Why Don't People Think?

[Agility Dogs]

Some people just have no idea and take offence WAY too easily.

Yesterday I had my 3 down at the field where we do agility - they are fenced softball fields that the club has access to at any time when they are not playing softball. General public shouldn't really be there, but it is an awesome, fenced space that you can run dogs without worrying about the whole dog park thing so no one worries too much when someone is on there - there are 3 fields, all fenced.

There is a council dog park not more than 150m over the way if that is what you want.

So........my 2 adult BC's tied to the fence intently watching 'their puppy' working with me, but had been swapping one dog to the next. Guy in the softball field next to us decides he wants to come over and watch, brining his cavvies (now outside 'his' fence and off lead) with him. Not a problem, good in fact, it gives my pup a distraction, which she gladly runs off to (remembering they are on the other side of a fence).

I went and got the puppy and continued the game - puppy ran off again, same response from me, the guy says, 'but it's good socialisation for them'. I said - they are well socialised, but aren't allowed to play when they are working. Guy makes some sort of noise that suggests he was not impressed and wandered off with his two dogs. I wasn't cranky, I was totally neutral to both the guy with the dogs and my pup.

Why would you get worked up when someone is clearly working their dogs and just wants to enforce the rules for their dogs? If you want to play in a dog park, go and play in one. Otherwise respect what others are doing. Rant over. (Or am I missing something.)

[Sandra777]

Only thing you're missing is that a lot (most?) people haven't the first clue about training their own dog so don't recognise it when they see others doing it.

[W Sibs]

Some people just don't know better.

[Aussienot]

I wonder if it was HIS dogs that he wanted to socialise and he was disappointed that his needs were not met. I once had someone argue at me for about ten minutes because he wanted my puppy to play with his puppy after training. I politely listed my reasons for not wanting Cody to play at that moment, but the guy just wouldn't take 'no' for an answer and wouldn't shut up about it. He even tried to grab the leash out of my hands.

So no matter how serious you are, not everyone respects what you are doing, or at least they consider what THEY are tying to do heaps more important.

[minxy]

I wonder if it was HIS dogs that he wanted to socialise and he was disappointed that his needs were not met. I once had someone argue at me for about ten minutes because he wanted my puppy to play with his puppy after training. I politely listed my reasons for not wanting Cody to play at that moment, but the guy just wouldn't take 'no' for an answer and wouldn't shut up about it. He even tried to grab the leash out of my hands.

So no matter how serious you are, not everyone respects what you are doing, or at least they consider what THEY are tying to do heaps more important.

Whoa, serious? What a nut job :D

[Jacquiboss&scoop]

I think that some of the puppy preschools are to blame on this one , have seen people come out of it with the concept that their pup should meet and play with every dog , and every dog owner should feel the same at all times about their dogs

On an aside I used to have a jacket for my rottie , please do not pat or play with me I am WORKING most of the time this worked she looked silly with a coat on but it stopped the majority of people being a pain in the bum

I made the jacket after one lovely person with a x cattle dog and a ball decided that her down stay was an invitation to play with her ! loved the old girl she just ignored them but how rude can you be

[megan_]

I know people wh think dogs should be allowed to play non stop and working/training is cruel!!

[W Sibs]

I know people wh think dogs should be allowed to play non stop and working/training is cruel!!

Yeah, i know a few of these people too.

I get funny looks and comments when i tell people I take my dogs to obedience. It's cause I have small dogs and they don't think it's necessary to train them.

[SchnauzerBoy]

Probably just saw your dogs as an excuse for his dogs to play and tire them out quicker without him having to do anything!

Understand your rant though, especially when you are trying to train your puppy.

[corvus]

It's a shame. I've done short little non-serious training sessions at the dog park and find most people are quite conscious of what I'm doing and take measures to keep their dogs away until I'm finished. It's a pretty big park. Having said that, some people can't keep their dog away and some don't try. I'm okay with that as I'm at a dog park. If I want to do something without having another dog stick its head in my treat pouch I go to a playing field as well. Rarely I get a dog come through and the owner has kept the dog well away. I guess I never expect people to understand and respect our space, but they usually do. I'm yet to have someone get cross with me, but I guess some people just don't see your point of view at all.

[wuffles]

Wouldn't bother me that much. I took my girl down the oval a few weeks ago for a training session and there was a couple there with their young BC x. The pups had a bit of a play, then I moved to the other side of the oval and I was free to do my training there That being said, I only do very small sessions mixed with play anyway... and I am not bothered by strange dogs approaching mine either. That's just me ;)

[RallyValley]

I have a harness on its way for Toby that says "Please Give Me Space"

[Agility Dogs]

Wouldn't bother me that much. I took my girl down the oval a few weeks ago for a training session and there was a couple there with their young BC x. The pups had a bit of a play, then I moved to the other side of the oval and I was free to do my training there That being said, I only do very small sessions mixed with play anyway... and I am not bothered by strange dogs approaching mine either. That's just me ;)

That's the bizarre thing. I actually said to him that I was happy for his dogs to be there - just that mine wasn't allowed to play with them through the fence. Mine are allowed to play when they are not working, but if they are working then I don't want them running off with or without other dogs. (Not a good look in a flyball ring and I don't want to create bad habits early.) Until the dogs are 15 or 18 months old their sessions are only ever 2 or 3 minutes at the most any way.

If there were not two other completely fenced areas right there and I hadn't chosen to go into one that was empty in it might have been a different story.

Edited August 12, 2010 by Agility Dogs

[Adza]

Haven't been able to socialise mine since adopted due to Kennel Cough, but I would go to a dog park/puppy school if I want the dog to socialise. Simple.

[FranVT]

I'd be mortified if my dog (or rather, my handling of my dog) was in any way to blame for interrupting another handler & dog doing training

[Agility Dogs]

Haven't been able to socialise mine since adopted due to Kennel Cough, but I would go to a dog park/puppy school if I want the dog to socialise. Simple.

I also think there is a difference between socialising a dog and allowing a dog to socialise............

[kiesha09]

I wish I could stick a sign on my forehead that says 'dogs don't need to be playing to socialise!' or 'socialised dogs & their humans can still have manners.'

Bah this kind of thing drives me nuts.

[ness]

The scary thing is that this level of consideration isn't just reserved for members of the general public. I have had training sessions interrupted at clubs/trial grounds because of the inconsiderate nature of other trialling people ;) .

Or maybe that should really read this level of inconsideration .

I mean how can you expect members of the general public to show respect to you when your training a dog when fellow trialling people don't even show a level of respect.

Thats my vent to add to this one. I have had a few too many incidents inside the past 4 weeks and its starting to wear very very thin.

[OSoSwift]

Many times at our dog club I have had to pull my dogs out of the way and had to move as people have allowed themselves to be dragged over to my dog bu theirs.

I tell my dogs to leave it then move away. One person kept moving their dog closer and got offended when I said thet I did not want my dogs to play. When my dogs are at training they are at training. They are not their to play they are there to work. I would have thought some would have worked it out when they cannot do off lead work as their dogs run off to play with the closest dog and don't listen???? MAybe that is to simple.

Most of the GP don't get it or think you are weird for not wanting your dog to rack off whenever it is offlead to go and mug some unsuspecting dog.

[leopuppy04]

I've had worse AD! I've been actively training my dogs in the park with various things that it was VERY clear my dogs were working. People will happily let their dog run zoomies around yours while they are working and then go off in a huff because I won't let mine play...

very frustrating!