for wanting to walk in the park without being bounced on by giant b*stard dogs?

Martionbishop - I dont think that your worry of having a dog jump up at your son for health reasons is snobby at all. In fact if you read my posts, my point is, is that I think dogs should be on leads in parks where children are playing. However when it comes to woodland areas and downs, dogs have every right to be off the lead and all familys should expects that.
What grates me about this thread is the ridiculous comments that are just laughable e.g. scared of black dogs means your racist and people shouldnt have dogs full stop! That to me is snobby cos they dont have dogs and have NO idea what they are going on about. But I completely agree with your point and sympathise with your difficult situation. I am a mum and we have a dog. I walk my dog on the lead in parks / streets. but off the lead up the downs. Whats wrong with that?

I am sure people would soon complain if I allowed my children to run up to them, put there muddy/chocolatey hands all over them, gettting the dirt all over their clothes, wiping there snotty noses on them attempted to kiss them or attempted to try and shag their legs, took food off them, and then finished off having a crap next to them even if I said 'they are only being friendly' so why is it wrong to be annoyed when a dog is not controlled and prevented from doing the same??

Not convinced that DCs are only scared because we pass on that fear. DH loves dogs, but he was at a friend's place yesterday with DS (who is 2) and they have a lovely red setter (fairly large). DS was so scared he was trembling. Then again DS loves looking at cats but is petrified if they come up to him .

MB - that must be awful for your son and you. Even if your DS is an extreme example, it is still reasonable to expect that children's rights take priority over dogs(with the normal disclaimer that children should never tease or hurt them!). And you can never trust dogs 100% (or children for that matter!)...

I like dogs in the sense of not hating them and being sort of pleased to see one - espcially my parents' dog which is lovely. But I think they are a total pita in towns. And it must be a nightmare to own one - I'd be so nervous of meeting other non-doggy people in the park (I don't think it's unreasonable to let a dog of the lead if it's otherwise under control btw), I'd hate having to clear up poo, I'd worry about leaving them in our small garden or locked in the house. I'd be paranoid about them barking all the time.

If I win the lottery I'll move to the countryside and buy a house with a big garden and probably get 2. But until then, not a chance.

I get quite freaked out if I see someone coming towards me with a dog. I have to cross the road or if im with dh and the children I have to let him push the pushchair and I almost hide behind him as we go past.
It's only big dogs though. Not sure where the fear comes from because when I was about 11 there was a couple who had two big alsations in our village. They used to let the children take them out for walks, and then they would give us sweets for taking them out. I used to love it.

Dionne, a dog jumping up onto my son can trigger an asthma attack.

It isn't being snobby, I would just prefer my son not to need extra medication because people want to let their dogs off the lead.

I feel that the needs of people should come before dogs. Dogs are not proto children, and treateing them as such doesn't make them happy. I keep my son at my side, but unrestrained dogs have bounded up to him, and I've them spent the rest of the afternoon helping my poor son to breath.

But god forbid that the 'rights' of dog owners should be questioned. Obviously the halth of my son is a secondary issue.

Connie - bit late getting back to you re: my previous post. Haven't read the rest of the thread, so you may have made further comments I disagree with ;-) , but I do retract my comment about you being a 'one trick pony'. And the yawn. I had only seen you post seemingly deliberately provocative opinions on this and other threads, but have since seen that you do offer constructive advice etc elsewhere, including...ahem...one of my threads. Sorry [humble]

connie - you do sound very extreme in your worship of dogs.

icing - i take ds to a couple of nature reserves regularly, sadly both are full of dogs running around without a lead. we have huge dogs running up to us with no owner in sight. it is just irresponsible and selfish in my view. the playgrounds are the only places now shut off to dogs, the parks are full of them. ds (nearly 3) finds playgrounds too boring, he would much rather walk or run freely, which as a child he is entitled to do without fear.

he is incredibly brave, likes animals and goes up to them, i am the one who is scared they will attack and have to stop him from touching them. i do it without panic or showing fear though. i know the WORST possible thing i can do is look scared, or make ds scared so he ends up running. it is a sure way of getting attacked by a vicious dog. as he gets older i will be telling him never to run from a dog or look scared, at his age he is too young to understand now. i think these are sensible things all parents should be aware of. self-defence where you have been attacked is useful to know too. i hope to god it will never happen to anyone.

Yellowrose it's shouldn't be a case of who gets priority, it's should be a case of everyone should be responsible for there own dogs/children and learn to share the park. Isn't there childrens play parks where dogs aren't allowed?

Dog owners are human too as far as I am aware. Some of us actually enjoy walking our dogs at the park. The parks are for everyone! As long as you pick up your mess (and that includes the kids picnic stuff and sweet wrappers) then I agree - there shouldn't be a problem.

Kids (and I have 3) aren't the most hygenic of creatures either but if a strange snot covered child came up to me to stroke my dog (as often happens) I'm not worried about threadworm and nits and ringworm!

We have two parks close by-they are literally next door to one another. One is for children, complete with play equipment and "NO dogs allowed" signs. The other, smaller one is designated as a dog exercise area, with "poo bins" amd signs pointing out what it is for. When we are walking our dogs in there, parents actually come into the dog park and ask for the dogs to be put on the lead. Now I would not want my kids runnung around in there-not all dog owners clear up the mess as we always do-but WHY do they not go to the pleasant childrens park right next door? So my point is that common sense is required on both sides.If it is an area specifically for dogs, do not expect them to be on a lead!

some dog owners are downright irresponsible and unreasonable and should be muzzled themselves never mind the dogs.

I am afraid of dogs, a fear I am trying very hard not to pass on to my children, and hate the way some dog owners think its fine to allow some great mutt to come bouncing up to me and my children. I control my children who are highly unlikely to bite, shit or scare anyone (well not yet anyway) they should do the same with their animals

kerrymum - exactly, agree with you, however much you trust your dog, you can never be sure. i trust our dog (he's a softy) as much as i can trust a dog but that's not 100%

i also believe children should have and need the freedom of parks and the last thing anyone needs is a dog bounding up to them getting excited about a ball or just running around, or a picnic and then there's dog mess to watch out for the dc's falling into or pee to stick their hands in and that's in addition to dogs tongues in faces urgggghhhhh.

we live close to a public footpath and the amount of dogs that emerge a few minutes ahead of their owners is dreadful, the dog mess that is along the path is also testimony to that. it completely hacks me off as i'm having to tell my young ds's to always watch out for it and they should be able to walk on a path and look at the nature and wildlife and their surroundings without having to worry about where they put their feet, we live in a filthy country where poeple are just plain selfish.

icing - you miss the point whole heartedly. dogs are animals, children are humans. who should get priority ?

My 9 year old was sitting in the bus shelter and he leant forward to look out for the bus and as he did a dog walked past and stuck its toungue straight in his mouth as it was at exactly the right height - we laughed but how disgusting eh?

Icingonthecake - Nice one! That is the most sensible, obvious and mature comment I have read on this thread!

This thread wasnt about dogs attacking and biting people. It was about dogs in the park with kids playfully jumping up at them. Whats that got to do with savage dogs??? Thats a completely different situation!
Also, some comments about dogs sniffing eachother etc... Its nature. Nearly ALL animlas do it! Domestic and wild. Thats just the way animals are in this world. Animals cant talk so sniffing, calling etc is their way of communication and sussing out whats what. It is all very normal!
Typical snobby comments by people who just have no idea about nature and cant think of anything else to say!

Here here Icingonthecake

I don't like the attidude nowadays about kids/dogs in the park. What gives anyone the right to determine who get priority of the park. Everyone should be allowed to enjoy it whether your a dog owner or a parent, its about being responsable on both parts. Parents should never let their children aproach a strange dog or let them run around so they are out of site and dog owners, if the owner knows their dog is a danger and knows it may bite, its the owners responsabilty to keep the dog on a lead when there is people about. They should also always pick up the dogs mess and put it in the bin. If everyone did this then parents and dog owners could both enjoy the park without this silly debate.

Have not read thread as it is too long, but I take my dog and dd to the park as I always incorporate a dog walk with a trip to a park. All the parks do not allow dogs into the area, and I presume as a risk for pooing and also safety of children, but I have no option to take dog into the area. I have her on a lead very close to me, and never allow her to poo. I also do not allow children to approach dog, without parents permission.

I think this is reasonable,I usually check with other parents and they are 100% so far positive.

I do however disagree with the op calling dogs a giant bastard. the bastard is the owner NOT the innocent dog.

Did anyone watch Loose Women today cause they were talking about dogs today.

If a person came as close to you as some dogs, salivated on you, sniffed your fanjo etc etc you could do them for assult, get them arrested, possibly put in prison!

If this was the consequence for dog owners, they'd make absolutely certain their dogs were under control, whether on a lead or not! And that - is all I want!!!

bakedpotato - snap (sort of): we live in Berlin, which has many absolutely marvellous parks, but the blimming dogs (or no, not the dogs, rather the owners, some of whom don't seem to have bothered to buy a lead) and the dog poo - . So we took care to move near the Botanic Gardens (huge, lots of woodland-type paths and most importantly no dogs) when we moved back here, and shelled out on a yearly ticket.

Berliners are nuts about dogs, and let them run all over and foul all the parks, even those few where there are fenced-off areas for dogs. You are considered very ureasonable indeed if you object. A lot of playgrounds aren't properly fenced off either - we only use those that are. (The other problem with Berlin playgrounds is that all the best ones have sand down - everywhere, not just in a pit - which is nice, but makes it difficult for me to take ds to them as I'm pg and toxoplasmosis-negative and Berlin also has its fair share of cats).