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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think this dog should have been on a lead

248 replies

Doginthepark · 26/12/2014 17:39

Took DS to the park today and we were kicking his new Frozen ball around. A dog came charging up and grabbed the ball and popped it. DS cried. Aibu to think the dog should have been on a lead?

OP posts:
MehsMum · 26/12/2014 17:43

Well, not necessarily on a lead (depending on the park rules) but certainly under sufficiently good control that it would not go roaring off after someone else's ball, and would return to its owner when called.

I'd be mortified if either of my dogs did something like that, and would be offering to replace the ball...

Poolbirthx2 · 26/12/2014 17:43

Yanbu - i hate it when owners let their dogs wonder around the park where children are.
Did the owner say anything?

Original poster
Doginthepark · 26/12/2014 17:45

Apologised and offered to replace ball but it was a Christmas present DS very upset

OP posts:
spinduchess · 26/12/2014 17:46

It was an accident, accidents happen. Good luck getting a new ball asap.

SirChenjin · 26/12/2014 17:49

A dog did this to my DS's brand new ball once - the owner could not get his dog to return to heel, refused to apologised to DS, made it clear that he thought we were over-reacting and said (in a very bored tone) "I'll replace it then, how much, a tenner?" - then looked furious when I said "that will do, thanks" and took his money. If he hadn't been so lacking in any consideration or compassion for a little boy in tears I wouldn't have take his sodding money.

OP - The dog shouldn't have been off the lead if he couldn't be trusted not to go to heel immediately he was called, and the owner should have apologised profusely and offered to replace the ball.

youbethemummylion · 26/12/2014 17:53

Ddog is very good at coming back when called however loves balls and children, therefore is always kept on a lead near balls and children. I would be mortified if she did this. I wish people would think about their surroundings before letting their dogs run loose.

Sunna · 26/12/2014 17:54

Dog shouldn't have been off the lead when small children were around. Some dog owners are so irresponsible.

WalkWithTheLonelyOnes · 26/12/2014 17:55

I'm very pro dog but if you can't call your dog back and stop it from damaging someone else's property then the dog should be on a lead.

Our's is generally good but if there is a football match going on in the park we keep him on the lead but he just cannot help himself

mausmaus · 26/12/2014 17:56

yanbu
the dog was not under close control
if it could run up and destroy the ball like that. so yes it should have been on the lead. imo all dogs should be on the lead at all times unless in specific dog run areas

AskBasil4StuffingRecipe · 26/12/2014 17:57

If it's not obedient enough to come back when called then yes, should be on a lead.

SamiBE · 26/12/2014 20:23

I hate dogs so i think in public places they should all be on a lead (was attacked when younger so I'm really scared of the things) I think it should have been on a lead and the owner should have taken responsibility by offering to replace the ball.

Andrewofgg · 26/12/2014 20:59

Dog in the park? If you must but on a lead, muzzled, and with a cork up its backside.

AlexD72 · 26/12/2014 22:23

Should be on a lead. Does not matter about park rules. The owner has no control. I would have asked for their name and address so I could report them. Why do dog owners think it's ok to let their untrained dogs run free and upset kids?
Report it,next time it might be a child it goes for.

Wolfiefan · 26/12/2014 22:26

FFS. The dog wasn't trying to savage a child. It doesn't realise the bloody ball will pop!
Some parks dogs are allowed off lead. Some they are not. Dogs should be under control though.
Sorry your child was upset.

SirChenjin · 26/12/2014 22:47

No - but the owner knows it will pop. Which is why they should have put it on the lead.

Whoknowswhocares · 26/12/2014 22:48

"Report it,next time it might be a child it goes for."

That is a laughably stupid comment. You SERIOUSLY think that because a dog wants to play with a ball, it will inevitably lead to it eating small children? Hmm. Ridiculous.

That said, my dog is on lead anywhere where I feel she may be tempted to approach anyone or anything without my express permission. (She doesn't anyway as she is highly trained and competes nationally for obedience.) Even so, she is a dog with her own thoughts and ideas and mistakes could still potentially occur on her part. Basic level common sense in my opinion to prevent issues arising

Taz1212 · 26/12/2014 23:00

Report it,next time it might be a child it goes for.

Good God, are you the mother who told her daughter after she'd nicely asked if she could pet my 6 month old puppy, "No, it will bite you."? Hmm The dog went after a ball to play, not to attack- at least I've never seen a dog actually attack a ball in a non playful manner.

Having said that, if it had been my dog, yes, he would have most definitely been on lead because he is only off lead where there are no other non dog people or on lead dogs. I would be absolutely mortified if he chased after a child's ball, let alone grabbed it and bit into it so YANBU at all.

QueenInTheNorth · 26/12/2014 23:01

I think it depends, my dog LOVES balls, she is obsessed with them, luckily the park we go to tends to be mainly dogs (unless of course, it's sunny in which case its picnics and what not everywhere) and theres a mutual rule of 'as long as everyone goes home with a ball, it doesn't matter if its the one they came with' so in this situation, my dog would have been put on the lead when I clocked yourself and your child playing with a ball, as she cannot resist a ball.

However, I don't think that all dogs should be on a lead just because there are children or balls around, they deserve a run about to let off some steam too! and there are very few 'dog only' places. However, bottom line, yes dog should have been put on a lead when they spotted you and your DS's ball, but as they behaved nicely about it, they don't sound the irresponsible type, and did offer to replace the ball, it was an accident.

Original poster
Doginthepark · 26/12/2014 23:04

There were lots of dogs running around chasing each other and I think they should have taken more care. The ball was a Christmas present for DS!

OP posts:
MimsyBorogroves · 26/12/2014 23:30

Dog on a lead? Not sure. She should've had better recall, but that said, I've watched one of mine hightail it off after a family with a picnic before, and she's normally very good. They're unpredictable. She should have put it on the lead when she saw your child had a ball if she knew her dog was toy-oriented.

I've had a dog do the same to my son. I got an apology, which was nice, but it didn't buy my son a new ball. I had to do that, and it wasn't the same as the one he'd lost. Fortunately, having grown up with dogs, he wasn't put off dogs.

JohnCusacksWife · 26/12/2014 23:40

Accidents happen. You've said yourself the owners apologised and offered to reimburse you. Not worth getting your knickers in a twist over really.

OttiliaVonBCup · 26/12/2014 23:41

The owner apologised and offered to replace the ball, I think that's fair.

To the poster above - dogs are not things.

CheeseBuster · 26/12/2014 23:56

Depends on the park IMO. Big field or kiddie park? Why would you kick a ball around with "lots of dogs running around"? That just seems like the ending is obvious.

DIYandEatCake · 26/12/2014 23:59

Your poor ds, hope you can replace the ball. I wish some people would control their dogs better. We were in a park once, a dog off its lead bombed over, jumped on 2yo dd knocking her over, grabbed her favourite soft toy in its jaws and ran off. She was terrified and has been scared of dogs ever since - she loved them before that Sad The owner didn't apologise or check dd was ok, though he did throw the slobbered on, torn toy rabbit back to us. Hope this hasn't put your ds off dogs.

Original poster
Doginthepark · 27/12/2014 00:03

Walked over the hill, dog ran up and popped ball.

Were playing with the ball because it was a park Hmm

OP posts:
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