Just had a row in the park, need to rant!

[Jaynerae]

I don't very often go to the local park as there are too many dogs and owners at this time of day, but was pushed for time today so did go there.

There is an owner who is part of the 'clique', her dog steals other dogs balls.

My Cavie and Beagle love to fetch their ball, Her dog has stolen my dogs ball several times before, and although annoying first couple of times, I just waited for her to get it back off him and didn't say anything. Last week I waited 20 minutes for her to get it back.

Today I saw them in park so stayed right over the other side of the park, so was a football pitch and a half away. Cavie was playing fetch Beagle was in Bushes, couldn't see Beagle as bushes are deep and I worry about her eating things she shouldn't, so whistle for her, she never comes on first whistle - always third whistle - I don't know why - but it works so I'm not complaining.

Anyway, Beagle comes back, I treat her, turn around and there is 'The Theif' taking ball of Cavie, I haven't got time or inclination to hang around for half an hour whilst woman chases her dog around to get it back, so I said, not again (Dogs Name), and turned around and walked away.

I continued with my walk, all the time getting angrier that she does not have her dog under control.

Near the end of my walk she catches up with me and gives me ball back, and says "He only wants to play", I replied yes I know but this is getting beyond a joke now. My dogs can't play becasue your dog has their ball.

She replied, "well you use the whistle too much it attracts all the dogs, everyone says so" I was flabbergasted, I replied "she is trained to recall to the whistle, you should train your dog to recall". She replied "he's only young", I said "so are mine but I have been training her since 8 weeks. You need to get your dog under control - other people have said so too! Why are you getting so defensive - your dog was in the wrong, not mine. She said something else whilst walking away but I couldn't her what she said so just carried on.

How is it that her dog stealing my dogs ball is my fault for using my whistle?

I know it's only a ball, but it's the time I have to wait for her to get it back that annoys me, I can't stand there waiting for her, I need to get back to work. And If I train my dogs, why can't she train her dog, of the same age as mine!

My Beagle steals food - is it acceptable that I let her do it becasue it is instinct - NO.

My Beagle Mugs other owners for Treats (AS some idiots have given them to her) is it acceptable that I let her jump all over them - NO.

So why should it be acceptable that her dog steals my dogs ball - because her only wants to play?

AAAARRRGGGGHHHH!

How annoying for you! Some people will argue over anything when they know they are in the wrong. She really should be bringing the ball straight back to you, like any decent owner would.

You have all my sympathy here - I have a ball obsessed dog and a huge part of her walk is spent playing. Sadly plenty of other dogs will 'mug' her for the ball and disappear off, leaving her frantic. I always have a couple of spares in my bag but find most other owners return the ball quickly. The ones that don't are usually the twits who have no consideration for others - usually the same ones who let their dogs bother mine when she is on the lead (another pet hate!)

The whistle thing makes no sense at all - plenty of owners use a whistle.

She sounds like a complete numpty, and yes, you were in the right. It's very annoying when certain parks effectively become "no-go" areas because of the owners who frequent them.

And the whistle argument is complete nonsense. Loads of owners have them, use them and the rest of us don't bat an eyelid.

As you've found, the long term answer is to "seek out new worlds, and boldly go where no dog has gone before" and stick to tested spots. We do this mostly, sometimes it's a pain, as it's more time consuming, but then I think about the hassle factor from the idiots and then decide the time is worth it if it means less stress.

Hope your lovely Beagle and Cav are happy, and you are OK.

I've calmed down a bit now - but am still annoyed!

She does bring it back to me as soon as she gets it off her Dog, that's the thing, she walks round after her dog, who considers it a game, she calls him offers him treats everything to get him close enough to grab him, but he is just playing a game of 'I have the ball and you can't have it!' If she trained him to recall - she wouldn't have to chase him round!

Agree with you on your other pet hate - If I see a dog on a lead, I will put Beagle on lead - I always think there is a reason that a dog is on a lead and respect that owner for keeping control of their dog, so I put my on lead so she will not go over to them. Shame not all dog owners are so considerate isn't it.

I will take spares in future, so my dogs can still play, good idea.

I think it's unreasonable to expect to play ball with a dog in a park full of other dogs.

You can't expect the other dogs to know that it's your dog's ball and not take it. If you're throwing a ball around then it's entirely reasonable to expect that all the other dog-obsessed dogs in the park will want to chase it - that is just the nature of dogs.

I wouldn't take a ball out to free-run my dogs - if we want to play games then we play them in the garden where there are no other dogs to run after their throw toys.

Thanks Scuttle! Appreciate your post.

Yes, I'm fine, just a bit P**d off!

I'll be going to my other not so local park this afternoon so I don't have to see her! She is part of the 'Clique' that stand round in a circle whilst they dogs cause mayhem around them! Nice to know they talk about me and my use of whisltle! How dare they judge me - when there dogs are the ones out of control.

MY Beagle is brilliant - she does fantasticically well, I have trained her to Come front. Down, Sit, Roll over, Paw, Beg, Up, Stay down, Stay sit, Stop, and my biggest challenge of all was that recall - I have spent hours training her and I really enjoy it, so does she, and I am proud of what we have acheived - Narked that other people discuss me in the park!

WannaBe - no offence but I think it's unreasonable not to be able to go to the park and play ball with my dogs.

I have trained my dogs not to go and steal other peoples stuff, so why can't the other dog owners do the same?

My Beagle stole food from a picnic the other week - That's the nature of dogs, but that doesn't mean it's acceptable. I have retrained her not to do it. I am in the process of retraining her not to mug other owners for treats - ANy idea how difficult that is with a Beagle? Doesn't stop me trying.

I don't expect the other dogs to know it's not their ball and they can't have it - I do expect their owners to have trained them to come to them when they call them to retrieve the ball!

Is that unreasonable?

BeerTricksPotter - I was too angry and flabbergasted but should have said exactly that - no other dogs do come to me when I blow the whistle - just mine - and hers, becasue he associates the whistle with stealing a ball!!

I'd be embarrassed if I were her. Aside from anything, I always check with another owner before letting mine play with theirs.
My last dog used to bolt to play with other dogs, so she was long-lined until her recall was effective in those situations too.
Nuts to have a dog out of control in a park and to try to hold other owners responsible (unless they're Beagle treating other owners of course! I'd also be mightily pissed off if someone treated mine without checking ).

Totally normal for a dog close ebough to nick anothers ball, but that doesn't make it okay. Either you should be able to recall your dog away from the ball, or be able to call your dog to you, take the ball and give it back.

I have a ball obsessed whippy and no garden to speak of, so obviously I am going to play with him out and about. It drives me crazy when other dogs nick his ball and owners can't get it back, bless him he is a big wuss and drops his ball at the mere approach of another canine.

We have a similar owner to yours who doesn't even try any more, she just offers to pay for the ball , hers is a young, beautiful gsd, who is crying out to learn she is so bright, owner says she just wants a dog to 'walk' not to 'do anything'.

I end up feeling sorry for the dogs though tbh owned by numpies who can't be arsed to realise their full potential.

Bast - My Beagle did go off to play with others dogs and not come back - just like yours! so like you I spent time training her to recall to whistle - I was that embarressed Owner! But I recognised that I just couldn't carry on like this - an out of control Beagle is not a positive thing to behold. She is a long nosed Beagle and is so fast - she is like a whippet when she runs!

The treating dirves me nuts -as it just encourages her to jump, Minimu gave me some advice on another thread on how to stop Beagle mugging people and we are working on that! Just wish we could train other people too!

WTWTW - dogs really do enjoy learning - shame so many of them miss out isn't it.

Recall issues = halved cocktail sausages! ...whatever treats an 'other owner' had, mine knew the chances were I'd have the tastiest!

Whispers to Bast - I use sausages too....

Unfortunatley Beagle isn't really bothered what treats any body has it's food -that's all that matters to her. She also knows she can mug other people, come back to me, for the next 10 mins or so do as I ask her too and she will get sausages anyway! But we are working on the mugging! Have to hold lead if I see people, and keep her focussed on me - we will get there - eventually!

She is far too clever.

At Dog training classes I use treats to get her to do commands etc, if I do not have treat in hand she will not co-operate. If I have treat in hand she will do anything I ask of her. She knows exactly what I want her to do - but flat refuses if she see's no reward.

I appreciate it is very annoying and in an ideal world everyone would train their dogs to perfection and there would be no ball stealing, picnic stealing etc. However, training dogs not to chase something (eg. a ball) is one of the hardest recalls to teach, so for that reason I wouldn't be too miffed if a dog stole my dog's ball at a busy park. I would expect the owner to be apologetic and not make excuses though. I wouldn't worry what people were saying about me at all, who cares?!

I would say if she can't stop her dog taking another dogs ball then her dog should be on a lead, if its a public park

Where I live, dogs are meant to be on leads in public parks so if its busy with kids then I keep mine on lead (she's too excitable with loads of children around) but if its quiet, I let her off because she loves to run.

My spaniels' aggression to other dogs started with another dog stealing his ball. All the dogs at our local park know not to go anywhere near it now. I think it is the height of rudeness to allow your dog to do that, and if she does not have good recall she should be keeping it on a lead.

I have to agree with Midori. I would not be upset at a dog stealing my dog's ball, but I would expect the owner to be apologetic and try hard not to let it happen again.

tbh, my other thought on reading about this was that the owner of the Ball Thief sounds a bit clueless - as in, unable to call her dog back for ages to get the ball quickly for you. Frustrating, but if our local parks/commons are anything to go by...not all that unusual either.

I do think she was rude, and silly, to make that comment about the whistle though. Sounds like she was being defensive and lost it - might not even be true. they're probably not talking about you at all: ignore!

I should hang my head in shame as well, I thought mine was trained not to chase other balls, and she hasnt for ages, but it all fell flat out walking last night. We were in the woods playing with her ball, she totally ignored hers and nicked another dogs

I really thought we had conquered this one and she hasnt done it for ages, I dont know why she decided to go for the other ball!

I thought we were doing pretty well...

I did give it back to the owner very quickly whilst apologising and grovelling :)