AIBU to think dogs should be banned from parks?

[Allthebiscuits]

They're everywhere, crapping, barking, smelling one another's arses and fighting. Then there are those jumpy ones trying to get a lick of a child's face before bounding off to piss up the nearest tree. Not everyone likes dogs and they spoil the park for kids. I'd love to see them allocated their own area away from the rest of the park where like minded dog owners can all hangout together picking up their pet's turds and convincing each other that "he's usually so gentle". AIBU??

The dog loons just don't get it. Most dog owners are responsible and realise that humans will always have priority.

It's sad for those who equate dogs with children as though they are of equal importance. Fortunately the law feels differently.

Dogs really are just dogs. No matter how much their owners love them they will never equate to children and neither should they. Rational people know that.

This is confirming my worst fears about dog owners. It's ok to not like dogs! Personally, I'm indifferent to them, but I can understand why people might not want to share every open space with them, especially if they have phobias, allergies or are vulnerable*
I used to be really scared of dogs. Now I'm a responsible dog owner.

Not once did I ever think my fear of dogs meant that they should be removed from parks or spaces because I didn't like them.

Public spaces are public. They are not there to be policed by some whining people's personal preferences.

I feel the same when I hear people bitching about playingball games at one of our parks (don't like them, stay on the paths or avoid the big area known for ball games), or whining that groups of 5 teenagers are sitting on the benches (they don't like it because theyve decided the teens must be irresponsible and antisocial), or dogs should be banned (because their preferences for a few nice afternoon a year trump all the other responsible dog owners who use the park all year round), or people whining about kids learning to ride their bikes at the park.
There are always some inconsiderate people in all sections of society, however some people are simply miserable and rather than see a big public space as a shared resource, they think it should be monitored based on their preferences for the few sunny days they use it.

This is not about dogs being better than humans or humans better than dogs it is the suggestion that open spaces should only be used by children and not all of society, however they choose, whether it is to walk a dog there

Most green parks on a rainy day and during winter are pretty deserted except for dog walkers, it is mostly during spring and summer that most people want to use the outdoors space for eating or kids to play. A lot of Kids are also at school or nursery all day. The ban would then mean that these spaces were unused for 6 months of the year. This is why it is stupid

Did OP ever return to her own thread

Hmm. It's almost as if she wanted to be a GF and then fuck off and leave the dog lovers and haters to fight each other.

In the real world my dogs aren't interested in people and people aren't interested in my dogs. As someone whose dogs are the centre of my universe and yes I do prefer them to your children, I have to hold on to the fact that these threads are a snapshot featuring some deeply unpleasant people.

Note to self. In future hide the thread and don't bother opening it.

Actually, in our local park it is the opposite- most of the green areas of the park are now restricted to dogs as they are so covered in dog shit that they’re off limits to everyone else. I hardly ever see anyone playing or sitting on them. Basically, if it’s not a fenced off area (playground, tennis court etc) then it’s just for dogs. How is that fair or considerate?

Children are members of human society, not animals that some humans choose to impose on said society with varying degrees of inconvenience to other members of the society itself.

Actually, in scientific terms, a human is an animal. And I think your definition of an animal perfectly describes many children!
I took my DGS to the park yesterday. We spent a couple of hours there. Full of dog walkers, families, coup,es and elderly people in their own. Also one area full of the local drunks and homeless having a good old session! I didn't see any dogs annoy anyone, they were only off the lead in the designated areas, but I did see toddlers on scooters chase dogs, one child in a bike crash into an older couple, and a group of youths smoking weed near the duck pond! Seems like the human animals were worse that the canine animals!

I do too, Vulpine. Trit-trotting along paving stones and tarmac. No place for an animal.

Foxes choose to

Foxes choose to

Foxes need to in order to survive.

I'd love designated off lead zone for my dog. He is still practising his recall. He is brilliant in our secure garden but needs real-world practise which bluntly means parks. We deliberately avoid busy family times to prevent disaster, but if people arrive after us, from a direction I can't see then sometimes he may well approach them. It's part of the learning process. Just like when my kids were young and learning to behave nicely and no one tried to ban them from being in public spaces.

@Leighhalfpennysthigh Your dog was so sweet.
Although I am not a dog owner and my youngest is overly dramatic terrified when he comes across any dog which I am working on.
Dogs play a vital helpful role to so many, look at the guide dogs who can detect fits, help the blind, give autistic DC independence, the dogs that welcome people home at night.
Dog is mans best friend and has been forever.
Yes there is irresponsible owners, who don't train but it is not the dogs fault.
The play area should be dog free, otherwise the pathway is for all animals including homosepions.

My Ds is phobic of dogs . However I agree fogs not under the owners control should be on a lead. I do think though dogs need the exercise where do they get that? Not every park is big enough to have s dog area

The sole benefit to set against this impact is that the pet owner has a pet

There are many benefits to dog ownership.

Owning pets reduced the incidence of asthma, excema and other autoimmune diseases. Reducing the burden on the nhs. (Usual caveat that this is on a population level- out of a 1000 people there will be less ai disease. Those saying “i have a cat and asthma so you’re wrong”, individuals will still get ai disease, just less of them).

Pets reduce blood pressure. Get owners out for walks. Give the elderly and others something to be responsible for so they have daily structure.

In addition to all that I have a terrier who controls the local rat and mouse population better than any cat. You say “hunting behaviour” as if it’s a bad thing. He’s also a bloody good alarm system and door alert, even if we did have to train him to bark.

My friends dog has trained itself to alert to their dc’s hypogylcaemic attacks.

It isn’t about just having a cute animal to baby and provide unconditional love. Even my mother, in her 80’s now, who does actually think dog ownership is about unconditional love and cuddles, doesn’t realise that the dog is keeping her active and engaged- she’ll go to the shop for dog stuff and pick up milk etc, but she wouldn’t go just for her, she’d do without.

This has been really insightful or inciteful, depending on your take on it all. Always good to understand other people's point of view. I hope it's given a voice to people not that keen on dogs (and their owners), you're not alone! Discussion about the right to not love dogs should always be encouraged. Thank you MN.

I have a dog. She is always on lead (except in an enclosed field NOT a park) and I think that all dogs should be on-lead in public places other than designated dog areas. The amount of owners, who wander round in a daze, completely oblivious, with their dog crapping the other side of the park amazes me.
The amount of owners who have no recall ability with their off-lead dog also amazes me (I also have none - retired greyhound with crap recall - hence why she's on a lead). It's ridiculous.

OP - YANBU in the slightest.

Mine has excellent recall, trots about 2m in front of me, won’t go out of my sight. He also will only crap in his own garden, and on the odd occasion he’s caught in public, there’s such a drama there’s no way you wouldn’t notice

He’s also a tiny thing so knows to return to me for the lead if he sees a dog he’s worried about (he never approaches dogs or humans), and also if he sees another human close by.

So many times he’s had kids squealing and trying to grab him, he figured out fairly quickly if he was near me they tended to stop and ask, or stopped and told to ask.

Most dogs and dog owners i have met have been more than sensible. It’s the humans we have issues with! I am very careful around sighthounds with no recall though, greyhounds and the like, as they’d likely think mine was prey which is why he’s trained to return to me and sit still.

I do accept many people don’t bother training small dogs though, thinking yhey can’t do much harm. Makes life much easier though.

I think the OP should be banned from parks.

Always good to understand other people's point of view.

Are we really expected to believe that was your motivation in starting the thread? Don’t be absurd.

I think the OP should be banned from parks

And not just from parks.

Not everyone likes kids but my dog has to put up with them.

1)Dogs (as a rule)have to be taught recall in a variety of places before It sticks. Unfortunate, but makes it virtually impossible for one to know a dog will come back, before letting it off. My dog has 99% recall but I wouldn't say 100%
2) Dogs not allowed offlead anywhere =frustrated, pent up energetic, unruly dogs who abscond at the first opportunity 'cause they're dying for a run.

Not a great solution OP. If you want fewer dogs bothering you in parks try doing something that encourages responsible ownership.

I had a horrible, horrible year 2017-18 and if it wasn't for my dog, I honestly dont know where I would be (in response to those questioning the benefits of ownership). They make people go out. They encourage conversation. They give love and mean you have to go to the shops or at least get some interaction if you chose shopping delivery. They mean you have to talk to people (vets/walkers/sitters). They stop many people from going under. They make you laugh and give you structure. They've saved lives in wars and in the form of assistance dogs. They're not just pests that make mess and bother peoples' darling children. If I had a quid for each time kids come running screaming in my rather nervous but huge dog's face while their parents gossip and piss about on their 'phones and no doubt would blame me solely if anything bad happened... I've spent more or less half my walk recently trying to stop a little girl from screeching at her and jumping around her while I tried to get her away before she growled or jumped or stood on her or something ..

YANBU there just seems to be so many dogs around. I won’t deny my DC the pleasure of playing in our local park, but I hate having to scan the ground for dog shit, to keep half an eye out for the dogs who are off their lead - a dogs-only park in my local area would, I think, be very welcome.
I do my best to avoid dogs and dog owners, because I just can’t be arsed to deal with the “he’s just saying hello” brigade. No its not, it’s ignoring your pathetic attempts at recall and I don’t want it’s germs near my children.

@Hairsprayqueeen
I 100% agree with you. Alone left to my own devices i can easily lay around all day, lethargic & depressed. A dog waking me up urging me to go out, & im up & out no matter the weather, quickly enjoying my day & motivated to do other things.
Yes not all dog owners are responsible, but so many most are. This isnt a black & white situation.
Theres a lady in my area whose lovely little dog was mauled by a horrible vicious dog. Even she didnt blame the dog- she blamed the owner.
She is campaigning for extremely tough sentences on owners whose dogs cause harm to any animal, obvs including people. Hopefully if that is implemented it will make irresponsible owners think twice.
I would never allow a dog to run over to someone and just go "oh theyre alright!".
I have a friend who is deathly afraid of big dogs & would never impose that on her.
But non-dog-lovers please appreciate this small fact. Having a dog improved both my childhood & adulthood immeasurably. Their love is unconditional & they have no prejudice.
Both sides should respect & understand each other as best as possible
If you are a non-dog-lover & a dog approaches you in a public place, please respond by clearly saying to the owner "please get your dog away i am allergic / phobic". I know it is easier said than done but screeching & going hysterical isnt the best way to act. Stay calm & assertive.
I dont like wasps & it takes all my power not to freak out if they come near me!
Sorry for the long post. Just wishing for a world in which we can all live in harmony despite differences of opinions.

Also going off what @Hairsprayqueeen said about kids coming over.. was walking our big dog of a breed which ALOT of people are afraid of. He is good as gold but id never take a risk & put him in any kind of situation. Anyway, he is off lead on a dog friendly field (not a park). Small toddler comes running over grabbing at him roughly. My relative whose dog it is nearly had a heart attack. Or dog did not respond to the child, we recalled him & got him on lead & looked desperately for said childs parents. Transpired the kid had wandered over from the social club which backs onto the field & responsible adult had not noticed child wandering around 300 yards!!
Think i may post this on the thread about Op's DH getting pissed in charge of their 5yr old as relevant..