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.

Seriously can’t figure this out?

OK. It’s because clearly the ones without children are using the play area solely
to ‘socialise’ their dogs rather than having a legitimate reason to be there, ie with a child.

Cars aren't members of society either, and not everyone has one, but we still collectively fund and provide the facilities for them. Before you suggest that road tax funds roads - it doesn't, since 1936 roads have been funded from general taxation, like income tax.

The pollution from cars is very detrimental to child health, as is being run over, but convenience is prioritised over that.

Or rather than abusing other people animals you could just ask the owner to keep their dog away from your kid if they’re scared. Most owners would rather not scare kids and are happy to oblige.

dogs and kids need to be able to coexist and the hysterics I see on mumsnet about it is not something I’ve ever really experienced in real life. Well actually once where a very rude man decided that my dog being 20+ meters from his kid, who was scared of dogs and yet he decided to take on a popular dog walking route (a route there’s no need to take) wasn’t acceptable. My dog was minding its own business and not paying the kid any attention at all. Maybe he was a mumsnet dad.

So from what I can work out it's a field with a playground in it. Playground is not fenced. There is no 'no dogs' sign.

It is not a 'children's play park' it's a community space.
OP and some other posters seem to think that at specific times if you arrive with both children and a dog you can be near the playground and it's all fine but If you have dog and dont have children then you can't

People who arrive with dogs at this specific time but without children and maybe in the vicinity of 'other people with children and dogs' must not allow their dogs to ever interact with the people who have children and dogs because you must be in some way a miscreant. Despite the fact that dogs always like to interact with other dogs and will seek them out across an open field, the dogs who have arrived under the accompaniment of children are somehow exempted from other doggy and child interaction.

Dogs without child accompaniment are therefore tagged as being 'erroneously socialised' rather than seeking out other dogs for interaction like they normally do.
The dogs who have arrived with their designated child chaperone however are 'totally fine'

Barmy.

OP, it drives me up the wall too - and then people say 'do you want to stroke him, he's friendly'. So then I have kids wanting to stroke a random dog and having a tantrum if I try to say no...and don't get me started on mums taking their yapping designer dogs on the school run...

If only people who owned dogs could get together and collectively provide some facilities for their dogs to exercise and socialise without inconveniencing others.

That would be great. Then people can choose either a dog friendly or dog free park.

I’m fed up of encountering dogs absolutely bloody everywhere. Not everyone likes them.

I think 99% of the time, people train, socialise and exercise their dogs without inconveniencing others.

By that I mean they use a public space like a park where they are legally allowed to be.
It's often crappie parents who take offence if there is a dog in their child's vicinity... even if said dog minds it's own business.

... and yes to me, my dogs definitely take priority over random strangers & their kids!

Why do people think it’s ok to let their dogs approach kids for ‘socialisation’ or any other reason? It’s 100% unacceptable.

why do people think the state ought to provide facilities for their lifestyle choices? Dogs are a waste of resources. You want them, you pay for them.

Laughing at the OP's allegation that it is only 'childless' people's dogs that are nuisances.

Bollocks.

It’s would be great. I’m not so keen on other peoples screaming kids constantly asking if they can stroke my dog. I do have kids but they’re older now and so tend to avoid places where I know lots of little kids will be. Maybe if people don’t like dogs they could try and do the same. There are loads of parks where dogs aren’t allowed.

I'd imagine that people with children and dogs are bringing their dogs along while the child plays at the park. Not specifically bringing a dog along to a child's play park with the main reason being to socialise their dog with people and children.

Your dogs can take priority for you and you only. Kids are members of society, dogs aren’t. Dogs should never be given priority over humans for anything. That’s just ludicrous

Contact your local councillor. Google contact my local councillor and your Council’s name. State your concerns — risk of unremoved dog faeces to children’s health and the risk of children being injured or scared by dogs off leads. Anything else you can think of.
Get as many other concerned parents to do the same.

You have misunderstood. She is saying that people WHO DO NOT HAVE CHILDREN WITH THEM are purposely taking their dogs to the park when there are children there, to enable them to socialise.

Humans should never have to avoid any space because people want to let their untrained dogs run wild. Dogs should never be given priority in public spaces. They are dogs.

I'd bloody love country walks, pubs, nice restaurants and specific beaches to be adults and dogs only.

Playgrounds, fun fairs, fields, shopping malls, fast food and themed restaurants for adults and children only.

Bliss.

One of our dogs, is scared of children. We therefore avoid areas where children are likely to be.

I would never dream of taking eithers dogs to play park as it would not be a fun expereince for everyone involved.

And things that never happened - unwanted kids harassing your dog.

Just curious-how much tax did your dogs pay last year?

Ffs. How many times. The OP says it's not a children's play park! It's an unfenced playground in an open field!

I’d bloody LOVE to be able to use beaches, countryside, pubs ans cafes without dogs. It would be bliss.

went to robin hoods bay this summer. So many out of control off lead dogs running at my kids. It was unbearable.

It's often crappy dog owners that let their dogs hang about children's play parks, running around where there are young children playing. Dogs are unpredictable, even my old lab who I'm 99% sure wouldn't have hurt a fly; you can never be too careful with animals. I certainly never would have let him off lead in a kids playpark, that's just irresponsible dog ownership.

I never said they should. Lots of people are happy to coexist. But if you have a particular hatred or fear of dogs it makes sense to avoid places where there will be a lot of them. Surely? People with dogs have a right to use spaces too and are generally happy for people to be there with their kids. I tend to avoid places where there will be loads of unruly little kids running around as I find them annoying. That’s on me so I avoid those places, if you hate dogs then that’s on you and you should do the same.

Omg. Can we rename this thread "Pendants corner"