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.

I know exactly who you mean! 😆
Not yet!

Have you considered going to other cafes? Y’know, ones that don’t allow dogs?

Page 7. We’re allowed cats, mini pigs or robot dogs. 🤣

As someone who owns a large breed I actually understand people's worries.

It is common sense that usually, the bigger the dog the more damage it can do and breeds do have traits specific to them, eg guarding breeds are naturally more suspicious of strangers etc. This means those of us who own large dogs need to be extra careful, keeping them on leads in busy places, never leaving them alone with children (though this should be a rule regardless of breed) etc. I personally wouldn't let my dog off in a busy place with lots of kids and dogs running around. Not because I think he would do anything but out of respect for others.
Unfortunately some breeds attract idiot owners and the combination of a large, powerful dog with someone not prepared to train them or look after them is a disaster waiting to happen. If you have a pit bull tied up outside, never walked, encouraged to be aggressive and neglected it is an accident waiting to happen. And that dog is going to do a hell of a lot more damage than a spaniel in the same situation.
On the flip side so many people with small dogs don't bother training them much because they are small and I, like others, have had problems with small dogs trying to go for my large dog.

I’m funny with German Shepards and akitas but this is YOUR problem not anyone else’s. If dogs are allowed off the lead in that park then don’t go there.

Agree absolutely

Of course she hasn’t because the world revolves around her

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/35502575/toddler-mauled-cockapoo-arm-ripped/

there you go… cause it isn’t “to death” makes it less bad??

In the last four weeks I've been chased, lunged at and barked at by three spaniels, a westie, a jack Russel, a pit bull, a mutt and a Boston terrier. This was walking, cycling and running. However, I personally know a huge dog who is the sweetest thing, looks like a lion, he behaves like a teddy bear.

In my experience, it's not the breed, it's feckless owners who believe their dog can do anything it wants and they don't have to train it.

I grew up with Staffordshire Bull Terriers. If my dogs have behaved like that (never did - I trained them daily) I'd be absolutely mortified, extremely apologetic, put them straight on the lead, send them to bed as punishment when they got home and still expect the person to be furious. Rightly so!

I'd say be extremely careful of all dogs you don't personally know. Don't stay on guard with ugly or big ones, be wary of them all!

Well...the one we first got when I was 5 was lovely. Then the westie cross we got from rspca was good too once she realised we weren't going to rehome her again, after 3 previous homes. The current one is a great guard dog for my mum when she is home alone. She's just very loud and overexcited when seeing another dog and to be fair it does look like she's being aggressive but she's just a dickhead. Handy for when you know there's someone at the door oor when the post is here. Not so great at 2 in the morning when a fox or cat wanders into the garden.
To be honest she's an OK dog but any pet my mum has had aside from good first 2 dogs and second cat have been evil shits.

She had this house rabbit and it would run about the garden and come in when called. Would growl and attack anyone else.
Second cat I'm forever getting told off "don't call the cat a wanker" this cunt knocked a vase over and I got blamed for it. Maybe not as bad as current dog but still looks pissed off and miserable anytime I dare look at the fucker in its eyes.

Jack Russells (although I love the mask movie!) are real little fukkkers 🤣

My grandad used to have one who absolutely hated everyone. If she was on my grandad's lap, she would lunge at anyone coming close to him.
Oddly enough, she liked me, and I was allowed to approach my grandad, and she also loved to sit on my lap. She would also snap at anyone coming near me too. Once chased my brother out the room.

My grandad got another JRT when she passed, and he was friendly with anyone but he was absolutely in love with me. Would go mad when I visited and insist on lap cuddles. Such a lovely dog. When my grandad died, I offered to have him but someone else got him first.

But yep, I have seen some in my local park that have been assholes.

The park should be for everyone

Including people who own dogs the op, and others, disapprove of.

Good to know 😂😂

And is my challenged migrant teenage son welcome ?

The one who likes to approach strangers and dig his nails into their chests while yelling at them and occasionally licking their faces. Sometimes he yells at children and now and again attacks them. He doesn’t stop when I shout his name.

Most days he defecates on the floor in public, and regularly urinates on playground equipment.

Is that behaviour allowed in the park ? Would you ban my son ?

The house rabbit sounds hilarious but I expect it wasn’t in reality!

My Mum had a similar blind spot about one of the cats when I was growing up. Also a cat that seemed to have a pissed off face when I looked at him. You’d be minding your own business e.g. sat on the sofa watching TV and he’d jump up out of nowhere and swipe you or bite your feet/leg when you weren’t aware he was there. It was attention seeking and Mum would insist, “stroke him,” just after he’d swiped/bitten me and I’d be refuse because he’d let you stroke him for all of 5 seconds and then try and swipe you again. Apparently he used to bite Mum to wake her up but he was a lovely cat, who did no wrong. 😂

I’ve not suggested banning anyone. Literally just quoted me agreeing parks should be for everyone.

Cool, I’ll let him out of his cage to do all his behaviours !

Knock yourself out 👍

What the hell are you going on about 😂

Round here the play parks are dog free zones which is helpful

Funny lot, aren’t they!

If you are in SE England, it is more likely than not to be out of control. I've lost count of the number of times I've had dogs charging towards me with the owner in the distance failing to call them back with a puny wimpy voice. I accept that these dogs are unlikely to be about to attack me, but I simply don't want someone else's over-excited dog running around and under my feet when I am going on a country walk, so please, if you have no recall ability, keep the damned thing on a lead.

It’s time the dog problem in this country was addressed. I’d start by reintroducing a dog licence and make it a significant amount, say £100 pa. Then I would make it compulsory for dogs to be kept on a lead in all public places, with heavy fines for non-compliance. Hopefully, that should lead to more responsible dog owners and fewer of the irresponsible ones who appear to be in the majority since Covid.