Dogs on Wandsworth Common

[SVinLondon]

I posted a message on Nextdoor about this situation:
We had a picnic on Wandsworth Common last Saturday. I go to the common regularly during the week, but I’m usually at the playgrounds, which are dog-free. This time we just found a space towards the middle of the park, under a tree for shade.
During the picnic there were two separate incidents with dogs. The first dog ran up to us, grabbed some bread, but made no attempt to run away. Instead, it continued to lunge at food on our blanket, where my 4 year old, my 2 year old, and my 7 month old were sitting. My husband was very upset. My two older children were screaming. The dog had time to run over to another picnic, where there was a

Well you know, they've always been there. 'Common' and all that. I wouldn't have minded. I like dogs. My kids and baby like dogs. We know they aren't going to do anything but try and scab some food. I'd have given them a sausage roll. Probably I'm the reason they try it on.

No it’s not ideal dogs not having good recall being off the lead in crowded places I’ve have to catch hold of a dog before that would come to itsownersrecall but there’s so much you encounter that’s not ideal at some point you just have to get over it.

kids that have spent their lives being grabbed by an hysterical parent every time a dog walks past has learned some bad and potentially dangerous habits. Parents like this really do their kids o favours. If you want to sit on the floor with food in areas where there are dogs you need to be prepared to take action if you don’t want dogs joining you

It totally agree. I was on Wandsworth Common a few weeks ago feeding the ducks with my DS. We had gone to the bakery on Northcote Road on the way. A huge dog came up to my pram and rooted through the pram basket. I tried to pull it away by the collar but it was too strong. It ripped open a bag of bread and then ripped open a bag of 4 chocolate brownies and ate them all.

I shouted for the owner and then looked for the owner but couldn't find one anywhere near. The dog eventually ran away. I could not warn the owner that it had eaten a lot of chocolate. Many dog owners on Wandsworth Common are completely irresponsible.

I have two dogs. One is extremely well behaved with excellent recall. The other is a cheeky monkey with very selective hearing. If walking in a park with picnickers/toddlers I keep the cheeky one on the lead, Otherwise he’d go up to everyone and jump on them (he wouldn’t steel food he’s not that interested but thinks everyone wants a kiss). Owner’s know their dogs and should keep them on a lead if they tend to run off and invade people’s space. Takes a bit of common sense.

Hate that misplaced apostrophe! Owners.

How longs have you been in the UK, OP?

The way things are done in North Caroline is perfectly fine for North Carolina, but it's not how things are here.

The owners should have prevented this from happening or at least been very apologetic. However if your kids are so scared of dogs that a non-aggressive dog being around them makes them scream, then yes you should stick to dog-free areas.

I'm afraid people who believe dogs should be under control and well trained are few and far between in this country.
I find telling the irresponsible owner the dog has eaten your chocolate sandwich usually speeds them over to take control.
It is very annoying that families can't enjoy any open spaces these days, because there is always that one dog (out of the hundreds you won't have noticed) that ruins the day.

If you want to sit on the floor with food in areas where there are dogs you need to be prepared to take action if you don’t want dogs joining you

No - the dogs are the ones being disruptive- they should be under their owners control! Plenty of dogs won't recall away from picnics and food, so those dogs should be on leads unless it's a specific doggy area.

Most parks and open spaces state dogs should be on leads at all times, though the majority of owners seem to ignore it.

Dogs don't need to be off-lead in parks. If your dog can't be trusted to recall to you, keep it on a lead! It's not hard.

I keep my dog on a long leash if people around during summer. It sucks but he can't be trusted not to steal food and be a menace!

Adeline, actually if you are in an area where there are dogs, you do need to be prepared to take action. No you shouldn’t have to but unfortunately you might have to. 99% of people control their dogs. 99% of drivers stop at a zebra crossing, but would you not look before crossing the road at a zebra crossing even though you know all cars should stop.

I've lived in the UK for 12 years, ChardonnaysPrettySister.

How long have you lived in a bad Western film?

"You ain't from these parts"-hahaha

Let's stick to dog etiquette, shall we?

I'm not disrespecting the UK, I'm just saying the behaviour is different, I'm trying to understand it, I have one view but others have another. I know people in the UK (mostly) don't understand why so many Americans love guns. Well, I don't understand it either, I've lived in both places and I'm on the UK side.

In the end it's tough living in crowded spaces, with or without dogs....so there will always be conflict. Let's just agree my post is trying to make a comparison-I don't intend to disrespect the UK-it's a country that has a lot more going for it than this one issue!

Soory, SV you are the one who told us how different and wonderful things are in South Carolina.

You open the door, people, and maybe dogs, walk in.

You told us you 'ain't from these parts*, don't complain when that's brought up.

Not sure what you mean with your question. Are there any good Western films? Why would I be living in a bad one?

Oh bugger, it's North Carolina.

Soz.

Adaline, actually if you are in an area where there are dogs, you do need to be prepared to take action

Sadly I think you're right. It's a shame that a select number of dog owners let their animals run riot and give others a bad name. I have a stubborn breed notorious for it's bad recall - I work really hard to make sure he can go off-lead in safe spaces - it's a shame others don't do the same!

Yanbu. My kids would be terrified if that happened and they like dogs generally.

Does Wan Com have dog-free area? Can't think of it if it does. I visit Clapham Common more often and the dog-free areas often have dogs in them .

And yanbu - the level of entitlement among many dog owners is unbelievable. I was helping at an event this weekend during which we constantly had dogs running under our table and snuffling around the food while owners stood there smiling indulgently. No, I don't think your dog is being adorable.

Funny? I wouldn't find it remotely funny. One of my dogs has a 'hard mouth' so if you don't give him treats a certain way, he's likely to bite quite hard. I would be horrified if my dog were so out of control that I couldn't recall him from repeatedly trying to grab food from someone. He did it one time and a lady came over saying he'd eaten her ds's sausage roll! Horrific!

I'm a dog lover and grew up with dogs but I do think these days that far too many (the majority!) of dog owners seem to have blatant disregards for the feelings of people who are scared of dogs. My local park is Victoria Park in London and 99% of dogs there seem to run free despite signs up saying that dogs should be kept on leads. It doesn't bother me as I love dogs so I'm always happy to have a stroke with whichever random dog comes up to me but it does always make me think how frightening it must be for people who are scared of dogs. It's very selfish/thoughtless of the dog owners.

I feel sad for people who are scared of dogs as they are missing out. Dogs have given me such joy throughout my life. I feel real pity for children who are raised by their parents to be scared of dogs (often seems to be the parent passes on their own fear to the child). But that doesn't mean that dog owners should be so cavalier about letting their dogs off leads in public areas. That's just so selfish. Seems to be typical behaviour these days though. Just like the people who think their music is so great that they have to play it as loud as possible so everyone else can share in their "great musical taste".

The dog owners are in the wrong here - they should have their dog on a lead if they don't have recall, particularly where there are teeny kids or temptations like food around.

I'm a dog owner and would have been mortified and hugely apologetic if that was my dog wrecking your family picnic. I've also been the parent of young children who were unsure of dogs and used to find runaway dogs at the park really stressful when they were small. (Getting our own dog has cured them of their fear though, highly recommend it!)

The fact is though, there will always be twatty dog owners, so if your DH is going to get so angry, better to stick to dog free areas in busy parks.

Wandsworth Common does have dog-free areas, which is where'll we'll be in the future, given the feedback from this forum & Nextdoor. However, I still don't think it's right, the behaviour I've seen from dogs/owners out there. But ultimately my kids happiness matters more than some cause celebre.

I will, however, call animal control on any owner who lets their dog into these spaces given we've been relegated to them (if we don't like being trampled on/food nicked) I once saw a lady bring her dog into a toddler playground who ran after my son's 3-year old friend. He was terrified. I did nothing, other than comfort the friend & ask the dog to be put on a lead & taken out (the dog wasn't allowed in there). Next time, straight to Animal Control I go!

So, like Mike in Breaking Bad said, "No more half measures."

No dog should ever be off their leash if they are not under control, a dog training food is not under control.

Even as someone who is mad about dogs, I believe the needs of people should always trump the needs of dogs. For this reason I only let mine off the lead in the park when it is likely to be fairly empty and I find this works pretty well in terms of keeping him out of trouble.

@SVinLondon
Commons like Wimbledon and Wandsworth are not city parks and are historically and legally slightly different - they usually have a ‘right to roam’ and some commons are areas for grazing livestock/foresting. They are often perceived as fairly ‘wild’ in the UK. Whilst yes dogs should be under control (and I do think the first owner was pretty irresponsible) if you choose to picnic on Common land then you’ll fond that things often aren’t so ‘controlled’

You’d be better off in a more enclosed traditional park