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.

🙄maybe they not childless when they at the park. Is it an enclosed play area? Sorry just seen it isn't.

I’m not sure what a CJ idler is but it is weird to go to a playground without a child, yes.

Not weird to go to a park, just the playground bit (which is what I thought the OP was talking about)

The area with the play equipment has absolutely no fence around it?

It’s bloody obvious she means they are at a children’s play park without a child. They are currently in a childless state as they do not have a child with them.

Parents with children at the school go to the park AFTER dropping off

without their children

and the op is fine with that

Parents drop their children and go to the park childless

the op is ok with that

Childless as in they don’t have a child with them at the park. Obviously I haven’t asked them “do they have children”. Sorry if that wasn’t clear.

Of course YANBU! It is a play area for children, not dogs. Dogs should not be there at all off a lead, even if there is a child with the owner. The ones not taking kids and just taking their dogs are selfish and idiotic.

I'd write to the council and ask for No Dog signs.

I have a dog - but they're a sanitary hazard if nothing else near child's equipement. They will pee and poo on the floor, frames etc. Apart from how obviously a dog would get excited by a child swinging - they shouldnt be anywhere near.

If it’s just a bit of green with some play equipment, as opposed to an enclosed play area in a larger park, I don’t see how you can stop anyone walking there regardless of whether they are a parent.

OP meant they don't have children with them at the time they have their dogs in a play park.

No they don’t 😂 none of the school parents drop their kids at school and then go for a play on the swings with their dogs!

I have children and whilst i wouldn’t want dogs in the play area

it would apply to those both with and without children

but you’re ok as long as they have children with them and that’s the bit I find off

So this play area has no green space whatsoever? It’s literally just a little in fenced play equipment?

@Ohambassador

What are you on about? She clearly says that’s school parents go to the park before and after school. You do understand that that means they go before 9am and after 3pm, before and after school hours, with their children, not alone. How do you not understand that?

Unfenced

YANBU HOWEVER I have a dog who is scared of children and I cannot tell you how many times I've been told to take him to a children's park to socialise him (I haven't), so this might be why they're there. You're actively told if you have a dog that hates kids to take them to
Schools and children's parks to desensitise them.

So the op is ok with parents with dogs

but not if they don’t have children there

I wouldn’t like dogs in a play area. Full stop.

@Canisaysomething - is it a council-maintained park? If so, I think your best option would be to contact the council and request either a No Dogs notice, or one stating that all dogs must be on the lead.

@Ohambassador

Bloody hell.

The OP was quite clear that the school parents who bring dogs with them keep their dogs under control. Those aren’t the dogs chasing kids around and jumping at them whilst on the swings.

Its the dog owners without kids who are allowing their dogs to run wild.

She has a problem with the dog owners who do not control their dogs, and they happen to be the dog owners going to the play park without any kids with them, and they are using it to socialise their dogs around other people’s kids without permission.

YANBU, it's not appropriate at all and not your responsibility to take part in the socialisation of strange dogs.
I was attacked by a dog at a park when I was 10, I was on the swing and about 300yrds away a couple let their dog off lead and it went straight for me, floored the small fence and clamped down on my thighand yanked me off. It took 4 grown adults to get it off me.
I wouldn't tolerate that kind of nonsense around my children at all.

Yes - either allow dogs or don't, but to say dogs accompanied by children are OK and others not OK is nonsense.

THIS!!! This is exactly what I am talking about. It’s like a group of dog owners have met on social media or somehow and decided to start taking their dogs to the kids park to “socialise” them with the children as if this is a good thing to do!

I have never seen it before but the result is that the kids are becoming too nervous to use the park.

The park is nothing to do with the school and YABVU to suggest that people without children at the school shouldn’t be there. However, dogs should be kept under control, whoever they belong to.

The problem is people deliberately choosing a play area to take their dogs in order to 'socialise' the dog with kids. According to a previous thread by one such owner, some (incredibly stupid) dog training websites suggest this. That's the issue @Ohambassador and the OP is NBU at all to object. I'd ask the council to put up a sign if not a fence. Children are not guinea pigs for idiot owners to let their dogs practise on.