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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Dogs off lead in park - AIBU?

86 replies

SneakyGremlins · 04/10/2018 13:34

We have a pretty large park in town. Two play areas, two lakes full of birds, and then a wooded clearing. People walk their dogs in the park. Not an issue. People let their dogs off the lead in the clearing to play fetch - I'm not too bothered about that if they don't approach me.

However - AIBU to think dogs should be on leads in the rest of the park? Especially when they go after the birds and the owner just stands there looking gormless. There are no signs in the park regarding leads but surely it's common sense to keep a dog on a lead around birds/other dogs/small children.

I don't have a dog so not sure if I'm just being grumpy - AIBU?

OP posts:
brighteyeowl17 · 04/10/2018 16:45

Nope not unreasonable. Dogs should be on Leads all of the time. They are animals. Sick of owners saying oh he is friendly before their dog jumps all over me.

QuantumGroan · 04/10/2018 17:04

My dog loves to chase birds and has caught two - both pigeons, the one he caught whilst off lead was injured the one he caught whilst on lead was distracted with a bit of food the town centre they are still wild life but like rats not cute enough for people to seem bothered about or to be counted as wild - he also likes to chase crows and they seem to enjoy the chase and taunt him. He doesn't like water so all the lovely water birds that people love are absolutely fine. He's not interested in kids or other people unless they have a dog.

I think you are being a wee bit grumpy.

Collaborate · 04/10/2018 17:10

I simply can't believe some are having a go at dogs who chase birds. WTF? They're dogs. they chase things. My dog loves chasing squirrels, or cats, or birds. Just because some of you don't like it doesn't make me irresponsible to let her do that.

Pissedoffdotcom · 04/10/2018 18:51

If your dog catches said cat you face a hefty vet bill. If he caught & injured a bird or a squirrel, ditto...unless you're evil & would leave the poor thing to die. And never say never either!

Knowingly letting your domesticated dog - who can likely be trained to ignore most things - chase birds or squirrels etc is vile imo. Ditto if you let your child do it.

VillageCats · 04/10/2018 18:55

Only on Mumsnet is a dog chasing a squirrel or bird vile. Sorry that one got me. There's lots of vile things in this world but that's really really not one of them.

Pissedoffdotcom · 04/10/2018 18:58

Only on MN is it okay for people to let their dogs off the lead knowing that anything small & furry is going to get chased. Again, would you take the casualties to the vet if your dog caught one? Or would it be collateral damage for the sake of your dog being loose? Sorry but i don't agree with wildlife being stressed out & chased all over the place because people cba to train their dogs

Pissedoffdotcom · 04/10/2018 18:59

You wouldn't let your dog chase livestock and if you do you're an idiot cos it risks getting shot why on earth should it be okay for them to chase squirrels or cats???

twiglet · 04/10/2018 19:07

Generally play areas have signs of no dogs.
Parks are multi-user areas be it families, joggers, people cycling or God forbid someone walking their dog! People need to practise what they preach to their children and learn to share.......

I let my dog off the lead in a park she needs a run! I wouldn't let her off the lead if she was out of control.

The biggest problem I have encountered in parks with my dog is the reaction from some parents. The children have no problem with her and we have always been at a reasonable distance with my dog under control no where near playgrounds etc.

I had one parent shouting at me that she was calling the police, pick up a huge stick and start waving it about. I must have been over 8-10 metres from her in a big open space with my dog walking at my side. I invited her to call the police she shouted some more swear words and huffed off. Tell me how that is rational behavior when my dog was silent by my side......

Pissedoffdotcom · 04/10/2018 19:11

Do you own one of the 'dangerous' breeds by any chance twiglet?

QuantumGroan · 04/10/2018 19:12

What about the amount of birds cats kill while out on the prowl? Maybe cat owners should keep their cats indoor?

GreatDuckCookery6211 · 04/10/2018 19:14

My dog will chase a squirrel or a pigeon on the ground and I'm ok with that. The bird has long gone before he's caught up to it.

QuantumGroan · 04/10/2018 19:15

And as for squirrels they are fast little buggers with a turning circle like you wouldn't believe, catching them is close to impossible - the grey ones are taking over where we live, a few less would be no loss.

QuantumGroan · 04/10/2018 19:19

And if my dog caught a cat - the cat would tear him to shreds. I think we are the ones who would face a hefty vet bill.

Pissedoffdotcom · 04/10/2018 19:20

Nice attitude. Dogs mauling other animals. I have my own opinions on cats too. If i had a dog that enjoyed chasing other dogs i'd get told i was irresponsible for letting it off the lead.

QuantumGroan · 04/10/2018 19:23

It's the circle of life, innit! Pissedoffdotcom You might be vegan but the rest of the animal world isn't!

twiglet · 04/10/2018 19:25

@Pissedoffdotcom my dog is a rescue greyhound cross.

LakieLady · 04/10/2018 19:27

Quantum, I agree about squirrels. I've only ever seen a dog catch a squirrel once (a friend's whippet, who moved like lightning) and she had to leap a few feet up a tree trunk to get it. I think she was as surprised as we were tbh.

She killed it instantly, one good shake, and I'm sure it didn't suffer.

My dog would catch rabbits and rats when younger (she's a bit past it now) and I think that's fine. We live quite rurally, and people go rabbiting all the time, and every dead rat's a bonus in my book.

We have a park where dogs are banned, completely. I didn't mind until they added £80 a year to our council tax for the privilege under the "special rules" scam.

LakieLady · 04/10/2018 19:29

I simply can't believe some are having a go at dogs who chase birds.

I wonder if any of them eat pheasant or partridge, that are chased by dogs as part of the process of getting them into the shops?

VillageCats · 04/10/2018 19:43

For Gods sake, there's a big difference in letting a dog worry sheep and a dog chasing a squirrel for a few meters who ends up a tree for a moments. No one is talking letting a dog mail another creature. Honestly the hysteria.

straightjeans · 04/10/2018 19:47

Only sociable dogs and dogs who have good recall should be off the leash.

DC18 · 04/10/2018 19:47

I think to let your dog offload safely they need to be consistent in responding to commands and you need to supervise them properly, I.e if they are running at Brits or for other dogs call them back and the dog should respond x

DC18 · 04/10/2018 19:48

*birds not Brits 🤣

Pissedoffdotcom · 04/10/2018 19:49

No, the circle of life is killing to eat. Not for sport. Sorry you can label it what you want but letting your dog kill an animal for the sake of it is disgusting imo. If your dog's only meal was the squirrel/rabbit/bird it caught & killed then fine. They are domestic pets ffs.

Why is there a difference? A dog chasing a squirrel still terrifies the shit out of another animal. Just because one is wild & one is in a field is no different.

Twiglet i was going to say did you fall foul of the breed bullshit but you must have met someone who generally hated all dogs

QuantumGroan · 04/10/2018 19:50

Running at birds? He's not coming back from that one - the crows seem to enjoy the sport, I've observed them tormenting dogs in the park, amazingly clever.

Pissedoffdotcom · 04/10/2018 19:55

DC18 i was going to ask if your dog was from abroad & a Brit hater 😂😂

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