To have told this woman to take her kid somewhere else to play?

[KeepingOnAndOn]

We live on a very large private housing estate. It has a vast number of kids parks, little sports fields and safe places to play. It also has a couple of designated dog walking areas.

Naturally I take my dog to the dog walking areas - one in particular I like as it's away from houses, away from roads, is surrounded by trees and is a good mucky, mini wilderness for my dog to go nuts in.

I can let him off his lead here as we're normally the only ones there and if not, it's just other adults with dogs which he's fine with. If he sees a child, he will run up to them and beg for attention which is why I don't take him around the kiddy areas.

Anyway we've had no problem with this for over a year now. Until last week he was off happily exploring the wooded area when he caught a glimpse of a woman, little kid and remote control car. As they get closer he sees the car and immediately goes chasing after it, the kid screamed, the woman freaked out and the dog pounced on the car and sent it flying. I managed to grab him, apologised, picked up the car and checked it over and all was well (apart from the kid telling his mum that he doesn't like "that" stupid dog 🙄).

Tonight - same area and what comes flying through the trees but this remote control car. Dog goes nuts trying to chase it, kid screams - I grab dog before the car gets it. At this point the woman says "can't you keep that dog on a lead? My son is scared of dogs and it's putting him off coming here!" 😳 I say "you realise this is a dog walking area? That's why he isn't on a lead. There are loads of kids play parks around and only two dog walking areas". She replies "well he doesn't like playing there as the other kids get in the way of his car, this is a nice open space for him. If you kept your dog controlled it wouldn't be a problem!".

So to this I said I would not be prepared to keep my dog on a lead in what is a designated dog area, lots of dog owners use the area to let their dogs off the lead and if it's a problem for her she shouldn't use it!

She stormed off ranting on about shitty attitudes, people who put dogs before kids and selfish idiots.

I refrained from calling her the stupid loony cow that she so obviously is.

AIBU to think she's bat shit crazy to suggest her kid takes priority in a DOG WALKING area??

[BeIIatrixLeStrange]

So, despite the original post saying so, it actually isn't a designated dog walking area?

If you want a designated dog walking area, then you should find one...and stop trying to intimidate other people into using the same space as you - I find it despicable as you seem to be attempting to intimidate a child with your dog

[Mrsdraper1]

As mother of a child that is terrified of dogs because of irresponsible dog owners near her school (ffs!) YANBU.
It's a dog walking area.
I wouldn't take my daughter there if it's a dog walking area, as I know she's scared of dogs.
Maybe she has only just moved in and hasn't twigged?

[ghostwatch]

YANBU i think the fact that you apologised the first time made her think she had a right to say something to you. It sounds like you spoke up for yourself and she was being a bit ignorant

[HappyFlappy]

That doesn't mean that non dog owners can't go where there are dogs though Orange.

Of course not, Navy. But anyone taking a child into an areas where dogs are allowed, has got to be prepared to meet people with dogs - and if you or your child doesn't like dogs, then maybe it is better to keep away from these areas - especially when there are plenty of dog-free child playparks. It's hardly the dog owners' fault that this particular child doesn't want to play beside there children.

The woman and her son were minding their own business until the OP's dog ran over and scared him.

The dog ran towards a toy car. Moving objects attract dogs. The child was scared but the dog did not as far as I can see, approach the child directly - it chased the car. Perhaps if the mother didn't make such a fuss about dogs coming near them, her son wouldn't be so wary of them.

[twattymctwatterson]

Sounds like you're both being unreasonable tbh. You are entitled to be there, equally her son is entitled to play there. She shouldn't have been rude, however you should have apologised about your dog scaring her son and you should have your dog on the leash if you can't get him to come to heel on command

[melj1213]

Whether it is an officially designated dog walking area or not, dogs and dog walkers are clearly encouraged to use this specific area ... so why then would any parent willingly and repeatedly take their child, who is scared of dogs, to that specific area over any other?

Yes she can but that doesn't mean she should ... she made the choice to take her child to an area where dogs are walked, despite knowing her child is scared of them, the onus is on her to find a space suitable for her needs, not to demand other people who are in the area that has been council approved and is generally accepted as a dog friendly area, to restrict their dogs' activities to suit her child. She can go to any area she wants, the dog walkers are restricted to two, I cannot imagine that there is no suitable place for her child in any other area that necessitates her using that one specific place.

Lets use an analogy with disabled toilets - anybody can use them, but if you don't have a disability that means you need to use it, and there are other non-disabled toilets available, why would you go out of your way to use it, knowing there are people with disabilities that can only use that one, waiting? It's the same with the dog park - anyone can use it, but since the dog walkers need it, surely other users who have issues with dogs should find another area to use, since they have that option whereas dog walkers don't.

Oh and as to recall - my parents dog has fantastic recall, but if we were out in our local dog park (designated and signposted as such) and something came whizzing out of the undergrowth/bushes her first instinct is to chase, doesn't matter if it's an RC, a squirrel, rabbit or an alien and I might not be quick enough to stop her destroying an RC, not because she isn't well trained or because she is a dangerous/bad dog, but because even the most well behaved dogs can forget their training occasionally. Depending how focussed my parents dog is on the chase, the distance/speed/specific environmental conditions involved influences how quickly I can see and process what has happened (is she chasing something, or has she spotted her doggy friend coming in through the far gate with their owner and she's running to meet them?), call to her - possibly a couple of times because she may not hear me the first time especially if she's raced off into the wind and I have to shout to have my voice carry over to her - and get her training to override her .