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Original poster

Is this ok or would you be annoyed?

61 replies

Janiebirdy · 18/04/2024 10:23

Our house and garden faces a park and we get a few dogs running across the gardens at times. I was working in the garden last week when a dog started running up to me and across our garden; the owner didn’t call their dog back and they didn’t say anything to me. I ignored them and carried on with gardening. Would you be annoyed or figure it’s not a problem? FTR I’ve had dogs in the past so I’m not anti.

OP posts:
Original poster
Janiebirdy · 18/04/2024 12:52

TextureSeeker · 18/04/2024 12:39

Tbh I think when if I were you when I bought the place I would have factored in the fact that my garden is in the park.

The pros for that is that there is a park literally on your doorstep but the cons for that are that there is a park literally on your doorstep and with that it means the general public are there too. Yes the general public should do x and shouldn't do y but you would drive yourself crazy trying to enforce it. So long as no harm is done is I would try and chill about it. You could try private property keep out signs but again the general public don't seem to pay much heed to signs.

We’ve been here a long time and it’s nice to be around the park. We don’t have any wish to be control freaks or start guarding our garden but it has surprised me in recent years how some dog owners assume everyone’s ok with dogs.

OP posts:
TextureSeeker · 18/04/2024 12:39

Tbh I think when if I were you when I bought the place I would have factored in the fact that my garden is in the park.

The pros for that is that there is a park literally on your doorstep but the cons for that are that there is a park literally on your doorstep and with that it means the general public are there too. Yes the general public should do x and shouldn't do y but you would drive yourself crazy trying to enforce it. So long as no harm is done is I would try and chill about it. You could try private property keep out signs but again the general public don't seem to pay much heed to signs.

Original poster
Janiebirdy · 18/04/2024 12:38

Fancybed · 18/04/2024 12:17

I don't think that's clear at all, in fact from looking at that, I'm not sure which bit is garden.

A dog shouldn't be running up to anyone though. Did he approach you or just run through your garden?

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The dog came up to me and ran around the garden for a bit. The owner wasn’t too fussed about recalling the dog. I find it odd that people do this with dogs because I could be terrified of them or allergic etc.

OP posts:
HospitalitySux · 18/04/2024 12:36

Janiebirdy · 18/04/2024 12:19

We do have a border of flowers and bushes next to the pavement. Most of the gardens have small bushes/pots or a flower border.

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In that case it would mean to me it was private and keep the dog off that bit, if it wasn't marked in any way then I can see how that could be misunderstood as the garden being part of the park.

BIossomtoes · 18/04/2024 12:25

Janetime · 18/04/2024 12:22

Don’t understand why everyone has to fence, that you can’t enclose your own land?

anyway, unless the dog was aggressive, no I’d have no issue,and would stop to pet it if it looked amenable

Planning restrictions probably.

Janetime · 18/04/2024 12:22

Don’t understand why everyone has to fence, that you can’t enclose your own land?

anyway, unless the dog was aggressive, no I’d have no issue,and would stop to pet it if it looked amenable

MrsSlocombesCat · 18/04/2024 12:20

This would terrify me as I have a phobia of dogs. They should be on a lead at all times when there are people around.

Original poster
Janiebirdy · 18/04/2024 12:19

pollypocke · 18/04/2024 12:08

It would annoy me too OP, especially if it happens more than once or if the dog trampled any flowers etc. and it would really annoy me if the owner didn't even apologise! Could you maybe put some planters around the border of your garden just so there's a bit of a deterrent and makes it clear that it's the start of your garden?

We do have a border of flowers and bushes next to the pavement. Most of the gardens have small bushes/pots or a flower border.

OP posts:
Fancybed · 18/04/2024 12:17

Janiebirdy · 18/04/2024 11:12

This is a similar set up to our garden and park. I think it’s a clear boundary between park and garden but some may disagree. Having had dogs I can appreciate they do go off on their own but I’d have recalled and would try not to let them disturb others. I guess it was surprising that the owner wasn’t bothered.

I don't think that's clear at all, in fact from looking at that, I'm not sure which bit is garden.

A dog shouldn't be running up to anyone though. Did he approach you or just run through your garden?

Itloggedmeoutagain · 18/04/2024 12:11

I wouldn't let my dog off anywhere where they could get in to someone's garden.
I let him off in the park but that's not open to someone's garden.
I wouldn't like it if it was my garden and i love dogs

pollypocke · 18/04/2024 12:08

It would annoy me too OP, especially if it happens more than once or if the dog trampled any flowers etc. and it would really annoy me if the owner didn't even apologise! Could you maybe put some planters around the border of your garden just so there's a bit of a deterrent and makes it clear that it's the start of your garden?

HospitalitySux · 18/04/2024 11:39

I agree the dog shouldn't be running up to people in a public space or a private one and should be recalled if that's happening (whether it's been actually trained and listens is another issue!) but I don't think that it's very clear from that picture so if yours is a similar set up then I think it needs to be made a bit more obvious that your bit is not a part of the park.
I would recall my dog if they approached a person but if you weren't there then I wouldn't necessarily think that part is different to the other part and allow the dog on it. If it was marked out in some way, even flower beds or pots or something, in front of a house, I'd assume it was private and keep the dog off.

Pheasantsmate · 18/04/2024 11:31

I agree, that looks like one space. The dog shouldn’t run up to you, but I don’t think you can complain about it being on your property. You need to mark the boundaries- even if it’s digging out some flower boarders

Catza · 18/04/2024 11:29

We have similar set up nearby and I typically have my dog on a leash when we walk through it until we get to a wilder bit where I can let her go and roam. Having said that, I wouldn't be personally annoyed.

BIossomtoes · 18/04/2024 11:29

It’s impossible to see where the park ends and the garden begins. We looked and were very taken with a house with a similar set up but there was a ditch marking the boundary. We wouldn’t have entertained yours @Janiebirdy.

stoneyfaces · 18/04/2024 11:25

Janiebirdy · 18/04/2024 11:12

This is a similar set up to our garden and park. I think it’s a clear boundary between park and garden but some may disagree. Having had dogs I can appreciate they do go off on their own but I’d have recalled and would try not to let them disturb others. I guess it was surprising that the owner wasn’t bothered.

to me that all looks like one space I’m afraid.

ZipZapZoom · 18/04/2024 11:19

Janiebirdy · 18/04/2024 11:12

This is a similar set up to our garden and park. I think it’s a clear boundary between park and garden but some may disagree. Having had dogs I can appreciate they do go off on their own but I’d have recalled and would try not to let them disturb others. I guess it was surprising that the owner wasn’t bothered.

Actually unless the gardens are planted very clearly as a garden I don't think it is that obvious it's not part of the public space. If it's all grass like in the picture it just looks like part of the green space.

GrannyAchingsShepherdsHut · 18/04/2024 11:17

I don't think that pic would be clear to everyone that it's not part of the park. I'd probably realise, especially if the seperate front gardens had noticeably different planting etc, but some people would definitely be oblivious.

Why would the neighbours need to fence too to make it secure, couldn't you fence between your neighbour on either side and at the end of your garden like a normal front garden? Are there covenants that ban fences? I can imagine that would be likely in a park location.

randomchap · 18/04/2024 11:17

The owner was obviously in the wrong

As a fence would be pointless would some signs help differentiate between garden and park?

Original poster
Janiebirdy · 18/04/2024 11:12

This is a similar set up to our garden and park. I think it’s a clear boundary between park and garden but some may disagree. Having had dogs I can appreciate they do go off on their own but I’d have recalled and would try not to let them disturb others. I guess it was surprising that the owner wasn’t bothered.

Is this ok or would you be annoyed?
OP posts:
Chunkycookie · 18/04/2024 11:05

They should have their dog under control.

I’d be very apologetic if my dog did that, but she wouldn’t as she’d be on a lead.

ZipZapZoom · 18/04/2024 11:02

Janiebirdy · 18/04/2024 10:55

It’s a strange set up here, it’s all open. The park and the gardens are separated by a pavement. A fence isn’t practical because the free wheeling dogs would get in via other people’s gardens - every other house would have to fence off their garden too to seal off all access points.

That does sound like a very unusual set up, is it actually clear these are your gardens? I'm genuinely surprised it's just the occasional dogs you're getting and not kids playing there or teens hanging out. I would fence it in, not just to stop the dogs but also for security surely you can chuck a low fence up around each side?

Haydenn · 18/04/2024 10:57

If nothing is fenced it sounds like people could easily think the pavement is just a path running through the park?

Original poster
Janiebirdy · 18/04/2024 10:55

It’s a strange set up here, it’s all open. The park and the gardens are separated by a pavement. A fence isn’t practical because the free wheeling dogs would get in via other people’s gardens - every other house would have to fence off their garden too to seal off all access points.

OP posts:
MinervaMcGonagallsCat · 18/04/2024 10:54

Totally obnoxious of the owners. If they can't control their mutts they should be on leash.