Photo: M-J Milloy
The thing I like most about having a dog, is taking her to the dog park. In what’s turning out to be a routine, Sunday mornings I take our dog, Piper, to the Rohnert Park dog park.
The dog park is a large fenced in area where people can bring their dogs to run around and play with other dogs. The larger area is a communal area where dogs of all sizes play. Off to one end is a smaller fenced in area with a sign that clearly states “Small and Older Dogs Only.”
Our dog is a Black Labrador/Border Collie mix. She’s just about one year old and loves nothing more than to play. This morning, when we got into the dog park, there were only three other dogs. Two - a smaller Labrador and a long-haired Dachshund - belonged to a couple. There was also a HUGE Saint Bernard that we’ve seen at the park before.
As with most dogs, as soon as you open the gate, Piper took off to the closest dogs - the two belonging to the couple - and did what dogs do best: sniff butts, roll around with each other and establish dominance. As soon as Piper began sniffing the smaller dog, the guy who brought her started freaking out. He kept yelling at my dog to stop and get away.
Now, I have no illusions that sometimes Piper can get a big rough. But she’s playful and unless dogs are yelping or bleeding, there’s really no need to get upset over roughhousing. His little dog and my dog were simply shaking hands, the dog way. The thing that seemed to make all of this a non-issue, was the fact that the little dog had established dominance over my sissy dog. Oh well, what’re you gonna do?
This guy’s female sidekick started yelling at him for overreacting and it seemed to me that he and his little bratwurst-shaped dog live very sheltered lives.
Most dog owners really are complete idiots. It baffles me why owners of little dogs somehow think owners of big dogs need to keep our dogs from having fun. When a dog park has clearly labeled, segregated areas for different sizes of dogs, the owners should exercise intelligence when it comes to putting their dog in an area unsuited for their little rat dog. If they fail to do so, and their dog is completely incapable of being around big playful dogs, theirs should be up for grabs. I for one could really enjoy a new Boston Terrier or Pug playmate for Piper.