Who's at fault?

Question

We all know that going to a dog park has it's risks, but this situation happened to me a couple of months ago and I'm just wondering what your take is on it.

I take my dog, a large border collie/greyhound mix (but mostly border collie in looks and demeanor) to the dog park on a regular basis. My dog is very intent on his ball and mostly ignores other dogs. He is not agressive in any way, and usually runs to me when threatened.

It's not a huge park but it is fenced in. There are several ladies in the neighbourhood who do pug rescue and at any given time there can be upwards of 15 pugs in the park at once. Some of whom can't walk or see well.

I was throwing the ball for him when a pug ran at him and started yapping, nipping and got underneath him. In the confusion my dog picked they other dog up by the scruff and threw him. The pug was fine but I felt awful. It looked really bad.

I feel my dog was just defending himself, but the size difference made it look worse.

I just wanted to add, that my dog isn't protective of his ball. If another dog gets his ball he'll just look at me and expect me to get it back.

He's also been through three levels of obedience and we practice for about 10-30 minutes a day (i used to be an obedience instructor).

Also, the dog he threw didn't happen to be one of the blind ones, it got underneath him and was yapping.

There were about 3 other pug people at the park, my dog being the only large dog there.

Because my dog is reliable off-leash, I've started just taking him to the church parking lot nearby to throw his ball. Better that then get in a confrontation.

He has bowled over a few dogs who've run at him when he's chasing his ball because he only watches the ball. But this was only time this has happened. I think because the dog got underneath him and he felt he was being attacked.

Answer 1

Not your fault, that's for sure.
The pug is obviously not socialized well.

Answer 2

Honestly this was the pug owner/rescuers fault. Your dog was just protecting himself, his ball and you. The pug seems like he had an aggression problem and maybe should not have been allowed off leash. It may have looked bad to you, but if the pug was not hurt then it is fine. I know what you mean though, my Shiba Inu picks my 11 week old kitten up by the neck and carries him around, at first I was really worried and scared and thought she was trying to hurt him, but she was just playing momma, and not harming him at all. But it did look bad. I can imagine what a border collie looked like chucking a pug by the neck. Don't feel bad you did nothing wrong, and your big boy was just being dominant.

Answer 3

you cannot be blamed for what the Pug caused;
Actually, the women with blind pugs should not have them at a dog park with other active dogs it is a recipe for disaster.

Your dog was defending hisproperty. This is common and acceptable for all dogs to do. The woman who had the pug should not have had it off leash if it is blind.

that is my opinion and I feel it would hold up in a court of law very easily because the Pug instigated this deplorable situation.

rescuing dogs is great, but the rescuers have to have responsbility toward their dogs and the neighborhood and community in general.

Answer 4

yikes. This one is not good.

First of all, everyone should have control of their dogs. If someone has 15 dogs, they better have at least 7 people there.

Your dog did react in a dog aggressive way, unfortunately. He obviously doesn't like it when small dogs yap and nip at him. You will have to watch this in the future. It could be a potential problem, it may be a one time thing. But I'd watch him. He's not a bad boy. At least he didn't persue it and escalate it.

I've seen mine get snippy when irritated at the dog park but not to the extent that they pick up a dog. That is what concerned me.

I don't know what else to say other than it's unfortunate. Dog parks are tough. That's why there is usually a small dog section for smaller dogs...

Answer 5

It sounds like your dog became hyper excited by the ball and the yappy little dog at once and lost his mind for a bit.

Some dogs become overly possessive about balls at dog parks and snap and snarl at other dogs. It can get worse over time and next time it could be a much larger dog.

If the ball throwing in a crowded dog park makes him too intense, I would reserve that game for a quieter time or another location. He shouldn't have to 'defend' himself or protect anything at the park. He should be having fun being around other dogs.

Answer 6

when your dog gets annoyed by an excited dog, they can act out like that sometimes. if the pug was fine and the owner wasn't upset, then i wouldn't be concerned.

i had a similar problem when i took my pitbull to a dog park. a small dog (i think it was a puggle) was running on a course that intersected the way my dog was running, and my dog ended up running him right over and sending him rolling. the other dog's owner actually just laughed cuz she knew her dog was acting a nut. my dog was confused because he has a habit of not being so careful around other dogs and has been scolded for acting this way.

Answer 7

I would say the pug.. he obviously doenst have the temperment for the dog park. They may have been trying to socialize their pugs.. but there is a better place than to take them to a dog park.

15 pugs at a time.. how many handlers are there? One of the dog parks I sometimes visits has a rule of only 2 dogs per handler... if you bring more dogs than that, you've got more than what you can handle should a fight break out.

Most dog parks also have a big/little section.

Answer 8

Is there not a division at the park for big/little dogs? Because my lab sure can't run and play with a pug. She needs playmates her own size.
And there shouldn't have been 15 pugs at one time. ugh.

Answer 9

First off, it does't have to be anyone's fault, so to speak.
Your dog defended himself from this little dog.
It could have been worse, he could have killed the other dog.
Your dog did the minimal amount by just picking him up. He knew that it wouldn't take more than that.

I would suggest to the other party, and maybe to you as well, to take a refresher course in obedience training, and if they never did, which is what it looks like, I would be more reserved in my going to the dog park, only because there is more of a chance of these little guys going after you or another dog and owner.
I would document this and any other events that take place only for your own protection, should they decide to file a complaint or make a police report against your dog. This doesn't mean anyone is at fault, but you need to protect your dog not just from those dogs, but also from their owners, and any legal entities that could be in their future.
Should those dogs make it a habit to nip or chase, that is considered not controlling their dog, and they need to be made aware that they place their dog at risk, and someone else's dog may not be so inclined to take the minimum act, but actually kill their dog, and they could only blame themselves for not controlling their dog.

You may want to talk to them about it, or not. Depending how well you know these people, or how they are.
You may decide to change your play time at the park or do your best to avoid them, that may be another avenue. but avoidance is never a true remedy to any problem. Try to resolve it peacefully, as one dog owner to another.

Do what you can to care for your dog, and perhaps you can set the tone for these folks to follow.

Answer 10

Your dog chaseing a ball and this little round thing come bounceing at him, he may have thought it was just something else to play with. Don't want to sound like I am makeing light of it but It could be. Do hope the little Pug was not hurt.

Answer 11

I think it is funny. I can see a big dog flinging a small dog out of his way. How cute.

I'm sure that some of the big dog owners will think so too.

A friend of mine had a Basset Hound, real laid back & calm. She had a visitor (German Short Hair) come with her dad to visit a while. The Basset got tired of the yapping & hyperactive visitor & took hold of the leash & firmly but gentle led her to the gate & droped the lead. Oh, so funny.