[discussion] Big dogs in the small dog park https://ift.tt/eA8V8J My neighborhood park has two sections for big and small dogs, respectively. We’ve been going there at least once a week for the last 3 months and only twice have there been other small dogs in that section of the park. The big dog section usually has a healthy crowd of regulars with lots of activity. This works out pretty great for me and my small dog because she can be aggressive depending on the temperament of the other dog, so we just go to the small side and play fetch for a while and come home. However, twice this week we’ve gone to the park and there have been big dogs in the small dog side. One time, there were two pitt mixes with their owners but no other dogs. I didn’t say anything and we went on a walk instead because I assumed their dogs maybe had some issues like mine and figured it was nbd to just let them have the space to themselves. Tonight, while I was at the park with my dog, someone came up with their two senior big dogs and asked if they could join and they “wouldn’t cause any trouble..” If I’m being honest, it annoys me a little. Partly because I had to pick up a large pile of poop that someone hadn’t bothered to clean up, but mostly because I get frustrated by the assumption that as long as the big dogs are “nice” there’s no problem. Frankly, my dog doesn’t like big dogs no matter their temperament and that’s why we stick to our side! And it feels unfair that my dog is being asked to be uncomfortable and intimidated because you don’t want to have your dogs in the other section for whatever reason. Admittedly this is a little bit of a vent post, but I’m also genuinely curious about etiquette in these situations. I’d feel like a huge asshole for saying no to the senior dogs or asking the other people to leave but it also feels like they’re being disrespectful too? Why can’t everyone just stick to their side? dogs funnysimple

My neighborhood park has two sections for big and small dogs, respectively. We’ve been going there at least once a week for the last 3 months and only twice have there been other small dogs in that section of the park. The big dog section usually has a healthy crowd of regulars with lots of activity. This works out pretty great for me and my small dog because she can be aggressive depending on the temperament of the other dog, so we just go to the small side and play fetch for a while and come home.

However, twice this week we’ve gone to the park and there have been big dogs in the small dog side. One time, there were two pitt mixes with their owners but no other dogs. I didn’t say anything and we went on a walk instead because I assumed their dogs maybe had some issues like mine and figured it was nbd to just let them have the space to themselves. Tonight, while I was at the park with my dog, someone came up with their two senior big dogs and asked if they could join and they “wouldn’t cause any trouble..”

If I’m being honest, it annoys me a little. Partly because I had to pick up a large pile of poop that someone hadn’t bothered to clean up, but mostly because I get frustrated by the assumption that as long as the big dogs are “nice” there’s no problem. Frankly, my dog doesn’t like big dogs no matter their temperament and that’s why we stick to our side! And it feels unfair that my dog is being asked to be uncomfortable and intimidated because you don’t want to have your dogs in the other section for whatever reason.

Admittedly this is a little bit of a vent post, but I’m also genuinely curious about etiquette in these situations. I’d feel like a huge asshole for saying no to the senior dogs or asking the other people to leave but it also feels like they’re being disrespectful too? Why can’t everyone just stick to their side?

Submitted October 25, 2019 at 12:07AM by funnysimple https://ift.tt/2JmjPiF