How would you handle this?

[Jennifer and Jack]

Today at the dog park for small dog time, I brought Jack and Molly myself because my mom had something to do.

Molly is a very submissive dog and backs down to everyone. Jack does not. He is not a bully but he isn't going to be pushed around, Jack has been going there for a whole now on and off and never any problems...

This morning there was about forty small dogs there which is normal for this time. They were all playing, I was talking to a group of people and Jack and another dog got in a little scuffel over something I don't know what or who started it, I scooped Jack up immediately and corrected him.

The other older man who is known not to obey the rules, giving dogs treats, when no treats are allowed etc is the owner of the dog Jack grumbled with. He doesn't talk to any one there and in the past I have talked to him a bit. Jack never liked this man, he has always barked at him until he gave Jack a treat.

Anyway, as soon as the scuffel which lasted exactly five seconds was over the man, came across the dog park yelling at me that I have a bad dog that is out of control and doesn't play well with others. I asked him what happen because I didn't even know the dog was his. He was very rude and when I told him not to speak to me that way, he said that I didn't deserve respect and he walked away.


So trying not to cry the other ladies told me to ignore him and that he is a jerk. I didnt leave the park because I wanted to not be run off.

I came home now granted I am upset and overly emotional about it because like my mother said, it was just the straw the broke me.....I am dealing with a ton of stufff the past few days.


So my question is, how do I handle it? This is my moms dog park in a 55 and over community and I don't want my mom to be uncomfortable here. I also will be spending a lot of time here so I am not sure just not taking Jack back is a good idea?

How would you handle this situation ?

[AndySharon BoomerShaynaMariner]

 

Perhaps next time you see him you could say "I'm sorry that feel that you must be rude to others and hurt their feelings.  If you tried to smile and be nice to people you probably would feel better about yourself and people would want to talk to you."

 

Don't let an a$$ spoil your day!!!!

[Lorraine Bromley]

Have a good cry because you need it! It is obvious that that last straw has been enough for today. Then I would straighten yourself up and say wow I'm glad I handled that well. Poor old guy, he must really be miserable. Return at the next opportunity and completely ignore him. He is likely so miserable with everyone he won't even remember exactly who you are and what he was miserable with you about.

The other thing my aunt and I do when people have said and done things to us, we call each other up and tell each our conversations and then when we get through what the other person said, we tell each other, you should have said.......and we  adlib the funniest, meanest, thing in response. You know how you always think of the funniest come backs AFTER the fact! Then the when we replay the incidents in our heads with the NEW responses inserted it is usually how we laugh it off thinking of what the other persons reaction would have been IF we had ACTUALLY said those things. By the time we're off the phone we are giggling like kids at our bold come backs (silently to the accused and well after the fact!)

[Sue, Murphy and Bella ()*o*()]

Nice coping strategy Lorraine. Luckily Jen has all of us too. Gee. Maybe we should all come up with some funny and mean responses to help Jen feel better. I think that would be within DK guidelines if we aren't talking to eachother in a mean way?..
My favorite thing to say to people that go off and are unreasonable is to say. "WHATEVER! " they always hate that!

[Sharon & Monty]

I think that you did an awesome job of hanging in there!   Not to worry, tomorrow you try again.  If it were me, I would try to go when Mister Grumpy Pants wasnt there.  This has nothing to do with your situation, but I remember living in the back country, we had a tiny little bridge to get to our house.  I went to cross one spring day and there were all these men on the bridge.  Apparently it was a prime time for snakes to come out and they would hang on the bridge or were just there to get across, i duuno,.  But I happen to like snakes, at least that they eat the friggin mice that would try to invade my house.  they were using them for shooting practice.  I stopped my car on that bridge, and gave those old men a taste of my displeasure., I lived but 500 yards away.  It was illegal for them to be doing such and I told them as much.......I wont say what I did after that.  LOL

[Ronna, Murphy & Wilson]

I think I live right next door to Mr. Grumpy Pants...LOL.  My DH and I have two totally different ways of dealing with OUR Mr. Grumpy Pants.  My DH about a year ago told MGP to go F himself......now, I have on many occassions wanted to do the same thing but I realize that MGP is grumpy because he is old, lonely, doesn't feel good, and for him any attention is better than no attention and what better way for him to get some attention than to repeatedly piss my DH off?  SOOOOO...my strategy with our MGP is to kill him with kindness.  All he wants is a little attention and he forgets all about why he was being grumpy in the first place.  So there you go.....2 great options for dealing with him..LOL :)  sorry he upset you Jen.

[Doris, Knox & Flash]

I like the "kill him with kindness" approach! Usually it works like a charm!

[Jennifer and Jack]

I usually do kill people with kindness except when it comes to being bad to animals then I will fight you. Yesterday was a horrible day for me for so many reasons and I just didn't have it in me to handle it a y better. I am prepared should he come back again...

[Becka]

Jennifer, I'm sorry that this happened. Confrontation and conflict is never fun. We have every kind of personality type you can imagine at our park, and I'm sure the fact that many people think their own dogs are perfect and all the other dogs are the ones with the problem doesn't help. Whenever I encounter someone who seems to have such a need to belittle others in public, I just try to be thankful that I am not that kind of person, and happy that I can handle difficulty with more grace, which is what you certainly seem to do.

Can you try to time your visits so that you don't have to run into this guy too much? I don't think that means he's "winning"--I just think it might be the easiest way to make things more comfortable for you and allow Jack and Molly to have their fun.

[Jennifer and Jack]

Thanks for your kind replies!!!!! It is so nice how you rally to support and comfort. You guys ate so sweet

[Julie, Izzie & Max]

I thnk you handled it perfectly.  Unfortunately, there are rude people in the world.  It is best to try to ignore him and don't let it bother you.  But, you sound a lot like me and the rude words do hurt.  Some people are just angry at the word and tend to take it out on others.  The other ladies were probably right that he is a jerk and doesn't deserve a second thought.

[Anna and Achilles]

i would just ignore him. If he is unhappy he can leave!

[Lisa, Daisy & Dexter]

IGNORE and move on Jennifer, there is no reason to even think about it.