Annoying dogs at the park

[Dodgyddd]

My dog is around 18kgs and aged eleven. She likes to play fetch with her ball but gets tired much more quickly these days. Yesterday at the park, a big, bouncy Labrador was there. His owner was sitting on a bench, busy on his phone, ignoring his dog. The dog was very persistent in getting in my dog’s face and eventually stole the ball. My dog barked a good few times, to try and get rid of the unwanted pest. The dog was big and I thought it was going to knock me over.

The owner came over and got the ball back for us but it was game over for our dog. The Labrador worked out that it was much more fun bothering us, than it was over by his owner. We gave up and left the park.

When it finally stopped raining today, we went to the same park and the same dog and owner were there. In the end my DH called over for the guy to come and get his dog. We had stood patiently, thinking he would notice the problem but you know how it is with phones.

The guy proceeded to get very annoyed with us, at this point. He said my dog was badly behaved because it was barking at his dog. My DH suggested he put his phone down and play with his dog. The guy said it was a dog park, his dog just wanted to play and if we didn’t like it we shouldn’t be there.

Posted too soon.

Anyone have any tips for dealing with this sort of situation. I’m at a loss.

Sorry I have no idea but sounds very annoying. Out of interest is it a dog park specifically for socialising dogs? Or just a general park?

Go and sit next to him and annoy the shit out of him with inane conversation.

He’s an idiot.

The toy is the problem. It's like taking a toy to playgroup and other toddlers wanting to play with it.

I would choose a quieter time or simply not get the toy out of there are other dogs around.

He was 100% in the wrong.

I would do exactly the same as your DH: if the owner can’t recall him I’d be asking him to come and get his dog every single time. It doesn’t matter if the guy gets annoyed, let him. The more annoying he finds it the less likely he’ll be to let his dog bother yours.

The toy is the problem. It's like taking a toy to playgroup and other toddlers wanting to play with it
I would choose a quieter time or simply not get the toy out of there are other dogs around
In my experience, dogs like the Labrador in the OP will come over regardless of if a toy is involved.

They are almost always adolescent or young adults with poor recall and poor manners and pester other dogs relentlessly trying to force interaction.

There’s no point trying to reason with their owners, reasonable people wouldn’t allow their dogs to harass others in the first place.

@Umbrellaschool

Sorry I have no idea but sounds very annoying. Out of interest is it a dog park specifically for socialising dogs? Or just a general park?

It’s just a park.

He’s totally in the wrong...

But there’s really not a lot you can do about it, unfortunately.

@SatsumasOrClementines

He was 100% in the wrong.

I would do exactly the same as your DH: if the owner can’t recall him I’d be asking him to come and get his dog every single time. It doesn’t matter if the guy gets annoyed, let him. The more annoying he finds it the less likely he’ll be to let his dog bother yours.

Yes I think you’re right. However, the man made no attempt to get the dog back, initially.

However, the man made no attempt to get the dog back, initially
They never do.
Why would they?
As far as they are concerned the dog isn't doing anything wrong, it ‘just wants to say hello/play’

@JayAlfredPrufrock

Go and sit next to him and annoy the shit out of him with inane conversation.

He’s an idiot.

Love this suggestion! I can be super annoying, must give this a go sometime soon

@DiddlyWiddly

The toy is the problem. It's like taking a toy to playgroup and other toddlers wanting to play with it I would choose a quieter time or simply not get the toy out of there are other dogs around In my experience, dogs like the Labrador in the OP will come over regardless of if a toy is involved.

They are almost always adolescent or young adults with poor recall and poor manners and pester other dogs relentlessly trying to force interaction.

There’s no point trying to reason with their owners, reasonable people wouldn’t allow their dogs to harass others in the first place.

Yes this was a 22 month old boisterous Labrador, behaving exactly as you describe.

I guess you can’t reason with unreasonable people and I’m not one for confrontation, I get upset.

I’m sick of badly behaved dogs and owners. Why should they dominate the park, leaving the rest of us with nowhere to go?

Take string and tie annoying dog to a tree ?

Seriously. Your fog could have a real
Issue with other dogs and this dog would get the telling off it’s owner deserves

A pragmatic answer might be to bring another ball for the Labrador to chase if it’s around. It’s a bit of a faff but at least your dog might be able to play with her ball in peace.

Theres nothing wrong with dogs going gently to other dogs in a park where dogs can roam free. It’s part of the experience and what most dogs going to such park enjoy.

Maybe the guy should have noticed your dog was annoyed or maybe you picked up on signs knowing your dog that wasn’t obvious.

The matter would probably have been resolved if instead of fuming internally, you’d just told him that your dog was old and not up to playing and would he mind recalling his as you pass through.

Instead you stored your anger and then let it all out. You’re OH telling him that he should play with his dog was out of order.

I really don’t get why people can’t just voice politely their issues with other dogs owners but instead feel the need to be judgemental and escalate the situation which inevitably turns unpleasant.

@vivainsomnia

Theres nothing wrong with dogs going gently to other dogs in a park where dogs can roam free. It’s part of the experience and what most dogs going to such park enjoy.

Maybe the guy should have noticed your dog was annoyed or maybe you picked up on signs knowing your dog that wasn’t obvious.

The matter would probably have been resolved if instead of fuming internally, you’d just told him that your dog was old and not up to playing and would he mind recalling his as you pass through.

Instead you stored your anger and then let it all out. You’re OH telling him that he should play with his dog was out of order.

I really don’t get why people can’t just voice politely their issues with other dogs owners but instead feel the need to be judgemental and escalate the situation which inevitably turns unpleasant.

Dogs should not be allowed to pester anyone. Other off lead dogs included. If the owner cannot recall his dog and stop it going back over to other dogs it shouldn't be off a lead

What a knob!
It's not your job to entertain his dog while he's relaxing with his phone.
Not to mention the lab annoying your elderly dog,his owner is raising a very troublesome dog.
Do you think carrying a small water pistol or something similar will help to keep other dogs at bay?

Theres nothing wrong with dogs going gently to other dogs in a park where dogs can roam free. It’s part of the experience and what most dogs going to such park enjoy
Going gently 🤣
I know exactly the sort of dog and owner OP is referring to (having had to put up with many myself) and there ain’t nothing ‘gentle’ about their approach!

They race over, often from considerable distance and rudely insist the victim dog interact with them.

Any polite requests to leave such as the victim dog turning their head or even whole body away are ignored.
More forceful requests to leave such as a growl are also ignored.

When challenged the owners always say some variant of ‘ah he’s harmless’ or ‘ah he just wants to play’ or ‘ah he could do with a good telling off’ or the one that irritates me most ‘your dog should be better socialised’

Instead you stored your anger and then let it all out. You’re OH telling him that he should play with his dog was out of order
OP and her DH sound pretty restrained tbh.

I really don’t get why people can’t just voice politely their issues with other dogs owners but instead feel the need to be judgemental and escalate the situation which inevitably turns unpleasant
Because (and I am speaking from personal experience here) when you have voiced your issue politely multiple times and the owners always respond with ‘it’s okay he’s friendly’ and do nothing or respond to you with rudeness, sarcasm and often downright aggression you end up feeling angry and resentful and fed up and every time one of these nightmare dogs and their owners pop up you find yourself extremely stressed either looking for a way to escape and avoid conflict with them and their dog or if it’s not possible you brace yourself for an argument.

“Theres nothing wrong with dogs going gently to other dogs in a park where dogs can roam free.”

And that’s relevant how?

The op did not in fact complain that a dog politely approached hers to initiate play and then went away when it realised hers didn’t want to.

@vivainsomnia

Theres nothing wrong with dogs going gently to other dogs in a park where dogs can roam free. It’s part of the experience and what most dogs going to such park enjoy.

Maybe the guy should have noticed your dog was annoyed or maybe you picked up on signs knowing your dog that wasn’t obvious.

The matter would probably have been resolved if instead of fuming internally, you’d just told him that your dog was old and not up to playing and would he mind recalling his as you pass through.

Instead you stored your anger and then let it all out. You’re OH telling him that he should play with his dog was out of order.

I really don’t get why people can’t just voice politely their issues with other dogs owners but instead feel the need to be judgemental and escalate the situation which inevitably turns unpleasant.

I agree, my dog often says hello to other dogs. It’s lovely to see dogs socialising nicely. Unfortunately, this Labrador wasn’t gentle, he was very boisterous and totally in my dog’s face. He was jumping up and I was worried that he might knock me over.

I didn’t fume, or store my anger and then let it all out 😂. My DH asked the guy politely, to come and get his dog. Neither of us were judgemental and we didn’t escalate the situation. Are you on the right thread?

I posted to ask for tips dealing with these types of situations.

Dogs should not be allowed to pester anyone. Other off lead dogs included. If the owner cannot recall his dog and stop it going back over to other dogs it shouldn't be off a lead
I totally agree. The point is about making such a drama of the situation where there is no need. Dogs are not perfect at all times, nor are kids or adults. Most of the time, a simple reminder of the ‘rules’ is enough to sort out the issue rather than turning into a moral lesson.

I have a very small dog so am often faced with other dogs potentially ‘pestering’ my dog. Most of the time, I just need to call her over and we move away. No big deal. If the dog persists and the owner does nothing, all that is needed is ‘sorry, I think my dog is getting upset, could you recall your dog’ and in all such situation, all I had back was a ‘I’m very sorry’ and dog being called or grabbed.

Ironically, my dog is much more bothered by young kids. They scare her much more than bigger dogs, yet because she’s cute, they come trying to pet her and parents just watch and say nothing. That’s ok to, I just explain to them and they deal with it.

This tendency to dramatise everything is very draining and contributing to unpleasantness and weariness that is quite draining.

This tendency to dramatise everything is very draining and contributing to unpleasantness and weariness that is quite draining.

I just asked for some tips. Where’s the drama?

The drama is how you made a big deal of the situation, well you and OH. You stood at a place when you knew the dog was annoying yours. The dog wasn’t aggressive, just annoying to your dog. You could have just moved a bit further rather than letting it happen and waiting for the guy to react when it might not have been obvious your dog was bothered by his.

You could have acted as soon as the dog first showed up by going a bit further away or going to the man right away and asking him to call his dog explaining yours was old and uncomfortable with that level of interaction.

@JayAlfredPrufrock

Go and sit next to him and annoy the shit out of him with inane conversation.

He’s an idiot.

Oh my God, this is genius.

@vivainsomnia

The drama is how you made a big deal of the situation, well you and OH. You stood at a place when you knew the dog was annoying yours. The dog wasn’t aggressive, just annoying to your dog. You could have just moved a bit further rather than letting it happen and waiting for the guy to react when it might not have been obvious your dog was bothered by his.

You could have acted as soon as the dog first showed up by going a bit further away or going to the man right away and asking him to call his dog explaining yours was old and uncomfortable with that level of interaction.

You’ve put your own interpretation on the situation. We waited patiently, thinking the owner would come and control his boisterous, in your face dog. We weren’t confrontational.

We did not make a big deal. How can you think we did, from what I’ve posted?

I’ve been on Mumsnet for over 12 years and at one time you could ask for tips, without some keyboard warrior coming on and twisting what you’re saying, in order to make themselves sound superior.