Accident waiting to happen

[Hackingcough]

In the area we live in there is a largish park which is popular and split into sections; playground split off for kids, walking grassy parts and a field which is used for sports (weekend kids/adult 5 aside). The field at all other times is popular with dogs and their owners.

Over the last couple of months we have noticed an owner training a GSD on agility on the field. It is usually off lead. We have witnessed a couple of occasions where other dogs have ran over and it’s clear that it is very very reactive and the owner has dragged the dog away and has said it doesn’t like other dogs/might go for the dogs off lead.

Now, we also are dog owners. Dogs running off to others is not good however I cannot quite get my head around this situation and a very reactive dog being both off lead and unmuzzled in a popular park full of dogs and people.

They are there everyday for hours and it also seems very anti social. Lots of neighbours we have spoken to feel they have to fully avoid the park as they seem to take over what is a very large field and it’s clearly not very safe.

I’m not sure what anyone can do, no one has a right to the park etc but it feels like something is bound to happen one day.

To be honest, if everyone's dogs had perfect recall, they wouldn't need to worry about the GSD, because no other dogs would run up to him/her.

Situations like this are often hard for both parties.

The owner, because he's probably trying to do his best to meet his dog's exercise needs, in one area of a park, without walking around and passing lots of dogs.

Everyone else, because they have the treat of a very big, reactive dog.

I try not to judge situations, because it's not always possible to know what's happening behind the scenes. The owner of the GSD might be doing his best, or might not give a damn, might not be educated in what he's meant to do, might not be able to afford a trainer, or might have a trainer already. Nobody knows.

I focus on training my own dog not to go up to other dogs without permission. That's not easy other, but achievable. If I see a dog I'm unsure of, or a dog on lead, I avoid them or put my own dog's lead back on. It's all you can do.

The only action you can take, if you feel you should take action, is to report to the council. Someone in my area got reported for never picking his dog's giant poops at our local tiny park. He got a visit, a fine, and now has to keep his dog on a lead in that park.

*threat, not treat - depends on your perspective :D

That's not easy *either

My god, I can't type today

A dog who reacts to other dogs may not be a dog who reacts to people. Some breeds - e.g. Staffys - have the reputation of being great with kids/ humans , but not so fond of other canines.
Sounds like the GSD owner is taking steps to train his dog and keep the dog’s focus on him.
Sounds like the owners of the other off lead dogs who are running over are not.
Either way , having seen these things come to court, if both dogs are off lead, it’s taken as one of those things and neither owner more liable than the other.
If you think the dog is a threat to people/ children maybe your local dog warden could check it out?

Just keep your dog away from it , I really can’t see the issue unless the GSD is running over to other dogs and attacking them .

If the GSD isn't approaching other dogs or people then it's really the fault of the other dog owners for letting their dog approach it. A dog shouldn't be off lead if it's recall isn't perfect.

That said, I don't think I would feel comfortable training my dog here if I were the GSD owner purely because if a smaller dog does approach the GSD and a fight ensues it will always be the GSD who is in more trouble because of its size/breed.

Other dogs shouldn't be approaching other dogs, but dogs aren't robots. Another dog doing something that looks exciting and interesting is going to appeal to dogs, so can't be faulted for investigating.

If the GSD is reactive then the owner should be finding a secure, enclosed field to practise in.

The GSD owner isn't doing anything wrong IMO. He's working/training with his dog and not bothering anyone.

Other people should train their dogs not to approach strange dogs

It's not idea, but I don't think he's doing anything wrong really. The owners of the dogs running up to him however...