I've been reading Pet Talk as a guest for a while, but when I read your post I had to sign up and write in. I, too, have this problem at the on-leash park in our neighborhood.

On our evening walks, my Oreo, a black lab, loves to go to this park, but since it is near a busy street and is not fenced she is never allowed off the leash. There is a group of dog owners that meet there and allow their dogs off leash to play. (I am amazed at how they are not worried about the street!) The dogs always run up to Oreo and the owners don't even watch. So far, we have had no problems with the dogs.

However, the problem is with the owners. As we walk past they are very judgmental of me and insist that I am doing Oreo a disservice by not letting her off leash. They are the ones initiating a conversation at all, and they have been very rude! I have had to bite my tongue many times!

So now we either walk a little earlier, before the group meets, or go to a different park. I just can't believe how judgmental they are, especially since it's technically an on-leash park!