I was so mad last night! I took my little 13-pound, six-month-old cairn to the dog park and this guy let his six-month-old golden retriever pup just wail on him! My dog could barely run five feet without that golden jumping on him, pushing him up against the fence, or flattening him! Poor guy spent more time on his belly and on his back than doing anything even remotely close to playing. Anyway, I felt the guy should've admonished his puppy for harrassing my dog the way he did. I would NEVER let my dog behave that way! I realize they are puppies, but that was ridiculous! All the guy said was 'sorry' to us, all sheepish, he never said word one to his dog. Finally my puppy started trying to get out of the park altogether, running to the gate and trying to slip through the bars, so we wound up having to take him home. Later, I noticed he had a cut on the inside of his leg from all that rough play!

I realize that puppies will be puppies and sometimes they are crazy, but there are rules at the park that say you are responsible for your dog and if your dog can't play nice with the others, it's you responsibility to get him out of there. When I see that my dog is pestering the heck out of another dog, I tell him to knock it off. And if he doesn't, I take him home.

My husband says I overreacted and our dog was fine -- and he often complains that I'm overprotective. What do you think? What should I do next time this happens?

I never have been to one. (None anywhere close to me)

I have run across this kind of behavior at the beach though.

I feel it is the person that is in charge of the dog at the time to take responsibility and make sure the dog behaves.

My dog has gotten a little rough playing with smaller dogs. (Dogs will be dogs) I immediately tell him to stop. If he does not stop, right back on the lead and we head home.

It only happened twice. He knows if he does not knock it off we are going home. (He loves the beach)

Larger dogs have roughed him up a couple of times too. He does like to play rough with big dogs. He lets me know when he had enough. (He comes to me and stands behind me)

If the other dog persists in trying to play rough (with me in the middle) I will tell the other person to take control of their dog. A sheepish gin and sorry will not cut it. I even had to tie up another’s person’s dog once because they would do nothing about it.

You might be a little overprotective. (I sure know my wife is) Nothing is wrong with that. But maybe you should have asked (A little more firmly) him to take better control of his dog.

Next time be nice but firm with the other guy. Let him know it is unacceptable.