Dogs and parks

[Grassgreendashhabi]

Ok I know dogs need to be walked, but why are the children's areas so small. And the rest of the parks the grassy areas huge.

Why is it not possible for an outside track say 4 meters wide if not larger be fenced off for dogs leaving a centre area for children.

That way children can play football etc and dogs have a huge wide area going around the park.

Our local park is really big but it's covered in dog mess. Or dog wee. The children's area had swings etc and is dog free but there is nowhere to run around

The park must be 3 or 4 acres it could easily have an enormous outer circle easily 20ft wide circling.

It just seems that the dogs take priority over people.

What about all the fox wee? And cat wee? And toddlers who have accidents? Do you sit on the grass in your garden, that's probably covered in cat and fox wee…

Sounds like you need to take it up with your council then. Quite a lot of the parks in my town have 'dog control orders' . You don't need separate areas; you need people to pick up after their dogs and some areas (eg shared bike paths) where dogs must be on leads.

I cringe when I see little kids playing and crawling around on what is essentially a dog toilet, as is almost everywhere these days, including beaches. I Yes, there is other wildlife, but they are part of that environment - dogs aren't.

Today in my local park a girl (looked about 8 or 9) wee'd in the middle of the playground area then she and her friend made a game out of jumping over the puddle . Children are far more disgusting than dogs.

Navy - just like on the news when a dog maules a child the owner says .... They are so good and never behaved like that.

Time and tragedy have shown dogs can and do attack

Oh, now it's about mauling.

Ffs, I've never said this on here, but - get a grip.

Dog parks don't really work. Lots of dogs hemmed in one space = dog fight. It just doesn't work. There are plenty of national trust properties where dogs must be kept on leads in the grassy bits surrounding the house/whatever. Maybe try going there? Segregating users just doesn't tend to end well. We've had several high profile rapes in the parks over last year. Shall we ban men from the park? I wish they would implement a canine good citizen style test like they have in the Us that dogs have to pass before they are off lead. That much I'd be fine with.

Navy - your dogs are not 'entitled' to anything. They are dogs, not fellow members of society. YOU are entitled to keep pets, but all pet owners have a duty to prevent their animals from being a nuisance. Which perhaps you do.

Dogs or any other animals shouldn't take priority over children and humans.

My favourite parks are the ones that are pet free. They are clean, and I can let DC run around without having to keep an eye on whether a dog may attack them.

How are you going to keep foxes, squirrels etc off the designated dog free area ? I walk my ddog in parks and rarely see any dog mess if I do I clear it up. I do however see lots of crisp wrappers, drink bottles etc, which I also clear up

You can't exercise a dog properly on a lead. They need to run. They should be under control, that doesn't always mean leashed.

Where do you think wild animals pee?

I would like to walk my dog without people's kids running over and touching her without asking but I'm not asking they be segregated. Get a grip ffs.

They're not 'taking priority over children and humans', though. They're just sharing a public space!

If my dog doesn't even approach your child, how is it 'taking priority'?

What you're saying is that you want your child to take priority over dog owners.

You may be a responsible owner and have a well behaved/trained dog, but not all dogs are.

Yes I do want all children to take priority over dogs, yes.

I am more concerned by parents allowing their kids to run up to dogs they don't know as opposed to dogs running up to children.

Most owners have control over their dogs or they wouldn't let them off their lead.

Parents however see a fluffy dog and wants little Timmy to go and cuddle it despite not knowing if the dog is friendly or not

Our local park has a good compromise that would perhaps satisfy the OP. There is a central fenced off area in the middle (where dogs are not allowed) that includes children's play equipment but also a grassy area with trees where families can picnic and play games etc
The football pitches and most of the rest of the park (apart from tennis courts and bowling green which are also dog free) are available to all.
The football pitches aren't just used by children but also (in season) by local league teams which include adults. It would be very difficult for grass cutting etc if the football pitches were fenced off.
You can't have complete segregation everywhere in a park between children and dog though so YABU. Some families with children do also have dogs by the way so what would they do to both exercise their dog and allow their children to play?

Yes, there is other wildlife, but they are part of that environment - dogs aren't.

Had to laugh at this.

Fox wee and bird poo is fine for our children to sit in, obviously, but dog wee [shudders] - oh the germs in dog wee are just so much more deadlier than nice, safe, lovely bird poo and fox wee. Because birds and foxes belong in a park environment, you see, so their waste products are definitely safe. Whereas dogs belong in ... umm ...

[Wanders off to the library to find out what environment dogs are part of]