Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

What's the point of a 'dog exclusion zone'?

78 replies

FishChipsAndVinegarPlease · 27/05/2025 16:25

Lots of cafés allow dogs now. No problem, I'll go elsewhere.

Lots of beaches allow dogs over the winter. Shame for me, but them's the rules.

But we are now in the summer season, and I was at a beach today in the UK, sitting in a marked 'dog exclusion zone'.

Someone with a dog off the lead, but fairly close to heel walked by, and the dog came up and urinated all over my bag. I'm heavily pregnant so couldn't leap up and grab the bag. Looking around, there were quite a lot of dogs on the beach.

I just wonder what the point is of the dog exclusion zone. It is totally ignored. I was pretty sad to have my bag urinated on, particularly as I'm pregnant and getting things cleaned up is harder than usual.

The owner didn't even say sorry, though she was standing barely five feet away.

I expect plenty of people will be along go tell me they prefer their dog to me and my future kid, but I just wanted to sit on the beach and relax today.

In any case there aren't enough benches for everyone on the prom, and I just wanted to sit on the beach.

OP posts:
Auroraloves · 27/05/2025 16:40

Another reason I can’t stand (some) dog owners. FFS selfish

mondaytosunday · 27/05/2025 16:36

Did you shout out when the dog did this? I’d have had a few choice words!
I’ve lived near a beach and the dogs are not allowed from May 1 to October. I’d say I rarely see someone breach this, and usually it’s because the signage is fairly poor and you can enter where there is no sign at all. Is there a lifeguard? I don’t know who you would report this to. Most people are pretty apologetic if called out but if there are other dogs then it’s hard.

cava14una · 27/05/2025 16:32

You are not being unreasonable. I had dogs and once at a show my dog cocked his leg near someone's coat. I was mortified and immediately went and spoke to the owner of the coat. She hadn't noticed and thankfully he had missed but I still couldn't have walked away.
Totally understand what you mean about people having dogs of lead in on lead areas too. Just why?!!

Swipe left for the next trending thread