Smoking and dogs not on a lead at busy forest park

[Numberfour]

I am a childminder and was at a forest park today which was very busy with half term kids and parents / carers / childminders.

One woman had a cigarette at a picnic table which was full of kids and adults. So firstly, AIBU in thinking that she should have moved away from everyone if she wanted to smoke even though it was outside? Considering the number of children around I think she should have moved, but then we were outside. I detest the smell and am getting over a lousy cough so the smoke for me was horrendous. So I fear I may BU about this!

Secondly, another woman had a staffie running around fairly close to her, but the dog was scaring my childminded kids. The dog did not jump up or growl or do anything other than run around madly like dogs do when they are excited. Second AIBU: to think that again because there were so manyt children around the dog should have been on a lead? The notice board at the forest said dogs to be on leads or closely supervised. This dog remained quite close to its owner, but did run around very excitedly.

Aibu in both instances? Fear I may be.....

Numberfour - was kidding ....... because you picked two of the topics guaranteed to get folks going. Dogs and smoking! Just wondered if there were any other "classics" in there!

YANBU! I smoke, not loads but i do and it still annoys the hell out of me when i am out with dc and some selfish so and so lights up in a kids playground/ crowded picnic area/theme park whatever. I do not smoke around my kids- ever and I expect other people to have the common curtesy to at least move away from them and any other children. As i said, if you want to smoke, smoke, but don't inflict on children, 'tis wrong imo.

As for dogs, yes a bit U. If the dog was well behaved and not going far from it's owner that it was being well supervised- exactly as stated on the sign.

Hogsback, I was at Bracknell Forest today. Definitely had a bit too much sun, because I don't get the "dry as a pharaoh's sock"?

fucking hell ...

that is all

numberfour there's been no proper rain for weeks so huge fire risk. Swinley Forest went up in smoke last month.

Ooh, smoking and dogs!

NO fruitshoots, either, BORING

The problem here is that the OP is actually being Too Reasonable as in asking nicely and listening to the majority view. Then being all accepting of the verdict.

Takes all the pleasure out of it 'cos it's impossible to get a bunfight going

It's not Tuesday - Tuesday is Official Complain about Dogs Day on here.

I think we'd concluded that Friday was Breastfeeding BunFight Day - or was it Fruit Shoots? I forget.

friday is bumsex day empty. tuesday is definatly dog com plaining day. everyday is breastfeeding bun fight day surely.

Actually, I'm quite surprised they haven't banned smoking completely at the Look Out & in the forest - before all the smokers jump on me, I know that most smokers will dispose of their cigarettes/matches safely, but some don't and the risk of another devastating fire like the last one is just too great -we still haven't had a substantial amount of rain.

There are loads of parks where dogs have to be on leads, and just a few places where they can run. If you don't like dogs, then go to the more sanitised places.

I take my dog to a park where they are allowed off lead, and all the dogs who do so are completely well behaved. All they are interested in in seeing what is under the rhododendrons and sniffing other dogs bottoms. They are really not interested in children. Dogs that are not quite as good are kept on leads in busy areas - common sense, really.

This is probably the most reasonably posed AIBU I have ever witnessed!

We get this at the beach sometimes when the playful dogs come and bound around on the picnic mats - it's true that they're not harming anyone but I didn't really want a sea-soggy dog paw in my cucumber (with the crusts orf) sandwiches, thank you very much.

YABU

But can some one tell me why if your dog is well trained it is ok to let them off the lead when there is a sign specifically asking you to keep them on it?

Is it like the signs that say please do not climb this statue? You know the ones where I miss the tiny disclaimer that says

Oh unless you are special and better than anyone else. Then you can do WTF you want.

I do so like loudly explaining to my children and dog why they have to take notice when others don't

There is no danger of my dog pinching cucumber sandwiches.

She did pinch a sausage from someone else's unattended picnic once, but we compensated with a bottle of beer, which the victim felt was a good trade.

My dog pinched a box of Special K off the kitchen bench once. He refused to eat the stuff - even dogs have standards!

I walk my dog in a park where it's specifically stated it's OK to have your dog off lead. Popular woodland park - and if anyone starts giving me aggro on a nice sunny day because he's offlead and they don't think the dog should be allowed because it's the day THEY decided THEY wanted to come to the park - they get told to piss off quite frankly. He's mooching, having a sniff and picking up his pee-mail, contemplating how he's going to grow wings and fly up a tree to get the squirrel taunting him - doing naff all to bother anyone and still arseholes have a go - so they get arseholishness back.

Funnily none of the poo vigilantees (the ones who like to claim the three month old ossified dog turd is your personal fault) ever want to take me up on inspecting the full poo bags I offer them to prove I pick it up - they're just miserable bastards wanting to bitch out every dog owner going.

Very true, empty shell.

Pee-mail, lol

at pee-mail.

[vomit] at cucumber sandwiches crust or crustless.

As long as she put her ciggie out properly. My local woods burnt for 2 days the other week. Smell was horrendous and now there is a big bit in the middle that's ruined. I smoke btw.