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Original poster

Dog in children’s playground

59 replies

sally037 · 29/01/2026 15:48

We were at Polesden Lacey (National Trust property) in Surrey recently and saw a woman letting her dog use the children’s playground as if it was a dog park. The dog was going down the slides, clambering across the climbing frames, and generally running around on all the equipment. Being a weekday it wasn't particularly busy but it did seem a bit off that the few children that were there had to wait their turn for a dog to finish.

The owner was very much one of those dog mum types and the dog was all dressed up in little outfits. It looked like a labradoodle type thing.

I love dogs, but surely it’s not on to have them all over children’s play equipment? Especially when little ones are going to be touching everything/putting hands in mouths, etc.

I mentioned it when leaving to the staff on the door but they didn't seem particularly fussed. Is this actually allowed now?

OP posts:
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paltandsepper · 08/07/2026 11:19

YeOldeGreyhound · 29/01/2026 21:28

Have you even seen a dog go down a slide in a park, and shit at the same time?
I bet more kids actually do that.

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😂

FWIW I have actually seen this happen! I am not sure the kid was actually pooing, but I saw a nappy come off (I think some part of it got caught on the equipment) and its contents subsequently pour out all over the slide, spreading as the kid slid.

OP YANBU to think rules should be followed, but humans are far more likely to catch things from a human than from a dog. I wouldn't say there was a hygiene concern providing the dog hadn't pooed anywhere.

Seesawsickness · 08/07/2026 11:04

Pissedupknobber · 29/01/2026 20:57

The dog didn’t actually do anything wrong did it? If you are complaining for hygiene reasons, I recently saw a small child eat a worm. No dogs involved.

Are you really this uneducated in real life?

MandingoAteMyBaby · 08/07/2026 10:53

YeOldeGreyhound · 30/01/2026 18:35

What is a dog person? Are they a sub-type of werewolf?

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They say things like “I’m a dog mum” or “I’m a mum to two pups”.

Whereby the pups are two absolute monsters.

And if they’re really a “dog mum” they must have been impregnated by a male dog, and that’s just ew.

Stressedoutmummyof3 · 08/07/2026 10:21

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And? A dog isn't a baby or child though. Why ignore the no dog sign just because you can't have children?
It's not judgment it's about being considerate to other people. My DS doesn't like dogs and DD1 was scared of them. So if I take them somewhere that says no dogs I expect there to be no dogs

Pistachiocake · 07/07/2026 20:56

TheInkIsBlackThePageIsWhite · 29/01/2026 20:50

I would have said something. The play area shouldn't allow dogs in at all.

However I don't think it makes much of a difference dirt wise tbh, kids are climbing all over the equipment with their shoes on and rolling around in dirt and picking their noses ans scratching their arses etc so the equipment isn't exactly sanitary anyway.

I'd prefer it to the needles and used condoms. My grandparents used to go on about a dog that did this, minus the outfits, presumably that was allowedand the kids loved it (have to be honest, mine would too, where is this park as they will want to see!) and in those days, parents probably liked the fact dogs stopped dodgy strangers talking to the kids.
But I personally wouldn't take a dog in, anyway. People should worm their dogs to avoid health issues, too.

Charlei22 · 07/07/2026 20:48

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BettytheOctopus · 30/01/2026 18:50

I agree with a PP, you need to challenge this behaviour, just be prepared for them to double down.
I would also email the National Trust as things can't change unless they know about them.

As you're reasonably close to the area, I'd also steer clear of Queen Elizabeth Country Park as owners take their dogs around the assault course despite the fact they have their own dedicated activity course. It's infuriating.

PlayingDevilsAdvocateisinteresting · 30/01/2026 18:40

As long as the dog has a nappy and dog bootees on I don't see a problem? 🙈

YeOldeGreyhound · 30/01/2026 18:35

wishingonastar101 · 30/01/2026 15:54

I hate dog people...

What is a dog person? Are they a sub-type of werewolf?

vodkaredbullgirl · 30/01/2026 18:32

wishingonastar101 · 30/01/2026 15:54

I hate dog people...

Nice to know 🙂

Blondeshavemorefun · 30/01/2026 16:27

Cairneyes · 30/01/2026 16:15

Clumber Park is also National Trust and has two dog paddocks, one with agility equipment and one with trees, free to use. I take mine there!

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I’m sure they love 💓

Balloonhearts · 30/01/2026 16:26

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 29/01/2026 21:26

It’s poo would

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Its poo can just as easily be trodden in on shoes and I highly doubt cats and foxes are so considerate. Play parks are very unhygienic places.

Shouldn't be in there with children present though. I'd have no real objection if it was empty, though it's a bit of a bizarre thing to do.

cadburyegg · 30/01/2026 16:17

The dog was going down the slides?!?!?!?

I’ve heard it all now.

YANBU. One reason why I’m glad the NT properties near here don’t allow dogs!!

Cairneyes · 30/01/2026 16:15

Blondeshavemorefun · 30/01/2026 16:12

Tbh usually had signs saying no dogs allowed

I would have said something to the owner

tho I’m sure if they designed a dogs playground with swings and slides etc fences to jump over /under it would get used

maybe becharged a few pounds to use it

Clumber Park is also National Trust and has two dog paddocks, one with agility equipment and one with trees, free to use. I take mine there!

Blondeshavemorefun · 30/01/2026 16:12

Tbh usually had signs saying no dogs allowed

I would have said something to the owner

tho I’m sure if they designed a dogs playground with swings and slides etc fences to jump over /under it would get used

maybe becharged a few pounds to use it

wishingonastar101 · 30/01/2026 15:54

I hate dog people...

boulevardofbrokendreamss · 30/01/2026 15:28

Oh I pressed the wrong button. YANBU. I doubt NT would have been impressed.

Changename12 · 30/01/2026 15:26

Well a quick google has told me that dogs are not allowed in kestrel corner which is the children’s playground in Polesden Lacey.
I would have asked the woman to remove her dog and told her that if she didn’t then I would remove it.
I did exactly this a couple of months ago when a woman put her dog on a seat on the train. I have also done this when people have taken their dogs to children’s playgrounds.
If the dog was exceptionally large or fearsome then I would have gone and found an employee to do this. I have also done this.
If the dog had been a guide dog then it would not have been on the children’s equipment.

Cairneyes · 30/01/2026 15:05

The National Trust have very clear rules about where dogs are and are not allowed, I’ve never seen anywhere that lets dogs into a children’s playground . I would raise it again with the Trust and ask them for clarification/to ensure the rules are complied with. That said, it’s not the Trusts fault, it is the moronic owner who is at fault ( and yes, I have a dog but it only goes where it’s actually allowed , not where I feel like taking it!)

MakingPlans2025 · 30/01/2026 15:01

In my experience when you challenge people like this it ends badly. Dog owners with this level of entitlement tend to respond aggressively.

Portakalkedi · 30/01/2026 14:53

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MeganM3 · 30/01/2026 14:30

Of course there shouldn’t be dogs in a children’s playground. That’s really irresponsible of the owner and of the staff not to take your information seriously.

modgepodge · 30/01/2026 14:29

sally037 · 30/01/2026 10:00

Massive apologies and I was probably being a little judgmental so I am very sorry for that especially if I caused offense to you.

I guess I was just trying to set the scene and explain what type of person it was i.e. in my mind the type of person who infantalises their dog and thinks of it as the equivalent of a human child.

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I personally think a little judgement is fine when a person is behaving like this. I’d have been judging her hard.

Original poster
sally037 · 30/01/2026 10:00

MindYourUsage · 29/01/2026 21:22

agree that dogs shouldn’t be using children’s playground equipment and National Trust sites usually have clear rules about where dogs are allowed. That’s the bit worth focusing on.

The “dog mum", outfits / labradoodle type thing” detail feels like unnecessary detail, what were you hoping to achieve with that? Isn't your question about dogs in general on childrens play equipment? Or are you asking specifically about dogs in jumpers? I'm not sure it matters what the sog is wearing.....

If staff weren’t concerned, it might be worth checking the specific NT policy for that site but no, this isn’t some new normal everywhere.

Massive apologies and I was probably being a little judgmental so I am very sorry for that especially if I caused offense to you.

I guess I was just trying to set the scene and explain what type of person it was i.e. in my mind the type of person who infantalises their dog and thinks of it as the equivalent of a human child.

OP posts:
Stressedoutmummyof3 · 29/01/2026 23:28

It's a children's playground, not a dog's playground. What about kids who are allergic or scared of dogs? Why do they have to suffer because of a ridiculous owner?
If my kids were there I'd have said something along the lines of why is your dog in the children's playground? Please remove him so my terrified child can play in the children's play area. If no-one said anything then that's on them.

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