Discussions

FYI.: to the old lady at the NH dog park yesterday: if your dog can't be trusted to behave himself and not be aggressive around other dogs, maybe you shouldn't be taking him there. Also! When your dog DOES attack another dog, you don't just stand there and say "oh I don't know why he's being like this"../ control your dog! ... Stupid people are usually the ones who cry when their dog ends up messed up in the end too! :@

People look on their pets as part of the family and give them human characteristics or interpret their behaviour using human characteristics. When I’m actual fact they are dogs not humans. This causes poor behaved dogs at the dog park and else where.  
It’s the main reason I stopped taking my dogs to the outdoor dog parks.

I can guarantee you that if I hadn't done anything (or been scared to jump in) and my dog BTH out of hers (and he could) she would have been flipping sh*t!.... just burns my butt the stupidity of people.

Did you talk to her about it? In the moment?

I didn't see the point when after her dog coming after mine and her reaction was to stand back and simply say " I don't know wht he's doing that". Clearly she didn't feel it was necessary to control her mutt. I'm sure she changed her mind about it when I booted her dog the third time he came after mine.

I still had mine on the leash AND we were across the park!!  
By no means did I take it for granted that things would just be ok!! But good assuming.  
Plain and simple.  
Your dog harrasses other dogs in an aggressive manner, they shouldn't be at the dog park.

Lol my dog is 30 pounds.. nm .. your clearly right! Have fun at the dog park

I don't do dogs and dog parks, but this discussion is starting to sound a lot like 'blame the victim'.

When Two Dogs meet they should both be either on leash or off leash. The dog that is on leash is at a disadvantage to the off leash dog and may feel threatened. That’s why off leash dog parks have that little entry way closed off to give you a chance to take your leash safely off your dog before it meets other off leash dogs. You should never put a leash on a dog inside the off leash dog park IMO.  
 
Just a thought.

LOVE the mentality of people.  
So taking a smaller dog (who goes to the dog park on a regular basis) and releashing him AFTER he gets harassed so I can take him away from the situation.:. Is wrong. But leaving him vulnerable, and uncontrolled is wrong too! Lol!!! This page cracks me up! Good to know!  
Once again reminded why I try my best to avoid this page. Thanks for that. Hope I can be as perfect a dog owner as you KSG. Next time a 100 pound dog attacks my well controlled and trained 34 pound dog, I'll just let him go? If mine even shows anxiety, we leave. I don't open him up for possible altercations. That's what I consider responsible!!

I have had to ask owners to "Come and get your dogs so we can get in the gate!" They are too busy talking or texting to mind their dogs while they're off leash. I've also had to leash up my dog quickly to leave the park because other dogs enter and I see a potential situation brewing. I've had to tell owners "Can you hang on to your dog until we get out the gate?!"  
The dog parks are off leash, but some owners just think they don't have to control their dogs after they take the leashes off.  
OP, I hate that you kicked the other dog but I understand because I would do whatever I have to save my dog. Next time kick the neglectful owner.  
 
We only go to the dog park if it's empty and leave the minute we see other dogs coming. Too much of a hassle. So much for socialization.

Dogs yours and theirs can sense your distress about the situation at hand. If you are apprehensive about other larger dogs coming into the dog park when your there, your dog will display this in it's actions. As will the other dog pick up on it and act the way it does. From the description the OP wrote about it seems to me that both party's ( Human ) miss read the situation. on both sides. Th other party should have waited to remove their leash until they assessed the situation with all dogs present. and Juggler99 you should try to relax when other dogs are around yours. Dogs do not look to get into situations but are put there by us humans. Two dogs meet on the street alone without humans will not start to fight with each other they will sniff and get to know each other and get along. It is our apprehensions that cause conflict.