Dog park experience

[Jessica, Loki and Moose]

Hi guys,

Not sure if this is the right place to post this but we will see! I took the boys to the dog park this afternoon once it cooled off a bit and with them there were about 10 dogs total. There was a mentally challenged girl there with her dad and I would have guessed she was about 20-25 years old. She had a ball thrower that she clearly wanted to play with just her and her dog and took to screaming and kicking the other dogs when they would sit around her waiting to throw the ball. None of the dogs were jumping, barking, biting or whatever. Her dad was doing nothing and everyone else was sort of stuck in an uncomfortable spot because what do you do?

Well she kicked at Moose, she didn't hit him, but I walked over to her and calmly told her she is not allowed to kick my dogs because that is rude. Then all of a sudden her dad came over and lectured me about telling her how to act because "she's special needs". I calmly explained to him that I'm aware but just because she's special needs does not give her the right to hurt animals and if she's not comfortable around a large group of dogs then she shouldn't be placed in this situation to begin with as none of the dogs were acting inappropriately. I also mentioned that it's not safe for her for him to allow her to do that because many dogs out there would not react well to a person kicking them regardless of that persons mental capacity. Side note- this dog park does not allow people to bring any kind of toy into the park to help prevent guarding/ aggression so this situation shouldn't have even happened to begin with but I chose not to mention that.

What would you guys have done? I'm only 25 myself and do not have kids or much personal experience with kids/adults with special needs. I understand that we need to be understanding and cut people some slack but I really don't think that "slack" should extend to sitting there watching her kick animals and scream that she wants to "beat them all" or screaming "what's their problem". I would think this is were the dad should have stepped in and not allowed this behavior, I personally blame the dad for her actions as he was just sitting there watching her do this.

Thanks for your thoughts guys

[Cheryl and Finnegan]

Jane, I think that could have been a good solution.  If the father had explained and asked, seems everyone would have cooperated and left feeling a little bit better.  Karen's dog park sounds amazing.  I would love a park like that :)  Ours is more like an open playground.  It's really not very big and all the dogs can do is play with --or irritate -- each other.  Finn doesn't like it so we don't go.  He'd love being off leash on hiking trails though - on his own or with a buddy or two --and so would I.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

JD & I wish that you and Finn could join us on the trail!

[Jane, Guinness and Murphy]

We have a huge off leash dog park which is over 100 acres of state owned land.  Unfortunately, some of the dogs who are allowed to be off leash there are aggressive, so the only times we've gone there have been with our trainer who I trusted to handle the situation.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

I think you were correct in speaking to the dad. Jane has some insight that most of us don't have, but by speaking to the father you might have made him think if perhaps later of the danger he allowed his daughter to be in. If you see him again, you could ask him if he would like a few minutes for his daughter to have alone time with her dog. By 'feeding' him the scenario where he could ask permission, he might learn what a responsible parent might do. 

We do go to dog parks when we travel and for doodle get-togethers in our area.  Before entering, I check out what other dogs are at the park and what they are doing.  When we encounter a problem, we leave.  It doesn't stop us from trying again at another time.