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??

It's also never occurred to me to train my dogs not to chase remote controlled cars. Weirdly in 15 years of dog ownership it's never come up.

What other random events do parents recommend we train our dogs against to ensure they are 'under control' ?

Well I'm a dog owner and I think YABU , unless the area is specifically labelled a dog walking area by the council or whoever it is that owns it then it is just an area where anybody can go to play and you need to keep control of your dog regardless of how annoying that may be . I walk on a 'heath' that for the entire winter is only used by dog walkers , that doesn't ,in the summer when the local children go to play there , give me the right to let my dog run riot and chase people and their property .

Also bare in mind she said she knew it was a dog walking area however her son preferred it to the play parks!

Was it signposted as a designated remote control car area?

The council DO say it's a designated dog area! They just haven't put official signs up labelling it as such!

In a recent map of the area they sent out (with regards to plans) it is labelled on there as "designated dog area". I mean ... what more clues do people need?

My dog wouldn't chase it. He obeys my commands no matter what.

In 15 years you haven't managed to train your dogs to obey "stay" and "no"??

OP, again: if your dog was well behaved and properly trained then this wouldn't be an issue.

No, no official "remote control car area" signs either funnily enough. Nor do the play parks have official "children's play park" signs up so maybe I should just take him there

He is very well behaved - but a lot of dogs would struggle to resist a mini car coming flying towards them!

The OP sounds like the ones near us who get cross their dogs could be hurt running at the kids bike wheels.

I don't have a dog now,but I considered good training to recall enough. E.g. I saw a frightened child, I called and briefly held dog. Generally easy in wide open areas,I wasn't one to go off lead in areas out of side such as woods.

Right then problem solved

What the world needs is more signposts. Then we'd have cosmic balance and shit.

I think that if it's the designated dog area then there should be very clear signage. Perhpas ask council to do this?

Why she'd take her child to a doggy area is beyond me though. there must be shit smears even if people clean up dog muck.

yanbu

the dog is not out of control. it went for a toy. not a child. in an area the council describe as a dog walking area.

she's daft if she thinks she won't run into dogs somewhere plastered with dog bins lol

There are no official signs up. The council however DO call it a designated dog area in letters and maps that they send out to residents. I'll call them tomorrow and ask if they play to sign post it as such.

But it's a dog walking area?! She sounds ridiculous.

Designated Dog Area is starting to lose all meaning.

YANBU

Well, I'm not a dog hater exactly but I like them at a distance more than up close.. And I don't think you were U, OP, in reminding the woman that it was a designated dog area. It's possible I hate remote control cars more than dog owners though!

Dog was nowhere near the child. It went after the car which was flying around way ahead of its owner.

YABU
If you want exclusive use of a piece of land you need to buy it.
In a public space you need to have your dog under control at all times!
And akitas aren't large dogs.

Now read the post about no signage. The council should sign it.