Dog ate my picnic

If it was an Alsatian or Rottweiler I would understand. But a Shar Pei???????

Do they have to renew their registration?

My apologies for confusing this - I was mixing up nomenclature. I meant the equivalent of an annual licence renewal.

Agree with the dog owner here. If it was a Doberman or a large dangerous dog I’d understand your panic but this isn’t the case. You need to work on your issues with dogs as it will detrimentally affect your child. She’s right - you should’ve picked up your food. You left it unattended and dogs will do that.

and no, I’m not a dog owner. It’s just common sense !

Most dog owners just can’t be bothered to properly train their dogs. In fact I’d say 90% !
We’ve trained our dog to come when called (and it takes perseverance) but I still wouldn’t trust her without a lead.
The number of dogs who run off in the Lake/Peak District and then owners put signs up everywhere…saying they are so loved and part of the family. Some are missing for months according to Facebook groups. If they are so precious don’t let them off the lead - you wouldn’t let a small child run off where you can’t see them.

Poor dogs suffer from rubbish owners.

Had a picnic with my child today in our local park. Random dog (Shar Pei) appeared out of nowhere and ran over to us. I stood up and picked up my child and ran in a panic and stood behind a tree (probably looked like a total fool doing so but there was nowhere else to go without running towards the dog!). No idea where the owner was at this point. Watched the dog eating our food and also drooling all over our lunch box. Owner suddenly appeared from a path that lead into the park screaming at her dog to 'get here now'. Dog totally ignored her and she had to grab it and literally drag it away and put the lead on it. She apologised but when I asked her if she was going to pay for our food she actually had the gall to say 'you should have picked it up when you saw him coming' !!! I have just got home and this literally only happend 45 mins ago so am still fuming. She did not pay for our food and despite initially apologising, was incredibly arsey and walked off in the opposite direction. My child is very upset and the worst bit is, he has SEN and made everything in the lunch box himself (spread the sandwiches, cut up the apples, broke the chocolate into pieces to fit it in the container, etc). This was quite a big thing for him and he's really upset. I am also on a low income and spent a lot on the food. I took a photo of her and it clearly has her face in it. Not sure why but I just felt like I had to do something. I am not going to name and shame, but I'm just so angry.

Not sure what I want from this thread. Just rather pissed off.

I actually read the full thread. Not sure I recall it saying that there were signs but I do agree that the owner should have had better control of the dog.
however God forbid that OP should actually educate herself and her son about what to do if a dog does come near. I don’t think society will be happy until it becomes like America where dogs are only allowed off lead in dog parks because people get so hysterical.
I’m not super fond of cats - they have been known to come in my house and garden- one once ate some of my roast chicken. Yes it was irritating but I didn’t rant, rave and contact owner for a replacement chicken!!

How did OP put herself "in its path"? (Quite the opposite, in fact, since she picked up her child and ran behind a tree when the dog came running over.) She set out a picnic with her DS in a park which displays signs instructing dog-owners to keep their dogs on leads. This dog was not on a lead. OP did nothing wrong. The dog-owner was negligent and in breach of the law which requires dog-owners to be in control of their dogs.

So sick of people making excuses for dogs.

They are both wrong imo.

If I were scared of something I wouldn't put myself in its path. If I had a dog I would do my best to control it.

Righto, everyone keep your dog in, this lady doesn't like them.

I do think it’s a good thing to teach your dog to recall and walk to heel when off the lead. Even if you don’t take them off lead in busy public places (which you shouldn’t - plenty of suitable places for them to run around off lead) just in case something bad happens - you accidentally drop the lead or they manage to wriggle out of their harness or you were in a rush and didn’t realise you didn’t fasten their collar properly and then at least you know you can get your dog back to you even if it is crowded.

The problem being, as someone mentioned upthread, how do you train a dog to recall and walk to heel in busy crowded places unless you train them in busy, crowded places?

Haha Im off to walk the dog, I actually give no fucks. Hopefully there will be a picnic he can ravage..said no
dog owner ever

She was in a park that only allows dogs on leads. So how the fuck did she put herself in the path of this out of control off lead dog?

They are both wrong imo.

If I were scared of something I wouldn't put myself in its path. If I had a dog I would do my best to control it.

FFS, maybe OP should have set up her picnic behind one of the signs that stated "Dogs must be kept on a lead at all times" (just like the signs we have in our local park). 🙄 If the dog-owner had been obeying "the rules" her dog wouldn't have been able to get near OP's picnic. Why are you struggling to grasp this?

She has the right, she used it but didn't take into account other users of the park.

It is common sense...OP put herself in a public shared space where there are no controls over who goes where nor should there be it is
in the name public parks

At the start she had every right to pick up her picnic and put it somewhere where behind a sign that says no dogs or on a table and then the complete right to be offended if the same happens but come on..the floor..would she consider setting up on a football or cricket pitch suitable.

No..she would look for an appropriate place for her (away from the opportunity of dogs visiting) and imo setting up on the floor if you ate scared of dogs is taking that risk,

How do you stop dogs and what does that even mean? Or crack down on them? Or heavily restrict them?

You do realise that the context of dog ownership in the UK is one where successive governments haven't even got up off their arse to have compulsory registration.

Exactly. Why would you sit in a park on the ground if so scared of dogs you’re going to run away (and also cause your child a life long fear of dogs), especially with food that’s going to attract most dogs.

Why are you picnicking in park if you are scared of dogs. Neither of you have exclusivity. Surely there are "no dog" areas by the children's play park. Why not pick somewhere on a bench/table?

It reads like you were sat on the ground and ran away panicking as a dog was approaching..in a park where lets face it dogs will be. Dog smells food on the floor and no one there..bingo. Bye bye food.

Pick more appropriate spots for you? Sit on the floor with food and your chances of dog bombing will increase.

The owner equally poor without doubt but what could she have done? You literally laid out dinner on the floor and ran away. Are
you angry because of the dog, or her reaction.

I feel so many things are out of control nowadays and these incidents are way too common. There are no dog wardens or anything despite the massive increase in dog ownership. Who do you even report this kind of thing to?

The authorities don’t seem to do anything until after people have been savagely bitten.

They don’t care much when more gentle dogs have been attacked by out of control dogs either it seems. Even though that obviously puts the dog owners at risk when they try and rescue their dog.