Comments on: Dog People?

By: E.P.

E.P. — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 15:26:26 +0000

Amen to this. Lucy has never, never, never started a fight or gotten into much of a scuffle, other than with my sister’s dog about a bone. I’m always nervous when I bring her to the park and there are already a lot of dogs there because it freaks her out a little at first.

The last time we were at the dog park at a busy hour, these two dogs got into it, and their owners in turn got into a fight. The resulting swears and each accusing the other’s dog of being the aggressor was too much for me. We don’t go to the dog park in the afternoon anymore since this happened.

By: Lara

Lara — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 14:55:17 +0000

I’ve found there are some bad ones out there, but the good ones (at least here) will usually yell at the bad eggs. I watched one owner whose dog kept scrapping with another dog not do anything and when it really went nuts, several of the other owners screamed at him, told him he wasn’t welcome at the dog park if his dog wasn’t socialized, and the owner then left.

I agree – it’s tempting to just relax sometimes in the park with your dog but you do need to remain aware as to what’s going on. It’s the right thing to do and no matter how much of an angel you think yours is, they can always find that one wrong dog that could make them switch over.

By: Julie Q

Julie Q — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 13:55:08 +0000

ha! It all depends how your dog is doing that day (but thats cos my rocco is either your best friend or a grumpy old man @ the DP). but yeah, there are some dog owners that bug the hell out of me- and NO ONE knows our name, just Rocco and Lexie’s!

Rocco’s only got in one big fight at the dogpark like 4 years ago, and i’m not going to lie, i might have shed a tear yelling at the boxer to get the f* away from my dog. and gus turns to me and says ‘Julie, there’s no crying at the dog park’

classic line.

By: LiLu

LiLu — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 00:16:05 +0000

Sigh. I’m sure it’s the same people who piss me off on the sidewalks of DC, too… don’t you know how to walk and talk? Or at least move out of the WAY and talk? Be AWARE of your surroundings, a little bit, at least? There are things going on around you, Oblivy McLivious.

By: The Northerner

The Northerner — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 21:11:15 +0000

We take Kona to the fenced dog park in Shaw and it is nice and small, which I think helps deter people from not watching their dog. Even if they are chatting, they can always see what is going on. I’ve never experienced someone actively ignoring their dog, but that would annoy me too. I mean, would you ignore your kid if it was causing trouble? Sadly, I think some people would. When we move over near you we will have to get Kona and Ellie together so that they can play with each other.

By: Jess

Jess — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 19:53:58 +0000

I’ve encountered three basic types of dog people, and while I love one kind, the other two piss me off. There’s the responsible, dog-loving owner who pays attention in the dog park and ALWAYS calls their dog off at the first sign of trouble, even if THEY think it’s no big deal, because they don’t want their dog bothering another dog or a dog’s owner. That’s the kind I like. Then there’s the kind who has the dog who is cool with everything, including pissing other dogs off, and so they think that no matter what their dog does, it’s fine, even when it clearly is not. And then there’s the third kind, the kind where if any other dog gets NEAR their dog, they freak out that the dog is harassing their dog, their dog is going to get hurt, the other dog is out of control, etc. Usually this is a small dog owner and they will immediately run in and pick up their dog, even if there is no other dog within several feet. And then they wonder in chagrin why all the other dogs are suddenly so interested in their dog now that it’s unnaturally floating in midair.

By: kat

kat — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 19:12:43 +0000

i feel the same way, i would do anything for my dogs. i obey all leash laws and make sure my dogs are secure in my yard, on walks, etc. so it pisses me off when i have my boxer tied out in my front yard (i’m out there, of course) and my neighbors little yip-yips are unleashed, roaming the neighborhood, and come to torment my boxer! she not aggro, but boxers a high energy! all she wants to do is play, but the size difference alone could be disastrous! uh! i could go on about this, but i wont. i share your frustration. at least your doing everything you can to protect your dog. kudos!