I had this yesterday! Took Kas to the dog park (i.e. a place where all dogs are off lead and it's where you specifically take dogs to interact with each other). Kas went over to a dog, did a play bow and then started darting about like an idiot trying to get this dog to chase her. Instead the owner picked up his medium sized dog and started screaming at Kas to get away, which of course just made her jump up! I was annoyed because I thought - A. don't bring your dog to a dog park if you don't want it to socialise (it didn’t look scared, just a little unsure of if it should play or not) and B. he's going to end up with a fearful, possibly aggressive dog. What the hell is wrong with just letting dogs play?!

Kas was snapped at a couple of times by older dogs when we first got her and she would bolt over to them because she was so excited, and I was happy for them to give her that reaction, because it's how she's going to learn (and she quickly did). Luckily the owners were just as laid back and we all agreed that you have to let dogs be dogs – that’s the language they understand best! I’m not saying you never step in if play gets too rough or something like that, but just that 9 times out of 10 dogs can sort out situations themselves without resorting to fighting.

I've had people pick up their dogs and even scream when I walk past with Kas ON LEAD! Some people are just terrified, but sadly they'll create scared, unsocial little dogs that might end up getting themselves into trouble one day.

Sorry I hadn't taken offence, keeping a beagle well exercised and calm leaves me little energy for hysteria lol
and I completely agree waving a dog in the air isn't going to any good to anyone involved.

I completely disagree with shouting and glaring. if i want the world to be a friendlier place, in all respects, it starts with me in every situation.

ETA: Thanks for wishing us luck. 13 months since her attack and i'm seeing light at the end of the tunnel.

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I think it's best if you read your post again!

You are not only putting your dog but yourself at risk by taking her out when she is in season!

I'm not saying I've never shouted and glared in my life, but I wholeheartedly agree with this one!

It is not bizarre at all, spraying a dog in the face with water is a physical attack and to many, much worse than being kicked or hit. Just like a nervous dog being steam-rolled by an over enthusiastic puppy, we are not talking about physical damage here, we are talking about mental trauma. There are a lot of people on this thread who have problems with their dogs as a result of other dogs attacking or charging at them and you yourself admit to your own dog of being guilty of this, despite your best efforts to avoid it. So why do you feel it is so unacceptable to allow your dog to traumatise other dogs when you are quite prepared to do so yourself?

We are not talking about physical attacks here, that is a whole different story, we are talking about dogs that over enthusiastically approach other dogs despite their owners best efforts to recall them. Exactly as you describe your own dogs in your original post. Your dogs meant no harm but the other dog owner completely over reacted and turned the situation into something it wasn't. How would this be any different to my dog approaching yours and being sprayed with water?

The sad fact is that a lot of people who do not know any better actually think that this is a valid training method and I have often seen it recommended (even by professionals!) as a cure for everything from barking to aggression. The truth is that a lot of dogs find it very traumatic, often more so than physical pain. Like any aversive training, if you were to try it on an aggressive dog then there are only ever two ways that the dog can react. Lets hope it chooses flight.

I found out about this completely by accident. Washing the car with a hose turned into a water fight with the kids and the dog got a quick blast by accident. One squirt of the hose sent him running and it took him days to recover. I know what my dog's intentions are when he approaches other dogs, good or bad, and I react accordingly. If I think for a second he is going to cause a problem then I get him the hell out of there, if not then I let him have his sniff and if the other dog is willing, his play time. If the other owner does not wish his dog to play then he should remove it from the situation and we will be on our merry way. But if the other owner chooses to attack my dog instead then yes, they will answer to me and I couldn't care less how bizarre they found it.

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