To think dogs should be on a lead at a sledging hill?

[PippiL]

Prepared that I might be BU.

The field is probably privately owned. It is The Sledging
Hill in the village. Loads of kids there today.

About 3 dogs, big bouncy ones, off leads chasing sledges, pissing in the snow where kids sledging, and crapping too (generally out of the way, but didn't see it picked up).

My dd is petrified of dogs, and stood about 5 minutes complaining loudly how they should be on a lead. Which was ignored by the owners.

We had to leave.

Aibu?

YANBU
another dog phobic dd and she finds trips to our local park difficult a the best of times.
excited dogs sledge chasing took her over the edge and we had to give up
i dont believe any dog that cant be controlled to heel in a public place shouldnt be allowed free reign -of terror to scared kids--

plenty did put leads back on but there are always a few that just look at you like an alien and state "the dog wont hurt you"

Who designates these 'sledging hills'?

Tiffany. God.

I would have kept my dog on her lead, precisely because I know she would be chasing the sleds! I would also be picking up after her, obviously. I've drummed it in to myself to the point where I take bags with me, even when I'm without my dog

I would, however, probably wander off a bit grumpy because of the sledders ruining my fun with my dog I say that because if it really is a field that people can walk their dogs in safely without interruption most of the time, I would have been looking forward to enjoying my dog in the snow, IYSWIM. But obviously it's not my field and it's good manners to share

TB, I do that too . Every pocket of every article of clothing I own is overflowing with crinkled up little baggies.

There were about 5 other non sledging fields adjacent for non child-infested dog fun.

Good point, Beer. one thing re. The poo: if it's a 'dog-walking' field there will have already been a considerable amount under the snow, adding to the general pong. Just saying.

But I'm all for dogs on leads in this sitch; ours is the fattest most mild-mannered, harmless little creature I know, but she sees a fast-moving bundle shooting downhill and she sees a rabbit .

It's great fun when it's just our family being chased and nipped at, but when strangers including children are around that's just not on.

I'd always keep her away from a dog-phobic child as well.
< awaits medal >

We live in the snowy Alps. My dog regularly chases DD down the local sledging hill and chases the other children too. I would never let him foul the field and not pick it up, but wouldn't dream of putting him on a lead unless someone complained or a child looked distressed or upset by his prescence. Nobody has ever complained but then again they wouldn't, as people over here have a much more relaxed attitude about children mixing with dogs. He is a very well behaved, small fluffy thing and most children who meet him love him.

When we are in the UK it is a different matter. I would never take him to the park and walk him off the lead as i find that most parents are nervous about a strange dog around their children and a lot of children seem to be scared of dogs. That makes for an uncomfortable situation all round. Plus i myself am scared of some of the fighting breeds that are so common in the UK and don't want my dog to go near them!

Are you BU? Slightly. But i also think that UK dog owners should be mindful that dogs are just not loved as much in the UK as they are elsewhere and respect the general feeling in British society that most people want all dogs in public places around children on leads. Sad but true.

Yabu

It's called the 'countryside' - it's not a public park.

And as you say it's probably private land - so you probably shouldn't be there either.

Shotgun, medal duly awarded

Of course they have as much right to be there. Humans aren't the only species on this planet.

Dogs need exercise, even when it snows.

A dog can be under control without being on a lead if it has good recall, and under control does not mean walking less than a foot away from its owner at all times. If a harmless dog is running around not causing a problem, then I don't see why they should be on a lead.

If the only problem is that someone else doesn't like them, then it's down to the one causing the problem to remove themselves, as the OP did. I don't allow my dog to go running up to people, and he generally doesn't anyway. But someone not likening dogs anywhere near them is not a good enough reason to keep dogs on leads at all times IMO.

Has no one though of the dogs in all of this? When I was a kid I used to go to local sledging hill. There was this little yappy dog there chasing all the sledges. I hit it, I tried really hard not to hit it, bit I did. And it cried and cried and cried as it hobbled around on three legs. Can you tell I still feel guilty about this?

The dogs should have been on leads on this occasion for their own safety if nothing else.

When we were kids our dog would don his reindeer outfit (with a bit of help from his humans) and pull our sledge to the designated sledging hill. Lazy bugger wouldn't pull us up though.

i've just been to our local hill and there were loads of adults and children and teenagers and dogs all having a lovely time and getting along fine.

What is wrong with everyone?

Oh come on, some of you are being too harsh. YANBU at all. If there are loads of children playing and the dogs are out of control, you have every right to complain about it. The problem here is, as usual, crappy dog owners.

I have a child who is scared of dogs and I am bloody sick of effing dog owners telling me to help them get over their fear. If you look after your dog properly, they aren't frightened. I know the dog won't hurt them, and I know that my child needs to get over it, but scaring them all the more is not going to help.

Bah. Grumble grumble.

People have a right not to have dogs running around their feet.

I too have terrified children due to one being bitten by a "don't worry he's friendly" dog.

Dogs can and do bite.Hoards of excited children and sledges would whip many a dog into a frenzy if left to run around.

Aside from that how bloody dangerous are unleashed dogs in a sledging area-running alongside or in front of sledges.

YANBU

YANBU at all. Our morning out sledging was spoilt by bloody dogs too.

We went sledging today and brought the dog - no lead. It means that one sod has to stand at the top of the hill freezing their arse off getting cold holding onto the dog on it's lead. So what if there are dogs running around? If your child is scare of dogs, then they need to get over that fear, and keeping them away from dogs isn't going to help? Kids these days are much too sheltered. Although I agree that the owners should have picked up the dog shit :)

YABU to expect other people & their dogs not to enjoy the area together because your DD doesn't like dogs.

Not as U as mouseymouseprice though.

No my kids do not need to get over their fear.Who says they need to get over that fear?

Their fear was caused by a dog biting one of them.

They have a right not to have their space invaded and dogs mouths to make contact with their body.

My children are not sheltered.

Keeping my kids away from unknown dogs stops me from having 3 very frightened terrified children,please don't lecture me on how to ensure the mental well being of my children.You don't know my children or what is best for them.

If you don't want to stand freezing at the top of a hill keep your dog at home when visiting a sledging hill-quite simple really.

unless you go to that hill every day in all types of weather YABVU.

why am I unreasonable? because I tell you that you are an irresponsible dog owner?

I had visions of something like Kladdkaka mentioned: dogs harnessed to the sledges and made to do a bit of work.

I would be all in favour of that.

The thread was re dogs on leads on a sledging hill.

Dogs off leads on a sledging hill(aside from being a major pita) are extremely dangerous.Only the very unreasonable ie dog owners would not see that.