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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be upset with the woman with dog in a playground

134 replies

MumOnAShortFuse · 27/10/2015 13:29

I was walking my dog at a local area that has a popular playground. It has a strong swing gate in it that has a very obvious sign that quite clearly states no dog by way of a nice little picture of a dog with a red line through it. At least, I thought that the sign made it obvious. I saw a woman with her kid and her dog in the playground whenI drove past to park. As they were still in there 15mins later (with said dog off his lead and running about on, and jumping on and off,some of the play equipment that has a platform on) I approached her and advised her she shouldn't have the dog in there. I've got 2 DD and I often don't take them in there as there is dog poo in there.
They were the only ones in there and she was insistent it was ok as she had bags with her.
I pointed out this wasn't good enough and if it said no dogs, it means no dogs whether they've pooed in there or not. If we know we're going to the playground, my dog stays at home. If it's been spontaneous, he gets tied up to the railings on the outside of the park.
She didn't like this pointed out and seemed to feel I was being unreasonable. Thoughts?

OP posts:
SirChenjin · 28/10/2015 13:40

And no doubt the ones who think that the 'no dogs' signs don't apply to them Adara

Thing is, the vast majority of people who are scared of dogs are scared for a reason - usually the result of a dog having jumped up at them, knocked them over or bitten them. The 'stand still' or 'he's only being friendly' from dog owners doesn't help them overcome that fear - but there are too many dog owners who put the onus on people not being scared of their dogs rather than the behaviour of dog owners.

Hurr1cane · 28/10/2015 14:10

Thanks for linking me but I'm nowhere near Essex and DS has severe learning disabilities so I doubt the course would be appropriate anyway

IKnowIAmButWhatAreYou · 28/10/2015 15:53

I'm not averse to sneakily letting my dog into the playground when no-ones around so he can sprint around in the sand for 2 minutes.

My only worry is that he might cut his paws on glass, but we've been lucky so far.

Scaredycat3000 · 28/10/2015 16:06

That's two reasons to keep him out of the playground then Iknow, him not being allowed in there is enough for a few owners, but you're one of those special people that rules don't apply too. Glad you don't consider your dog more important than other humans.

Abraid2 · 28/10/2015 16:07

Thing is,other people see your dog in there and they think it's ok to bring theirs in, too. And then it descends into more and more irresponsible dog owners and dogs poo, dogs chasing children, etc. I know this from my years of experience. Thin end of the wedge. We even had teenagers pushing dogs down the slides and getting mouthy with me when I told them to stop.

You think your dog is different, but everyone has a reason for thinking the same.

iminshock · 28/10/2015 16:13

the longer I live the more I dislike dogs ( smelly, noisy, slobbery ) and their owners for thinking their dogs are none of the above

MissBattleaxe · 28/10/2015 16:42

IKnowIAmButWhatAreYou

That really pisses me off. Can you not accept that there is a place with a fence around it that your dog is not allowed in?

Its the arrogance of dog owners thinking it doesn't apply to them because their dog is difefrent.

If a sign says "No Children" I don't take my children in and say "oh they're friendly" or, "they don't mean my children" or "They like it in here" or "They're no trouble"- I just DON'T take them in there!

I respect the sign!

ptumbi · 28/10/2015 16:46

Iknow - so you are another one who thinks NO DOGS doesn't mean your dog. And yet another excuse as to why it is ok for your dog to be in tehre.

People with small children, seeing a dog in there, will avoid the one place that is set aside solely for them. They don't want dog poo (and yes I am sure you pick it up) or pee in there. They might be allergic, or just plain scared of dogs.

But it's ok, cos your wee dog likes to run about - in a child's play park. Angry

rumbleinthrjungle · 28/10/2015 17:33

....your dog's enjoyment of sand matters more than allowing hundreds of kids hygienic sand to play in? Have you any idea of the health and safety regs that the council have to adhere to in order to prove sand? People like you ensure that public resources are getting reduced and reduced because too many entitled idiots Want What They Want and fuck everyone else, and can't be trusted not to spoil things for everyone. And the reason so many people are becoming anti dog and will work to get dogs banned from everywhere.

But so long as you get to do what you want for a couple of minutes, eh?

I despair, I really do.

rumbleinthrjungle · 28/10/2015 17:34

provide, not prove.

Sorry, incandescent typing. Selfishness makes me livid. Angry

SirChenjin · 28/10/2015 20:16

Oh well, if your dog likes a wee run in the sand why not just ignore the 'no dogs' signs? I mean, you could take him to the beach, or the woods, or any number of other places, but heck, the park is probably really convenient and anyway, the rules don't apply to you because you're not doing anyone any harm, are you?

IKnowIAmButWhatAreYou · 29/10/2015 08:39

LOL, I'm more worried about what he'll catch from the sand TBH.

Most nights of the week it's full of lambrusco swilling teenagers pissing up the equipment - hence the glass risk.

That's the main reason he doesn't get to do a lap as often as he'd like now.

McColonel · 29/10/2015 08:44

YANBU. I fucking hate dog owners who impose their disgusting animals on other people.

ptumbi · 29/10/2015 09:24

I'd be interested to know IKnow if you take your dog with you into a school playground? There might be sand there he can have a good old run about in. There might even be a NO DOGS sign on the fence that he can piss on.

Do you take him into a hospital? Shops? Other people's houses, even if they ask you NOT TO?

Osmiornica · 29/10/2015 09:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

RoboticSealpup · 29/10/2015 09:56

YANBU.

Dogs are anti-social little beasts that run around barking loudly, slobbering on things with a mouth they've just eaten faeces with, sniffing people with a nose that's recently sniffed the butthole of another dog, using the general environment as a giant toilet, marking their territory by pissing everywhere, and, sometimes even biting and attacking children.

But, yeah, people who don't like them are irrational and need to take a training course...Hmm

Seriously, I don't understand why anyone would choose to share their home with such an unsanitary, disgusting creature, but if you do, please don't impose that choice on others and their children.

IKnowIAmButWhatAreYou · 29/10/2015 10:12

I'd be interested to know IKnow if you take your dog with you into a school playground?

Used to wait just outside it with him pissing on the fence, might get a few funny looks now as I don't have any school age kids.

Although, it's half term isn't it? Might see if we can find a hole in the fence later on......

ptumbi · 29/10/2015 10:28

Used to wait just outside it with him pissing on the fence, - delightful. And yes, why not break into the school playground so your dog can have a good old runabout in the sand there, that small children will be playing in next week. After all, their risk of toxoplasmosis or ticks or allergies is nothing to your dog's enjoyment, is it?

if you don't have primary school age kids, I suppose your own darling dc are not using it - or the local playpark that doggie is entitled to piss in (unless they are the feral teenagers drinking Lambrusco in it at nights?)

And again - if a friend specifically asks you not to bring your dog (the verbal equivalent of NO DOGS) I assume you'd ignore her, so that doggie can have a lovely roll about on her carpets and sofas?

amarmai · 29/10/2015 10:50

good example here of how some anti social people use their dogs to carry out their anti social desires. wonder if they really want to piss and shit on everybody themselves?

IKnowIAmButWhatAreYou · 29/10/2015 11:29

LOL - alright, you've got me, it's a fair cop!!

I'm having a quiet week at work & have delighted in pushing all your buttons!!

It's far too easy and isn't really any fun so I'll stop now. Sorry for wasting your time

I wouldn't let my dog in the playground as there's far too much risk of an expensive vets bill if I do, so the kids are quite safe - from him anyway, not so sure about the glass, needles & weed butts.....

ValiantMouse · 29/10/2015 11:35

Good lord, some of you have very strange ideas about dogs. My dog certainly isn't smelly, noisy or slobbery.

MissBattleaxe · 29/10/2015 11:45

Good lord, some of you have very strange ideas about dogs. My dog certainly isn't smelly, noisy or slobbery.

I'm sure you love your dog, but other people DON'T!

SirChenjin · 29/10/2015 12:45

Lordy IKnow - you're hilarious!!! Sorry you live in such a grim place - must be awful.

TheLambShankRedemption · 29/10/2015 13:05

Yanbu.

She may well have been the only one there, but that could because children wanting to use the park were scared of her dog and wouldn't go in.

Total thicko. There should be no room for misunderstanding with a sign that says 'no dogs.'

AdjustableWench · 29/10/2015 15:09

I've had to have words with dog owners in play areas several times. Not once has a dog owner said something like, "Oh sorry - didn't see the sign." Every time they trot out excuses.

My kids don't like dogs and don't appreciate being expected to share the dog-free play area with a dog just because some entitled fuckwit dog owner thinks their dog is special.

YANBU.