to think that if you have no control of it

[WhyCantIuseTheNameIWant]

Then you keep the damn dog on a lead??

Is that so hard?

[paxillin]

That's not alway helpful. We left the park yesterday on account of a bloke with a dog on a lead. Dog was the size of a calf, muscular and angry. He dragged the man around, there was no safety in that lead. Loads of other dogs on and off leads and they all left the park along with the families. If you don't control a dog you can't take it to a public space.

[WhyCantIuseTheNameIWant]

True.
This was a puppy.
About the size of a rat.
And it stole dds last biscuit.
And then the owner took offence when I removed the dog from my toddler.
A lead would be perfect.
Yes, the one you saw shouldn't be in a park...

[Owllady]

Yes, untrained dogs with poor recall should be on leads. Common sense innit

[Friendlystories]

YANBU, one of mine has selective deafness so only gets let off when there's no one else around. I don't think any dog should be loose where there are children tbh, hope your DD wasn't too upset about her biscuit

[ilovevegcrisps]

I think that rather depends Fern. I wouldn't suggest dogs are let loose in soft play but there's an onus on parents to mind their child as much as for dog owners to mind their dogs. I wouldn't really have been thrilled at having to have my dog on a lead at all times in case a random child popped up!

[paxillin]

You don't want your dog on a lead at all times in case a random child popped up? Wow.

I shall be walking my pet lion, not at soft play, mind. I shan't mind I have no control over it, we don't do recall. Not my fault if a random human pops up.

[Itinerary]

And then the owner took offence when I removed the dog from my toddler.

Unbelievable!

Why do some dog owners think their dog is more important than a small child? And the excuse is always "he's just being friendly".

[ilovevegcrisps]

Yes, dogs and lions is a great comparison

[WhyCantIuseTheNameIWant]

My child was sitting on a blanket, eating her biscuit.

Not moving around.

Normally, she loves to go and stroke a doggie... But this is the second one that has bounced up, knocked her over and stolen her food in a week!

If she had gone near the dog, it would be her problem if she lost her biscuit.

[WhyCantIuseTheNameIWant]

Can I come and stroke your lion? I love lions....

[ilovevegcrisps]

I completely agree in those circumstances.

However, I can't agree dogs should always be on leads where children are (I know you didn't say this OP) - beaches and parks (as in large outdoor spaces, not play parks) are great for children AND dogs and if dogs are just ambling around minding their own I don't see why they should have to be restricted.

Lions, yes well behaved dogs - no.

[WhyCantIuseTheNameIWant]

If its under control, it can run free. Kid, dog or lion.

If its not under control... Keep it on a string or away from innocent by-sitters. (Similar to bystanders, but sitting. And very small when they sit.)

Yes, my toddler goes on her reins in traffic.

[Friendlystories]

I was envisaging a family park type environment ilove where children are more than likely to be around. I think in any public park where there is a children's play area dogs should be on leads tbh, for me it's a similar concept to not leaving dogs and children alone together, not worth the risk as too much can go wrong and the consequences for both child and dog could be catastrophic. In most areas there will be other, less child orientated places where dogs can run off lead so I don't think it's a big compromise to keep them on leads where children are likely to be playing. My dogs are super friendly but I would never risk them being loose around children they don't know, I would be devastated if they hurt anyone, even accidentally, and the laws around keeping dogs under control are so open to interpretation that a destruction order is still possible even when a dog hasn't purposely hurt someone, I love my dogs too much to risk that happening.

[ilovevegcrisps]

I always walk my dog in a country park, and on a sunny day there are any number of children around who the dog ignored unless they came up to her.

An aggressive or badly trained dog should be on a lead but a friendly and well behaved dog should not have to be on a lead because 'won't someone think of the children' - I pay council tax too and reserve the right for me (and my dog) to enjoy local amenities. Children are not everything.

[OpenMe]

That's not the dog op is talking about though crisps. This one stole a biscuit from a toddler on a blanket. That's not a well trained dog

[ilovevegcrisps]

Oh I appreciate that I was replying to Fern, apologies for derailment op.

[WhyCantIuseTheNameIWant]

No problems. I asked for opinions...

If your dog walks or runs around, not knocking kids over and stealing food, we would probably come and a
If we could say hello.

Trying to teach both kids that dogs can be nice. Ds has always been nervous near them (but will throw a ball for random ones for hours...?)

Dd always wants to say hello, so teaching her to ask the humans first.

Is my 'rule' unreasonable?

If it behaves and comes back when called, it can run free. Be that a kid, dog, ferret or elephant.

If it won't come back when called, it needs to be on a lead (or reins) or not in a public place.

[Joinourclub]

I was on the beach at the weekend and four dogs wee'd on my two year olds sandcastles. And only one of the owners said sorry!

[Friendlystories]

That's your prerogative of course ilove and it does very much depend on the dog. If you know your dog might take food from a toddlers hand it's not unreasonable for the child to come first though. Mine are generally well behaved but are both still young and lively and my boy occasionally gets distracted and doesn't come back first call so I prefer to keep them on leads unless we have a decent space away from other people. I also think any dog can react in a way we as owners don't expect in certain circumstances and that we can't predict how other people might behave (young children in particular) around them so, for me, it's not worth the risk for reasons I've already mentioned. I love to see my dogs run free but I also don't think it hurts or restricts them to have to walk on a lead when necessary, they're still getting exercise and new experiences either way so I honestly don't see the need to have them loose around other people.

[Kittykatmacbill]

crisps if small children were aslikely to knock over,bark in the face of, steal food from and generally terrorise dogs as the other way round your point would be valid. It's not; keep your dog under control and sometimes that is on a leash, wither ot not you pay your taxes.

Similar story, when feeding a snack to dd1 (when she was about 20m) in a gated play park in a larger park. A dog squeezed under the gate, ran up to her snatched the piece of raisin bread from her hand. Then started running delighted laps of the playpark and refusing to come back to the owner. Do you know the owner shouted at me? 'I am not paying for her snack!' Yeah cos that is the issue isn't it my toddlers lack of snack, not your utterly out of control dog, you muppet.

[Greydog]

I hate these selfish, stupid, entitled dog owners. Dogs should be on a lead all the time unless you know they have excellent recall. (the law requires that they be under control) Oh, I'm a dog owner, and find it almost impossible to walk my dog in a local country park because of the huge amount of these fuckwits. Small children should not be made afraid by these people

[MidniteScribbler]

I keep my dog under control, but I get very annoyed at parents who let their kids run up to my dogs and get in their faces, then complain if one of my dogs dare lick their child. Everyone just needs to use common sense. If I'm over there ~> training with my dog, then you go and play