I’m so tired of people with dangerous dogs ruining the park for everyone else.

[Purplehat123]

I’m so tired of people with dangerous dogs ruining the park for everyone else.

Every time I take my children and our small cavapoo to the park, there’s always someone with an intimidating dog off the lead. Yesterday it was a man with a huge German Shepherd (and I mean huge), a bully breed on a lead, and an Akita off the lead just wandering around.

This is a busy, very suburban park, full of families and young children. And there I am, trying to scoop up my two toddlers, push the pram with the baby, grab the dog, and move away as fast as possible because I am not taking the risk of one of those dogs attacking. And let’s be honest, if something did happen, I’d have to sacrifice my dog to protect my children.

Even the two dogs that were technically on a lead, if they decided to go for another dog or child, there’s no way he could have held them back. They were enormous, powerful breeds.

And don’t get me started on the Akita. It was off-lead, trotting around freely as if that’s totally normal. Akitas were originally bred to guard property and hunt large game, including bears. They are strong, territorial, and known for being aggressive toward other dogs. They can be incredibly unpredictable and are not the type of breed you let wander freely in a public park full of children and pets.

Today it was a woman with a giant Rottweiler off-lead, paying absolutely no attention while she scrolled on her phone. Again, no control, no awareness. Rottweilers were originally bred to drive cattle and guard livestock, and they are incredibly strong, protective dogs. They have a natural guarding instinct, which can easily turn dangerous when not properly controlled. It’s no coincidence that they feature in so many fatal dog attacks, especially involving children. The number of child deaths caused by Rottweilers is horrifying and well-documented. It doesn’t matter how sweet you think your dog is at home but when a dog like that turns, it’s too late to stop it.

Far too many times my own dog, who is a total wimp and literally gets bullied by a chihuahua, has been attacked by dogs whose owners claim, “Oh, they never normally do that.” It’s always after the fact, once the damage is done.

And honestly, it’s the complete lack of awareness that really gets me. You might think your dog is friendly, but when you’re letting it freely wander up to children and other dogs, especially massive, powerful breeds, it’s terrifying. It might not scare you, but to everyone else, it’s incredibly intimidating.

I love dogs. I grew up with them. But this constant anxiety when I take my children out is exhausting. I shouldn’t have to be on high alert every time we go to the park because someone refuses to take basic responsibility for an animal that could cause serious harm.

Not where I live. It’s a drive to school with no bus, 5km each way so a bit much to expect primary school kids to walk.

Also, these dogs would not live in the wild - they wouldn’t exist at all because they’re not real. They’ve been invented by humans through selective breeding, they would not exist at all in nature in these forms.

I don’t agree. You get a bite from a massive powerful dog vs a bite from a toy dog - the difference is a massive life changing (or ending) injury vs a cut that’ll heal quickly.

I'm really glad that the reconstructive surgery and resulting the scars on my left hand, plus the tendon damage that means I cannot use my left index finger and struggle to grip things - all of which resulted from an attack by a small dog - is a "cut that'll heal quickly". You don't have a clue what you are talking about.

What the OP experienced was totally fine though. The dogs were plodding along on their walk minding their own business. They upset her by their very existence. They were not doing anything wrong. That's not to say this is always the case but in this instance it was. That's why there are so many dating she's being unreasonable

MIL has had 4 dogs over the years: 3 GSDs and one Westie.

The Westie was a snappy little shit and the GSDs were perfectly fine.

I tell you my mums westie is a fucking prick. My dad bless him is coming to the end of his life and is bedridden so she hasn't been able to walk her. Luckily they have a huge garden for her to cause havoc in. I have tried walking her, my husband has tried walking her as have my siblings. She crosses the road (on a good day) which is about 5 metres from their house, then turns around and drags you back. I've already told my mum that when she passes away I don't want the twat and she laughed. Honestly idiot dog could start an argument with itself in an empty room.

If you read this, every single one is a dog attack in the home. So an attack by a Rotty that knows you, not one in a park. It is also just about Rotty's, not about dogs in general. Pitbull breeds are the ones that will kill you if they attack. But you are far more likely to be bitten by a retriever . There have been, according to this, 138 deaths by a rotty in the USA since the 1970s. In comparison 2,526 children were killed in the USA by guns in 2022 alone. In the UK, there is an average of 52 child deaths a year at human hands. In 2024 there were 7 people in the UK killed by a dog, none of them under the age of 35 and all of them in the home (or a home, ie not a stranger). I actually think dogs should be licenced, or at least particular breeds of dogs should be (Pitbull breeds at the very top of the list as they tend to be owned by people who shoudnt own them)

I voted YANBU because I agree with you but you are also part of the dog owning population and I think this entitlement of all dog owners is a problem.

The fact that you can’t go in a pub or cafe or shop these days without dog gives me anxiety from the sheer selfishness and lack of consideration. The filth and mess of dog hair, slobber and faeces is horrible. I see people sitting their dogs in cafe chairs and it makes me feel sick. I don’t want dogs barking, scratching or shaking near me when I’m out for a quiet coffee or clothes shopping. Or queuing in the pharmacy as I saw the other day!

The dangerous dogs proliferation is just another layer of that as far as I’m concerned and you’re still part of it.

Someone taking their dog to a place where it is a allowed does not make them selfish or entitled. In fact, you are the entitled one .

I would trust my Rottweiler a million times over a 'fashion' mixed breed smaller dog.

Do you have specific stats for how many deaths they have caused to young children compared to other breeds or are you just going by what the agenda the vile media pushes on you?

And are you really complaining that someone was responsibly walking their bully breed on a lead?? What do you expect them to do? Carry it?

They have as much right to be out in the fresh air responsibly walked as you and your dog do.

Our old family westie was also a vicious twat. Major case of small dog syndrome. My dad still has scars on his thumbs from her 🤣

If I am reading this right, 3 big dog breeds were at the same park as you, and despite nothing at all happening - your annoyed at their very existence?

You problem.

Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should. By that logic, horrible dogs should be free to roam and if they maul and injure then so be it?

The smally yappy dogs that people let run lead free and seem to want to take on every person and dog they come across should also be kept under control.

I've lost count of how many have come tearing up to my on lead rottie, yapping and snarling and trying to jump all over him. Yet if he was to retaliate, he would be the one people would complain about. Not the precious little out of control fashion mongrel.

What is a "horrible dog"? One you don't like the look of?
A well behaved dog in a cafe that it is welcome to be in is doing nothing wrong. You stamping your feet and saying it is wrong makes you the selfish and entitled one.
I am taking my dog to my local cafe today. It has a massive sign saying that dogs are welcome. The staff know her by name and she will get fuss and a biscuit.

Interesting to read 4 others have mentioned Westies being twats after the experience I had with one.

If literally the worst thing about being a parent is irresponsible dog owners then you must be parenting a China doll.

Ludicrous 😂

Well after reading a few pages of this thread, there's no wonder there's so many dog attacks.

My friend has a "Westiepoo" and she is an utter knob. Yaps and snaps at everything. All my friend does is tell her to shut up.

This is more a you issue.

Its fully of rather snobby assumptions about various breeds of dog, that YOU consider to be dangerous.

In our work training problem dogs, i have had more injuries from smaller dogs, than anything large that came in - their behavioural issues were always, Always caused by the owners - not the dog themselves.

I have no scars caused by big breeds, and dozens caused by small breeds.

I think you need to seek therapy.

My dog is well trained. He is a working dog. His manners are impeccable even at his young age and he is a pretty contributory member of society.

But he also needs relaxing exercise outside of his ‘job’ - and by the OPs standards if we’d walked past her and her brood he’d have been labelled as menacing, scary, a nuisance etc. just for merely existing and being out for a normal walk.

That sounds hellish and it baffles me why people choose to put up with behaviour like that. I would have to limit time spent with that friend.

Absolutely

@YeOldeGreyhound has that weirdo popped up yet that keeps suggesting all dogs are completely banned and we should replace service dogs with robots? That one always makes me chuckle

She lives far away so I don't see her often, but you can always hear her dog in the background when we talk online or on the phone. I have no idea why she has not trained her out of it. Just shouting at them to shut up does nothing.