To think the ramp into the dog pond was a fucking stupid place to have a picnic?

[CatThiefKeith]

Just that really. Went to a local country park today, dh, dd (3) the dog and I.

Big country park, some of which is designated as off lead area for dogs, and has a large pond, clearly signposted as "Dog Pond" with a large wooden ramp going into it so dogs can get out easily.

We arrived at the pond, let the dog off and she bounded straight in, then swam across the pond to get out, which is when I noticed 4 women having a picnic on it.

Predictably the dog got out and shook herself, at which point one of the women started yelling that I should keep my dog on a fucking lead!

I smiled sweetly and called the dog back but really? Is it me or would one of the several designated picnic areas have been a much better choice ?

I hope her fucking sandwiches got wet.

Haha! She obviously didn't know it was a dog's off lead area.

She soon found out

YANBU

Worra, they were sitting next to a sign that said "dog swimming only"

I really didn't know dog ponds were a thing, any ramp into a pond is not somewhere I would think of as a suitable picnic place though.

A dog pond with a ramp? What a great idea! Crap place for a picnic though.

Hahaha. Fucking idiot! Yanbu x

It's not a dog park as such. It's a massive country park, with cycle trails, bridle paths, a big adventure playground, a fishing lake and a pond just for dogs to swim in.

Acres and acres of woodland, and they choose the bloody dog ramp!

Yanbu.

And it sounds a fab place. I want to take my dog there.

It's Shorne Country Park in Kent, 10 mins off the M25 on the A2 if anyone wants to visit it!

just eat your sandwiches in a sensible place

I hope you pointed their error out to them.

I wonder how many other dogs did the same thing while they were there? I bet they were completely baffled by the end of the afternoon

I did point out the sign, but they were still huffing and puffing as they packed up their picnic.

Their mood was not improved by a hairy, licky very wet Labrador sticking her nose into their cool bag though I don't think!

They were damn lucky it wasn't me and my 2 labs. They would have eaten the entire picnic.

I'm sure they didn't realise the ramp was for dogs. In fairness this would have scared the shit out of my two kids who are rather frightened of dogs (not that I'd choose the dog swimming pond to picnic by!)

I'm amazed she didn't to be honest! Fortunately we've been working on her recall, three months ago there would have been nothing left of it.

But that's my point Wolfie - the majority of the park is strictly dogs on leads, the off lead/ dog pond area is tiny in comparison, but no, they decided the wooden ramp was the ideal spot for lunch!

Presumably they didn't want to sit on the grass or on one of the hundreds of picnic benches!

I do love a thread where the dog and owner are the ones NOT BU

Ha ha! This randomly reminded me of the time my dog forced a National Trust cafe to open purely through the power of begging.

We went for a walk around the grounds of a NT property early and stopped by the cafe for a coffee, forgetting what time it was - realised they didn't open for an hour and turned to go - cue dog planting herself right outside the cafe glass doors, head on one side, golden retriever brown eyes big as anything, staring intently at the staff doing morning prep.

They actually opened an hour early just for us and gave her a free Lotus biscuit

Aw, I would have opened early for her too RP!

Did they think it was a nice little jetty or something? Mad.

I think they might have mistaken it for a fishing swim or something.

They had a rude awakening though!

Could the women read < clutching at straws>

My dog would have never shaken herself over the women .. no no not my dog ... she would have eaten their sandwiches first !

Sounds fab country park - must go there.

They didn't happened to be wearing white did they - get very nervous when I see people in white near water... and my dog.