dogs in the park

[Hannah31]

There is a field at the back of our house which has a playpark fenced off at the top of it. The field is enclosed by houses, and is very popular with dog owners as somewhere to let their dogs off the lead and crap all over the place without picking it up and have a run around. Now I am not the world's biggest dog fan, but am trying to teach our DDs to be careful around dogs but not terrified (as I was growing up). We went to the park yesterday to play, and there were 3 German Shepherds and a Rottweiler, all with the same owner running around and having a great time (dogs, not owner!). They did absolutely nothing wrong, and were reasonably well controlled (came back when the owner shouted them from quite a long way away), but they were bloody massive and quite intimidating (I know they would'nt have been to some people - am aware that my wariness around ANY dogs makes me more likely to be worried). We got in the park quick and shut the gate (all in a Joyce Grenfall 'tra la la we're not worried' manner - probably weren't fooling anyone, but hey). I'm not sure what the actual law is for dogs and leads in public places (I thought they had to be on a lead, but maybe not). My SIL has 2 (mental) dogs, and she has often said that she would never let them off the lead anywhere that children are present because you just never know. It did occur to me that perhaps the field should be fenced off to keep the dogs in, and not the park. Just wondered what anyone thought?

I used to live near a lake which was had a footpath/bridlepath running all the way round it. It also had a play area and a large open field and was very popular with dog owners and horse riders.

Whoopeecushion - the un picked up crap is unbelievable. I've lost count of how many times I've had to clean the pushchair wheels. Grr. I've looked on t'internet about laws about leads, and you're right Earthdog. Guess 'under control' is pretty subjective though.. Do other dog owners think that having 4 dogs (regardless of size) running around at the other end of a field is having them under control? (This is a genuine question!)

I have four dogs and they will all go off the lead because they recall. They will recall from people, other dogs, horses, etc. so I consider them to be under control. Are they boisterous and do they play with each other rough? Yes, although as soon as I notice anyone who looks uphappy about it I call them to me. Four dogs aren't necessarily any less well behaved than one dog, it's a matter of training, nor are they more likely to run over and maul someone just because there are four of them. I do pick their poop btw and don't like dog poop on my shoes/pram any more than anyone else!

If I was going to give any animal a wide birth it would be a horse...and I have four of those as well! Horses can spook sideways, spin around and piss off, back off, etc. and half a tonne of any horse is much more dangerous than the vast majority of dogs. DD is never left anywhere near the horses or anywhere the horses might go if they got loose.

Oh bugger!

Try this:

JoandMax YABU - there is a fenced off play area for children so the rest is for everyone, dogs included!!

There should be a fenced off area for dogs so that the rest is for everyone, children included and dogs excluded!

Thanks Booboostoo. Sounds like you have a busy household! Of course there are loads of responsible owners in the park, and I quite like the fact that my DDs will always be used to dogs being around. Our neighbours have 2 big (lovely) dogs who enjoy seeing my DDs through the fence (i.e. make a lot of noise!), and after a bit of nervousness at first, the girls now take no notice after we've said "Oh look, Jet's come to say hello". I know it's all good for them, but I do want them to learn to be safe around all dogs. And that involves me clamping down on my natural instinct to run screaming!

Andrewofgg - Yes!

yabu, where else are dogs meant to excerise.

Yabu. My dog isnt even vaguely interested in eating other peoples children in the park. Unless they are round and covered with neon yellow felt he wouldnt look twice. What pisses me right off is when families have play areas etc at one end of the park and yet people want to come right to the other end to play with their children and then scowl at my (very well behaved) dog as he wanders past. Bugger off down your end!

So the football pitches and goals that are set out on the field are just for the dogs then?

auntipicklebottom2 In their owners' gardens and if they haven't got one big enough they shouldn't be keeping a dog - and wouldn't if they were (a) responsible and (b) genuine dog-lovers.

Andrew, that is a ridiculous comment! That would mean most people living in cities and towns couldn't own anything larger than a small dog.

We had big dogs when I was growing up (labs and retrievers) and they were walked in the local park at least twice a day with longer walks in the woods at weekends. I can assure that my parents are both responsible and dog lovers!

Andrewofgg and maybe parents should keep their children in their gardens, and horse owners their horses in their garden, and cyclists their bicycles in their garden, and so on and we could turn all public spaces into a private space to be enjoyed just by you?

We all have to put up with other people, their lifestyles and hobbies, we just need to be considerate. Hardly anyone falls into one 'category', I am a mother, a driver, a horse rider...but that doesn't mean I want to restrict all cyclists!!!

Charlearose - that's exactly what my SIL thinks about her dogs. She has a staffie cross and a Rottweiler/jack russell cross. She always says that she just wouldn't risk it. Not sure about Mervin's ability to respond to recall though - he's a bit dim!

No Booboostoo children are not to be equated with pet dogs, horses, or bicycles, and if you think they are you must find much of what is on MN puzzling.

Parks are for people, especially for small people and the big people who look after them, although other big people are welcome too. For small people to enjoy them they need (1) to be safe from dogs (2) to feel safe from dogs and (3) to be safe from dogshit.

Now since many dog-owners - not you, not the MN classes in general - are the irresponsible types who let dogs frighten children - that is, act in a way which in fact frightens children - and crap in the parks and streets, the only way to make parks really enjoyable for children is to make them dog-free. And the only way to make the pavements unshat on is to make them dog-free too.

It's as simple as that.

Where does it say that parks are for children? Even historically this is not correct, e.g. Hyde park was created and used for most of its history to exercise horses...doesn't mean we're going to ban children from it!

Public spaces are for the public and the public seems to want to indulge in a variety of pursuits. As far as park use goes I don't see children as priviledged over other park users beyond the creation of fenced in play areas.

I'm with you on the dog crap although I do think that fining offenders is the way to go rather than banning everyone. After all speeding drivers in built up areas are FAR more dangerous to children than dog crap, but I don't see anyone campaining to ban cars from cities, towns and villages.

Sorry OP, will shut up now, I promise!

No no, Booboo, you say what you think! I would actually fall over in shock if I saw anyone get a fine around here for dog crap - I s'pose the only way to do it is to patrol the areas, and that is NEVER going to happen round these parts. Still my DD is well trained to freeze at my cry of 'DOG POO!' and pick her way around it carefully.