You Are Accountable

Mitzee, the superdog loves coming to Florida. She knows that there is grass pretty much everywhere, sun most of the time, that she'll get at least one walk during the day and that she will go to the dog park everyday.

So today we went to the dog park. She knows the routine and as soon as I make the left into the park, the window goes down and her head goes out. She's sniffing in the wind, literally.

As soon as I start to slow, she knows, we're almost there. The tail (stub-but a cute one) starts to wag at the speed of light and it's really hard to contain her all the while trying to park, grab keys, grab her and get out of the car.

There were a lot of dogs at the park today. It was a nice day for having started out at 48degrees at 9:00am. I took the chair next to Sharon who is also from northern Minnesota. We talked about her dogs (Maxwell Smart and Harri Truman (female)).

Harri got into it with Mitzee who is so laid back. There were two daschunds that were really causing quite the stir. Chipper was constantly barking and showing teeth at the other dogs. It just seemed like all the dogs were in severe PMS (regardless of their gender).

At one point Chipper showed teeth to Mitzee and that did it. No one else was saying anything and so I felt like the baton had been handed to me.

I approached the owners and asked if Chipper had been neutered, trying to find a reason for his behavior. Yep. Is he having a bad day today. I don't understand it, his female owner says, he's usually quite loving. Got to see that. I asked what do you think is going on? His male owner said that it's probably because they don't get out much and this is their first time.

I told them that the dog park is suppose to be a safe place for all to come and enjoy. It is the responsibiity of the owner to watch over his pet and pick up after him as well as watch his behavior so as not to cause conflicts with the other dogs.

There was no response other than to throw the ball again. I tried making friends with Chipper and he just barked and barked and showed his teeth to me. His female owner apologized repeatedly and said I don't know what's wrong with him. I told her that sometimes a little swat on the tush is in order so that order may be kept. Oh, I couldn't do that...it seems so harsh.

She then told her husband that they should leave as the dogs were being disruptive. Good idea. They continued to stay.

A short while later, they did leave not without Chipper attacking the incoming dogs at which time, the male owner gave him a swat which elicited a response from his wife and they left fighting.

So my question is this: Why didn't he take charge of his dog? Why was it everyone's job to look after not only their dogs but his? It seems that today that is the mantra (someone else will do it).

Question: Are they doing a disservice to the dogs?