Childless dog owners at kids park

[Canisaysomething]

My DCs school has a children’s park right outside. There is no fence around it and nowhere does it say “dogs not allowed”. Dog owners with children at the school let their dogs walk about the play area and this isn’t normally a problem at all.

Here is my AIBU. There’s become an increasing number of childless dog owners going to the park before and after school to let their dogs “socialise” with the children using the park. I had to ask a dog owner the other day to call their dog away from my child trying to use the swing and was shouted at by the owner who said “she’s just excited and trying to play”. The dog at one point chased after my child who got scared and upset.

Here’s my AIBU. Who was right? Me or the dog owner?

There were no signs saying “no dogs” but aren’t dogs meant to be trained NOT to bother strangers? Especially children in parks.

@Alstroemeria123 Presumably because the dogs who are accompanying people with children have a reason to be there, are under control and not climbing on / peeing on the play equipment

Ah so only parents can be good dog owners.The dreadful childless dog owners have out of control dogs who habitually piss on children's play equipment.

Right. Bloody childless people.

‘Most owners would rather not scare kids and are happy to oblige.’

nope. They just tell you ‘he is being friendly’. 🙄🙄🙄

You are clearly one of those owners.

Out of interest, why are children necessary?

I mean our planet is overpopulated with humans, poluted by humans and habitats are destroyed by humans...

So why are children necessary?

And taking this further, less children now means less dog loving humans in the future.

Thanks everyone for your input. I’ve now contacted the council to ask for a sign to say dogs to be kept on a lead at the children’s park.

To clarify a few things:

It definitely is a children’s play park: there is council sign saying so, it just isn’t fenced and has no dog signage.

I have apologised in a previous post for my use of the word “childless” to try to explain a new group of dog owners frequenting the park who neither have children with them at the time nor have children attending the adjacent school. I did not intent for that term to mean childless generally, I have no idea if they have adult children or children at other schools.

I won’t be calling the police.

I am now questioning my park based assumptions and am fully expecting to see a dog or adult swinging on the swings or trying to fit down the tiny slide.

Canines are dressed up , carried in baby carriers , and pushed round in pushchairs. They aren’t dogs they are fur babies.So it’s only the next step they can use the playground.

I don't even have a car. Do I get a free pass now?
If children are a choice not everyone needs to make, dogs certainly are. And they absolutely shouldn't be allocated any public funds. It's bad enough we all have to fund the collection and disposal of all their shit (the ones that make it into the bins that is).

I've actually written to my local councillor about something similar this week. Our local park is huge, and there is one fenced in play area. Recently there have been loads of dogs within the play area. Absolutely no need for it whatsoever and they run around jumping at the kids playing, pee against the equipment etc.

I've asked for signs to be put up excluding dogs from the play area. It's pure entitlement on the part of dog owners, especially given the rest of the park is about 20 times the size.

This thread is fascinating as an example of wider society changes.

It appears that the accepted social convention in OPs village was that dogs are not encouraged to play off lead in the children's play area. Some dogs may have previously been in attendance; and presumably, on a lead and under control. These dogs were with their owners who also had children with them.

OP perceives that things have changed. People are actively coming to the play area with off lead dogs with the key intention of socialising these dogs

Many posters don't seem to acknowledge that something has changed; or acknowledge that it may be uncomfortable for parents to have unknown dogs actively being encouraged to interact with their children, in a place where the social convention has been for a long time that is is a designed area for young children; within a wider public place.

Just fascinating; and I wonder if its an example of wider tension points in society; where changes are pushing against accepted social conventions.

Children are a necessity if we don't want society to collapse. Overpopulation and climate change don't stop people from getting old. At least children have the potential to contribute, we know absolutely that a pet dog doesn't.

Clearly there shouldn’t be any dogs at all in a children’s play area. Around here, if any parents have dogs they stand with them outside the fence to the play area.

In a playground?

Scream in their faces

I have seen dogs tied to the play area fence. Looking a bit miserable.

Have you read dog threads on here? 😂

Most people think those that don’t like dogs are horrible people

I have been called odd, untrustworthy, awful and worse on threads when I say I don’t like dogs

Do you believe the children are our future?...

He wouldn't be interested.
He doesn't like swings.
He prefers a ball.
It's on my way through the park to the part where he plays
If there's nobody there we just walk straight past without his lead
As far as I'm aware this is OK. He doesn't wee on it if that's what you're getting at

No, but if a dog is somewhere they have no reason to be then I’m going to make the assumption that they don’t have a good owner.

People with children have a reason to be in a playground.
People without children don’t.

I'm horribly allergic to dogs, sets off my asthma has landed me in hospital type allergic. I get the same reactions from people who seem to think it doesn't apply to their "friendly" dog.

It’s because the park is in such close proximity to the school grounds, that parents at the school are reminded not to let their dogs intimidate other children at drop off and pick up. So in this scenario, generally the school parents adhere to this and there is a marked difference in their dogs behaviour. My post is about a specific rather than a general scenario.

If he’s just walking through and under your control that’s different IMO. Not as though you’re taking him to play there.

They're A future.

But Planet Earth and almost all the other beings on it would have a much better chance of survival if there was a much smaller human population.

Dog owners with children at the school let their dogs walk about the play area and this isn’t normally a problem at all.
I voted that you are being unreasonable for this sentence alone. Childless or not, if there's "no problem" with parents taking their dogs in, then anyone can take their dogs in. Parents don't get a free pass. And I say that as someone with a dog and no children. Our local play areas in parks are all designated as "no dogs". Want to know who the offenders are that take their dogs in? Yep, parents. I have literally never seen a dog in there without a family, and I have watched parents letting their own dogs have a shirt in the play area, in the sand pit, and not even clear it up.

By that logic it would be better off without your dog too. Other people's choices don't give you a free pass. It's not children being born today that have done the damage is it...

By "kids' park", do you mean "park"?
Open to the public?
For everyone?