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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To just let my dog off anyway

241 replies

LittleYellowIceCream · 14/05/2020 12:35

Live on a small rural street where we are all quite close with neighbours.

At the end of the street is a farm, they don't use one of the fields closest to the road so a long long time ago they turned it into a 'dog walking' field for the people on the street (and whoever really).

There is a public footpath through the field which is clearly marked and runs up the side near the wall and then through the other fields. You have to enter this field from the road and there is a big sign which says 'X STREET DOG WALKING FIELD' and a message about picking up after them etc...

It's nice, the dogs often play on there together and we all have a chat if we happen to be on at the same time etc...

However since this warm weather I've seen about 3/4 families all sat down on the field on blankets having picnics. Not with their own dogs, just them.

It means none of us feel we can let our dogs off to run around and play.

One neighbour did point out the sign and said it may not be the best place for a picnic but was ignored.

WIBU to just let my dog off his lead anyway? He does have good recall but I obviously can't guarantee his frisbee isn't going to land in someone's 'picnic area' whilst we play fetch! Grin

There's not many places dogs can just have a run off lead round here that are closed off and safe. There is a park where people can have picnics literally 5 minutes away!

Its really annoying me. I don't take him to the park because I don't want to get in people's way when they are trying to sit/eat/kids playing etc.. this is the one area that is supposed to be for dogs to run about off lead and I feel like I can't even let him off here now either.

OP posts:
kissmewherethesundontshine · 14/05/2020 15:56

Ew who goes to sit on the grass in a dog walking field to eat?! Surely it's obvious dogs go on there and toilet Grin

We had someone in my local area moaning that they were bombarded by the horses in the field they were trying to picnic in Hmm a public footpath is a right of way through not an invitation to set up camp, 100% let your dog off hope DDog enjoys the run

FamBae · 14/05/2020 15:58

I do understand your frustration, and agree that it's probably not the best place for a picnic, maybe the farmer could put up a sign saying no picnickers. you say the field is at the bottom of your street, if you see people having a picnic couldn't you just go out for a walk a little later, there's no need for your dog to go without his run, I live in a small village and have totally given up dog walking during the day since lock down, far too many people walking around the village with dogs on and off leads, it's their village too and they can do as they please, currently I prefer walking at dusk when its lovely and peaceful, cooler for my black shaggy dog and just as beautiful with the sun setting.

thequeenbeyondthewall · 14/05/2020 16:24

I just can't get past them wanting to sit in a field which is for dog walkers.

I can imagine them mid sausage roll and a dog doing that thing where they pull their arse across the grass when they have done a poo.

Springersrock · 14/05/2020 16:33

I’d crack on and let mine off.

A friend of mine rents out a secure field to dog walkers. She’s had issues with people trespassing in the field during lockdown playing football, having picnics, etc.

It’s securely fenced with clear signage and a key code on the gate but people are climbing over, and damaging, the expensive, secure fencing.

She’s not there all the time so her clients are rocking up for their paid for slot to find the field full of randoms

ExpectTheWorst · 14/05/2020 17:07

Just marking my place as I'm interested in what happens, agree with the majority that obviously you should be able to let your dog off lead. I was going to say that maybe the picnickers don't mind dogs, but if they are actually taking up a lot of "playing" space then it's really not fair.
Maybe the owner of the field could mark it as a PRIVATE dog walking field as well as NO PICNICS ?

eggandonion · 14/05/2020 17:15

We do an evening walk round streets we have never been in before. The number of dogs out and about is amazing, some of them must have been kept inside for years.
My dog is disappointed when he isn't allowed to say hello to the hitherto unseen potential friends.

Allergictoironing · 14/05/2020 17:20

I really don't get people who think just because somewhere is not built on, or behind 10 foot security fencing, they have the right to enter and do as they like. I tend to assume anywhere fenced and gated is private property unless I know to the contrary, and I would then also know whether it was public land or a single right of way like a footpath.

CuppaZa · 14/05/2020 17:23

I was fully prepared to read and say YABU, but actually, you’re not. I’d let your dog off.

Mollymalone123 · 14/05/2020 17:26

It is signposted dog walking field- go ahead and let the dog loose.dogs have to be on lead in so many places or not allowed in at all- there must be other places to have a picnic-surely? We were lucky where we live as we have a new dog park- no one in there right mind would bloody well sit down and picnic in there 😂😂

Home42 · 14/05/2020 18:03

I’d let mine off. It’s a dog field for dogs! He is also friendly to people and other dogs so isn’t going to go for the throat ... he might eat your pork pie though! He regularly walks off lead around other people and has zero interest in them unless he knows them!

longtompot · 14/05/2020 18:04

What a crazy thread! I can't believe some of the responses here. No op, yanbu to let your dog off in a designated dog walking field. People should read signs and not assume they can just have a picnic anywhere.
We have a field near us which the owner has given their permission for other people to walk their dogs as long as your dogs don't mind a certain breed of dog which they have a number of. It's currently locked as sheep are grazing, but it's wonderful to be able to let the dog off in an enclosed field and not stress.
I walk my dog off the lead for as much as I can. Some walks are more on lead than off, but then that's a different sort of walk, more for sniffage and less for running.

Before the lockdown was relaxed, I worried less about if someone was having a picnic! as they shouldn't have been, and my food obsessed dog. I am being much more careful now you are allowed picnics, and she didn't disturb any picnics before. But if someone isn't bothered about breaking guidelines, then I felt I shouldn't worry either Wink

joystir59 · 14/05/2020 18:06

Let the dog off.

joystir59 · 14/05/2020 18:07

My dog loves a picnic 😁

joystir59 · 14/05/2020 18:07

Especially if it includes a home made cake of some kind.

joystir59 · 14/05/2020 18:08

This is him after a long session of terrorising picnickers

To just let my dog off anyway
joystir59 · 14/05/2020 18:09

He helped me make a pineapple upside down cake today. Didn't agree with inclusion of fruit though.

joystir59 · 14/05/2020 18:10

Mine has excellent recall except when there's a picnic

mbosnz · 14/05/2020 18:16

The owner of the private property has allowed their private property to be used by members of the public for a specific purpose - dog walkers letting their dogs off lead. They have not allowed their private property to be used by members of the public for another purpose - having a picnic sans dog.

This is clearly labelled.

If people trespass onto this private property for an activity that the owner has not allowed people to go onto their property for that purpose, then if they then suffer some nuisance as a result of someone coming onto that property for the allowed purpose - they really don't have a lot of comeback or right to complain do they?

eggandonion · 14/05/2020 19:17

It's lovely to see dogs with tails, who might have been docked in the past.
On tonight s walk I think I might check out gardens and nip in and take cuttings, since I haven't been to garden centre in weeks.

SonnyRobes · 14/05/2020 23:05

People who say all dogs should always be on leads because they were attacked by an off-lead dog should clearly think that all humans should be on leads because I was once attacked by an off-lead human. It makes you sound like an idiot.
If you don't like dogs then don't go into a field that is designated for walking dogs. OP - let your dog off.

Honeyroar · 14/05/2020 23:41

@joystir59 is it a Labrador? Mine is like that!

Cherrysoup · 14/05/2020 23:48

@Pika09 do you have any clues about dogs at all? Some need to run, search for stuff, be free. Lead walks are all very well, but mine need to be physically tired out, as well as mentally stimulated. If the land owner has designated it as dog walking for X street and has evidently placed clear signage, then picknickers can be told to vacate the field unless using the public footpath.

Mushypeasandchipstogo · 15/05/2020 00:20

I’m generally one to say that dogs should always be on leads but, in this case, when it’s a privately owned field and the public footpath doesn’t go through it I would let my dog off the lead.

G5000 · 15/05/2020 08:43

Pika09 do you have any clues about dogs at all?

Pika thinks running with a dog means slowing down or dragging your dog to keep up, so my guess is they have never actually seen a dog.

Zeusthemoose · 15/05/2020 08:46

Definitely let your dog off OP