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??

I don't like dogs , but even I think the woman with the child and the car is being an idiot

Ahh righ, bugs,not official dog walking area? Then I retract previous post. Sorry OP. The detail is important.

Interesting Navy - as you and I are always on the opposite side of these things! Funnily enough, my view - as a complete anti dog type - is that she was in the wrong if it is actually an area designated for dogs. I don't like dogs, so I wouldn't go into such an area with my children. In general parkland, though, I think dogs which do not have perfect recall should be on a lead.

YABU

From your description it's not an 'official' designated dog area, it's an area people like to walk their dogs that has some poo bins, like any other public park. Your dog is not under sufficient control. I say that as a crazy dog lady multiple dog owner.

But it's not a designated dog area.

If it isn't a designated dog area, why do the council refer to it as such?

That's like saying a play park should have an official "play park" sign on it!

Also just to add there are other numerous areas to play with the car - a long chalky path with greenery and trees etc runs through the estate, a wooden area at the back of the estate, a big arch of greenery beside the primary school ... all suitable places for a kid to play solo

Either way OP, you can't control your dog so it shouldn't be off the lead!

Does anything officially say "this is a designated dog area"?

I'm a little on the fence, round here some bits of land are claimed as 'dog walking areas' whereas like yours they aren't designated dog parks, just areas where dogs are allowed. There are a few walkers who dislike anything but dog walking there, eg children walking normally. They think they can do anything here, I'm not anti-dog but I'm anti- dog saliva covering us all for example. They let them behave anyway at all, when what they need is not a shared space but space away from the rest of humanity completely.

Do you expect the area to be a no go area for everyone else because dogs are allowed there and there are bins? There are bin near the A road outside my house too, but I'd presume people understand it's not an off lead areas so I don't see the connection with bins equaling no children playing.

You do also say you don't take the dog to kiddy areas for other reasons, that he'll go to them and beg for attention. I think your dogs training is equally an issue to how the mother has responded, neither of you are showing consideration.

Obviously if the signs say something like, be aware dogs off leash, dog park, designated dog area you're right... but it sounds like community space which dogs can share with others. I like walking in my local woods, but I'm still annoyed at dogs who are untrained however much I like dogs in general. It's annoying. Can I ask how your dog would react to a small dog running around excitedly also off leash? Or wildlife?

sorry not official so nothing u can do about kids being there aswell

my mum was terrified of dogs and if one used to come bounding up to her she wold cry-if u cant train them to come to u off the lead then dont do it

Doesn't matter OP, you didn't have your dog under control.

I think you were both BU. It's important for kids to get out into the woods & they should definitely not be limited to play areas. The mum & child should be able to walk through without being pounced on by a dog. It does sound like she was unecessarily rude though.

Well that sounds exactly like the designated dog walking areas around where I live! Exactly the same in fact, and I can assure you the local council know them to be the designated dog walking areas too, regardless of the lack of big neon signs.

YANBU. I actually walk through such an area with toddler ds to get to a small playground and I don't especially like it if dogs bound up to us, but as long as they stop short of bounding INTO us I think it's fine. So your dog bothered their mechanical dog-tease and mum didn't like it? Silly.

Some PP seem to be confusing the term 'designated' with the term 'exclusive'. OP didn't say the area was solely for the purpose of dog walking But as dog poo bins and signs related to dog walking are placed there this 'denotes/indicates/signifies' (AKA designates) a place where walking of dogs is encouraged.

Why then do some posters think it's reasonable for a mother to take her DS to such an area when there are plenty of other options for them.

It's also worth noting that at no point did the dog run at the child in the OP - just the car

Honestly - the first couple of posters were right! Ludicrous anti-dog frothing!

The dog would normally recall but the fast zippy little car is just too much and not something you expect to come across in a dog walking area!

Just to add, there is a bloke that walks two huge akitas in the area. If she came across him, the car would be in bits and she'd get a mouthful for even suggesting that his dogs should be leashed.

In hindsight I should have told her I walk my dog around the same time each day so she could perhaps avoid those times. She'll come across tons of other dogs that want to play with the car however but she might be able to avoid mine.

Lovelyleft yes, there ARE designated dog walking areas in my area North West, with poo bins and gates and signs that inform people that dogs will be running free. Hth

I was with you OP until you posted that it's not an official designated dog area.

YABU

YANBU - there are plenty of pleas for her and her kid to go.

Places not pleas!

Waving at Navy!

I'm not a fan of dogs or any animals but even I think yanbu.

He doesn't bother with other dogs or small animals unless I stop and encourage it.

It sounds like it is an official one just not the most signposted one iyswim even the best dogs forget there training around rc cars let's face it they are slightly unusual and very chaseable