I was posting on the cattle prod thread and then realized this might be a separate topic:

I find it a problem when I am on a field trying to exercise my dogs and other people's dogs, off leash, won't leave us alone, even if my dogs are not giving them attention. I wish I had a way to get rid of those dogs who come pestering us for attention and their "handlers" won't do anything to call them to back off. These are not dog parks, per se, rather school fields that are made available after hours for dogs and their owners.

There is this fine line between letting a dog know its attentions are unwanted and having owners take umbrage because they view you as unfriendly and overly stand-offish. I am working on training my over-reactive dog to ignore other dogs and he is making great progress, but when we are trying to get some play time on a field, we often have to exit in a hurry because another person's dog won't leave us alone, not because my dog is causing a ruckus. Then I heard a comment, "She never lets her dog off leash." As if I was being anti-social. Grrrrr.

If a simple "I need my dog not to have his attention on other dogs right now; we're training" didn't work, I'd leave too.

As far as "She never lets her dog off leash" comments, well, I have given this much thought and have reached this conclusion about such comments:

I don't care.

Yes. We left the park the other day where I was trying to do the exact thing, and a loose dog was just everywhere, including on us. I actually couldn't even tell which the owner was. And that is so unfair to the dog who is not ready for that kind of close dog distraction yet, to be put into it.

I feel for you. WHen you figure it out, let me know!!!!!! :-)

We have a small beach that is dog tolerant.
I will go with Harley has he love the water and good excersise. He is now able to be on a long line and not go after every one toy as long as I have the very High value chuck it bumper!

Yesterday some very nice Rottie came to invade our play. No collar on and was called back after some time by his owner...
Rocky come, Rocky here, Rocky leave those dog, Rocky, ROCKY...

You got it? Harley got upset once the rott got too close to the bumper and told him so. I changed to a less important toy, but the rott won't leave so we did stop the play and just hang out.

The rott went on to steal some kids toys and pester swimmers.
As I am leaving I get the usual question from the non doggie person. Why do you keep your dog on a leash, he seem friendly?

I ask did my dog bugged you? Anwser No the other dog (rottie) yes.

They still ask the question. I get that question also from doggie persons. I like the is your dog coming back to you when you call? I have to say they are honnest with sometimes. But them most so what's with the leash. My dog comes back 100% or else he has a tractor beam to pull him back.

People don't care about their dog safety or general public safety. If my dog gives a dirty look to a dog for getting too close to his toy, my dogs is wrong, maybe.

I have control and my dog is safe. I stop careing about other people opinion a long time ago. I know what is right for me and my animals.

I think Ed has a good article here on what he thinks of dog parks. Basically an accident waiting to happen.
I agree with that 100%.
You may have great control over your own dog but you have no control over the other person's dog and when the $#!+ hits the fan it's highly doubtful that the majority of folks there have a clue how to handle it.
Your control over your dog isn't going to prevent those problems as long as you are in an area where most/many of them run loose.
MOST dog park people are clueless!

I have to agree with Bob, and I include "off leash tolerant" areas too, with dog parks.

It only takes one, and we have no possible way to be assured of anyone else's control over their dogs.

We have dog people friends who we will “walk” off leash with but for the most part our dogs don’t really interact that much with each other.

When we encounter out-of-control dogs, I’m always the first to tell the owners to get their dog under control. I don’t think it’s an unreasonable request and if they’re taking offense, it’s generally at their own inability to control their dog that's causing them to lash out.

They may direct that embarrassment at me (grumbling “stuck up” comments under their breath) but hopefully they’ll think twice the next time they see me coming.

I’m not there to be their friend; my dogs’ training and safety are foremost on my mind. If they learn to manage their dogs better, perhaps we can think about a friendship down the road.

Lazy, inattentive owners that allow dogs to run free and rudely encounter anyone they choose are not people I want to be associated with, and quite frankly, could care less what they chose to think of me.

"think it’s an unreasonable request and if they’re taking offense, it’s generally at their own inability to control their dog that's causing them to lash out."

This is exactly why there WILL be problems. It's just a matter of time.
There will always be dominance issues with ANY pack of dogs, large or small.
There will always be possessive issues when dogs play with balls, toys, etc in a group of dogs.
There will always be people that think all dogs should sit around a campfire and howl Kumbyya with one another.
They are dogs!

 Quote: jenny arntzen

Then I heard a comment, "She never lets her dog off leash." As if I was being anti-social. Grrrrr.

Who cares what she said? I wish you had retorted with "Thank you; I wish I could say the same about you." LOL!

No offense Jenny; but it doesn't sound like a good place to take your dogs. You can control yourself and your dogs and thats about it in any given environment so I'd steer clear of places like this where your dogs' safety and comfort level are at the mercy of other people.

So where? you ask do you take them for play time. Early morning or after 6PM you can often find industrial park parking lots empty. During the summer this is often my only choice on the weekends (usually empty all weekend hours).

Perhaps it would be a little less frustrating to realize the people you come across have a different philosophy on how to raise a dog than you. They are not stupid; and how they have been raising their dog is working for them. Just as you don't understand what they are doing; they don't understand what you are doing....so coming back to my original thought: you can control you and your dogs....and it is your responsibility to leave as soon as an offleash dog arrives. Sad I know, but IMO really the only solution.

 Quote: Bob Scott

There will always be people that think all dogs should sit around a campfire and howl Kumbyya with one another.

:laugh: :laugh: