I took my dog to the park yesterday. It had been an awfully wet morning so me, my young daughter and the dog were enjoying a run on the park in the sunshine.
My dog isn't concerned with anyone else, she is just chasing the ball and bringing it back for a treat. There was a dog (JRT) and owner on the other side of the park going in the opposite direction so I wasn't bothered by them at all.
I get half way around and this dog is suddenly behind us and I see it running full pelt at my dog.
I managed to pick mine up and this dog continues to harass us for a few minutes with the owner pushing a pram round and calling its name - not recalling it. It also chased my daughter at one point, although it didn't try to touch her at all.
Eventually I give up being able to put my dog down to play so I wait for them to go. I saw the owner bend down to the dog so I assumed she was putting the lead on, so I put my dog down and went off in the opposite direction throwing the ball.
Next minute this dog is running full pelt at my dog again so I picked her up and shouted over, ' Can you not put your dog on the lead ?'
She shouts back, 'Why should I ?'
So I replied, ' Because my dog's not bothering you !'

I gave up on the walk and headed back to the car, really annoyed that I should have to leave when I have the full attention of my dog and she isn't bothering anyone.
As I am going , another dog comes on and this JRT heads straight over. Now this dog is bigger than mine and they proceed to play, although the play consists of this JRT chasing the dog relentlessly. My dog wouldn't like that.
The owner shouts over to me, 'See, that's what dogs do...play.'

I feel really annoyed and can't stop thinking about it. It is making me feel slightly anxious.
Yes, the dog only wanted to play but when a dog is running full pelt at you you don't know if it's going to attack or play, and it looked to me as if it was going to attack.
I feel as if I should have acted differently and waited to see what the dog wanted.
But I also feel angry that she had no control of her dog whatsoever, and that she thinks her dog has the right to roam and harass. She obviously thinks that walking her dog around the park and letting it play/harass other dogs is exercise. One day that dog is going to meet a dog who doesn't want to play and it is going to come off worse.
The thing is that I live in a village and will probably come across this person again.
Why do people always think they are right and don't see what effect they have on others ?
Rant over. Any advice to make me feel better ?

Advise her to go to a Dog Law Seminar by Trevor Cooper she may soon change her attitude.
Especially if her dog causes injury and by that it now means even a scratch or bruise (not even the more commonly thought of injury - puncture wound/bite). She could be prosecuted either civilly or criminally depending on the offence committed.

Being a dog owner these days certainly isn't for the feint hearted anymore.

Fact is all dogs are required to be 'under control'.   That means exactly that - under control.   Not being allowed to run around bothering all and sundry.   Yes, dogs playing may be what some people think they need to be doing, but not necessarily so!  I had a neighbour with this attitude.   'Aaaah let the doggies play'.   When, as was the case with mine, you have numbers to keep under control, and it's clearly not necessary they 'play', or wanted, then the owner should be sensitive enough to realise not every other owner wants this!! 

Don't let her put you off going to the park.   You may have to keep your dog on his lead if her dog is around, but I think you are quite entitled to ask her to keep her dog under proper control, and if that means putting it on a lead too, so be it.   Tell her she's legally required to keep her dog under proper control.   Which clearly it's not!!    UK.

I feel for you.  There are loads of dog owners where I live that do this with their out-of-control dogs.

I think you done the right thing.

Sadly I often change my walking plans to avoid these people.  Its a pain when you are trying to enjoy one-to-one time with your dog and someone else is too lazy to exercise/interact with their own dog that they 'inflict' it on you.   :-(

Owners around here actually admit to letting their dogs 'play' because it 'tires them out quicker'.  They go up to the park, unleash their dog, let it cause havoc, turn a blind eye while they stand and gossip with the other neighbourhood gossips, then walk a few yards home.  Lol!,

Now don't get me wrong, my dog has opportunity to interact and play with other dogs and meet other people, but I believe its also extremely important to have your dog under control and spend plenty one-to-one time with it, walking and playing fetch, tug, whatever, etc.

People can be very selfish. 

Thats my rant over too, lol  :-)

From the opposite perspective because my dogs are sociable and would want to come over and see if yours would play, (and I do have multiple dogs) I no longer walk mine off lead any more :(  Just not worth the grief.

No more parks, road walking only, though the old railway line (cycle path walkway) is at least a nice walk, the rest of our walks we pound the pavements.