It was traumatic, and now I’m more fearful of dogs I don’t know, but I don’t want to give up hiking and using public parks.

Some people need service animals trained to do a task for them (different from emotional support animals). These working animals are not supposed to be approached by humans or other dogs. Your off-leash dog puts people with medical issues at risk.

In rare cases polic dogs may be working in an area. Like service dogs, they are not to be messed with by your pet. In fact, they may tear Muffy apart. While this may seem an unlikely scenario, it came up in Ft. Slocum Park when Park Police we’re investigating an incendiary device.

https://www.nps.gov/rocr/planyourvisit/pets.htm

It is park policy for all pets to be kept on leashes at all times. This is for the safety of your pet, our visitors, and the park itself.

Your unleashed dog charges towards my toddler and my dog is on a leash, and you laugh? Then you watch as your dog is trying to jump all over the kid and dog. When I say, "Please come get your dog!" you give me a dirty look and slooowly walk over. I should have bear sprayed your dog or kicked it in self defense.

Don't say anything, just mind your own business.