I don't have aggressive dogs so I can't answer the question as it is asked but the dog parks in our county have signs up at the gate with the rules and one of the rules is you can't be having aggressive dogs there. You might double check with your park's dog park rules and also with your county animal control code to see if that's covered in there.

This is one of the reasons I don't particularly like dog parks. Although we do go to them I keep a very watchful eye over things. ***I wear my dogs out before we go in the park***. They aren't there to be all crazy and rambunctious, just to mellow out and sniff butts.
Most of the time we go in the little dog section. My two are way over the size limit but I first ask every single person in there if they mind that we're in there and if they say they are bothered then we will go to the big dogs section. No one has ever said they are bothered by it since my boys are perfect behaving little angels.
ok not really but for the time we are they they are very polite.

Actually he sounds more like a fearful dog. When that ridge of fur on their back is raised they are intimidated, fearful and are trying to make themselves look larger than they really are. Either way the dog should not have been off leash. The owners should have been working some obedience commands or something to help the dog relax and realize the dog park is a fun place to be. To me a fearful dog can be much more dangerous than an aggressive dog.

Lisa

I'm on a pit bull forum, because one of my my dogs is a staffy/snow dog mix, (she loves other dogs) but over there they are always telling people that Dog Agressive dogs should not be taken to dog parks or allowed off leash, it's just asking for trouble.
Jen

Dog-aggressive dogs of any breed should not be at a dog park, especially an off-leash area of said dog park. That IS asking for trouble. I am wary of fear-aggression especially. That is the most unpredictable type of aggression I've encountered in a dog so far, and it was quite unpleasant.

I agree with QQ - my sole purpose for taking my dog to the dog park is for socialization. We go for a three mile run then a walk, and *then* we go to the park. Why someone would take a dog that hasn't been well-exercised to the park is beyond me, unless they are just so well-socialized that they wander and sniff, and could give a rat's hiney about the rude dogs. I know Capone would be wound for sound if he wasn't worn out before we went, so I do my part to keep the park harmonious. I appreciate others that do the same.

...and for the ones that don't - watch your butt, because I carry a big stick. Seriously, I don't go to the park without my stick - I've only had to chase off one Catahoula mix (and his owner) with it.

I'll tell you why.

People get the wrong idea and think that taking their dogs to the park is a way to get them to burn off their energy by running around and acting crazy without having to get off one's hind end and actually walk the dog.
I used to be one of these people now I know better.

LAst month we were at the dog park. The weather was great but there was hardly anyone there. This guy walks in with his big dog that actually looks like a march larger version of my terrier mix and then started getting all mad when the dog would not run around the place. My dogs were just hanging out there and he was getting all pissed off that the dogs were not running around. I think I managed to keep my mouth shut which is why I'm still here today and able to tell you all this story. That is my new policy. Keep my mouth sealed tightly unless it is a matter of life or death or other emergency :-)

It's funny QQ, our dog park FORCES you to walk your dog. It's really not a park where you can just let them run and sit on your hiney. It's a 3.5 mile walking trail along the river. Sure, I suppose you could pit stop and just sit on your butt, but guaranteed your dog will want to follow the other dogs down the trail. I like it that way. It takes us a good two hours to do the entire park, and they also have a longer 6 mile trail off the three mile, if you have the time.

We still don't let ours off leash. Little girl would be gone in a heart beat, and big guy is a tad dog agressive, but more so defensive to other agressive dogs and unfortunately it seems a lot of dogs don't like him much. Last time we went he got cornered by two very upset, huskies with no owners in sight. When we tried to get moving, they followed him, snarling and growling..finally about 5 minutes of dragging big guy every which way the owners came and were all "Oh there you are, silly boys, making friends" and didn't even seem to care that their dogs were about to eat mine. Big guy would never go after another dog unless it came at him first, but I also know in the case of a lot of dogs, he'd have the upper hand in a fight, so to prevent that, both kids stay on leash at the park.

Our dog park is just a really big fenced in yard with some trees, a watering station and mostly just a big field. I only took two of my dogs there once. They were more interested in sniffing around the place than playing with other dogs. I think because we have a fenced in yard and 4 dogs with fosters coming and going, mine are used to other dogs being around.

But, back to the OP - I would definitely find out who is in charge of the park. If it is park rangers or the city, find out the # to call if there is a problem. Then if I was there and these people showed up, I'd be giving them a call.

Those people do not "have the right to be there" if their dog isn't conforming to the rules. Its a shame the other dogs all had to leave, but I would've done the same thing if I felt mine were in any danger from the aggressive dog.

Sher

I no longer go to dog parks because of incidences like that. You just never know and why even accidentally subject your dog to that.

Took Sawyer to a dog park -- once. He was completely not in to meeting any of the other dogs and was obviously scared and uncomfortable. There were several dogs running around with their owners yelling meaningless commands over and over again - no control over their dogs at all. We never went back.

With Lady, although she's been through obedience training and focuses on me when we are together, she still has fear-aggressive tendencies. Because of that, I will never have her off leash anywhere. Yes, she's small and you probably wouldn't be in the least bit intimidated by her if you saw her, but she can and will bite if she feels threatened. Knowing that side of her, it would be irresponsible to let her be off leash around other dogs and people.

First lesson inlaw enforcement and in dealing with aggressive dog owners - You can not force people to care.
It often takes a law suit to get the message across.
A shame.
I leash my dog until I determine if the dogs will get along. I clip my dog the minute there is sign of an issue, they can still play, but I have more of an ability to respond.
I have used the "my dog is aggressive" when someones dog comes flying up to us without any leash on or under any voice control. It snaps the owners out of their stupor, and forces them to control their dog. I have had one occasion when a woman who was just screaming at a dog she was caretaking, and the dog was clearly out of control, the dog would not respond to any cues my dog was giving and kept getting into my dogs face. I let go the leash on my dog and I jumped the womans dog and pinned it to the ground. She was horrified and so was the dog - who shaped up after that, and left both my dog and the other dogs alone. Im not paying vet bills because someone refuses to control their dog.

There's people at our parks that purposely don't want to tire the dogs because they think it's cute to watch them chase each other around. And it is cute and I enjoy watching it. I think it's kind of like ballet to tell you the truth but I do my best to make sure they're pretty pooped once they get inside. One of mine sniffs around the perimeter fence for a large part of the time we are there and just pees until nothing else comes out anymore. They spend more time trying to get love and attention from the humans in there than the dogs but they do play some.

I make them come to me periodically so it's good to practice that command.

The parks Tucker & I go to are not typical fenced in "dog parks." I have a variety of wide open spaces near me, from beaches to lakes w/hiking trails and even a couple of farms. It's a nice way to spend the day with my furry friend, although I only adopted him 3 months ago so I read his body language very carefully before taking him off leash. These last 3 months have been a great learning experience regarding dog owners. Thankfully 85% of the humans I've encountered share the same degree of thoughtfullness and insight as I've seen on this forum so far.

Now how about those folks that take their dogs off leash to play with others even when they know they have an intestinal parasite??? (Which is why Tucker will never go back to his most favorite park of all, poor guy)

I have dog-aggressive (people-aggressive too)very territorial dogs
Nope.
NEVER.
Even when I've had more reliable dogs, I did not and will NEVER frequent dog parks where other dogs are allowed off-leash. I also recommend to my students that they not frequent off-leash dog parks.

I leash my dog until I determine if the dogs will get along. I clip my dog the minute there is sign of an issue, they can still play, but I have more of an ability to respond.
I have used the "my dog is aggressive" when someones dog comes flying up to us without any leash on or under any voice control. It snaps the owners out of their stupor, and forces them to control their dog.

If someone who is irresponsible has their uncontrollable, aggressive dog off leash, and it charges your well trained dog, Mazer, their is not much your voice commands will do to control them or their dog. It is a dangerous, deadly situation for dogs and people when aggressive dogs run loose.

To answer the original question: No. And if you are in a situation where people do that, stay away.

Once at the dog park in the big dog section some idiot's dog cornered me and was growling and we was busy chit chatting with her friends to notice. Finally she did notice and started to come over then someone called her over and she just left me there with the dog. People are inconsiderate morons most of the time you just have to keep that in mind and watch your dogs and watch out for yourself too.

I had my dog on a leash in a dog park and another dog came over and just attacked. My dog is very good, but will not just stand and take it. We started to leave and the other dog came up and bit my dog's tail as we walked away. The owner was standing and watching. He even told me that I shouldn't have an intact dog in the dog park. Um, whose dog attacked whom! To this day, I still wished I had kicked that dog in the gut. If it ever happens again, you bet I will.

"People are inconsiderate morons most of the time you just have to keep that in mind and watch your dogs and watch out for yourself too."

HAHA! Well said Quirky!!

I'm assuming they were in violation of park rule...but of course there's probably noone there to enforce them! What does one do with someone is clearly in violation of park rules?...seems like there isn't a darn thing us honest law biding citizens can do against such ignorance.

"What does one do with someone is clearly in violation of park rules?"

Call animal control and wait 2 hours for them to come out.

Interesting thread for me. I have a large, "in your face" dog. He's neutered, very vocal, and wasn't very well socialized as a "young 'un"; adopted at a year and half we've worked really hard on obedience training. His smooth, short coat clearly shows "hackles" whenever he's excited (it doesn't mean he's "aggressive"!).

There is no dog park in my community. But if there was one, I wouldn't take him there. He's too big, too scarey looking, and there is no way I'd frighten other dog owners by turning him loose. I sure as hell wouldn't do it when he'd not had time to burn off some "steam"!

I love to see him romp and roughhouse with other dogs, but I'd rather that happened with dogs I know in "territories" the dogs know than in the wide open, "up for grabs" expanses of a dog park. At this point in our journey with our dog, it wouldn't be a FUN and relaxing time for anyone.

Why "go there"?