To think that each area should have one dog free park ?

[Didnotlikepurple]

Each time I take my dc to the park there are so many off road dogs bothering us , no recall and a nuisance. The school can’t run or play on the grass due to dog mess and on a hot day it just stinks as the sun warms it up 🤢

can’t have a picnic either due to dogs trying to get at the food.

we once went to a lovely park up in London that was dog free and it was amazing, kids could run about. I’m not saying all parks should be like this but one in each area would surely be fair ?

It would be pointless. The kids playgrounds all say "no dogs" but loads of people still bring dogs.

The local park to us says no dogs and it's full of them.

We even have a strictly no dogs section on one beach near us due to it being a bird sanctuary. It's heavily signed about it being no dogs and why and every single time we go there there are off lead dogs and loads of other paw prints in the sand from other dogs. When you call the owners out it's always 'oh I didn't know' and they carry on.

Where I live, there are two dog parks (fenced, gated, and require a card to enter) and dogs must be leashed everywhere else. You can be fined for leaving poop behind when you take your dog for a walk. Proper leash amd dog poop laws are not a big ask.

Ugh, yes — the owners who mentally rewrite "no dogs" rules to mean "staffie size and upwards", because of course their little darling is too little and vulnerable and sweet to count as a dog dog.

We used to have an area to exercise and toilet the dogs in our local park but it has been given to some charity that have filled it with old tires, old bathroom furniture, plenty of pallets piled up and a lot of other crap (all painted in bright colours to disguise the obvious fly tipping). Since this area is now a “community project” and not available for dog exercising (or safe enough for children to be around) the dogs can now use the bowling green and the walkways for toileting. Lovely! (NOT)

Sounds lovely but pointless. Owners bring dogs in places that already say No dogs including school playgrounds.

I’m hardcore, me. I’d rather one or two dog parks per area and everywhere else dog free.

There's a lovely one Caversham Court Gardens near the river in Reading, with a super coffee/cake shop, not expensive either. Bit of a hike for us but well worth it (I meet a friend). We also have NT membership and these are often relatively dog-free in the main house areas/gardens, leaving dogs for the woodland walks.

I’d be more inclined to do what they do in America, dogs can only be exercised in special dog parks.

Yanbu we have a lovely bird sanctuary near us and we always go for a walk there as it is strictly dog free. The avid bird watchers there police it.

This is fine as long as we can also have a kid free park. Sick of kids coming up to my dog and touching him without asking despite my saying not to. Parents always oblivious but guess whod be up in arms if he decided to bite (and he's always on a lead)

There are places we can go to locally that dogs aren’t allowed. It’s just that there are always fucking dogs there anyway.

Agree op. Either dog free or dog parks. I remember a large dog coming over to my dc in her pushchair and grabbing her cuddly toy off her. Owner did nothing.

All the nice outside areas are dominated by dogs. Beaches, woodland, parks.

What’s about early morning? At this time of the day it’s only the dog owners who are using the parks. There aren’t enough parks so we can afford to have them stay empty.

Also, what about the elderly who have a dog as a companion? Don’t they deserve to use a park near them?

Why don’t we all lobby for more green spaces, and not squabble over the few we have because when we fight over the parks everybody loses.

I have a dog, but I also live in a part of London that has a park with two dog free sections, plus a big playground that is also dog free. I use the dog free sections for picnic meet ups a lot (I obviously don’t bring my dog!).

I’m surprised that the dog-free bit in a park thing is unusual - I had assumed most parks would have it.

YANBU.

I think we should have dog parks.

I have a dog and would have no problem with dog free parks. There are lots of dog free beaches so why not parks? Most playgrounds now are fenced off but there are still folks who think the "no dogs" rule doesn't apply to them. My dog has excellent recall but I have to say he can't resist a picnic (he sits there politely waiting, not trashing) 😊Lots of people don't like/are scared of dogs so for me it makes sense for everyone not to walk them in family places.

@MXVIT I agree, child free parks would be wonderful. I have a cute fluffy grumpy madam who tolerates rather than likes children. The number of kids and entitled parents who think it's ok to come over and just grab at her is insane (and probably the reason she's not keen on them).

Designated zones for dogs / children/ whatever would be fine. We get our dog looked after or leave her at home if we fancy a dog free meal or day out, same as we do with our child when we fancy adult only outings. It doesn't hurt.

When I was at the fenced off playground area of my local park with my toddler this week, some idiot dog owners deliberately let their 5 total off lead dogs into the play area in order to wrangle them back onto their leads, because they had zero recall and needed to be cornered. They spent the whole time laughing and telling me about how much the dogs enjoy the play area at the park, like they thought that I found it to be just the cutest thing that my toddler couldn't play properly and needed to be picked up every time one of them ran up to bother her. Just because a park says no dogs doesn't mean that there won't be dogs there unfortunately.

Most parks should be dog free and the remaining ones for dogs on leads only. Near here are enclosed dog fields where dog owners can take their dogs and let them off leads for a small fee.

Some posters seem to be equating dogs and humans which is a bit silly. Most humans don't shit in the park or jump up at people.

I would love that. I’d settle for dog free hours.

I have a dc who is terrified of dogs after several incidents of off lead dogs jumping on his toddler dsis. It’s got exponentially worse since covid. Every second person seems to have a dog now and it’s terrifying looking at some idiots being dragged along by enormous dogs they clearly have no control over.

Great idea but it would need to be policed which I can't see happening

I took DD to a park once and the small children's play area (100% fenced off) had a doo poo next to the slide

I despair

No, posters are no equating dogs and humans. What they are thinking of are the owners of the dogs who will be prevented from going to a local park.

Many dog owners live on their own, which only their dog as companion. Their mental health depends on their dog. Their physical health benefits from being out with their dog. Their social contacts happen in the park where they meet other dog owners. A local park where they can walk their dogs is essential.

Another anti dog thread, there hasn't been one for a week?

I agree as a dog owner, it’s stressful encountering people who are frightened of dogs as it stresses all involved. It’s be great if we all had places that we could feel comfy and know we are not pissing people off.