On Saturday Boo and I and Luca went to the dog park at about 5PM. We've been trying to avoid the busy times on the weekend mornings because there are sometimes 20+ dogs in the park, and that's when fights happen. So we go. And I bring my treat bag and clicker because when I'm at the park, in addition to letting Boo run around and play, I also have been attempting to train her to do stuff.
The treat bag consists of a plastic baggie with hot dogs in it. We use hot dogs because they are highly motivating and nothing else works quite so well. We use a plastic bag because it is disposable, but also because hot dog grease (or the grease from any other kind of dog treat) is nasty and I don't want it all over, oh my purse. Also, we haven't been able to find one of those treat bags at the pet store no matter how many times we've looked. Perhaps it's been bad luck.
Anyway, we arrived on Saturday, and it was a different group of dogs than usual. One dog came over and started sniffing around. This happens from time to time, understandably, but usually if I ignore the dog it will go away.
Well, this dog decided to engulf my entire hand in his mouth to extract the treat bag from it. And he succeeded. And though I tried to pry his jaws open to extract the bag, I was unsuccessful, and some stronger people eventually were able to do it.
I felt somewhat bad, since the dog could have been hurt, but also the owner probably should have had better control since the dog had been jumping on me for about 5 minutes before this happened. And besides, everything turned out fine in the end.
So Sunday we go back to the park, intentionally going 2 hours earlier to hopefully avoid this dog. No luck, he's there again. Tries to do the same thing. I am more careful though, and I go to the back of the park with the Boo to fill up the tub with water and do agility. He keeps jumping on me, though after a little while he DOES give up.
At this point, this old man who is NOT the owner of the dog gets up (which he never does), and walks to the back of the park to start yelling at me. At first I am incredulous, asking him if he is actually yelling at me, and then I tell him that he needs to stop. That he is out of line. He calls me stupid repeatedly, tells me I could have killed the dog. I turn my back on him and eventually he leaves (after about 5 minutes or so?), and goes to sit down in his usual spot.
My husband goes over and sits with him and the owner of the other dog. I try to do agility stuff with the Boo, but am not really feeling it today. I was pretty upset. I wait about 15 minutes before going to the chairs to sit myself. By this time the treat snatcher and Boo are rolling around and playing in the park. No big deal.
So I go over to sit down. Big mistake.
The old man starts yelling at me again (again repeatedly calling me stupid), and the owner of the treat snatcher jumps in too. I again try to calmly explain my thought process and tell them to stop. I am unsuccessful. Finally I tell them to stop being assholes.
Then they flip out at me. They claim that *I* need to stop yelling at them. They threaten to get me kicked out of the park. They tell me that, "They can find a woman for me to yell at," (not sure what that means, but don't think it was flattering, and it was definitely sexist), accuse me of taking a swing at their dog (he takes this opportunity to try to avail himself of the treat bag again and I swiftly lift it above my head), etc.
So we leave.
I cry on the way home. Luca is livid.
They do indeed complain about me to the membership person. We find out because Luca writes a note to him as well. I feel like I am being ganged up on, kind of like in the 6th grade.
I am seriously considering not renewing. There is just too much drama over there. It's supposed to be fun and relaxing, but it's just not sometimes because some people are idiots. Idiots with their dogs, and idiots with the people. I would definitely miss the agility equipment and having a place for Boo to run full out though.
The thing is, I do see the concern about the plastic bag, but I'm not sure there's a good alternative, and besides, it is the owner's responsibility to watch and control their dogs. I have to bring treats to reward my dog when I train her, otherwise there's no point in trying.
Not sure what the best solution is.
12 Pearls of Wisdom:
ugggghhh....what a couple of middle school assholes.
i would probably only go in the late evening/very early morning/noon when everyone's at work? Actually, realistically i might stop going and not renew if it was so much drama. But if it's the only place you have for her to really run full out...hm.
sorry, i have nothing constructive to suggest, only sympathy.
Fuck them. If there's another dog park, I'd go there. Or just play with Boo at a regular park.
If you look back through your posts, the people at that place have given you a lot of grief. It ain't worth it. Fuck them.
OMG! SO MUCH DRAMA! And so many stupid people!
What is the issue with the plastic bag? That the dog could have choked on it?
Unbelievable! What those guys did is illegal - it's harrassment & assault (by the dog). You should be writing to a lawyer & teach these guys a lesson. They sound like sexist bullies who no one has ever stood up to, and they couldn't handle it when you tried. Next time try to get this on video (make sure to check the recording laws in your state first). There is no point in having agility equipment in a park if you can't use treats to train your dog on it. Is there some rule against plastic bags in the park? I'd guess not since people use plastic bags to pick up poop, so they can't ban them altogether. These guys need to take responsibilty for their dog and back off.
Those guys sound out of line, completely. Yes, expressing concern is one thing. Badgering you is another. It's really pathetic that grown men stoop to sexist comments in order to bully you out.
I am stubborn, so I would go back and make sure that you bring a tazer to defend yourself against the dog :P Maybe that'll teach 'em to control their own pets.
I'm livid just reading about it! I absolutely abhor annoying pet owners. Good luck! It sounds like you're getting the short end of the stick.
WHAT?!?!? They are blaming *you* for their dog's lack of training? It is not your fault that you put treats in a plastic bag. *BOO* does not take the bag out of your hand. (Nor, for instance, does my dog.) It is the owners' responsibility to make sure their dog does not rudely snatch a bag, plastic or otherwise, out of a person's hand.
That is unbelievable.
Ugh.
Neutering, it's not just for dogs.
that is a bad club. Good agility clubs demand that dogs are kept under control and are respectful. you need to find a new club.
Are there any other clubs in your area? Unless they bend over backwards to keep you (which I doubt), my advice would be to quit your membership and find a more friendly dog park - it's no fun having to change your habits just to avoid irresponsible dog owners.
idiots...
One solution for a treat bag if you ave a sports store in your area see if they carry chalk bags that climbers use. They clip on your pants the same as a treat bag. They have a pull string closure, are fairly cheap and washable...
amen grumpy and nursexy. as for me, i have two words for you; shotguns and shovels. find a good place to bury some bodies, then......the nice thing would be to ackshully be there when karma kicks these guys in the balls. you know it's gonna happen, you just wish and hope you can be there when it does.
Wow. I am actually shocked, I had to read the post twice to make sure I understood. That is seriously fucked up.
Sorry that happened to you.
Not sorry that both of those dudes clearly have the most pathetic lives and grip on reality.
I mean really, in today's world...who yells? That is just such a sign of complete lack of cognition and control. Get a fucking grip people. Idiots.
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