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Hi, I've been reading the forums for a while and finally decided to register tonight because I need a little support.
I went to the dog park today and had a verbal altercation with another owner... I usually watch my dog (just turned 1 year old) like a hawk, but I turned my back for a minute, I'm not even sure why, and next thing I knew I heard a dog screeching. I turn around and it's my dog, he is squirming around on the ground, another dog is standing over him and shaking him by the scruff.
The dog in question has been on my radar for a while, he's scared my dog a few times and gotten into scuffles with others, so I usually try to keep my dog on the other side of the park when he's around. A group of park regulars does the same. So when I had to run over and pull this dog off of mine, I was LIVID. I mean I completely lost it screaming (at the owner), it was ugly. The other owner got nasty right back and it turned into a screaming match. I realized this after a while, felt totally stupid, apologized for overreacting and walked away with my dog. The other owner clearly wasn't interested in my apology, and I can understand why, which is why I just walked away.
I don't blame the other owner for reacting to my outburst the way they did, and while I don't think that their dog has any business being at a dog park, I was completely out of line. My dog wasn't hurt and I usually just brush off little scuffles at the park, dogs will be dogs. I'm usually pretty shy and calm so I am so shocked by my own behavior. Even hours later, I am over the incident itself but am still disturbed by my own behavior, and feel like a complete nutjob.
Basically, I know that I reacted completely wrongly, and won't be letting myself act like that again, but right now I need some reassurance, because I feel like a terrible person. So, has anyone else ever lost their cool at the dog park? I always read stories about whackos at the park, I hate thinking that I apparently AM one. D:
I went to the dog park today and had a verbal altercation with another owner... I usually watch my dog (just turned 1 year old) like a hawk, but I turned my back for a minute, I'm not even sure why, and next thing I knew I heard a dog screeching. I turn around and it's my dog, he is squirming around on the ground, another dog is standing over him and shaking him by the scruff.
The dog in question has been on my radar for a while, he's scared my dog a few times and gotten into scuffles with others, so I usually try to keep my dog on the other side of the park when he's around. A group of park regulars does the same. So when I had to run over and pull this dog off of mine, I was LIVID. I mean I completely lost it screaming (at the owner), it was ugly. The other owner got nasty right back and it turned into a screaming match. I realized this after a while, felt totally stupid, apologized for overreacting and walked away with my dog. The other owner clearly wasn't interested in my apology, and I can understand why, which is why I just walked away.
I don't blame the other owner for reacting to my outburst the way they did, and while I don't think that their dog has any business being at a dog park, I was completely out of line. My dog wasn't hurt and I usually just brush off little scuffles at the park, dogs will be dogs. I'm usually pretty shy and calm so I am so shocked by my own behavior. Even hours later, I am over the incident itself but am still disturbed by my own behavior, and feel like a complete nutjob.
Basically, I know that I reacted completely wrongly, and won't be letting myself act like that again, but right now I need some reassurance, because I feel like a terrible person. So, has anyone else ever lost their cool at the dog park? I always read stories about whackos at the park, I hate thinking that I apparently AM one. D: