Last Tuesday at the dog park this lady asked me if her pug could 'borrow' my golden retriever's water

I was at Riverside Dog Park last week around 5pm. Lady walks up with a pug panting hard and says her dog forgot his bowl. I laughed and said sure, but then she stayed and chatted for 20 minutes while her pug drank half the bowl. How do you politely tell a stranger their dog is being a mooch?

3 comments

3 Comments

emma_flores1mo ago

I mean the pug didn't exactly forget the bowl, the owner clearly just didn't want to carry water for her own dog. If she's going to hang out that long maybe bring travel bottles next time.

susanb341mo ago

OH MY GOD this reminds me of my friend Carol's situation. Her labradoodle's water bowl got "borrowed" by a husky owner who then complained the water was too warm. Some people just act like the whole park is their personal doggy daycare and don't think about BASIC etiquette like bringing their OWN supplies. Next time I'd just say "oh sorry I actually need that for my dog NOW" and take the bowl away.

milam481mo ago

Ugh, that's so annoying... and susanb34 is right, it's always the people who don't bring their own stuff who hang around the longest. Like, yeah of course her pug was thirsty, she probably walked him three blocks without a single water bottle. I'd start keeping a little travel bowl clipped to my bag that I can just pull out and say "here, use this" so they can't just let their dog camp out at mine. If they still linger, I'd just be like "oh, my dog's about done and I gotta head out" and pack everything up. It's the only way to break the spell without being totally rude.