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.

Lots of factors to consider - are they there meeting other dog owners rather than just to socialise with your kids; is there a similar park nearby kids don't go or is this the main park in the area which just so happens to have an unfenced playground in; what is the actual increase in numbers of dogs and does it really matter whether their owner has a child or not if a dog off lead near the swings is your concern. If you care about this you could try get support and raise funds to install a fence around the play equipment and leave the rest of the park open to dogs.

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.

How would you know this was their specific aim rather than just taking their dog out?

was shouted at by the owner

I am assuming the owner was some distance away and was giving you reassurance before collecting/recalling her dog. I doubt she was shouting at you.

aren’t dogs meant to be trained NOT to bother strangers?

We do try but in order to train the dog to do that, she needs to be given an opportunity to come into contact with strangers to begin with. You can't exactly sit the dog down and tell her "look, we are going out now. Don't bother any strangers, ok?"

Unfortunately strangers aren't always helpful to maintain training either. I have a very sociable dog and while I am trying to teach her not to come close to strangers without permission, when she does 99% of people make a huge fuss of her, give her a cuddle and occasionally a treat. The dog therefore gets plenty of positive reinforcement to her unwanted behaviour over which I have zero control.

On a slightly different note - I don't think it should be thought weird if lone adults occasionally loiter where children are playing. Many (like me) just love watching them play and having fun. Bringing back happy memories of my/their own childhood and my/their own child-rearing days. Out of nostalgia I sometimes stop outside my own children's old primary school at playtime. My parents and grandparents used to enjoy watching children. I worked in a care home, and sometimes a group of children from the local school would come to sing - and it gave the old folks so much pleasure.
So please don't think all childwatchers are potential paedophiles!

The dog owner was right.

Report to Council and Police oh and school. Hopefully then a fence will be out up

Update: I contacted the council and the dog warden told me that dogs need to be kept under control at all times on all council land (both the play park and the wider green). The parks department will be putting up signs to keep dogs under control.

A dog got hit by a swing today whilst chasing after another child trying to run away from it. Hopefully the signs will do something to deter what’s happening there.

Under control just means that they're not running amok.

They can still be there, off lead, so long as their owners have some level of control over them e.g. coming back when called.

Doesn’t sound like the dog that got hit by a swing was under control!

I’m assuming if the dogs were actually under control - on lead or off - OP wouldn’t have bothered contacting the council.

This made me lol, I know it sounds harsh but it really tickled me. Brutal 🤣