The other day a woman walking her pit at the park was asked to leave by the Police. The park is open to all dogs as long as they are properly leashed. The officer said the parents of one of the kids playing was concerned that when she passed the kids with her dog he would "lung" at them, and the dog appeared to be dangerous. She left the park and was upset and embarressed. She said when the dog would see the kids running he would pull like he wanted to run as well. I can relate because if my Lilly sees a kid with a ball...especially a tennis ball, the object of her PLAY drive, she is pulling to the ball, and generally needs a verbal correction. I have never been one to buck the system but I think I would have politely told the officer I did not want to leave, that my dog is neither dangerous or being carelessly handled. What do you all feel are the options here. On one hand no one wants to cause trouble - on the other hand people need to deal with their own hysteria.

If a dog was lunging at my kids I would be very upset.

If my dog lunges at a kid I will be very upset and it will get more than a verbal correction.

Basically I think that she didn't have control of her dog and an injury could happen if his leash were to break or she didn't have a good grip. Doesn't have to be a bite to injure. A 40lb. dog running and jumping on a 40lb. kid will result in the kid getting knocked down and hurt.

I'm sorry but most people walking a dog, at least in my area, seem clueless about responsible dog ownership so if I were a betting gal, I'd say the woman w/the dog did not have control of her dog and it was an accident waiting to happen. If he lunged once and only once (and was corrected for it), I see your point or your desire to play devil's advocate but I'm guessing that it happened more than once for the family to call the police. Are you thinking the police were called in more because it was a pit and the family was reacting more to the breed than to the act of lunging? Maybe. Either way, to me it doesn't matter...if it was repeatedly or periodically lunging, it should go.

And there in lies the required distinction. My Lilly will pull towards a ball, not lung off her feet...and a simple verbal is all that is required to stop the pull and bring her back to a heel. The woman that was walking this dog claims this is the action her dog was taking and because the dog was a Pit Bull the pulling became a lunge due to pit bull hype. I absolutely agree about an excited non aggressive dog being able to injur a child, and would not advocate any behavior that could end in this result. Perhaps more obediance is in order here.....I have been told not by an officer to leave a public place simply because my dog was a Pit. I leave because those are the same people that believe in doggy play groups and when they get to the park, the believe the leash laws do not apply to them. So I am less than a little shocked to think these people just wanted the dog gone because it was a pit bull.

Hayley -

"Bossy Pants" you are killin me.... <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

The truth probably lies somewhere between...not having complete control of the dog and folks being a little sensitive to the breed. I don't mind leaving some where I am not wanted even if I am doing nothing wrong because at that point it is my choice....but being told to leave by someone that is in a position of authority, well that does not sit right with me. Being the owner of a Pit I must say you must be better than the rest in public - it is just the way it is, I guess if you are not, then more training is in order!!

I have to agree with Judy in thinking that it had to have happened more than once for the parents to call the police...nobody(well,mostly nobody)calls the fuzz for kicks and giggles even over a "scary" dog.

This is the very reason, however, that I DON'T take my dogs to the park.
1)They aren't fully trained
2)They are Rottweilers
3)They aren't fully trained

If an owner is going to a public place with their animals they should be supremely confident of exactly how said animals will behave. Otherwise, IMO, they should stay at home and work on training some more!! Why risk a potentially dangerous, or in the case here, embarressing situation. Especially the owner of a PB.

Now I am not saying that this lady didnt have her dog trained, I dont know. But with all the bad press,horrific images,sterotypes,etc.etc. why make things worse by arguing with a scared parent OR police officer?? I would have corrected the behaviour immediately and moved as FAR away from that family as possible the first time it happened!!!

I (personally)would have harsh words for the owner of a Jack Russell if it kept lungeing at my kids. Dog bites are scary no matter what kind of dog it is, and some people (as hard as it is to believe) don't like dogs.

DOG vs. Frightened Kids/Parent + Police Officer = DOG is getting the boot everytime almost garunteed. Why argue with the inevitable?? Just IMO.

 Quote:

:
This is the very reason, however, that I DON'T take my dogs to the park.
1)They aren't fully trained
2)They are (insert any breed here)
3)They aren't fully trained

For me, this applies to all the OTHER dogs. There is no possible way for me to know the level of control the other owners have over their dogs.

I think off-lead dog parks are a nice idea on the surface, but wildly misguided. JMO. <img src="http://www.leerburg.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

In the original post Valerie said "The officer said the parents of one of the kids playing was concerned that when she passed the kids with her dog he would "lunge" at them, and the dog appeared to be dangerous."

My initial impression is that the dog hadn't done anything "Yet,". I got the impression it's a case of pre-emptive fear. You know, the ones who say things like "We just know those {insert breed here} are dangerous." and "Why does anyone need a dog like that?"

I've had people call the police and complain about my daily wear sidearm (I'm not an LEO) because they were sure I might just go crazy and start shooting people.

I wouldn't leave unless I've done something to warrant my being asked to leave. The question I ask is "Why am I being punished for someone else's irrational fear?" It's America and I'm innocent until I do something bad.

---

Red Thomas

Mesa, AZ

Red, the dog may not have done anything yet but a lunge at the kids is about as close to brandishing (which IS generally illegal even in areas that allow open carry to make the analogy) that I would still say that the LEO's response asking the dog and owner to leave was correct.