Chilly but lovely sunny day here today. So Kipawa and I went to the off leash park. Just a matter of time, I told myself. Sooner or later we will meet a snarky dog…
An older lady (70ish) had a smooth coat fox terrier mix with her. Kipawa was enjoying playing with it - he gave the dog his 'chase me, chase me' movements, and the two of them played. However, I was keeping my eye on her dog as his body language was off. I just didn't trust him.
Then it happened - a few yelps from Kipawa. I immediately began moving towards the two of them, the fox terrier trying to nosh on Kipawa. It was not fun play, he had turned very nasty. I tried calling Kipawa, but he would not come. He was trying to defend himself. I remembered conversation on here saying not to pick up your dog when this is happening, so I wedged my rubber boot between the two of them, giving Kipawa some space. I 'claimed' Kipawa long enough that the other dog settled down, then I picked up Kipawa and began checking him over.
Thankfully, not a nick, but his heart was beating like crazy. I was majorly pissed off with this lady and her non-action. I walked over to her, with Kipawa in my arms. I felt like exploding, but somehow it came out fairly calmly. I told her she needed better control of her dog and should do something if her dog acts like that. What she said back to me pissed me off even more: "Well, he is a rescue. He was going to be euthanized if no one took him". I glared at her and said "and that means....?"
She mumbled something to me about not being aware her dog would do that. I asked her what history she was given about the dog. She proceeded to tell me it was from California. Like what? So I said, "are you telling me rescue dogs from California are not socialized enough to be in a dog park?"
I almost could not believe the words spilling out of my mouth, because I am the farthest thing away from a nasty person as you can get. But this dog had no place in the off leash park, and I told her so. I also told her that others might not be as understanding as me, so she really shouldn't bring the dog back until it has been socialized properly.
I could tell my little man was happy I rescued him. We watched as they walked away, the lady had a slight limp. I did feel sorry for the FT, but not at all for her. Rescue is great, but you still have to be able to handle the breed. This dog was too much for her. This woman had been thinking with her heart instead of her head when she took on this dog. The dog needs serious rehabilitation and isn't getting it.
Once they were gone I noticed all the other dogs, including Kipawa, were playing happily again. Amazing how just one unbalanced dog can effect all other dogs. The incident pooped Kipawa out. He is now sleeping in his favourite spot, with all his toys, beside the fireplace.
There are many folk in off leash areas who either don't know what their dogs bodies are doing, or don't care.
The fact your little guy wasn't hurt was showing the dog had bite restraint and that you were quick to react.
This old gal, probably didn't have a clue…BUT now that she knows this dog acts like this, she should NOT bring him to the park.
I hope you don't see her again..
Your a great dog mom...protect the pup...first rule!
Sometimes you have to pick them up! Just be aware that the other dog may jump up and nip whatever is hanging down..tail or legs, (or your arm) so if you pick him up, hold him high enough to be out of reach, and be prepared to "knee" a dog that jumps up on you.
But what you did was much better in that circumstance. Picking up is a last resort.
My labradoodle is pretty "soft" and we just had too many bad experiences at our local off-leash park, so now I pay the $ to go to a supervised indoor playgroup. It's a shame that so many people cannot read their own dogs:rolleyes:
Fran, I am so sorry both Kipawa and you had to go through that..it seems to me…that a lot of people think it is OK for their dogs to do whatever in an off leash park..as if there are no rules to the playground..I've enountered that too when I used to take Otis to the park...didn't like it at all..so we stopped going, Otis really didn't enojoy the park anyway...he rather run the 600 acres of hunting land my hubby had, with no snarkie dogs and only space, space and space...then again Otis had his issues.
I haven't taken Pippin yet...waiting for it to get warmer..he, I think, will have a ball...then again our backyard at 2 acres(soon to be 4..:)) with our three dogs and the neighbors two...is like a park..
Dog parks are not the best place for most dogs. The owners tend to stand around in clumps talking with each other instead of watching the their dogs. Since they stand still instead of keeping moving and keeping their dogs moving dogs so they can't get too focused on one dog, dogs can get too intense and small annoyances can quickly escalate. Dogs of all ages and play styles are all lumped together which causes issues because not all are compatible. Even dogs that have good dog skills can be bad at dog parks because the mix of dogs just makes it so much work for them that they can't do it. Some adult dogs don't do well with puppies because they tend to correct puppy rudeness too harshly. They aren't bad dogs they just don't have the patience for puppy antics. Some puppies and adolescents are obnoxious and irritate everyone. Some owners are good at reading when their dogs have had enough and some aren't. Overall, it leads to a situation where things can turn from a good time for all to a brawl very quickly.
I have yet to take a basenji to a dog park, even though there are a lot around here in the Virginia suburbs. Part of it is that I myself am shy, and I find it exhausting to come up with small talk with new strangers over and over 
Simon has two buddies that he plays with semi-regularly, both 18 months old, which is in his energy range. One is a male pit bull, and I really didn't expect a basenji boy to get along with a pit bull boy – but they adore each other. The other is a female lab, and Simon thinks she is a goddess. Every week or so he gets to romp around with one or the other.
Once Annie gets here, dynamics will change, in the house, but also with the buddies. However, he'll have an in-house pal, so I won't worry about it as much.
Dog parks are not the best place for most dogs. The owners tend to stand around in clumps talking with each other instead of watching the their dogs. Since they stand still instead of keeping moving and keeping their dogs moving dogs so they can't get too focused on one dog, dogs can get too intense and small annoyances can quickly escalate. Dogs of all ages and play styles are all lumped together which causes issues because not all are compatible. Even dogs that have good dog skills can be bad at dog parks because the mix of dogs just makes it so much work for them that they can't do it. Some adult dogs don't do well with puppies because they tend to correct puppy rudeness too harshly. They aren't bad dogs they just don't have the patience for puppy antics. Some puppies and adolescents are obnoxious and irritate everyone. Some owners are good at reading when their dogs have had enough and some aren't. Overall, it leads to a situation where things can turn from a good time for all to a brawl very quickly.
Now didn't you hit the nail on the head. How true about the owners standing around and making small talk. I however, prefer not to stand in a clump of people. I've always been more of a loner and I enjoy it. Kipawa and I are always close at the dog park. It's why I was able to get to him so quickly yesterday.
I wish I had acres to let him run in, but I would have to find doggie friends for him too, as he loves other dogs. It's a big part of why he loves going to the off leash park. He is such a happy, friendly puppy (thanks Therese and Kevin). He can run in our back yard, but he can B500 like crazy when he has such a large space.
Sonny does not do well at your typical dog park. He get's into too much trouble when there are a lot of dogs just milling around in one area with no where to escape the ones he doesn't like. Sonny plays well with 90% of dogs we meet but when he doesn't like a dog out comes a VERY BIG attitude. So we don't go to your typical dog park. The farm as we call it is a 180 acre piece of land that the local town owns and preserves. Pretty much the only people you ever see there have dogs. But what makes it a perfect situation for Sonny is that he can play with his friends and have fun but we also get to walk away when a situation calls for it and we walk the trails and get in a lot good exercise for the both of us! I admit to having a basenji with attitude so I need to be choosy about the situations I put him in with other dogs. You only wish that others would behave the same way with their own dogs…
Dog parks are unpredictable because every time you go there's some different dogs that you don't know and what they'll do. Buddy is very friendly but the trouble is people throwing the ball for their dog and the dog gets aggressive when another goes after it or near it which sometimes Buddy does and he gets attacked.
