I don't have a dog park near us - wish I did - i have always had goldens, and they generally get along with everyone.

One thing i have noticed about every 'incident' reported at any dog park -

The owners of the dog that attacks, (no matter the breed) or 'starts' an incident, always seem to be physically 'distant' from their dogs, and often I have heard people say the owners tried to 'call' the dog off, before getting to their feet and adding their physical presence to their 'authority'.

Now, I'm not saying I would be to thrilled to get in between a pack of flashing teeth, either - but like small children, YELLING doesn't usually do a thing - you have to BE THERE to enforce behavior when it's already out of hand.

Much as I love to visit with other doggie people - my eyes are ALWAYS on the dogs.

Now, aside from the few dogs that are VERY well trained (who wouldn't be the kind to get into these kinds of issues, anyway)
what the heck makes people think that if their dog sometimes ignores them in their own backyards, that they will suddenly drop fighting with another dog simply at their master's command?

laura