Okay this may come across as a moan and to be honest thats good because it is.

As some of you know I'm off work with broken hand, so I am using my free to enjoy Sal. Well for the last week or so I have been taking Sal to the park mid morning. And have meet what I call "The Gang." They appear to be a group of between 3-9 owners and approx 12 dogs when all together.      
I have been acknowledged by them on a general "Hello, what have you done to your hand type of conversation" and over the week I have spoken to them more as they stand (I have yet to see them move) between the car park and the childrens play area, with the dogs running free.

Well yesterday I was speaking to them when a young man with a B/C approached and you could see the dog wasn't easy, he was on a halti and a collar and when he saw the other dogs (belonging to the gang) and Sal the dog was doing his best to flip, not sure if he was trying to be aggresive or just plain scared. But he was whinning and the bloke was struggling to hold him.

The bloke was obviously trying to get to his car, and his only way was past us. I called Sal back and put her on the lead so did a lady in a red coat (I won't mention names) who called her dogs back, and leashed them to.
But the other 3 let their dogs stay loose, but they are all (in your face dogs)bar one. And as the bloke approached the dogs homed in and almost surounded him and his dog it ended up with him picking his dog up and me and the ladyin the red coat, arguing with the others about them not calling their dogs back.
They were put out saying if "his" dog wasn't "safe" to be out then he shouldn't walk him in the park.

The dogs were being friendly, and none are nasty, but they are overwhelming. Today  I went to the park and they as a "person" ignored me as I passed despite my "Hello." Mumbling was I walked past.

So I am now "an outsider" in the dog walking circles, of mid morning I may move to early afternoon and see what reception I get there :D.

Karen    

Hi Karen

Well some people are just too ridiculous to be true!!!  You can always talk to us and get a reply :)  Good luck to you and Sal with the afternoon walkers :)  Hope your hand is soon better.  PS. there's something rather enigmatic about being 'an outsider' :D

If i were you i would change times and not bother, We have exactly the same clique near us (are you in Merseyside by any chance ;)
Because i was the youngest at 29 they continually told me what was best for my dog and being the dumb person i am i took it to heart, until they told me off for letting my dog run around 2 weeks after her spay (yes 2 weeks!!).
In the end i said "Have you ever owned a great dane" they said "no" i said "ok quit the advice then" and that was it i was OUSTED!!! Yippeeeeee!! Freedom lmao.

And have you noticed they either have collies or springers lol.
Sarah

Hi sarah
whereabouts in Merseyside are you ? I am in Wallasey- small world :)

Dont change your walking times because someone has been a bit frosty! You can walk at your usual time. If they are that petty, ignore them, they are not worth knowing. You dont need other people's approval. They cant be very adult if they have to gang up on people ....smacks of bulllies to me. Remember...you are a grown up, you dont need to belong to anybodies gang, you are just fine with or without them.

I agree with pinklillies, dont change your time just because of them.  i know that with the group of people ever made me an outsider then i would still walk right in their faces just to rub it in!!!!

Why don't you and this lady in a red coat go out together, resposible caring group (you and lady in red) non caring group (others!!)

Rox

Their loss Karen :)

thats there  problem isent it make freinds with the chap with the b/c mabe you could help him with his dog being so scared. my cocker dose the exact same shes scared stiff of all other dogs and people dispit having pup training class's. i have the same problem with other dogs in the park also people think shes so cute so try to stroke her i dont mind there just eing freindly.
Just ignore those ppl there problem not yours:)

You know I never thought of that in fact the bloke with the B/C wasn't in my thoughts at all I'm sorry to say. I just wanted to moan about the attitude of the other dog owners.

But now you mention it. Lovleylady as the owner of a dog that is "scared"  if I meet you in a similar senario, ie your dog petrified, and I meet you again would you be willing to walk with me.I wouldn't want to be pushy, because I realise but for the grace of God there go I with a dog thats unhappy at somethings.
Sal is as "bomb proof" I think as a 12 month old pup can be, but she does understand sometimes better than me Dogs body language.

Would any owners of "less confident dogs"be upset at my suggestion?     

No Ice Queen, I think I will just carry on being a "lone wolf" walking with my dog and meeting reasonable people on the way. My company is there loss.
Karen

I think they are being silly. As you so rightly said, some dogs esp. a large group, however friendly, can simply be overwhelming, and it is only fair to call one's dog back if another dog looks frightened. Poor Bc - who knows, its training may have been put back weeks by the actions of the more ignorant :(

Not sure what the answer is, but walk whenever you want - early or late. These people seem to think they own the area !!! :rolleyes:

Lindsay

Karen, its their loss! :) It does hurt though. Being an awkward so and so I wouldnt change my wallking time and I also wouldnt say more than " Good Morning" as cheerfully and politely as possible to this lot. They dont own the park. Just talking about this with a friend last night and we both agreed that its not the dogs that cause the problems its their owners.

I have problems with one of my 3 as he has been attacked so many times that now he jumps first.  As a result I go out of my way to walk alone.

I think the people who refused to call the dogs in were being very unfair, and potentially dangerous.

Well done for thinking of the other chap.  Hope your hand is getting better.

Kazz, I'd be the same as Lorelei.....I'd walk past with my nose in the air, a deliberately sickly smile on my face and say a very bright and cheery "morning"  :D ........wouldn't let anyone intimidate me, or change my usual plan or routes.
They're the ignorant lot, and you're better off without them.
Sal sounds lovely :)

There are 2 gangs of dog 'walkers' at our park. You could hardly call it walking though because all they do is drive to the park, then sit their bums on their regular benches and chat. I tried out one group, but the dogs were aggressive and unfriendly and the owners petty and miserable. The second group is friendlier but they've all known each other for so many years - since their dogs were pups so although they get along great with each other I feel a bit awkward. There's one guy though that's sooo annoying. Every time we go he has to comment loudly about how my dogs are "sooooooooo shy!!" that it's quite offensive. Firstly, my girls (both being toy dogs) are a lot smaller than the huskies, boxers and mals, they're also the youngest, we don't really go often (while the other dogs and owners see each other every day) they're not very familiar either and my girls LOVE belly rubs - so they roll over. I think this thread has given me the courage to say ***** that, we're going to walk, get some good exercise and leave the yacking lazybums alone!

As for me, I enjoy being a right miserable so and so - I like nothing better than to find the park completely empty - just me and Sparky running around like a pair of nutters. Hate small talk, and am becoming less and less tolerant of other people with their "advice" (I think it has something to do with watching "playground mums" gossiping at school in their little cliques) - I'd much rather spend a few mins on CD instead!  It's always a bonus if Sparky can have a few minutes playtime with a new face, but other than that, we keep ourselves to ourselves. Much better. ;)
Tracy

I feel the same way as Tracey, there is nothing better in the world i like more than solitary walking with my dog in the fields sooooo relaxing.
Soon to be moving to Wales and a beach!!!! Wayhey!!!

we have always got shunned on our local park, but last sunday was the best.we arrived at the park and were meeting my friend who now has milo.As soon as we got there milo spotted us and ran up barking with delight.he then picked something yellow up of the floor, as did amber and ran and jumped in the pond with it.when i looked round i noticed a group of people with border collies, sweatshirts on  and whistles round their necks, and realised my two had run off with the flags from their dog obedience session.I apologised to their stony faces and ran off to try and get the flags back to no avail.the choccy loonies had put them in the middle of the pond.I don't think we'll get spoken to again by the dog "elite" but i can't stop laughing about it really.Incidentally i used to have a border collie who was soo obedient... those were the days:) 

Absolutely priceless :D :D

Sorry, but I find that quite amusing!!

It was hilarious Julia, and I felt soo sorry for their dogs, who were not allowed to romp about or go for a swim.my lot are silly but usuall well under control, but milo couldn't resist the sad little flags!!!

I suspect they may have met a similar fate at the paws of my hooligans!! :D

I'm still laughing at the mental picture it conjours up.

I'm an antisocial dog walker too :D

I've always found that people who make the effort by getting out earlier or later in the day seem to have the nicest dogs while the mid morning lot would be better off getting a cat and meeting in the warm ;)

Of course there are exceptions - like nice ladies with broken arms - lol!

Thanks All.

I feel better now. Although I will go out of my way to find the chap with the B/C and apologise. Normally I am an early morning walker due to work, but have got used to the lie-ins since the arm ;)
I may revert to just nodding and walking past the groups. I want Sal to play, but not to upset other people who are having a difficult time with their dogs.

And Yes ladies with broken arms/hands in my opinion are the nicest people to walk with especially when accompanied by a "barmy" Staff carrying a small tree or traffic cone :D

Karen

Im a lone walker.  I enjoy nothing better than finding the park empty.  I tend to enjoy my walk alot more feel slightly more relaxed.  I know quite a few people over the park and have been sighted sitting on a bench watching the sun go down discussing radio four (Im 30) with a couple of very intelligent people (Im a bit thick). But I have to confess us boxer owners do tend to try and keep ourselves to ourselves its our dogs,  they own the park and want to know what happened to every inch and whos there and why.  So when you all dart to the otherside of the field you won't be avoiding us you will be encouraging us over. With the words 'Im so sorry, its his breed, vocal and bouncy'. Whilst helping you off the ground with the dog racking through your bags and pockets because he can smell treats.    

But so gorgeous, Emma. Met a 12 week old baby boxer today (never seen one as a pup before) and fell head over heels with him! :)
Tracy

Been mugged by labs frequently for the same thing - biscuits/liver/hotdogs - they can smell it a mile away at least and if trotting to heel around the woods for ages dosent work, they stick noses into efery pocket or even jump up at the parka pocket in front. :D They never forget one act of weakness either and gallop over, deaf to owners authoritative command, roars and finaly, pleas. What a riot. :D

When we first moved to the area about a year ago, we must have been a new face at the local park as there was a group of people who regularly meet at the same time each day. The first couple of times I saw them they seem to go out of their way to find out all about you and it is a if they have vetted you and decided you don't quite fit into their group. They manage to say a quick hello but thats it now. It doesn't stop me going to the park and sometimes its great when my two are behaving well and you see one of them trying to stop their dog from running off somewhere. Ignore them. These people are best left to themselves.                    
                                                                  maggie

I do agree it is often nicest to walk on your own -with your dog :D as that way you can meet oncoming people and either stop and chat or walk on. I have a couple of friends i walk with, but we train together so know that watching the dogs is a priority ..... i can't bear going round with a group who are not even talking dog most of the time, who ignore the beauty of the outdoors and often stay rooted to the spot!!! LOL!!

I think you do have to pick and choose lots. I usually choose the company of my dog over most humans <vbg> and it does give you the freedom to train, play etc.....

Lindsay