So the other day Im taking my 3 dogs, on leash to the beach. There is always off leash dogs there but owners usually are just playing fetch into the water with them or have them under conrtol enough that they dont come up to us. We were walking along the beach and a golden who was hiding behind a log so I didnt even see it til it came out in my dogs faces and barked/growled at us. I yelled hey at it and looked at the owner who was lying down a few feet away, totally aware of what was going on but not caring. I told the dog to go away and pushed him back as I glared at the man and uttered things under my breath. I know, I know, dont go there, but we just moved and its my favorite place in the world and dont feel I should have to alter something myself and my on leash dogs enjoy so much. My question is what to say, everyone knows us in town by our dogs so I dont want to say they are aggresive, they arent at all. I've seen this man before and his dog is never on leash. I dont like dogs coming up b/c it makes my 3 big dogs pull which is a pain, they outweigh me. I dont want to be rude but I feel he was rude when I made it clear I didnt want his dog near us and he just layed there. Sorry so long, I just really could use some ideas of exactly what to say in a way that the town folk wont show up at my door with torches. Thanks!

Train your dogs under distraction and kick sand in the guys face, lol

Are you sure there is not a leash required regulation for the dog(s) on the beach? Usually there is some kind of regulation which requires owners to be in control of their dog(s) in places where people gather.

I don't think it is rude to simply note the obvious like asking, Could you control your dog? Or, I don't want your dog to get hurt, do you? Did you notice your dog just whizzed on your blanket? Are you aware that it is customary that the owner be be smarter than the dog? You know, I was just talking to the police officer over there about dogs off leash.

There are other more direct ways to address the owner, like walking over to him with the dogs on leash and say some thing polite like 'Hey! Your dog is off leash!' Or, I just wanted to get a closer look for identification purposes, thank you.

I've been trying to figure out how to cryptically write what I would really say. But then, I am rude by nature.

They pretty much ignore other dogs, but when the other dogs come right up they go to sniff etc, while Im trying to untangle 3 leashes and continue walking etc, just annoying more than anything. You think with a Cane Corso, a dutch shepherd and a springer cross people would think twice before letting their dogs race up to us. I do plan on training them even better, like to not even sniff when other dogs come up unless I give the ok. My boyfriend lets them do it so its hard. He wont listen to me. Gotta train him better I guess. There is definitely leash laws and I dont care if peoples dogs are under control, but we actually just came back from there and some little toy poodle thing ran up to us with the owner yelling in the background. I tried to keep walking and the dogs were good, but it kept following us so I shoved it away. He didnt bother us again. Funny thing about the cop comment, I work at the humane society so maybe I'll just start saying yes I'll be calling my friends at animal control now. Love the closer look for identification comment. I'll work on being more blunt, seems to be the only thing that works.