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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:
Rosealea · 29/01/2026 23:17

I hope you took pictures, that sound amazing. I bet he/she is sound asleep having very happy dreams just now about the days it's had. Just beautiful 🥰

NuffSaidSam · 29/01/2026 22:54

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 29/01/2026 21:26

It’s poo would

If she let the dog poo on the slide then that is completely unacceptable, but the OP makes no suggestion that this was the case. It would also be unacceptable if someone let their child poo on the slide so it's not really a dog specific issue.

MindYourUsage · 29/01/2026 21:50

Bird crap
Fox poo , Fox wee
Rats & Mice
Cat wee & poo
Squirrels - i suppose they shit and pee as well (though I've never seen this now I think of it...)
Shoes all over equipment that will have walked on a path where horses crapped and people spat

.... have I missed anything? The outdoors is not sterile. Best not to think about it too much.

vodkaredbullgirl · 29/01/2026 21:50

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 29/01/2026 21:26

It’s poo would

Wondered when someone would mention 💩

NuffSaidSam · 29/01/2026 21:48

MandingoAteMyBaby · 29/01/2026 21:36

Dogs should be tied up outside children’s playgrounds with no exceptions except for guide dogs.

All dogs? Even if you don't have kids in the playground? What an odd sight that would be! And how long should they be tied up for? It's going to really add time onto my dog walk if I have to tie them up outside a kids playground every day.

NuffSaidSam · 29/01/2026 21:47

It's insane, but I would have liked to have seen it.

I don't think hygiene is an issue. Presumably the kids are running over it with muddy boots/shoes so their feet are no cleaner than the dogs feet!

ColdAsAWitches · 29/01/2026 21:42

I get that dogs are annoying, but I wouldn't complain from a hygiene point of view. The kids themselves will have trampled through all sorts, birds will have shat on every inch of equipment, etc

TheBeaTgoeson1 · 29/01/2026 21:39

Things that didn’t happen…..

MandingoAteMyBaby · 29/01/2026 21:36

Dogs should be tied up outside children’s playgrounds with no exceptions except for guide dogs.

MindYourUsage · 29/01/2026 21:30

YeOldeGreyhound · 29/01/2026 21:26

Hey, I was told here on MN that I needed my head checking because my 15 year old greyhound wore jumpers.

I get you - My small poodle also needs an equafleece in the cold! She also has a blackwatch kilt coat. for Burns night. In the pub. MN will love me 😂

That said, the descriptive detail of the owner here feels beside the point. Whether the owner was a “dog mum”, whether the dog was dressed up, or what breed it was isn't the point .... and it does read a bit like an invitation to judge the owner rather than focus on the behaviour itself.

YeOldeGreyhound · 29/01/2026 21:28

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 29/01/2026 21:26

It’s poo would

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.

YeOldeGreyhound · 29/01/2026 21:27

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 29/01/2026 21:25

That’s disgusting. They are banned from kids areas so that kids don’t crawl in their worm infested poo or catch fleas

Fleas thrive on actual animals, not play equipment.

Do you have kids? Nits and thread worms come to mind. Do you regularly worm your kids? If not, why not?

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 29/01/2026 21:26

YeOldeGreyhound · 29/01/2026 21:00

Unless it was an area that was no dogs allowed, then YABU.

By the way, outside is not sterile. A dog on a slide is not going to harm your kid.

It’s poo would

YeOldeGreyhound · 29/01/2026 21:26

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.

Hey, I was told here on MN that I needed my head checking because my 15 year old greyhound wore jumpers.

Unexpectedlysinglemum · 29/01/2026 21:25

That’s disgusting. They are banned from kids areas so that kids don’t crawl in their worm infested poo or catch fleas

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.

YeOldeGreyhound · 29/01/2026 21:11

Backgroundnoises · 29/01/2026 21:08

Dogs around noisy, excited, unpredictable, running children are a bite risk. That's why they shouldn't be in children's play areas. I would have said this to the owner. Having to have your dog put down because they bit a child is not a risk any responsible, loving dog owner would take even if they don't care about children's health safety.

I agree.
Saying that, a dog play area opened up near me recently. Equipment for dogs to play on. Think agility type stuff. FB posts complaining about dogs approaching kids there when it is a dog play park.

Backgroundnoises · 29/01/2026 21:08

Dogs around noisy, excited, unpredictable, running children are a bite risk. That's why they shouldn't be in children's play areas. I would have said this to the owner. Having to have your dog put down because they bit a child is not a risk any responsible, loving dog owner would take even if they don't care about children's health safety.

21ZIGGY · 29/01/2026 21:03

It's not allowed and I haven't seen a children's playground without a sign that says no dogs, but you aren't dealing with normal here so I'd just forget about it and move on

vodkaredbullgirl · 29/01/2026 21:02

YeOldeGreyhound · 29/01/2026 21:01

My dog was too refined. A wine bar would have suited her, not swings 😂

😂

YeOldeGreyhound · 29/01/2026 21:01

vodkaredbullgirl · 29/01/2026 18:22

I have dogs and I wouldn't let them go in a children's play area.

My dog was too refined. A wine bar would have suited her, not swings 😂

YeOldeGreyhound · 29/01/2026 21:00

Unless it was an area that was no dogs allowed, then YABU.

By the way, outside is not sterile. A dog on a slide is not going to harm your kid.

Justwingingit2005 · 29/01/2026 21:00

I love my dog and he would love a play area but I wouldn't take him in one.
My dog has regular medication for fleas and worms so it's not from a hygiene pov it's rather if he a safety pov.

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.

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.

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