There's no penalty box at the dog park... get your aggressive mutt outta there

You thought you'd enjoy today's "snow day" by taking your white German shepherd to the Genesee Dog Park. White Fang, you reasoned, would enjoy romping in the snow and playing with his fellow canines.

Trouble was, White Fang did not seem to share your assessment. Your shepherd acted aggressively with the other dogs, and started at least one fight.

Worse, you didn't attempt to intervene. When the owner of the other dog confronted you, you appeared shocked by White Fang's conduct. "I don't understand what happened," you gushed. "He's such a sweetheart at home."

Even worse, you failed to remove White Fang from the park. Instead you leashed him up and kept him the park. And then you petted him, thereby reassuring his brutish behavior.

Irresponsible dog owner, what the hell were you thinking?

Maybe you didn't recognize that the darling doggie living in your cute Craftsman near the lake transforms into Cujo when he leaves your 'hood. But once you became aware of your dog's behavior at the park today, you should leashed up White Fang and left the off-leash park. What good would come out tethering up your dog and remaining on the premises? Do you think he felt any more secure and serene leashed up amongst other dogs that freely ran and played around him?

Once White Fang displayed aggression, you should regain control of your dog and leave the park. There is no "penalty box" at the dog park... you should remove your dog from the premises before he instigates another confrontation. Apparently, common sense is not within your modus operandi.

To the rest of the owners at the park: Call the Seattle Animal Shelter at 386-PETS (386-7387) if you observe aggression at the dog park.

Thumbs down to aggressive dog and the clueless owner at "Gladiator Park"

I learned a new nickname for the Genesee off-leash dog park in the lovely Rainier Valley: "Gladiator Park".

This moniker is no joke, but a characterization by some who view the off-leash area as a place where dogs spar. I recently heard about an incident at the Genesee Dog Park that involved a large, unentered pit bull and its combatants, two dachshunds. All went well as the three dogs played until the pit bull suddenly went after the two tiny dogs. The pit lunged at one of the dachshunds that hid under a bench, and then aggressively chased the other like a hunter pursuing its prey. The owner of the pit could not retain control of her pit, which was not wearing a collar.

Another individual intervened and helped restore order. When this individual asked if the owner planned to neuter the pit, the owner seemed surprised and offended.

Lady, what the hell are you thinking?

Discussions about breed-specific legislation and pit bulls are futile. But dialogues about safety at "Gladiator Park" are fair game. I don't think any pit bull owner would be surprised to know that some experience apprehension when your dog(s) come to the park. Seeing an unentered or non-spayed pit bull sparks genuine fear in people. And when your pit suddenly goes after tiny dogs, and when you can't control your canine in attack mode without assistance... well, that's too damned scary.

Leave the aggressive dog -- regardless of breed -- at home.