Is this ok or would you be annoyed?

[Janiebirdy]

Our house and garden faces a park and we get a few dogs running across the gardens at times. I was working in the garden last week when a dog started running up to me and across our garden; the owner didn’t call their dog back and they didn’t say anything to me. I ignored them and carried on with gardening. Would you be annoyed or figure it’s not a problem? FTR I’ve had dogs in the past so I’m not anti.

It would annoy me too OP, especially if it happens more than once or if the dog trampled any flowers etc. and it would really annoy me if the owner didn't even apologise! Could you maybe put some planters around the border of your garden just so there's a bit of a deterrent and makes it clear that it's the start of your garden?

I wouldn't let my dog off anywhere where they could get in to someone's garden.
I let him off in the park but that's not open to someone's garden.
I wouldn't like it if it was my garden and i love dogs

I don't think that's clear at all, in fact from looking at that, I'm not sure which bit is garden.

A dog shouldn't be running up to anyone though. Did he approach you or just run through your garden?

We do have a border of flowers and bushes next to the pavement. Most of the gardens have small bushes/pots or a flower border.

This would terrify me as I have a phobia of dogs. They should be on a lead at all times when there are people around.

Don’t understand why everyone has to fence, that you can’t enclose your own land?

anyway, unless the dog was aggressive, no I’d have no issue,and would stop to pet it if it looked amenable

Planning restrictions probably.

In that case it would mean to me it was private and keep the dog off that bit, if it wasn't marked in any way then I can see how that could be misunderstood as the garden being part of the park.

The dog came up to me and ran around the garden for a bit. The owner wasn’t too fussed about recalling the dog. I find it odd that people do this with dogs because I could be terrified of them or allergic etc.

Tbh I think when if I were you when I bought the place I would have factored in the fact that my garden is in the park.

The pros for that is that there is a park literally on your doorstep but the cons for that are that there is a park literally on your doorstep and with that it means the general public are there too. Yes the general public should do x and shouldn't do y but you would drive yourself crazy trying to enforce it. So long as no harm is done is I would try and chill about it. You could try private property keep out signs but again the general public don't seem to pay much heed to signs.

We’ve been here a long time and it’s nice to be around the park. We don’t have any wish to be control freaks or start guarding our garden but it has surprised me in recent years how some dog owners assume everyone’s ok with dogs.

I don’t think it’s so much the assumption as the fact that round our way most people are OK and encourage them. It’s pretty pointless calling your dog back when she’s being stroked, petted and told what a beautiful girl she is!

Ok thanks for your message

YANBU but growing up on our estate we had a communal green area out the front and all front gardens weren’t fenced.

It was an unwritten rule that children and pets could play on any of the gardens and communal green.

I would be annoyed that she didn’t call the dog back but I do think you need a fence if you don’t want it to happen again, even just a small picket fence may help.

The dog came up to me and ran around the garden for a bit. The owner wasn’t too fussed about recalling the dog. I find it odd that people do this with dogs because I could be terrified of them or allergic etc

From your OP you said I ignored them and carried on with gardening

The dog owner will take that as you weren't bothered. They will think you gave tacit permission. You needed to register your surprise and displeasure at their dog in your garden. Doesn't have to be aggressive or rude but if you don't communicate your feelings the dog owner will continue.
I agree you shouldn't have to but clearly it's necessary.

If it's completely open like that with just a path between the park and the gardens, it's possible the dog's owner just didn't really register that your garden is completely private property. They should have been paying more attention and they should have called their dog away, but it is a really unusual set-up for a private garden so I suppose there might some people who just don't really get it.

It would annoy me . People should have their dogs on a lead. You don't let your kids run in other people's gardens. There are too many dogs now, can't move for them where I live , All going out for dog coffees in their jumpers and going to the pub . It can't be good for them? My grandad would be spinning in his grave , dogs are working animals who need to be active ( so I think .. I'm a cat person)

I have been training my dog for months now, He still is not reading signs to a satisfactory standard!

Plant lots of fennel. The aniseed smell is annoying to dogs and their sensitive noses.

@Misthios you're not a dog lover are you 😆

I also agree that OP should get fuckwit fence!

Not in a park they shouldn't!

I'd assume if you have a phobia of dogs, you wouldn't buy the house?

Mine too. Along with all the dog owners who call out that their dogs friendly while my kid is hiding behind me or screaming because he's been jumped up on by the dogs of entitled owners too many times and is now scared ot dogs. I dont GAF if your dog is 'friendly' keep him away from my child. Not all dog owners of course, but way too many of them are like this. No one should be letting their dog just run up to strangers, that's not responsible ownership and it doesn't teach kids to have the necessary caution of asking the owner before touching a strange dog.

eta: I love dogs, it's the entitled owners I can't stand.

I'd be embarrassed if my dog ran into a stranger's garden without being called/invited but agree it's possible they didn't immediately realise that it was private property and probably thought you didn't seem bothered.

While a low wall or fence in your situation apparently won't provide an effective barrier, I wonder if it might at least send the message that this is your garden. It won't stop the occasional dog from wandering in, but it could encourage the more conscientious dog owners to respect your boundaries and call the dog back more quickly.

Me too. It would be a bonus for me.

Are all parks off leash areas? Even if its off-leash any dog not on a lead should have good enough recall and supervision from owner to be leaving strangers alone. I wouldn't buy near an off leash area if I had a phobia, but that's really besides the point if people are responsible owners it wouldn't be an issue.