To have told this woman to take her kid somewhere else to play?

[KeepingOnAndOn]

We live on a very large private housing estate. It has a vast number of kids parks, little sports fields and safe places to play. It also has a couple of designated dog walking areas.

Naturally I take my dog to the dog walking areas - one in particular I like as it's away from houses, away from roads, is surrounded by trees and is a good mucky, mini wilderness for my dog to go nuts in.

I can let him off his lead here as we're normally the only ones there and if not, it's just other adults with dogs which he's fine with. If he sees a child, he will run up to them and beg for attention which is why I don't take him around the kiddy areas.

Anyway we've had no problem with this for over a year now. Until last week he was off happily exploring the wooded area when he caught a glimpse of a woman, little kid and remote control car. As they get closer he sees the car and immediately goes chasing after it, the kid screamed, the woman freaked out and the dog pounced on the car and sent it flying. I managed to grab him, apologised, picked up the car and checked it over and all was well (apart from the kid telling his mum that he doesn't like "that" stupid dog 🙄).

Tonight - same area and what comes flying through the trees but this remote control car. Dog goes nuts trying to chase it, kid screams - I grab dog before the car gets it. At this point the woman says "can't you keep that dog on a lead? My son is scared of dogs and it's putting him off coming here!" 😳 I say "you realise this is a dog walking area? That's why he isn't on a lead. There are loads of kids play parks around and only two dog walking areas". She replies "well he doesn't like playing there as the other kids get in the way of his car, this is a nice open space for him. If you kept your dog controlled it wouldn't be a problem!".

So to this I said I would not be prepared to keep my dog on a lead in what is a designated dog area, lots of dog owners use the area to let their dogs off the lead and if it's a problem for her she shouldn't use it!

She stormed off ranting on about shitty attitudes, people who put dogs before kids and selfish idiots.

I refrained from calling her the stupid loony cow that she so obviously is.

AIBU to think she's bat shit crazy to suggest her kid takes priority in a DOG WALKING area??

[Gizlotsmum]

She shouldn't be in a designated dog area if she expects it to be dog free..

[ThymeLord]

Christ OP good luck. Brace yourself for 10 pages of dog bashing.

[Cornettoninja]

Nah yanbu, she's a few sausages short of a carrot cake that one.

[ThymeLord]

Oh and YANBU. If it's an area for dog walking then you are fine to be there with your dog. There are other options for the kid, she can take him there.

[Mumteedum]

Normally I would say yabu but she sounded like a pain and a bit silly so no, not unreasonable. It'd be like me complaining about my dog hating horses if I choose to walk him on a bridleway.

[KeepingOnAndOn]

Or taking your dog to a kids play park and complaining about the kids!

[harderandharder2breathe]

Yanbu, but plenty of dog haters will be on shortly to say that all dogs should be muzzled and on short leads at all times no matter what.

It's a designated dog walking area! Of course your dog can go off lead!

[AppleMagic]

Are there signs up saying "dog walking area"?

[Hastalapasta]

YANBU. I have a dog fearing DS, I do not take him to dog parks! I also expect dogs to be interested in small fast moving things so would not take a remote controled anything with me either!

[MOISTOWLETT]

YADNBU silly woman!

[GeillisTheWitch]

She's an entitled mare. Let the dog destroy the car next time and hopefully they won't come back. She's been warned.

[Fruitcocktail6]

YANBU, it's a dog walking area. And of course a dog is going to chase a remote control car, dream come true for a dog!

[SabineUndine]

I'm not a dog person at all but that's not on. Can you go back at the same time with a few other dog people, and let all your dogs run after this 'toy'?

[mygorgeousmilo]

YANBU

[Hercules12]

I can see how this is annoying but you do have to keep your dog under control even in designated areas. That said my dog would go barmy at this and I'd be annoyed.

[Cherrysoup]

Of course Yanbu. It's a bloody dog park, somewhere presumably you can let off a dog that might be too interested in kids' toys and is enclosed so dogs can't run off?

The mother was being an entitled silly person. She'd go mad if you took your dog in a designated child play area, you are well within your rights to let your dog go mad in there. I would tell her to get lost. My lot chased a remote control car and got very distracted in a similar place. I was not happy, nor were the toy owners. I told them I was not able to stop the dogs (of course I can, they stop when asked) and they went elsewhere. It was chaos with all the dogs chasing the car!

[Oldraver]

She's batshit for going into a dog walking area and complaining of dogs..for balance I dont like unleashed dogs bounding up to people.

Though...I never knew there were specific dog walking areas

[ArchNotImpudent]

Designated dog area = YANBU.

[InfiniteSheldon]

Yadnbu but put your tin hat on the 'my special snowflake brigade' won't like this

[Oldraver]

Sorry should of said ...unleashed dogs in normal areas....of course dog is free to be off leash in a designated areas

[KeepingOnAndOn]

No "official" signs up but there are dog poo bins all along it, a little notice board about dog related matters at both sides and it's well known as been a dog walking area. Even the council refer to it as a designated dog walking area when they're going on about building plans etc - the neighbourhood committee refer to it as a dog walking area ... you'd have to be pretty dim not to realise!

[MollyRedskirts]

I'm not a dog person in the slightest, but YANBU! You're using the area correctly and that woman isn't.

[thisnthat]

Blimey, I'm not a huge dog fan at all but you are definitely in the right. She sounds beyond entitled.

[lovelyleftrubbishright]

Haha, are there really bits of land designated for dog walking? Or is it just a park where dogs are often walked? Is there a sign that says 'designated dog walking area'?

YABU, if you can't train your dog to come back to your command then he should be on a lead, even in a designated dog walking area area where people often walk their dogs.