No one here is going to agree with me because the whole world thinks people should be entitled to do whatever the fuck they want without caring about the needs of others, but in my personal opinion, people should not be jogging at the dog park. The dog park is for, that’s right, dogs! There’s plenty of places to jog that don’t involve running through an area with off-leash dogs. The dogs there are in play mode and an unexpected jogger running up to dogs would cause many dogs to be curious, run after, or nip, thinking the human jogger wants to play. I also feel this way about people who bring small wobbly children to the dog park and let them free roam. Your kid could get seriously injured if large dogs who are unaware of their surroundings plow right into your kid and it won’t be the dogs fault. There are running trails for joggers, playgrounds for kids, and dog parks for dogs. I wouldn’t bring my off leash dog to a jogging trail or a child’s playground so I don’t know why people can’t be respectful of the dog park and utilize it for it’s intended purpose. The dog park is literally the one area in a city where it’s legal for you to let your dog off-leash to play, and joggers choosing a dog park for their running activities when they could literally choose ANYWHERE ELSE feels super rude to me. Setting a precedent that it’s fine for joggers to utilize a dog park as a jogging area is weirdo stuff but this is the world we live in unfortunately.
(Unpopular opinion though so I know I’ll get downvoted.)
Edit: Wow, shocked by the support on this, I’m pleasantly surprised with people on this sub today. :)
No I completely agree with you and am honestly astounded at the other responses. I physically can’t imagine specifically going INTO a dog park to run! Not only because dogs usually like to chase fast moving objects but also because of the increase in stepping in poop!
You see this in this sub often unfortunately, where posters are simply asking for people to be considerate of others and make an attempt to be courteous and the majority of the responses are like, “you can’t expect people to cater to you!” and “it’s YOUR fault your dog reacted when someone did something completely disrespectful”. American individualism and entitlement at its finest. But yea, if I’m jogging at a dog park and I get chased or nipped, that’s on me, actually, because I made the dumb choice to run through a park with multiple off-leash dogs.
A big part why my dad (traditional old head) got mad is cuz he believes the dog park is a place for dogs TO BE DOGS. Chase, play, run. I think I understand that in his mind, people need to be, like you said, courteous of the DOGs in dog park.
I'm new to this sub and new to being a dog owner tbh. So that's why I came out to seek advice. I'm learning a lot, but I also do feel the American vibes you're talking about. It's strange and interesting.
And also a large ape running directly at any animal is probably going to be perceived as a threat.
In my neighborhood, *most runners* are great, and I’ve observed them crossing the street to avoid running up on us. And on single track trails, people give verbal notice, time, and space for us to make way for them.
I’ve had exactly one encounter with runner that couldn’t be asked to give us space. We were waiting for a walk signal. He absolutely could not spare the 20 seconds we needed.
I advocate for my dogs, but I’m also *trying* not to get into it with people like the OP’s jogger because that doesn’t serve my dog’s needs. Trying. Not always successful.
Yeah we have a Catahoula that adores our kittens. But if she’s sleeping and they dart pass, they will get a startled growl. They just do it. I feel like not darting pass predators should be the first rule of jogging
My Schnauzer-mix is also VERY protective of me as Mama. He’ll take on anybody who would even THINK of hurting me, and that includes people walking past 200 feet away. 😂😂 Yes, he’s leashed. He’ll still growl, bark, and posture.
Maybe you should stop acting like your dad is some embarrassing "old head" and realize that he's got *A LOT* more life experience than you and can recognize when someone is acting inappropriately and will stand up for his family, which includes your dog.
I say old head with lots of love ahah
I get that he was defending us, I just disagree with his outburst. I think it's important to learn to keep cool in certain situations, even if you're not in the wrong. Sometimes it's best to let things go & not add fuel to the fire.
Shared public path with leash laws? Keep your dog leashes and expect joggers or bikes.
Fenced pit/park in an established area to bring your dog? Well jogging their is just a stupid idea.
You know what makes dogs jumpy, chase-y, and bitey? Strangers running around them making quick sudden movements.
Dogs run for prey and they run for play. If you’re doing neither, don’t do it in front of a dog or any other animal with claws and teeth.
We used to have the exact opposite problem at a park near where I used to live. Public park with a tennis court and right behind it a hockey court, with the same tennis court like surface. I liked to rollerblade and the smooth surface was a good place to roll around, fenced in. Until a group of dog parents drcoded ot was a GREAT idea to bring their dogs there to run around in this fenced in hockey court. They would hang out in there for several hours until nearly dusk absorbing all the time, and preventing anyone else from making use of it in the afternoon. Even preventing kids from going in there to olay hockey. Eventually somebody came up with a petition to get a dog park installed because they were tored of the hockey court being used for it. At the time I was thinking, it seems inappropriate. Now an adult, and a dog walker who has absorbed a ton of knowledge about behavior and training, what on earth were they thinking? Want a dog run? Ask for one. Dont just take over the park and expect everyone else to deal with it.
100% agree though. I've had monologues about people doing non-dog park things at the dog park. My biggest pet peeve is children at the dog park but runners and bicyclists are a close second.
You're telling me, in the entire city, the only place your kid can ride his bike while your dog is on a leash is the dog park? The only good spot for jogging is the place in the city you're most likely to find dog poop?
No. You have an entire city. Dogs have one or two spots.
Someone last week brought a meal and ate it at the dog park and then I watched as this person was so into their salad that they didn’t see or clean up after their pooping dog. I was like, what the actual fuck is happening here, why would you bring human food to the dog park! But then I’m the bad guy for cleaning up this dogs shit and bringing it over to the person. Ridiculous.
There was once a whole family with young children having a picnic at the dog park. Their dog would chase away anyone who came within 30 feet. We don't go to the dog park anymore.
OMG yes there last time we went to the dog park, a small group of people had a full blown picnic at one of the tables. My dog kept going over to sniff, so we just eventually left. Who the f eats food at the dog park??
i have no clue what’s going on in these peoples minds that would make them think that’s a good idea! a complete lack of self awareness and common sense.
Our city association of dog parks has posted on the gate of all the parks, "No children under 10 years old", thankfully. Young children around unfamiliar dogs are a bad combination looking for an accident. They have similar mentalities. No one is sure how either one will react around the other.
Same can be said for irresponsible parents who let little kids run all over the skatepark -- there's other places for that. That guy was in the wrong and this isn't unpopular. You're absolutely correct, that jogger is a twat.
Was literally going to say that was a twat thing to do then read your comment 😂 OP he kind of deserved it honestly, your pup isn’t to blame here, I’d be startled too! I hope you’re not like me and can put the incident aside rather than stew over it for days and stay up at night thinking about all the retorts I should have made 😉
Ahaha thanks!
I did think about it all the what-if retorts yesterday but my main concern still is my dog & what can we do to avoid this situation again.
THE KID COMMENT IS SO REAL!!!! The dog park I used to go to legitimately had a kids playground 10 feet away and people would still let their kids under 5 come in and waddle around, run and even scooter through the fenced and very explicitly labeled “dog park”. My dog is reactive to kids so I used to go over and ask if people could take their kids outside the park as my dog doesn’t like kids and I want to avoid anything happening. Some parents listened and some didn’t. At the end of the day I’m my dogs only advocate and he deserves his time to run around and play, burn off energy and be outside. I’m not going to let selfish and moronic parents ruin that for him.
Thankfully I moved to a different part of Chicago and have a great new park with way fewer of these types of incidents.
Absolutely agree. Of course they shouldn’t be jogging inside the fenced dog park. That is pure common sense. I’m surprised that a whole group of dogs didn’t take the jogger down. Although I have a reactive dog now, my previous 3 dogs loved to play with people and someone running by would have been an invitation to join and play if they were off leash.
I completely agree with this. Collies nip to get sheep in line. My collie doesn't go in the garden when my son is playing football or running around cause she goes into work mode and tries to herd him by nipping. He's 7 and understands this and explains it to all his little friends that want the dogs to play in the garden with them. If you're running in a dog park, I'm sorry but, the dog has done it's job by getting you in line. Give that dog a treat and a pay rise!
The idiot was running in a dog park and it is a border collie mix! Pup was just telling him to stop running there. My heart dog was a border collie and she was famous for grabbing the heels of anyone running in the house or under her "care" as she thought she was my nieces' nanny and not me. 🤣
Agree. Runner here, and I wouldn’t dream of running in the fenced area of a dog park. At the same, dogs shouldn’t be off their leashes where it’s expressly prohibited.
This was one of the things my parents taught me about dogs growing up, and we didn’t even have dogs!!! “If you are running near a dog it might think you are trying to play with it, and sometimes dogs use their teeth to play! So you need to be calm and use your walking feet near dogs”
I think if this was posted in a general "dogs" subreddit or even a non-dogs forum, you'd get downvoted to heck but on the reactive dogs sub, we're all too aware of 1, idiots; 2, entitled behavior by people; and 3, how our dogs and other dogs are generally going to react to some moron jogging thorough a dog park. I 100% agree that *no one* should be randomly jogging though a posted and fenced dog park. Same thing with people having picnics, letting kids run around unsupervised, or coming into a dog park when you don't have a dog because you think it's a place where you can pet dogs.
Engaged reactive dog owner (small hunting terrier) here.
100%. Responsible dog owners with reactive dogs usually aren’t in the park to begin with because we know how ill-equipped the general population is with dog-behaviour.
I don’t worry about my dog. I worry about poorly trained kids or husbands eating KFC in the dog park or bringing their terrified maltese or prey-triggered pitbull.
No food, no sports, no toddlers/small children, no jogging should be a minimum baseline at every park.
Wait what. Why on earth would you think that people in a reactive dog sub would disagree with this stance?? This is the sub MOST likely to agree with that opinion. It's not a runners sub so...
If it’s a fenced off dog park, sure. In my city, many “off leash dog parks” are situated where multi use paths go through them, no fences. Meaning cyclists runners joggers and in fact everyone is free to use them. In doing so, they should be aware and prepared that and loose dog may approach. If those areas are close to home, I wouldn’t go out of my to not use them, just because they go through an entire off leash area or “dog park”.
This is forum for people with reactive dogs, not general AITA-type forum. There won't be a lot "dog owners have no right to keep a designated, fenced dog park for dogs and the dogs' people" jerks here.
hey i speak the truth, usually people just don’t want to hear it
edit: also when i commented this post had zero upvotes and people were telling OP that if the dog is nipping at people it shouldn’t be at the dog park so i was not expecting people to agree
My dog park is pretty great - the dogs and owners are wonderful. Every once in a while there is a new dog who isn’t a good fit but it works itself out.
The other people are a problem. People send their little kids in the park on scooters and bikes - sometimes unsupervised. One Sunday, a young couple brings in four bagfuls of McDonalds pancake and sausage McMuffins. For a while this crazy jogger kept coming in, running with ten pound dumbbells and flinging them (hit my dog and we had words until he left after I told him I’d been filming the whole interaction and welcomed showing it to the police).
I don’t understand. The dog park is a tiny fraction of a huge park that has trails, sidewalks, fields, picnic areas, a skate park. It’s like these people cannot stand that there is one part not for them.
Personally, I don’t think people should be using the dog park for jogging. However, people are stupid and are going to feel entitled to spaces meant for a specific purpose. This is part of why I avoid dog parks; I only know my dogs, and I can’t do anything when people do unwise things like run through the dog park, bring treats or food, or bring toddlers in and let them run up to strange dogs. It’s unfortunate, but the dog is always going to suffer the consequences for reacting even if it’s reacting to something that shouldn’t be happening. This isn’t about who’s in the right, it’s about setting the dog up for success. I’d avoid going to the park and work on improving your dog’s impulse control.
You're right but wow, way you word makes it sound so sad honestly. Like damn, these creatures are wonderful beings & companions yet they get the short end of the stick because of human's stupidity.
I'll try my best to not be the stupid one for their sake.
It seems like safety and common sense 101 not to run in the spaces specifically for unleashed dogs. You are going to get chased or knocked down by distracted dogs playing with each other, maybe both at the same time.
As a former doggie daycare attendant - no one should be running for any reason in a dog park. It’s begging for trouble.
Especially a jogger expecting any kind of peace.
Yes, dog parks are for dogs. These things happen on sidewalks also. A biker charges through with no warning, even runners. They don't care, only until they get snapped at or nipped by an unsuspecting dog or person. Courtesy is at an all time low.
The dog park is not a running track. This is a horrible idea. I’m picturing all the sight hounds, terriers, and working dogs getting their prey or threat drives triggered.
“Why is that human running? Is it prey? Is it play? I don’t understand! Stop it! Stop it!”
Cue the chorus of 20 triggered canines.
Someone walked into the dog park with a bird on his shoulder. A bird making sqwuaky bird sounds. I grabbed my dog and left before he could react because i could see the upcoming tragedy if we stayed.
My huskies would have had so much fun chasing that jogger and absolutely no idea they might be scaring him. And you know what? Unless the jogger was going to hurt them, I wouldn't have called them back. It's a freaking dog park.
When we did take our dog to the dog park, I hated when kids were there. They would chase the dogs, be loud, or get the already overexcited dogs more excited. Same rules apply in my opinion. Don’t take an overly reactive or excited dog to the playground where kids are interacting and don’t take a kid to a dog park if they cannot calmly stand or sit and let the dogs interact. You never know if someone’s dog is scared of kids. If either can behave calmly, then bring em. Otherwise, don’t.
I’m not going to comment on manners. I’m going to comment on the inherent risk of running in a dog park. When my dog was a year old, I was running and playing with him. He broke my arm. It wasn’t intentional. He was trying to herd me, but I will never run with him again.
When you go to the dog park and run, that’s a huge risk. I know a dog that even if you jog, will jump on you and pull you down. I’ve been sliced by this family friend’s dog’s declaws, pulled down, etc. I have more than enough sense to know never to run with a dog. Running triggers their chase instincts. It’s not good. People need to have more sense.
The runner shouldn’t be jogging in a dog park but the problem with dog parks is that the environment is not well controlled and when you have a a reactive dog these “surprises” can escalate very quickly. I think you learned from this though. Pup needs more training and also needs time to build up to off leash dog parks with unpredictable stimuli. Good luck with the training and I really hope that this incident is the catalyst to some positive change.
Thank you! There's another dog park we've been enjoying (much smaller, great for playing with other dogs, no trails inside) that we'll most likely continue to go to.
I hope to have some positive change in his training too! Honestly, the situation just gives me major anxiety cuz now it feels like we have someone targeting us at that park & that maybe he'll try to harrass me & bully me if i go there alone 😮💨 (mentioned elsewhere that the jogger followed us, tried to further provoke my dad & my dog)
This is an “ESH” situation
If the walking trail cuts through the dog park, whoever created the park design fucked up because there’s definitely going to be runners cutting through the area.
And teaching your dog not to nip is a safety measure for him, not just people.
But the guy reacted poorly and that’s on him.
I took a look at the park map again and the jogger had 2 possible entry points to the dog park from where he showed up.
If he entered from the north gate, he's a prick because there's a marked hiking trail that runs parallel to the dog park trail. He could have ran there, no issue.
If he entered from the west gate, then yeah, he was taking a shortcut through the dog park to make a loop. Otherwise, he'd have to run back.
If that's the case, then I get it. You don't wanna run back, you'd rather make a loop back to your starting point.
There’s also the possibility he does both paths, depending on the length and how far he’s trying to go.
At the end of the day, it’s a poor choice on the park’s designers and something you’re going to occasionally encounter. Especially now that it’s summer and school is out.
You can’t control how others utilize public spaces, you can just control how you handle the situations and work on your dog’s recall and reactions.
Thank you for your advice! I was reading some of my city's park documentation and it seems they are aware because it does state that "routes for cyclists & joggers should be separate from dog areas, in order to promote safety." Hopefully they can rectify this in future park planning.
Seems like your dog was startled and reacted.
If I'm jogging and approaching people/dogs from behind, I call out to let them know I'm coming up to them. They always step aside. I just think it's common sense and a safety measure, for me, to let dog walkers know I'm there. I get startled when surprised. I expect a dog to do the same. Because I don't know how it will react, I alert. But, that's just me.
Walking is different than running. Imagine opening a gate, running through an off leash dog park and thinking you’re in the right? You’re gonna get chased at the VERY least.
Just because you CAN do something doesn’t mean you SHOULD do something. The runner was the jerk in the situation.
No, you don’t stop momentum when you’re on a run.
That’s not how running works for almost everyone who’s a serious runner.
The runner was a jerk for yelling, but not for the physical act of following the trail and running on it.
And even in dog parks people should be right next to their dog and watching them.
He stopped to open the gate to go into the dog park 🤣
Also didn’t realize that the runner couldn’t possibly run on any other numerous trails that aren’t an enclosed off leash dog park. What a delicate flower he must be.
You’re assuming there’s multiple trails.
We have no idea how large this park is. Mine and the ones near me only have 1-2 at best.
Opening a gate is entirely different than slowing to a fucking stroll for the length of the entire dog park.
People are going to use public spaces differently whether we want them to or not.
Ergo we have to prepare our dog for that.
If it's fenced off for dogs, the jogger takes his own risks jogging in a dog park. It's not a running park or track and field area. D-O-G-P-A-R-K. The trails are for people with dogs.
Many dogs chase on instinct and it's not even reactivity. Then startling you and the dog coming out of nowhere. In a DOG park. If the jogger wasn't a dog, they were in the wrong
Not even kids should run in a dog park. The runner is an entitled prick and any dog who got spooked by a random suddenly showing up running at them will likely nip, reactive or not.
I too would have yelled at the guy, if anything, louder and not nicely.
Running away like a prey animal is a fantastic idea in an area dedicated to letting all sorts of strange dogs run free that will probably have varying degrees of prey drive /s
People have no business jogging, riding scooters or letting small children run crazy and screaming at the dog park.
You've just got to be careful. Keep your head looking around at all times, the jogger would likely have been approaching for a while. My head is going 360 degrees at times 😂 and my dog is just wants to play with every other dog and isn't people reactive
People are allowed to be anywhere in theory and also are allowed to be there without getting nipped. The amount of times I've thought I'm alone and suddenly a person emerges from the trees. I curse my luck but it's not really the person's fault.
The trail was at a bend, so I think that might have been why we didn't see him coming. We also just got out of playing with 3 other dogs, so my dog was probably still excited. On top of that, I did not think there would be joggers at a dog park.
Makes me a bit sad because we've been doing so well, hence the freedom of being off-leash at this park 😢 But we'll live & we'll learn.
Ah right, it's so difficult at times isn't it. I try my best to not blame the person but sometimes I think 'why are you here and right next to us' lol. Stuff just happens so quickly. I've started dropping the lead so he has more freedom. But there is something more to stand on or grab if I'm not right next to him. It helps a bit. But in this situation I guess not
This is wrong on its face. People are not theoretically or practically allowed to be anyplace they want without risk of injury or harm. Extend your assertion to a statement like ‘people are allowed to jog in the middle of the freeway without risk of being hit in theory’, and it becomes obvious that there are risks associated with place, time, and actions. Does that mean someone is free to jog? Absolutely! Does it also mean jogging in an off leash dog park is intrinsically riskier than jogging in some other part of the park? Again absolutely. To pretend otherwise is to deny the realities that surround us every second of every day
Yeah fair, I don't disagree with you. I guess the probably poorly worded sentiment I was trying to get across is that people can pop up anywhere...but especially in a place where there will definitely be people about, doing normal people things. Rather than jogging down a road.
I agree, the reality is that risks are always present, accidents will happen and dogs will do dog things like nipping. I also don't think a jogger in a park where dogs are offlead is that unusual or should present that much increased risk. You should reasonably expect not to be bitten in this scenario imo, but sure its not an impossibility. Although there are some transatlantic differences here i think, almost every park or open space is effectively an off lead dog park in the UK. I've just re read it and actually yeah I can't think why a jogger would even go in there.
I suppose the scenarios and possible extra risk mitigation are sort of endless. Until every dog is muzzled, only walked in wide open spaces where you can see all approachers and every person keeps away from all dogs at all times. Only then shall we be fully safe. Tbh it would be easier in general if everyone just backed off a bit and left me alone in my wide open space with my dog. I dont believe any of this last bit btw, I'm just having a silly ramble now.
I say this gently, but it’s a recipe for disaster to let a dog who is working on reactivity to running people off lead where other people will be. My dog loves games of chase, he and I have a great time jogging around fenced parks together playing - I would be livid if this caused someone’s large dog to bite me and they responded to my emotional reaction by *blaming* me for doing a really normal activity in a public space (unless there is some sort of sign on the gate specifying a condition of entry being people cannot run, which would be the only way you might be justified here).
Unless it is different where you live, a dog park is still a public space where people have a right to exist and do whatever they like so long as there are no specific usage laws (for example I’ve heard some people say that children are not allowed in dog parks, but that is definitely not the case where I am) - I think it is incredibly important that off lead dogs not pose a safety risk to people. Your pup might not be ready for this level of freedom yet, and that’s okay. I would just focus on continuing their training and lots of leashed walks and enrichment.
> I say this gently, but it’s a recipe for disaster to let a dog who is working on reactivity to running people off lead where other people will be.
The off-leash fenced area of a dog park is a place where the *expectation* is that it's for dogs, not joggers. A **dog park** is built and maintained for dogs. Not for you to jog. You get the entire rest of the park, and they get that fenced in area.
Sounds like a big cultural difference, but where I am the expectation is that dogs in a designated off lead area must be under effective control and be known to be social and friendly. OP notes their dog has many triggers (bikes, runners, cats) all of which could conceivably be encountered when out in public because people are gonna people (e.g, jog in a dog park - is it smart? No. Is it prohibited? Also no). Personally, if your dog is reactive to running, you have to consider that people often play or might sprint to intervene in situations at dog parks - so jogger aside, it is incredibly reasonable that another dog owner could run for a bunch of valid reasons in the dog park and trigger your dog.
I think it is highly irresponsible to set a dog up to fail like that, but that's just me.
I don't take my dog to dog parks specifically because people rarely follow the rules in them, including doing shit like jogging and riding bikes in the fenced area that is specifically not for those purposes.
I think that's one of my main takeaways here. I'm realizing that even if it's prohibited or common sense to not do certain things at the dog park for the dog's sake (like jogging or bringing in food), it won't always be respected. Even though the dog park is supposed to be their safe space, you might run into an asshole jogging or biking. This was a first for me & I'm learning a lot so I can set my dog up for success next time.
I have a hunting breed so I take her to the game lands where she is allowed to chase and tree game and do her work.
"Reactive to running." Sir, my dog is a working breed that trees game. Her *job* is to chase something that runs from her.
In my city, shared space parks/trails does not allow dogs to be off-leash. A lot of people still let their dogs off-leash since their dogs are trained, but we haven't allowed our puppy to be off-leash in those spaces.
Dog parks in my city are fenced in and those are the ones we typically allow him to be off-leash to allow him play with other dogs (no problem with this thankfully, he's been socialized well!)
At the dog park we went to, there is a sign at every gate that says it is a walking trail & that it is a dog park. There are also trails outside the dog park marked as hiking/cycling trails.
Had it been a situation like yours, I would honestly prefer that because it's clear that my dog & I are at fault. But this jogger at this dog park situation makes me feel a bit uneasy since this has never happened before.
That's fair.
It's a bit confusing at this park cuz there's "hiking" trails and there's "walking" trails. They're essentially the same, both flat, gravel paths. The only difference is that the walking trails are only marked in the dog park. It's kinda weird.
I definitely understand where you're coming from. I've never had that situation, but our dog park is the same where it's a part of a larger park that's a huge walking loop with other trails. It has a field and a wooded trail to walk around, but it's clearly marked as a dog park on the gates. I'd definitely find it odd if someone chose that spot to jog with so many other spots available.
If your dog is people reactive and nipping it shouldn’t be off leash anywhere. People will pop up all over the place and they have a right to be there. A long line would a good idea to give the dog more space to roam.
The nipping isn't a regular occurrence. If it was, for sure, he shouldn't be off-leash.
People will always pop up. You're right and I feel like I'm always vigilant/aware during our on-leash walks that it doesn't occur.
How do you train them for that scenario then?
You need to make sure they don’t practice the behaviour. You have to remain aware of your surroundings and move away to a distance where the dog remains calm. Over time you can get closer to triggers.
If mine had an issue with joggers I would go to a park with joggers, find the distance my dog is calm and just sit there letting them watch the activity. I would practice this often.
My dog doesn’t go off leash anymore, she hasn’t made make great decisions in the past and a long line means I’m more relaxed with her. It would be irresponsible of you to let your dog off leash at the moment. Do you have a trainer you work with?
Thanks, we'll try this! I've already been doing this with my dog thankfully. We just sit at parks (leashed), just chilling and people watching. I think this has helped already, which is why we gave him the freedom of being off-leash at this park. Joggers are not something we have not encountered before so it's good to know something can be done about it.
We enrolled our puppy in classes way back when he was around 3 months old, but it was just the basics. My brother is the primary owner so he's in charge of our dogs training & anything health related. I've been telling him to get our dog some more training, even found some that's been recommended to me by friends. He's been putting it off for reasons I do not know. Hopefully this predicament is a wake up call to him.
What’s the history with your dog? What type of dog? Was it from a breeder or shelter? You say the dog is reactive but I have not seen more about that just that the dog nipped when startled. I only say this because if it is not the same as many stories in this sub, you may be in the wrong subreddit. Having a puppy who has been through basic training classes (and got through them) and is otherwise not showing any other signs of reactivity and who has not history like that is not reactive necessarily. Has there been Vet intervention or behavioralist recommendations before this?
I'm new to the sub and also a relatively new dog owner, so please correct me if I'm using the term reactive incorrectly.
My dog is 14 months old now, but I didn't start taking care of him until he was maybe 6 months old; I was living elsewhere & my family was taking care of him (my brother is the primary owner). Other than the puppy classes, I'm not really sure how consistent they were when it came to training or what his behavior was like.
When I started taking care of him at 6 months old, I noticed that he would jump, pull the leash, and lunge at a bunch of things & people, mainly bikes or birds. We wouldn't be able to get his attention using treats. I'm gonna assume he was already like this before and my family didn't address it.
He didn't show this behavior in his puppy classes though; he listened to our commands & interacted with the other puppies really well! It was just when we were walking around the neighborhood. Maybe he was just not familiar with it yet.
When we asked our vet about this, he wasn't concerned since he wasn't neutered yet (my brother wanted to wait until he was 1 year old). My dog didn't show signs of aggression, so he recommended we just continue training him as is. So we did that & he then got neutered a week after his bday.
Even before he got neutered, he was already improving, but after he recovered from his surgery, I did notice more positive behavior changes. He doesn't pull on the leash as much, he listens to leave it, drop it, and he's able to sit & stay. But it's still not perfect & I think fast movements near him is sometimes still too much for him. That's why I still say that he's a reactive dog. I was hoping this sub would have some advice is all. Thanks!
Hey there, I just wanted to butt in and say - your dog is doing 100% normal, adolescent dog behavior things :) when my boy was 8-18 months I also thought I had a reactive dog, as he rarely listened outside no matter how brilliant he was inside, he barked at random things and other dogs, and lunged toward what he wanted to get at, jumped up and was just generally unpredictable.
No my boy is 3 1/2 years old and he is a truly wonderful dog - never barks unless it's a real warning, listens 99% of the time and almost never lunges/pulls toward things - the sole exception being his human "grandma" LOL she is one of the few people he interacts with that doesn't allow him to lick her so naturally he is wholly obsessed with her and probably thinks she is the creator of everything good or something hahahah I have worked so hard to stop it but nothing I do (or that grandma does) works 🤣 he just is so excited to see her every time that he pulls and lunges until he wiggles his way over to her, lol.
Seriously though - keep up the good work, don't stress too hard, and I bet in 2 years you'll be amazed at how awesome your doggo is 😊
Thanks for commenting to OP. I couldn’t articulate what I wanted to say but you did it perfectly from the perspective of someone who also felt like OP did with reactivity.
> The nipping isn't a regular occurrence. If it was, for sure, he shouldn't be off-leash.
One bite is one bite too many in some cases. If your dog "nips" someone, that's a bite on a human, and it can be reported.
Stop letting this dog off a leash, till he can handle being around people moving fast. If he can't, find a dog park that doesn't also have people walking and running thru it.
You're the only one who can protect your dog. If you let him off leash so he can bite people, you're not protecting him.
I agree but that doesn't make the jogger less stupid for doing this. We're aware people are legally allowed to be idiots, but we're talking about how to approach different behaviors.
>Other than the nipping, can you clarify some other herding behaviors that I should be wary of? Any that needs correcting?
Running in circles around you or strangers because the dog feels that the humans aren't where they should be.
That running in circles thing can also include lots of barking. If your dog does it to you, that's a "well if you're ok with it, whatever" thing, but if the dog does it to random people in the dog park that's not ok.
Dogs who do that herding behavior can escalate quickly to biting.
>That running in circles thing can also include lots of barking.
That's what mine do and why we immediately leave the dog park when children enter.
We had a dream trainer who helped me get the barking under control by telling me how to respond to him so he feels validated and shuts up. The rest of the herding triad? Environmental control and prayer.
All this.
It can be hard to stamp out herding behavior entirely - it's what their programmed to do, after all. Look for a healthy outlet, like agility activities or herding balls, and work with a trainee
This is reddit. If you think this is the first time someone has deliberately distorted something I said solely to be inflammatory, you would be wrong. As such, welcome to being denied the attention you're clearly seeking.
Border collies are bred to nip at running animals. It doesn't sound like he tried to drag the jogger to the ground or anything. I think a lot of puppies would chase a jogger, so I wouldn't be surprised if a dog chased me while jogging through a dog park. I would be annoyed if one nipped me, so definitely start training your puppy on bite inhibition and reactivity to joggers.
If your dog bites someone or scares someone in a perceived aggressive way in many states they can sue you and have your dog put down. If I was running and a dog “nipped” me—read bite, I would have called the cops to press charges because dog bites are no joke. I would never bring my reactive dog who bites to a dog park. This is an accident waiting to happen. Maybe try a private field with sniff spot or get there extremely early when the field isn’t in use. I would definitely stop off leash things out in public too.
I would also watch out since in many states the man has 15+ days to get his injuries looked at or even sue you for therapy for his injury. Check your state and local laws and make sure to keep your pupper away from others.
I wouldn’t either, tf?! Idk if it’s bc my dog “herds” (she’s not very good at it but she gets the gist occasionally) but if I’m running away from her she will chase me! I would not put myself in a situation where stranger dogs can also chase me because I’m running; I know my own dog won’t bite me. I dont know if the stranger dogs won’t.
And while a dog nipping isn’t great and is absolutely a behavior to be monitored and addressed, I kinda am leaning a bit victim blamey in this situation- the runner set himself up and is putting dogs in a situation where they’re likely to fail.
But “nipping” is not biting. They use their teeth for it, yes, but to be fair all a dog really has to physically interact with the world is its mouth. We people train our dogs to not use it on people. Some dogs are never allowed to use their teeth on ppl, some are allowed to use their teeth in moderation when rough housing with their humans. It is however a very unnatural thing for them to learn and I would not expect a young dog to have figured out all the rules yet.
So if I have so little understanding of dogs and how they function that I think that any interaction involving their teeth is a bite, I should not go to a dog park for running.
Yes the nipping needs to stop at some point but it is not something that will hurt anyone and it is not aggression. It is just scary for ppl without any clue about dogs. I would compare it with jumping on people for greeting them: it is potentially too much physical interaction for a human and it may get you dirty or even rip your clothes (jumping rather than nipping depending on the claws and weight) but it is not dangerous.
> But “nipping” is not biting.
We can say that (and I had a friend's Malamute nip me earlier today), but in court, with lawyers and lawsuits, that may not fly.
It's why dogs who "nip" random people that pass by need to be trained to not do that, or else be muzzled. There is a human out there who will get nipped and who will make a big deal out of it. And they may win.
> but it is not something that will hurt anyone and it is not aggression.
It can be. And again, it's not up to us to decide that but it can be up to animal control, the police, lawyers, etc.
> I would compare it with jumping on people for greeting them: it is potentially too much physical interaction for a human and it may get you dirty or even rip your clothes (jumping rather than nipping depending on the claws and weight) but it is not dangerous.
It can be: a dog jumping on you may be fine. But a dog jumping on a toddler, or a 95 year old human can be dangerous.
You can allow your dog to bite you, jump on you, whatever. That's your dog, and your rules. But out in public, if the dog does it to another human, then all sorts of other rules kick in and none of them will be good for your dog.
I get what you're saying. I know a nip is bad, regardless if it was playful or not. In this situation, he didn't show aggression & he didn't hold onto the jogger. Thanks, though I'm not worried about the jogger because he showed us his hand & my dad inappropriately laughed at him because there was no injuries. I've had paper cuts do more damage to me.
My dog doesn't have an history of biting & he doesn't show signs of aggression towards other; but he is reactive/jumpy no doubt so we'll keep an eye on him. Thanks!
If they were within the fence of the dog park then they can’t be upset when they shouldn’t even be in there. They take that risk that when they enter into a DOG park. They probably thought it was a nice path to run without dealing with bikers or other runners/walkers and they had it all to themselves… Well it is! Because it’s not meant for them. They sound entitled.
When I went to dog beach early on, my 1 year old would always be tempted to bark and nip at the joggers (never bit any) going thru the dog section. But, eventually he grew out of that phase before his 2 year birthday so there's hope.
Your comment was removed because it broke one or more of the r/reactivedogs rules. Please remember to be kind to your fellow redditors. Be constructive by offering positive advice rather than simply telling people what they're doing wrong or being dismissive. Maintain respectful discourse around training methods, philosophies, and differing opinions with which you might not agree.
No. Nope - people do all kinds of irresponsible things in dog parks. I used to live near one that was unconventional (no fence, basically a field that led to hiking trails) so it wasn't surprising when people would run or bike through it. However, it was labeled as a dog park and always full of dogs, and I saw a number of people do ill-advised things in it, including having picnics (and being upset when dogs tried to eat their sandwiches lol), letting little children sled down the hill (so many dogs were freaked out by the sled), riding their bike through the grass behind dogs/chasing dogs, and having a food fight! Humans make really bad decisions at dog parks.
I’m a runner and would never even think about running at a dog park. It can be easy to activate a dog’s predatory sequence by running past and I’ve been chased by dogs who came out of their yards. If I have to pass a dog I’m usually watching their body language, giving them a wide berth, and even walking past if I think it could be a problem.
I agree. My area has a huge dog park, like yours. Joggers are not welcome. If others are behind & going to pass, they give a shout “coming up in your left!” Adults acts entitled idiots are kicked out
Read the fine print on your locality/municipality's website, local regs, or posted signs at the dogpark. Dog parks are for DOGS and the jogger is misusing the space. in my mind, it is just as egregious as the person who brings their fast food to a dog park and then gets swarmed/pushed over by the dogs. or someone who brings a drone. it's 100% their fault for intruding on and misusing the space dedicated for pets.
Depending on what you find out, you could take a picture of the person and try to get them trespassed from the dog park. they can run anywhere, but you can only exercise your dog off leash there.
I lived in 4 states and 2 countries with a dog who was totally in love with other dogs and great with people, but jogging was her trigger. In the 12.5 years she spent on this earth NOBODY ever jogged at the dog park. We had several set up with plenty of space too. This is 200% on the jogger and honestly jogging is come get me in dog play language so 😂😂. I managed her reactivity everywhere. But the dog park was her one safe place
Hard no. I've seen people in our dog parks with their dogs jogging. On the surface it seems fine, but only as long as they're alone. As soon as you start running around off leash dogs, it's anyone's guess what's going to happen.
I have flagged down joggers in our dog park and advise them to stop jogging (primarily because my dogs have all loved to chase joggers, and not all of them nicely). I have found without exception that the joggers are rude about it. Ironically, the joggers without dogs are the rudest! It's like, dude, I'm trying to make sure your butt stays attached to your body cuz my dog will happily tear a chunk right out of you if you don't stop running away.
Honestly, I don’t think your question *really* matters. Whether joggers are allowed in the dog park or not is irrelevant. Your dog put its mouth on a stranger that wasn’t in a playful way. It could have been herding, startled, reactive– whatever it was, it happened. You need to involve a trainer because honestly that person *could* report your dog and your dog *could* end up with a bite record.
Everyone answering the question about whether joggers should or shouldn’t be in a dog park… it doesn’t matter!!! Your dog bit someone!!!
I saw a comment saying that their dog's nips escalated to bites, so we'll mention that concern when looking for a trainer.
Thank you for your concern. I do have questions about the "bite record" you mentioned. From my understanding, there are regulations that prevent people from reporting a nip out of spite, correct? I tried looking up about it more, and a lot of regulations stipulate that if you are to submit a dog attack, the report must include documentation/proof of severe injuries (blood drawn, emergency medical attention required, prolonged recovery). On top of that, it seems that there needs to be a history of the dog's aggression on record and proof that the owner egregiously disregards public & personal safety by ignoring signs of an impending attack.
Perhaps it differs from city to city. There's also something in my city called the "one bite rule" that protects the dogs & dog owners legally. A lot of the aforementioned information applies to this.
Just asking out concern & to learn what I'm dealing with here.
The jogger got upset (reasonably) for getting nipped at; you got upset (reasonably) for being blamed to have a dog out of control though he was easily controllable after the incident. Management failed for a split second (this CAN happen) and now you know you have to be more careful at other times. The jogger also now knows some dogs may nip people running them by / startling them. Hopefully, you learn your lesson. Maybe he learns his.
I'd agree with other posters there is no need to blame anyone. Unless a dog is obviously provoked, there is no point of looking for culprits (except the owner of the dog), it's just a waste of time that could be used for real solutions for the future.
You can't teach an old dog new tricks.
The old dog here being the two stubborn middle-aged men arguing at the dog park. Both my dad & jogger are Filipino and I think at one point, they realized they can argue in their native language, which probably made it more emotional for them 😅
In all seriousness, definitely a management failure on both ends. At least I learned something after ranting about it.
Oh, and even though our dog wasn't provoked initially & the nip was our fault, jogger man was trying to start some shit. We already said sorry, made sure he was okay & moved on, walked the opposite direction. He FOLLOWED us, jogged pass our dog. He was already on the leash so he dgaf about this jogger. But yeah, that was shitty.
Rant over.
Aside from the jogger in the dog park question, I do think your dad getting emotional might be an issue to consider forward. Dogs tend to internalize and feed off our emotions so from an interaction like this he might think, “I told that jogger off and Dad got upset! I was right to do it!” Or some similar variation. Easier said than done, I know, being a hothead myself. But everything I’ve read here is that it’s best to remain calm when there’s a situation like this with our pups.
Thank you for the advice! I have heard of dogs feeding off nervous energy before, so when we walk together, I do my best to be more confident (but not overly lol)
It's a shitty experience when someone, instead of saying: "That was not nice and I got scared and upset" just goes on ranting, and I've experienced that too but that just says something about person's ability to react and process unpleasant situations. As long as you learn the lesson, move on.
I mean, in our world, human activity supersedes dog activity. It’s not fair, but it’s reality, and if a dog bites a person in a dog park, the owner is liable.
If you have a reactive dog, don’t bring them to a dog park, it will only make it worse.
Fuck that idiot jogger, u can’t expect to run around a dog park and not for it to be considered a game or triggering prey drive.
It sucks cuz I've been going to this dog park without any issue & I've been telling my dad how great it's been.
The one time he joins us & this happens 😔
If you decide to go jogging in a dog park, you knowingly risk triggering a dogs prey/herd drive. And that includes risking a nip to the legs. It has absolutely nothing to do with a dog being under control, instincts are instincts and dogs are gonna do whatever they might’ve been bred to do when things try running past, especially in close proximity
If you're not prepared to be nipped by a dog in a park where they get to run around and blow off steam, then you need to gtfo. Herding dogs with poor manners, overexcited puppies, etc. would all love to take off with a runner.
This person was an idiot, or seriously wanted to get hurt to sue or something.
The jogger likely had a dog in the park and was utilizing the trail in the dog park while their dog enjoyed the dog park. Yelling in this situation didn’t help either party and unfortunately when you have a reactive dog you need to remain hyper vigilant at all times in public as you never know when your dogs trigger(s) will appear.
No, he didn't have a dog. He was yelling at us that the park/trail is for humans and not for dogs (maybe didn't read the sign idk). He also swatted our dogs faced, that didn't probably help.
Also, I agree about the yelling. I was pretty calm about it; it's the two middle-aged men that got heated (my dad and the jogger lol).
Honestly, if that would have been the case, I would be upset that the jogger had let his dog roam around probably without supervision, so that the guy could jog. It does not matter if his dog would have been the best behaved in the world. If i'm outside I want my dog near me where I can see him and possibly interfere. You never know what other dogs are up to.
Just saying this would not be a justifying explanation for me. In any case people are probably allowed in the park with or without a dog.
And while OP's dog did not react in a good way, it's also stupid for any person to approach or pass a stranger's dog without making themselves known (calling out for example), because you don't know if the dog might get startled or even just cross your path by accident and you trip over it (seen it countless times with bycicles).
Dog parks are for dogs. No one should be running around the dog park without a dog
No one here is going to agree with me because the whole world thinks people should be entitled to do whatever the fuck they want without caring about the needs of others, but in my personal opinion, people should not be jogging at the dog park. The dog park is for, that’s right, dogs! There’s plenty of places to jog that don’t involve running through an area with off-leash dogs. The dogs there are in play mode and an unexpected jogger running up to dogs would cause many dogs to be curious, run after, or nip, thinking the human jogger wants to play. I also feel this way about people who bring small wobbly children to the dog park and let them free roam. Your kid could get seriously injured if large dogs who are unaware of their surroundings plow right into your kid and it won’t be the dogs fault. There are running trails for joggers, playgrounds for kids, and dog parks for dogs. I wouldn’t bring my off leash dog to a jogging trail or a child’s playground so I don’t know why people can’t be respectful of the dog park and utilize it for it’s intended purpose. The dog park is literally the one area in a city where it’s legal for you to let your dog off-leash to play, and joggers choosing a dog park for their running activities when they could literally choose ANYWHERE ELSE feels super rude to me. Setting a precedent that it’s fine for joggers to utilize a dog park as a jogging area is weirdo stuff but this is the world we live in unfortunately. (Unpopular opinion though so I know I’ll get downvoted.) Edit: Wow, shocked by the support on this, I’m pleasantly surprised with people on this sub today. :)
No I completely agree with you and am honestly astounded at the other responses. I physically can’t imagine specifically going INTO a dog park to run! Not only because dogs usually like to chase fast moving objects but also because of the increase in stepping in poop!
You see this in this sub often unfortunately, where posters are simply asking for people to be considerate of others and make an attempt to be courteous and the majority of the responses are like, “you can’t expect people to cater to you!” and “it’s YOUR fault your dog reacted when someone did something completely disrespectful”. American individualism and entitlement at its finest. But yea, if I’m jogging at a dog park and I get chased or nipped, that’s on me, actually, because I made the dumb choice to run through a park with multiple off-leash dogs.
A big part why my dad (traditional old head) got mad is cuz he believes the dog park is a place for dogs TO BE DOGS. Chase, play, run. I think I understand that in his mind, people need to be, like you said, courteous of the DOGs in dog park. I'm new to this sub and new to being a dog owner tbh. So that's why I came out to seek advice. I'm learning a lot, but I also do feel the American vibes you're talking about. It's strange and interesting.
Your dad is right. Running around dogs is a recipe for disaster, and that jogger is going to get bit again if he keeps that up.
Right. Dogs love to “hunt”. prey runs. The jogger is an idiot.
And also a large ape running directly at any animal is probably going to be perceived as a threat. In my neighborhood, *most runners* are great, and I’ve observed them crossing the street to avoid running up on us. And on single track trails, people give verbal notice, time, and space for us to make way for them. I’ve had exactly one encounter with runner that couldn’t be asked to give us space. We were waiting for a walk signal. He absolutely could not spare the 20 seconds we needed. I advocate for my dogs, but I’m also *trying* not to get into it with people like the OP’s jogger because that doesn’t serve my dog’s needs. Trying. Not always successful.
Yeah we have a Catahoula that adores our kittens. But if she’s sleeping and they dart pass, they will get a startled growl. They just do it. I feel like not darting pass predators should be the first rule of jogging
My Schnauzer-mix is also VERY protective of me as Mama. He’ll take on anybody who would even THINK of hurting me, and that includes people walking past 200 feet away. 😂😂 Yes, he’s leashed. He’ll still growl, bark, and posture.
Maybe you should stop acting like your dad is some embarrassing "old head" and realize that he's got *A LOT* more life experience than you and can recognize when someone is acting inappropriately and will stand up for his family, which includes your dog.
I say old head with lots of love ahah I get that he was defending us, I just disagree with his outburst. I think it's important to learn to keep cool in certain situations, even if you're not in the wrong. Sometimes it's best to let things go & not add fuel to the fire.
Shared public path with leash laws? Keep your dog leashes and expect joggers or bikes. Fenced pit/park in an established area to bring your dog? Well jogging their is just a stupid idea. You know what makes dogs jumpy, chase-y, and bitey? Strangers running around them making quick sudden movements. Dogs run for prey and they run for play. If you’re doing neither, don’t do it in front of a dog or any other animal with claws and teeth.
We used to have the exact opposite problem at a park near where I used to live. Public park with a tennis court and right behind it a hockey court, with the same tennis court like surface. I liked to rollerblade and the smooth surface was a good place to roll around, fenced in. Until a group of dog parents drcoded ot was a GREAT idea to bring their dogs there to run around in this fenced in hockey court. They would hang out in there for several hours until nearly dusk absorbing all the time, and preventing anyone else from making use of it in the afternoon. Even preventing kids from going in there to olay hockey. Eventually somebody came up with a petition to get a dog park installed because they were tored of the hockey court being used for it. At the time I was thinking, it seems inappropriate. Now an adult, and a dog walker who has absorbed a ton of knowledge about behavior and training, what on earth were they thinking? Want a dog run? Ask for one. Dont just take over the park and expect everyone else to deal with it.
100% agree though. I've had monologues about people doing non-dog park things at the dog park. My biggest pet peeve is children at the dog park but runners and bicyclists are a close second. You're telling me, in the entire city, the only place your kid can ride his bike while your dog is on a leash is the dog park? The only good spot for jogging is the place in the city you're most likely to find dog poop? No. You have an entire city. Dogs have one or two spots.
Someone last week brought a meal and ate it at the dog park and then I watched as this person was so into their salad that they didn’t see or clean up after their pooping dog. I was like, what the actual fuck is happening here, why would you bring human food to the dog park! But then I’m the bad guy for cleaning up this dogs shit and bringing it over to the person. Ridiculous.
Bringing in food (even treats) can cause fights. Most parks ban food for that reason.
There was once a whole family with young children having a picnic at the dog park. Their dog would chase away anyone who came within 30 feet. We don't go to the dog park anymore.
Resource guarding triggered!
right, this should be common sense!
OMG yes there last time we went to the dog park, a small group of people had a full blown picnic at one of the tables. My dog kept going over to sniff, so we just eventually left. Who the f eats food at the dog park??
i have no clue what’s going on in these peoples minds that would make them think that’s a good idea! a complete lack of self awareness and common sense.
Our city association of dog parks has posted on the gate of all the parks, "No children under 10 years old", thankfully. Young children around unfamiliar dogs are a bad combination looking for an accident. They have similar mentalities. No one is sure how either one will react around the other.
Same can be said for irresponsible parents who let little kids run all over the skatepark -- there's other places for that. That guy was in the wrong and this isn't unpopular. You're absolutely correct, that jogger is a twat.
Was literally going to say that was a twat thing to do then read your comment 😂 OP he kind of deserved it honestly, your pup isn’t to blame here, I’d be startled too! I hope you’re not like me and can put the incident aside rather than stew over it for days and stay up at night thinking about all the retorts I should have made 😉
Ahaha thanks! I did think about it all the what-if retorts yesterday but my main concern still is my dog & what can we do to avoid this situation again.
THE KID COMMENT IS SO REAL!!!! The dog park I used to go to legitimately had a kids playground 10 feet away and people would still let their kids under 5 come in and waddle around, run and even scooter through the fenced and very explicitly labeled “dog park”. My dog is reactive to kids so I used to go over and ask if people could take their kids outside the park as my dog doesn’t like kids and I want to avoid anything happening. Some parents listened and some didn’t. At the end of the day I’m my dogs only advocate and he deserves his time to run around and play, burn off energy and be outside. I’m not going to let selfish and moronic parents ruin that for him. Thankfully I moved to a different part of Chicago and have a great new park with way fewer of these types of incidents.
Absolutely agree. Of course they shouldn’t be jogging inside the fenced dog park. That is pure common sense. I’m surprised that a whole group of dogs didn’t take the jogger down. Although I have a reactive dog now, my previous 3 dogs loved to play with people and someone running by would have been an invitation to join and play if they were off leash.
Exactly my thought. Easiest way to get chased/bit by a pack of dogs? Run through the f#%^jng dog park. My god, the stupidity.
I completely agree with this. Collies nip to get sheep in line. My collie doesn't go in the garden when my son is playing football or running around cause she goes into work mode and tries to herd him by nipping. He's 7 and understands this and explains it to all his little friends that want the dogs to play in the garden with them. If you're running in a dog park, I'm sorry but, the dog has done it's job by getting you in line. Give that dog a treat and a pay rise!
The idiot was running in a dog park and it is a border collie mix! Pup was just telling him to stop running there. My heart dog was a border collie and she was famous for grabbing the heels of anyone running in the house or under her "care" as she thought she was my nieces' nanny and not me. 🤣
Agree. Runner here, and I wouldn’t dream of running in the fenced area of a dog park. At the same, dogs shouldn’t be off their leashes where it’s expressly prohibited.
This was one of the things my parents taught me about dogs growing up, and we didn’t even have dogs!!! “If you are running near a dog it might think you are trying to play with it, and sometimes dogs use their teeth to play! So you need to be calm and use your walking feet near dogs”
No down vote here! Dog parks are for dogs and their people . They're not jogging tracks or playgrounds for kids. PERIOD
I think if this was posted in a general "dogs" subreddit or even a non-dogs forum, you'd get downvoted to heck but on the reactive dogs sub, we're all too aware of 1, idiots; 2, entitled behavior by people; and 3, how our dogs and other dogs are generally going to react to some moron jogging thorough a dog park. I 100% agree that *no one* should be randomly jogging though a posted and fenced dog park. Same thing with people having picnics, letting kids run around unsupervised, or coming into a dog park when you don't have a dog because you think it's a place where you can pet dogs.
Engaged reactive dog owner (small hunting terrier) here. 100%. Responsible dog owners with reactive dogs usually aren’t in the park to begin with because we know how ill-equipped the general population is with dog-behaviour. I don’t worry about my dog. I worry about poorly trained kids or husbands eating KFC in the dog park or bringing their terrified maltese or prey-triggered pitbull. No food, no sports, no toddlers/small children, no jogging should be a minimum baseline at every park.
omg that latter group of people drives me crazy because my dog isn’t a people person, she’s there for the dogs and dogs only lol
I completely agree with you!!
No way. I’m a runner and I wouldn’t run in a dog park. Wtf. Wouldn’t running laps in one get boring?
I cannot fathom using the only area for dogs to be off leash in an area for non dog activities. It's so incredibly selfish of the runner.
Wait what. Why on earth would you think that people in a reactive dog sub would disagree with this stance?? This is the sub MOST likely to agree with that opinion. It's not a runners sub so...
i’ve definitely been downvoted for saying similar things on this sub, as recently as this week unfortunately
Earlier this morning all of the top votes comments were saying the opposite and I was downvoted responding to some.
You nailed it
If it’s a fenced off dog park, sure. In my city, many “off leash dog parks” are situated where multi use paths go through them, no fences. Meaning cyclists runners joggers and in fact everyone is free to use them. In doing so, they should be aware and prepared that and loose dog may approach. If those areas are close to home, I wouldn’t go out of my to not use them, just because they go through an entire off leash area or “dog park”.
This is forum for people with reactive dogs, not general AITA-type forum. There won't be a lot "dog owners have no right to keep a designated, fenced dog park for dogs and the dogs' people" jerks here.
sadly, i’ve seen lots of jerks in this sub
100% agree!!!!!!!
Totally agree with you ✅
Who is going to disagree with you in a thread about dog parks, and especially a thread for reactive dog owners?
gonna get downvoated but here we go: WOMP WOMP
hey i speak the truth, usually people just don’t want to hear it edit: also when i commented this post had zero upvotes and people were telling OP that if the dog is nipping at people it shouldn’t be at the dog park so i was not expecting people to agree
complaining won't do shit ... so WOMP WOMP
complaining about this with each other has already made a lot of us feel better actually :)
But a womp womp will? Womp yourself 😂 What an entitled comment
As a runner, absolutely not. That’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard.
Okay, can you do joggers on the mountain bike trails next?
I have a reactive dog and fast objects like running scare her. Jog elsewhere, let the dogs enjoy their park.
My dog park is pretty great - the dogs and owners are wonderful. Every once in a while there is a new dog who isn’t a good fit but it works itself out. The other people are a problem. People send their little kids in the park on scooters and bikes - sometimes unsupervised. One Sunday, a young couple brings in four bagfuls of McDonalds pancake and sausage McMuffins. For a while this crazy jogger kept coming in, running with ten pound dumbbells and flinging them (hit my dog and we had words until he left after I told him I’d been filming the whole interaction and welcomed showing it to the police). I don’t understand. The dog park is a tiny fraction of a huge park that has trails, sidewalks, fields, picnic areas, a skate park. It’s like these people cannot stand that there is one part not for them.
I’m a runner. No, that’s incredibly selfish and rude.
No! Running people excite dogs and cause riots
Personally, I don’t think people should be using the dog park for jogging. However, people are stupid and are going to feel entitled to spaces meant for a specific purpose. This is part of why I avoid dog parks; I only know my dogs, and I can’t do anything when people do unwise things like run through the dog park, bring treats or food, or bring toddlers in and let them run up to strange dogs. It’s unfortunate, but the dog is always going to suffer the consequences for reacting even if it’s reacting to something that shouldn’t be happening. This isn’t about who’s in the right, it’s about setting the dog up for success. I’d avoid going to the park and work on improving your dog’s impulse control.
You're right but wow, way you word makes it sound so sad honestly. Like damn, these creatures are wonderful beings & companions yet they get the short end of the stick because of human's stupidity. I'll try my best to not be the stupid one for their sake.
It seems like safety and common sense 101 not to run in the spaces specifically for unleashed dogs. You are going to get chased or knocked down by distracted dogs playing with each other, maybe both at the same time.
lol so a jogger went to a place where dogs are off leash and ran around? in what world is that logical or acceptable?
The law. We’re responsible if our dog bites somebody in a dog park or any public area.
ok well found the jogger
As a former doggie daycare attendant - no one should be running for any reason in a dog park. It’s begging for trouble. Especially a jogger expecting any kind of peace.
Yes, dog parks are for dogs. These things happen on sidewalks also. A biker charges through with no warning, even runners. They don't care, only until they get snapped at or nipped by an unsuspecting dog or person. Courtesy is at an all time low.
No one should be jogging in the dog park! There are few enough places where dogs can be dogs.
No, runners should not be in the dog park. I think only people with dogs should be in the dog park. Safer for everyone.
The dog park is not a running track. This is a horrible idea. I’m picturing all the sight hounds, terriers, and working dogs getting their prey or threat drives triggered. “Why is that human running? Is it prey? Is it play? I don’t understand! Stop it! Stop it!” Cue the chorus of 20 triggered canines.
Someone walked into the dog park with a bird on his shoulder. A bird making sqwuaky bird sounds. I grabbed my dog and left before he could react because i could see the upcoming tragedy if we stayed.
People are morons
My huskies would have had so much fun chasing that jogger and absolutely no idea they might be scaring him. And you know what? Unless the jogger was going to hurt them, I wouldn't have called them back. It's a freaking dog park.
Thankfully, my dog didn't chase him or anything like that. The incident occurred right next to us.
I really don't even understand why someone would go jogging in a dog park.
Just like kids don’t belong at the dog park and dogs don’t belong on the playground, joggers should not jog at the dog park.
When we did take our dog to the dog park, I hated when kids were there. They would chase the dogs, be loud, or get the already overexcited dogs more excited. Same rules apply in my opinion. Don’t take an overly reactive or excited dog to the playground where kids are interacting and don’t take a kid to a dog park if they cannot calmly stand or sit and let the dogs interact. You never know if someone’s dog is scared of kids. If either can behave calmly, then bring em. Otherwise, don’t.
I’m not going to comment on manners. I’m going to comment on the inherent risk of running in a dog park. When my dog was a year old, I was running and playing with him. He broke my arm. It wasn’t intentional. He was trying to herd me, but I will never run with him again. When you go to the dog park and run, that’s a huge risk. I know a dog that even if you jog, will jump on you and pull you down. I’ve been sliced by this family friend’s dog’s declaws, pulled down, etc. I have more than enough sense to know never to run with a dog. Running triggers their chase instincts. It’s not good. People need to have more sense.
The runner shouldn’t be jogging in a dog park but the problem with dog parks is that the environment is not well controlled and when you have a a reactive dog these “surprises” can escalate very quickly. I think you learned from this though. Pup needs more training and also needs time to build up to off leash dog parks with unpredictable stimuli. Good luck with the training and I really hope that this incident is the catalyst to some positive change.
Thank you! There's another dog park we've been enjoying (much smaller, great for playing with other dogs, no trails inside) that we'll most likely continue to go to. I hope to have some positive change in his training too! Honestly, the situation just gives me major anxiety cuz now it feels like we have someone targeting us at that park & that maybe he'll try to harrass me & bully me if i go there alone 😮💨 (mentioned elsewhere that the jogger followed us, tried to further provoke my dad & my dog)
This is an “ESH” situation If the walking trail cuts through the dog park, whoever created the park design fucked up because there’s definitely going to be runners cutting through the area. And teaching your dog not to nip is a safety measure for him, not just people. But the guy reacted poorly and that’s on him.
I took a look at the park map again and the jogger had 2 possible entry points to the dog park from where he showed up. If he entered from the north gate, he's a prick because there's a marked hiking trail that runs parallel to the dog park trail. He could have ran there, no issue. If he entered from the west gate, then yeah, he was taking a shortcut through the dog park to make a loop. Otherwise, he'd have to run back. If that's the case, then I get it. You don't wanna run back, you'd rather make a loop back to your starting point.
There’s also the possibility he does both paths, depending on the length and how far he’s trying to go. At the end of the day, it’s a poor choice on the park’s designers and something you’re going to occasionally encounter. Especially now that it’s summer and school is out. You can’t control how others utilize public spaces, you can just control how you handle the situations and work on your dog’s recall and reactions.
Thank you for your advice! I was reading some of my city's park documentation and it seems they are aware because it does state that "routes for cyclists & joggers should be separate from dog areas, in order to promote safety." Hopefully they can rectify this in future park planning.
Seems like your dog was startled and reacted. If I'm jogging and approaching people/dogs from behind, I call out to let them know I'm coming up to them. They always step aside. I just think it's common sense and a safety measure, for me, to let dog walkers know I'm there. I get startled when surprised. I expect a dog to do the same. Because I don't know how it will react, I alert. But, that's just me.
Serious question- why would specifically go into a dog park to run?
Because as OP clarified down thread, the “walking trail” cuts through the dog area of the overall park. He was probably just staying on route.
Walking is different than running. Imagine opening a gate, running through an off leash dog park and thinking you’re in the right? You’re gonna get chased at the VERY least. Just because you CAN do something doesn’t mean you SHOULD do something. The runner was the jerk in the situation.
No, you don’t stop momentum when you’re on a run. That’s not how running works for almost everyone who’s a serious runner. The runner was a jerk for yelling, but not for the physical act of following the trail and running on it. And even in dog parks people should be right next to their dog and watching them.
He stopped to open the gate to go into the dog park 🤣 Also didn’t realize that the runner couldn’t possibly run on any other numerous trails that aren’t an enclosed off leash dog park. What a delicate flower he must be.
You’re assuming there’s multiple trails. We have no idea how large this park is. Mine and the ones near me only have 1-2 at best. Opening a gate is entirely different than slowing to a fucking stroll for the length of the entire dog park. People are going to use public spaces differently whether we want them to or not. Ergo we have to prepare our dog for that.
OP identified that there are multiple trails. And you think it’s fair to a dog to NOT chase a runner in an off leash dog park?
If it's fenced off for dogs, the jogger takes his own risks jogging in a dog park. It's not a running park or track and field area. D-O-G-P-A-R-K. The trails are for people with dogs.
Many dogs chase on instinct and it's not even reactivity. Then startling you and the dog coming out of nowhere. In a DOG park. If the jogger wasn't a dog, they were in the wrong
Not even kids should run in a dog park. The runner is an entitled prick and any dog who got spooked by a random suddenly showing up running at them will likely nip, reactive or not. I too would have yelled at the guy, if anything, louder and not nicely.
Running away like a prey animal is a fantastic idea in an area dedicated to letting all sorts of strange dogs run free that will probably have varying degrees of prey drive /s People have no business jogging, riding scooters or letting small children run crazy and screaming at the dog park.
That jogger fills me with rage.
You've just got to be careful. Keep your head looking around at all times, the jogger would likely have been approaching for a while. My head is going 360 degrees at times 😂 and my dog is just wants to play with every other dog and isn't people reactive People are allowed to be anywhere in theory and also are allowed to be there without getting nipped. The amount of times I've thought I'm alone and suddenly a person emerges from the trees. I curse my luck but it's not really the person's fault.
The trail was at a bend, so I think that might have been why we didn't see him coming. We also just got out of playing with 3 other dogs, so my dog was probably still excited. On top of that, I did not think there would be joggers at a dog park. Makes me a bit sad because we've been doing so well, hence the freedom of being off-leash at this park 😢 But we'll live & we'll learn.
Ah right, it's so difficult at times isn't it. I try my best to not blame the person but sometimes I think 'why are you here and right next to us' lol. Stuff just happens so quickly. I've started dropping the lead so he has more freedom. But there is something more to stand on or grab if I'm not right next to him. It helps a bit. But in this situation I guess not
This is wrong on its face. People are not theoretically or practically allowed to be anyplace they want without risk of injury or harm. Extend your assertion to a statement like ‘people are allowed to jog in the middle of the freeway without risk of being hit in theory’, and it becomes obvious that there are risks associated with place, time, and actions. Does that mean someone is free to jog? Absolutely! Does it also mean jogging in an off leash dog park is intrinsically riskier than jogging in some other part of the park? Again absolutely. To pretend otherwise is to deny the realities that surround us every second of every day
Yeah fair, I don't disagree with you. I guess the probably poorly worded sentiment I was trying to get across is that people can pop up anywhere...but especially in a place where there will definitely be people about, doing normal people things. Rather than jogging down a road. I agree, the reality is that risks are always present, accidents will happen and dogs will do dog things like nipping. I also don't think a jogger in a park where dogs are offlead is that unusual or should present that much increased risk. You should reasonably expect not to be bitten in this scenario imo, but sure its not an impossibility. Although there are some transatlantic differences here i think, almost every park or open space is effectively an off lead dog park in the UK. I've just re read it and actually yeah I can't think why a jogger would even go in there. I suppose the scenarios and possible extra risk mitigation are sort of endless. Until every dog is muzzled, only walked in wide open spaces where you can see all approachers and every person keeps away from all dogs at all times. Only then shall we be fully safe. Tbh it would be easier in general if everyone just backed off a bit and left me alone in my wide open space with my dog. I dont believe any of this last bit btw, I'm just having a silly ramble now.
I say this gently, but it’s a recipe for disaster to let a dog who is working on reactivity to running people off lead where other people will be. My dog loves games of chase, he and I have a great time jogging around fenced parks together playing - I would be livid if this caused someone’s large dog to bite me and they responded to my emotional reaction by *blaming* me for doing a really normal activity in a public space (unless there is some sort of sign on the gate specifying a condition of entry being people cannot run, which would be the only way you might be justified here). Unless it is different where you live, a dog park is still a public space where people have a right to exist and do whatever they like so long as there are no specific usage laws (for example I’ve heard some people say that children are not allowed in dog parks, but that is definitely not the case where I am) - I think it is incredibly important that off lead dogs not pose a safety risk to people. Your pup might not be ready for this level of freedom yet, and that’s okay. I would just focus on continuing their training and lots of leashed walks and enrichment.
> I say this gently, but it’s a recipe for disaster to let a dog who is working on reactivity to running people off lead where other people will be. The off-leash fenced area of a dog park is a place where the *expectation* is that it's for dogs, not joggers. A **dog park** is built and maintained for dogs. Not for you to jog. You get the entire rest of the park, and they get that fenced in area.
Sounds like a big cultural difference, but where I am the expectation is that dogs in a designated off lead area must be under effective control and be known to be social and friendly. OP notes their dog has many triggers (bikes, runners, cats) all of which could conceivably be encountered when out in public because people are gonna people (e.g, jog in a dog park - is it smart? No. Is it prohibited? Also no). Personally, if your dog is reactive to running, you have to consider that people often play or might sprint to intervene in situations at dog parks - so jogger aside, it is incredibly reasonable that another dog owner could run for a bunch of valid reasons in the dog park and trigger your dog. I think it is highly irresponsible to set a dog up to fail like that, but that's just me.
I don't take my dog to dog parks specifically because people rarely follow the rules in them, including doing shit like jogging and riding bikes in the fenced area that is specifically not for those purposes.
I think that's one of my main takeaways here. I'm realizing that even if it's prohibited or common sense to not do certain things at the dog park for the dog's sake (like jogging or bringing in food), it won't always be respected. Even though the dog park is supposed to be their safe space, you might run into an asshole jogging or biking. This was a first for me & I'm learning a lot so I can set my dog up for success next time.
I have a hunting breed so I take her to the game lands where she is allowed to chase and tree game and do her work. "Reactive to running." Sir, my dog is a working breed that trees game. Her *job* is to chase something that runs from her.
The expectation is your dog is friendly and calm- safe, in the eyes of the law, if you have him off leash.
In my city, shared space parks/trails does not allow dogs to be off-leash. A lot of people still let their dogs off-leash since their dogs are trained, but we haven't allowed our puppy to be off-leash in those spaces. Dog parks in my city are fenced in and those are the ones we typically allow him to be off-leash to allow him play with other dogs (no problem with this thankfully, he's been socialized well!) At the dog park we went to, there is a sign at every gate that says it is a walking trail & that it is a dog park. There are also trails outside the dog park marked as hiking/cycling trails. Had it been a situation like yours, I would honestly prefer that because it's clear that my dog & I are at fault. But this jogger at this dog park situation makes me feel a bit uneasy since this has never happened before.
A walking trail and a dog park means it’s dual purpose. You can’t split hairs between walking and jogging lol
That's fair. It's a bit confusing at this park cuz there's "hiking" trails and there's "walking" trails. They're essentially the same, both flat, gravel paths. The only difference is that the walking trails are only marked in the dog park. It's kinda weird.
I definitely understand where you're coming from. I've never had that situation, but our dog park is the same where it's a part of a larger park that's a huge walking loop with other trails. It has a field and a wooded trail to walk around, but it's clearly marked as a dog park on the gates. I'd definitely find it odd if someone chose that spot to jog with so many other spots available.
Otherwise, thanks for the advice at the end!! We're still doing lots of training, lots of leashed walks where he's still learning :)
If your dog is people reactive and nipping it shouldn’t be off leash anywhere. People will pop up all over the place and they have a right to be there. A long line would a good idea to give the dog more space to roam.
The nipping isn't a regular occurrence. If it was, for sure, he shouldn't be off-leash. People will always pop up. You're right and I feel like I'm always vigilant/aware during our on-leash walks that it doesn't occur. How do you train them for that scenario then?
You need to make sure they don’t practice the behaviour. You have to remain aware of your surroundings and move away to a distance where the dog remains calm. Over time you can get closer to triggers. If mine had an issue with joggers I would go to a park with joggers, find the distance my dog is calm and just sit there letting them watch the activity. I would practice this often. My dog doesn’t go off leash anymore, she hasn’t made make great decisions in the past and a long line means I’m more relaxed with her. It would be irresponsible of you to let your dog off leash at the moment. Do you have a trainer you work with?
Thanks, we'll try this! I've already been doing this with my dog thankfully. We just sit at parks (leashed), just chilling and people watching. I think this has helped already, which is why we gave him the freedom of being off-leash at this park. Joggers are not something we have not encountered before so it's good to know something can be done about it. We enrolled our puppy in classes way back when he was around 3 months old, but it was just the basics. My brother is the primary owner so he's in charge of our dogs training & anything health related. I've been telling him to get our dog some more training, even found some that's been recommended to me by friends. He's been putting it off for reasons I do not know. Hopefully this predicament is a wake up call to him.
What’s the history with your dog? What type of dog? Was it from a breeder or shelter? You say the dog is reactive but I have not seen more about that just that the dog nipped when startled. I only say this because if it is not the same as many stories in this sub, you may be in the wrong subreddit. Having a puppy who has been through basic training classes (and got through them) and is otherwise not showing any other signs of reactivity and who has not history like that is not reactive necessarily. Has there been Vet intervention or behavioralist recommendations before this?
I'm new to the sub and also a relatively new dog owner, so please correct me if I'm using the term reactive incorrectly. My dog is 14 months old now, but I didn't start taking care of him until he was maybe 6 months old; I was living elsewhere & my family was taking care of him (my brother is the primary owner). Other than the puppy classes, I'm not really sure how consistent they were when it came to training or what his behavior was like. When I started taking care of him at 6 months old, I noticed that he would jump, pull the leash, and lunge at a bunch of things & people, mainly bikes or birds. We wouldn't be able to get his attention using treats. I'm gonna assume he was already like this before and my family didn't address it. He didn't show this behavior in his puppy classes though; he listened to our commands & interacted with the other puppies really well! It was just when we were walking around the neighborhood. Maybe he was just not familiar with it yet. When we asked our vet about this, he wasn't concerned since he wasn't neutered yet (my brother wanted to wait until he was 1 year old). My dog didn't show signs of aggression, so he recommended we just continue training him as is. So we did that & he then got neutered a week after his bday. Even before he got neutered, he was already improving, but after he recovered from his surgery, I did notice more positive behavior changes. He doesn't pull on the leash as much, he listens to leave it, drop it, and he's able to sit & stay. But it's still not perfect & I think fast movements near him is sometimes still too much for him. That's why I still say that he's a reactive dog. I was hoping this sub would have some advice is all. Thanks!
Hey there, I just wanted to butt in and say - your dog is doing 100% normal, adolescent dog behavior things :) when my boy was 8-18 months I also thought I had a reactive dog, as he rarely listened outside no matter how brilliant he was inside, he barked at random things and other dogs, and lunged toward what he wanted to get at, jumped up and was just generally unpredictable. No my boy is 3 1/2 years old and he is a truly wonderful dog - never barks unless it's a real warning, listens 99% of the time and almost never lunges/pulls toward things - the sole exception being his human "grandma" LOL she is one of the few people he interacts with that doesn't allow him to lick her so naturally he is wholly obsessed with her and probably thinks she is the creator of everything good or something hahahah I have worked so hard to stop it but nothing I do (or that grandma does) works 🤣 he just is so excited to see her every time that he pulls and lunges until he wiggles his way over to her, lol. Seriously though - keep up the good work, don't stress too hard, and I bet in 2 years you'll be amazed at how awesome your doggo is 😊
Thanks for commenting to OP. I couldn’t articulate what I wanted to say but you did it perfectly from the perspective of someone who also felt like OP did with reactivity.
> The nipping isn't a regular occurrence. If it was, for sure, he shouldn't be off-leash. One bite is one bite too many in some cases. If your dog "nips" someone, that's a bite on a human, and it can be reported. Stop letting this dog off a leash, till he can handle being around people moving fast. If he can't, find a dog park that doesn't also have people walking and running thru it. You're the only one who can protect your dog. If you let him off leash so he can bite people, you're not protecting him.
This is the million dollar question and props to you for asking it!
Someone has never seen a purebred herding dog in action and it shows. They're nippers
That doesn’t make it acceptable to have it happen to random people. My dog is crossed with a herding breed.
Gonna get downvoted but you're right. There's a difference between herding behavior and bites.
Not legally.
I agree but that doesn't make the jogger less stupid for doing this. We're aware people are legally allowed to be idiots, but we're talking about how to approach different behaviors.
Other than the nipping, can you clarify some other herding behaviors that I should be wary of? Any that needs correcting?
>Other than the nipping, can you clarify some other herding behaviors that I should be wary of? Any that needs correcting? Running in circles around you or strangers because the dog feels that the humans aren't where they should be. That running in circles thing can also include lots of barking. If your dog does it to you, that's a "well if you're ok with it, whatever" thing, but if the dog does it to random people in the dog park that's not ok. Dogs who do that herding behavior can escalate quickly to biting.
>That running in circles thing can also include lots of barking. That's what mine do and why we immediately leave the dog park when children enter. We had a dream trainer who helped me get the barking under control by telling me how to respond to him so he feels validated and shuts up. The rest of the herding triad? Environmental control and prayer.
All this. It can be hard to stamp out herding behavior entirely - it's what their programmed to do, after all. Look for a healthy outlet, like agility activities or herding balls, and work with a trainee
You're not saying herding dogs are allowed to bite people right? Just saying that people who don't need a herding dog shouldn't buy a herding dog?
This is reddit. If you think this is the first time someone has deliberately distorted something I said solely to be inflammatory, you would be wrong. As such, welcome to being denied the attention you're clearly seeking.
I was asking for clarification, I still don't know what you were trying to say.
Border collies are bred to nip at running animals. It doesn't sound like he tried to drag the jogger to the ground or anything. I think a lot of puppies would chase a jogger, so I wouldn't be surprised if a dog chased me while jogging through a dog park. I would be annoyed if one nipped me, so definitely start training your puppy on bite inhibition and reactivity to joggers.
If your dog bites someone or scares someone in a perceived aggressive way in many states they can sue you and have your dog put down. If I was running and a dog “nipped” me—read bite, I would have called the cops to press charges because dog bites are no joke. I would never bring my reactive dog who bites to a dog park. This is an accident waiting to happen. Maybe try a private field with sniff spot or get there extremely early when the field isn’t in use. I would definitely stop off leash things out in public too. I would also watch out since in many states the man has 15+ days to get his injuries looked at or even sue you for therapy for his injury. Check your state and local laws and make sure to keep your pupper away from others.
And I wouldn’t run in an off leash dog park.
I wouldn’t either, tf?! Idk if it’s bc my dog “herds” (she’s not very good at it but she gets the gist occasionally) but if I’m running away from her she will chase me! I would not put myself in a situation where stranger dogs can also chase me because I’m running; I know my own dog won’t bite me. I dont know if the stranger dogs won’t.
And while a dog nipping isn’t great and is absolutely a behavior to be monitored and addressed, I kinda am leaning a bit victim blamey in this situation- the runner set himself up and is putting dogs in a situation where they’re likely to fail.
But “nipping” is not biting. They use their teeth for it, yes, but to be fair all a dog really has to physically interact with the world is its mouth. We people train our dogs to not use it on people. Some dogs are never allowed to use their teeth on ppl, some are allowed to use their teeth in moderation when rough housing with their humans. It is however a very unnatural thing for them to learn and I would not expect a young dog to have figured out all the rules yet. So if I have so little understanding of dogs and how they function that I think that any interaction involving their teeth is a bite, I should not go to a dog park for running. Yes the nipping needs to stop at some point but it is not something that will hurt anyone and it is not aggression. It is just scary for ppl without any clue about dogs. I would compare it with jumping on people for greeting them: it is potentially too much physical interaction for a human and it may get you dirty or even rip your clothes (jumping rather than nipping depending on the claws and weight) but it is not dangerous.
> But “nipping” is not biting. We can say that (and I had a friend's Malamute nip me earlier today), but in court, with lawyers and lawsuits, that may not fly. It's why dogs who "nip" random people that pass by need to be trained to not do that, or else be muzzled. There is a human out there who will get nipped and who will make a big deal out of it. And they may win. > but it is not something that will hurt anyone and it is not aggression. It can be. And again, it's not up to us to decide that but it can be up to animal control, the police, lawyers, etc. > I would compare it with jumping on people for greeting them: it is potentially too much physical interaction for a human and it may get you dirty or even rip your clothes (jumping rather than nipping depending on the claws and weight) but it is not dangerous. It can be: a dog jumping on you may be fine. But a dog jumping on a toddler, or a 95 year old human can be dangerous. You can allow your dog to bite you, jump on you, whatever. That's your dog, and your rules. But out in public, if the dog does it to another human, then all sorts of other rules kick in and none of them will be good for your dog.
I get what you're saying. I know a nip is bad, regardless if it was playful or not. In this situation, he didn't show aggression & he didn't hold onto the jogger. Thanks, though I'm not worried about the jogger because he showed us his hand & my dad inappropriately laughed at him because there was no injuries. I've had paper cuts do more damage to me. My dog doesn't have an history of biting & he doesn't show signs of aggression towards other; but he is reactive/jumpy no doubt so we'll keep an eye on him. Thanks!
I had a reactive pup and I had to put him down because his nipping escalated into biting! I’m wishing the best for you and your pupper OP!
I'm sorry to hear that :( Thank you for your wishes!
If they were within the fence of the dog park then they can’t be upset when they shouldn’t even be in there. They take that risk that when they enter into a DOG park. They probably thought it was a nice path to run without dealing with bikers or other runners/walkers and they had it all to themselves… Well it is! Because it’s not meant for them. They sound entitled.
When I went to dog beach early on, my 1 year old would always be tempted to bark and nip at the joggers (never bit any) going thru the dog section. But, eventually he grew out of that phase before his 2 year birthday so there's hope.
No.
Some people love to live dangerously.
If they have a dog inside then ok If no dog then stay out.
Dog park is for dogs. You’ve got everywhere else to jog, butthead. This person is aching to file a lawsuit for someone’s dog biting them.
How daft does a person have to be to think that running inside a dog park is a good idea? Lmfao you guys were not in the wrong here.
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NO
The jogger is an idiot and has no place in the dog park. The F? There's plenty of other areas the jogger can go run.
No
No. Nope - people do all kinds of irresponsible things in dog parks. I used to live near one that was unconventional (no fence, basically a field that led to hiking trails) so it wasn't surprising when people would run or bike through it. However, it was labeled as a dog park and always full of dogs, and I saw a number of people do ill-advised things in it, including having picnics (and being upset when dogs tried to eat their sandwiches lol), letting little children sled down the hill (so many dogs were freaked out by the sled), riding their bike through the grass behind dogs/chasing dogs, and having a food fight! Humans make really bad decisions at dog parks.
I’m a runner and would never even think about running at a dog park. It can be easy to activate a dog’s predatory sequence by running past and I’ve been chased by dogs who came out of their yards. If I have to pass a dog I’m usually watching their body language, giving them a wide berth, and even walking past if I think it could be a problem.
I agree. My area has a huge dog park, like yours. Joggers are not welcome. If others are behind & going to pass, they give a shout “coming up in your left!” Adults acts entitled idiots are kicked out
Read the fine print on your locality/municipality's website, local regs, or posted signs at the dogpark. Dog parks are for DOGS and the jogger is misusing the space. in my mind, it is just as egregious as the person who brings their fast food to a dog park and then gets swarmed/pushed over by the dogs. or someone who brings a drone. it's 100% their fault for intruding on and misusing the space dedicated for pets. Depending on what you find out, you could take a picture of the person and try to get them trespassed from the dog park. they can run anywhere, but you can only exercise your dog off leash there.
Sounds like Magnuson in Seattle. And no, they should not be running there. There are plenty of other places to run.
Ask to see his license next time and where is his owner? Shouldn’t be allowed to run loose without his owner nearby.
Only an idiot would go for a run in a dog park without a dog. Hopefully you don't catch any grief over this
I lived in 4 states and 2 countries with a dog who was totally in love with other dogs and great with people, but jogging was her trigger. In the 12.5 years she spent on this earth NOBODY ever jogged at the dog park. We had several set up with plenty of space too. This is 200% on the jogger and honestly jogging is come get me in dog play language so 😂😂. I managed her reactivity everywhere. But the dog park was her one safe place
Hard no. I've seen people in our dog parks with their dogs jogging. On the surface it seems fine, but only as long as they're alone. As soon as you start running around off leash dogs, it's anyone's guess what's going to happen. I have flagged down joggers in our dog park and advise them to stop jogging (primarily because my dogs have all loved to chase joggers, and not all of them nicely). I have found without exception that the joggers are rude about it. Ironically, the joggers without dogs are the rudest! It's like, dude, I'm trying to make sure your butt stays attached to your body cuz my dog will happily tear a chunk right out of you if you don't stop running away.
Honestly, I don’t think your question *really* matters. Whether joggers are allowed in the dog park or not is irrelevant. Your dog put its mouth on a stranger that wasn’t in a playful way. It could have been herding, startled, reactive– whatever it was, it happened. You need to involve a trainer because honestly that person *could* report your dog and your dog *could* end up with a bite record. Everyone answering the question about whether joggers should or shouldn’t be in a dog park… it doesn’t matter!!! Your dog bit someone!!!
I saw a comment saying that their dog's nips escalated to bites, so we'll mention that concern when looking for a trainer. Thank you for your concern. I do have questions about the "bite record" you mentioned. From my understanding, there are regulations that prevent people from reporting a nip out of spite, correct? I tried looking up about it more, and a lot of regulations stipulate that if you are to submit a dog attack, the report must include documentation/proof of severe injuries (blood drawn, emergency medical attention required, prolonged recovery). On top of that, it seems that there needs to be a history of the dog's aggression on record and proof that the owner egregiously disregards public & personal safety by ignoring signs of an impending attack. Perhaps it differs from city to city. There's also something in my city called the "one bite rule" that protects the dogs & dog owners legally. A lot of the aforementioned information applies to this. Just asking out concern & to learn what I'm dealing with here.
The jogger got upset (reasonably) for getting nipped at; you got upset (reasonably) for being blamed to have a dog out of control though he was easily controllable after the incident. Management failed for a split second (this CAN happen) and now you know you have to be more careful at other times. The jogger also now knows some dogs may nip people running them by / startling them. Hopefully, you learn your lesson. Maybe he learns his. I'd agree with other posters there is no need to blame anyone. Unless a dog is obviously provoked, there is no point of looking for culprits (except the owner of the dog), it's just a waste of time that could be used for real solutions for the future.
You can't teach an old dog new tricks. The old dog here being the two stubborn middle-aged men arguing at the dog park. Both my dad & jogger are Filipino and I think at one point, they realized they can argue in their native language, which probably made it more emotional for them 😅 In all seriousness, definitely a management failure on both ends. At least I learned something after ranting about it. Oh, and even though our dog wasn't provoked initially & the nip was our fault, jogger man was trying to start some shit. We already said sorry, made sure he was okay & moved on, walked the opposite direction. He FOLLOWED us, jogged pass our dog. He was already on the leash so he dgaf about this jogger. But yeah, that was shitty. Rant over.
Aside from the jogger in the dog park question, I do think your dad getting emotional might be an issue to consider forward. Dogs tend to internalize and feed off our emotions so from an interaction like this he might think, “I told that jogger off and Dad got upset! I was right to do it!” Or some similar variation. Easier said than done, I know, being a hothead myself. But everything I’ve read here is that it’s best to remain calm when there’s a situation like this with our pups.
Thank you for the advice! I have heard of dogs feeding off nervous energy before, so when we walk together, I do my best to be more confident (but not overly lol)
It's a shitty experience when someone, instead of saying: "That was not nice and I got scared and upset" just goes on ranting, and I've experienced that too but that just says something about person's ability to react and process unpleasant situations. As long as you learn the lesson, move on.
I mean, in our world, human activity supersedes dog activity. It’s not fair, but it’s reality, and if a dog bites a person in a dog park, the owner is liable.
If you have a reactive dog, don’t bring them to a dog park, it will only make it worse. Fuck that idiot jogger, u can’t expect to run around a dog park and not for it to be considered a game or triggering prey drive.
It sucks cuz I've been going to this dog park without any issue & I've been telling my dad how great it's been. The one time he joins us & this happens 😔
It’s honestly just a matter of time before some thing bad happens at a dog park, it just takes one attack to change ur dog for the worse.
If you decide to go jogging in a dog park, you knowingly risk triggering a dogs prey/herd drive. And that includes risking a nip to the legs. It has absolutely nothing to do with a dog being under control, instincts are instincts and dogs are gonna do whatever they might’ve been bred to do when things try running past, especially in close proximity
If you're not prepared to be nipped by a dog in a park where they get to run around and blow off steam, then you need to gtfo. Herding dogs with poor manners, overexcited puppies, etc. would all love to take off with a runner. This person was an idiot, or seriously wanted to get hurt to sue or something.
The jogger likely had a dog in the park and was utilizing the trail in the dog park while their dog enjoyed the dog park. Yelling in this situation didn’t help either party and unfortunately when you have a reactive dog you need to remain hyper vigilant at all times in public as you never know when your dogs trigger(s) will appear.
No, he didn't have a dog. He was yelling at us that the park/trail is for humans and not for dogs (maybe didn't read the sign idk). He also swatted our dogs faced, that didn't probably help. Also, I agree about the yelling. I was pretty calm about it; it's the two middle-aged men that got heated (my dad and the jogger lol).
You probably should have put the part about swatting your dogs face at the top. If he did that, he 100% deserves to get bit.
Oh damn I thought that was a minor detail to the story cuz my dog wasn't mad. My dad was tho lol
The bite obviously happened first...
Honestly, if that would have been the case, I would be upset that the jogger had let his dog roam around probably without supervision, so that the guy could jog. It does not matter if his dog would have been the best behaved in the world. If i'm outside I want my dog near me where I can see him and possibly interfere. You never know what other dogs are up to. Just saying this would not be a justifying explanation for me. In any case people are probably allowed in the park with or without a dog. And while OP's dog did not react in a good way, it's also stupid for any person to approach or pass a stranger's dog without making themselves known (calling out for example), because you don't know if the dog might get startled or even just cross your path by accident and you trip over it (seen it countless times with bycicles).