Page 8 | Parking when there are dogs around

TheQuirkyMaker · 2026-02-02T08:05:22+00:00

I was in our local park yesterday, talking to another dog owner, when an SUV swept in right beside us, halted, and reversed into a parking space. As it reversed, I slapped it on the roof. The driver jumped out, angry, and I think was ready to give^ me^ a slap. I said the car park was empty (it was, it serves about 200 cars) and he had no need to park next to us and potentially hit a dog. He said he was parking near the skate park for his children, and our dogs should be on a lead (they weren't). They are elderly, obedient little dogs, and don't need to be on a leash but they are little and could be hit by a car. I told him to "F--- Off" and felt okay at the time but couldn't sleep last night for worrying who was in the right. Was I the unreasonable one?

SJM1988 · 02/02/2026 09:33

On the off chance this isn't a reverse or wind up.....you are 100% unreasonable.

Keeping dogs on a lead in a car park is surely common sense if they are little and might not be seen by a car.
Everyone is entitled to park where they want - I'd park near a park entrance with the kids whether other cars were parked there or not.
You have no idea if he looked or not when reversing (you weren't in the car and he might have been looking at cameras in the car or even around for the dogs).
100% you should not have touched the car unless there was imminent danger to you or the dog.

Maybeitllneverhappen · 02/02/2026 09:33

TheQuirkyMaker · 02/02/2026 08:13

Okay, maybe I was in the wrong. But an empty car park? Why decide to park near other cars anyway? And little dogs wandering around?

Show quote history

The clue is in the name: it's a CAR park, not a dog park. It's for cars, with dogs maybe passing through to get to a car. Don't stand chatting in a car park with dogs off lead. I love dogs, but owners need to behave better sometimes.

Bluddyellfire · 02/02/2026 09:35

TheQuirkyMaker · 02/02/2026 09:19

They are fit enough to use a skate park, but can't walk 50 meters to it? Is that what you are suggesting? How does that work? Is it on their phones? Then they don't need top go to a park.

Edited

Show quote history

Let it lie, love...

HariboFantastics · 02/02/2026 09:37

You’re in the wrong. I have a neighbour who’s son drops his dog off at their house while he works just as i’m leaving for work, and i’ve started staggering my leaving time for either earlier or slightly later as he will always park next to my drive, and without doubt lets his dog out of the boot, off lead, to run around behind my car, and I got sick of waiting in my car for him to finish dicking about and getting the dog inside so I can reverse off and go on my way, because I cannot see his little dog pottering around below my blind spots. I may add he does this when my reverse light is on and ready to go. Got fed up of sitting there waiting for him to get out the dog bed, treats, whatever else while the dog bombs about like a melon.

He’s a knob for not holding the dogs lead until the dogs out of a potential danger zone, but I’m not going to be a bigger knob, start reversing and knowingly potentially run over his dog for his own “I’m only outside the house” stupidity. Sometimes dog owners ARE entitled, as you are, and dogs should be on a lead when in a car heavy area or next to a road. Its common sense really. Respect can work both ways, I’m doing no wrong by staggering my leave over falling out with someone irrelevant to me over their choice of dog safety, and the guy in your story did no wrong by parking wherever he pleased. The only one putting your dog at risk, is you.

Original poster

TheQuirkyMaker · 02/02/2026 09:38

CarlaH · 02/02/2026 09:20

At this moment 94% of people think you are being unreasonable so you have your answer.

What is all about, is my little collie is dying of old age, she can't climb stairs, jump into cars, chase balls, hear cars approaching, I just don't know what we emotionally load on to dogs, but their deaths tear our hearts. Life is hard enough without those little babies sleeping next to us, with their breaths getting slower and slower.

OP posts:

PeanutPies · 02/02/2026 09:38

That sounds awfully entitled 😮So just because your dogs were occupying a parking space without leads a taxpayer (I am assuming) cannot park in an allocated parking space?

AreYouBrandNew · 02/02/2026 09:39

If he was reversing in so close (and at speed?)that you could touch the top of his car without moving then YANBU surely it’s the people and the dogs in this situation.

you didn’t need to swear though. Why didn’t you ask him to wait until you and the dogs were out of the way

Blueskiesandrainbows · 02/02/2026 09:39

TheQuirkyMaker · 02/02/2026 09:08

She was somewhere safe, until he decided to drive 2 feet away from us, needlessly. What idiot would decide, in an empty car park, to park bang next to the only 2 cars there? 150 empty spaces on the way in, 50 empty spaces past us, an almost totally empty car park, and he decides to stop and reverse in the space next us? So close I could slap his car.
I'm getting flack but he was a cunt.

Edited

Show quote history

What an awful thing to say, you’re just resorting to being extremely nasty and sweary now about some poor chap out with his kids on a Sunday morning.
Also you swore at him in front of his children, I would be furious if someone did that.
You’re now getting more and more annoyed because you were in the wrong and just can’t admit it, your dog should have been on a lead.

Jamesblonde2 · 02/02/2026 09:39

Wow OP you slapped someone’s car roof? Yes I’d have been tempted to give you a slap if you’d have slapped my fucking car. You cheeky cow.

nam3c4ang3 · 02/02/2026 09:39

TheQuirkyMaker · 02/02/2026 08:34

It is genuine. I just don't know if I was right or wrong. Obviously, my dog should have been on a lead, and the driver could park where he wanted.
And my dog is my responsibility. I know all this.
I just could not believe a car would come into an empty car park and decide to reverse park right next to us. He passed 200 spaces, and then screeched to a halt and banged his car into reverse so close I could give his car a slap. Why the fuck would he do that?

Show quote history

You dont know if you were right or wrong? I think in general the consensus is wrong - so yes, YABU - you slapped his car because YOU decided HE was entitled?! WTF - is this just rage bait for Monday morning OP.

Hoardasurass · 02/02/2026 09:39

TheQuirkyMaker · 02/02/2026 08:18

I don't agree. Of course he can park where he wants, but his children could walk 50 meters to the skate park if they were physically able to use it. Run over a dog to make a point that he doesn't like them?

Show quote history

Or you could walk the extra 50m with your dogs on leads.
The fact is you were bang out of order and no matter how you try and twist it you caused the problem and are lucky that he just reacted verbally many men would do much worse all because you wanted to be an entitled twat.
Stop giving reasonable dog owners a bad name and leash your dogs especially in the carpark

DotAndCarryOne2 · 02/02/2026 09:39

Bluddyellfire · 02/02/2026 09:35

Let it lie, love...

Show quote history

Not a chance ………

Tableforjoan · 02/02/2026 09:41

TheQuirkyMaker · 02/02/2026 09:38

What is all about, is my little collie is dying of old age, she can't climb stairs, jump into cars, chase balls, hear cars approaching, I just don't know what we emotionally load on to dogs, but their deaths tear our hearts. Life is hard enough without those little babies sleeping next to us, with their breaths getting slower and slower.

Show quote history

None of that is relevant to how you behaved.

PrizedPickledPopcorn · 02/02/2026 09:41

TheQuirkyMaker · 02/02/2026 09:38

What is all about, is my little collie is dying of old age, she can't climb stairs, jump into cars, chase balls, hear cars approaching, I just don't know what we emotionally load on to dogs, but their deaths tear our hearts. Life is hard enough without those little babies sleeping next to us, with their breaths getting slower and slower.

Show quote history

It’s a terrible time. We lost our dog recently and it’s heartbreaking. The rest of the world goes on, though.

Don’t take your heartbreak and anger out on the people around you, even the ones with big cars.

Your elderly dog relies on you to look after him/her, as he’s deaf and not able to react the way he used to. On lead in the car park.

TheNightingalesStarling · 02/02/2026 09:41

TheQuirkyMaker · 02/02/2026 09:38

What is all about, is my little collie is dying of old age, she can't climb stairs, jump into cars, chase balls, hear cars approaching, I just don't know what we emotionally load on to dogs, but their deaths tear our hearts. Life is hard enough without those little babies sleeping next to us, with their breaths getting slower and slower.

Show quote history

I have sympathy for your dog.

But none if its is the man's fault. You can't take it out on him.

rommymummy · 02/02/2026 09:42

Unreasonable and unhinged

Judging · 02/02/2026 09:42

Obviously, my dog should have been on a lead, and the driver could park where he wanted. And my dog is my responsibility.

Well, you’ve answered your own WIBU yourself.

You were completely in the wrong. And slapping his car roof? What were you thinking?

TY78910 · 02/02/2026 09:42

TheQuirkyMaker · 02/02/2026 09:23

Everybody is entitled. No one has responsibility. We can do whatever we want. Who needs to work or get an education- it is all on TikTok, know what I mean?

Show quote history

Are you actually okay?
What do phones and TikTok have to do with this situation? You sound like a grumpy woman who brushes anyone younger with the same paint brush and throws her toys out the pram when your sense of entitlement is endangered. You’re probably also of the opinion that you get priority on an escalator or a pavement

FiveShelties · 02/02/2026 09:42

TheQuirkyMaker · 02/02/2026 09:38

What is all about, is my little collie is dying of old age, she can't climb stairs, jump into cars, chase balls, hear cars approaching, I just don't know what we emotionally load on to dogs, but their deaths tear our hearts. Life is hard enough without those little babies sleeping next to us, with their breaths getting slower and slower.

Show quote history

I have no idea what this has to do with allowing your dog to wander off lead in a car park.

I have a 13.5 year old Sheltie, very slow and completely deaf - there is not a chance I would put her at risk of being run over by being too stupid to have her safely on the lead.

EnjoythemoneyJane · 02/02/2026 09:43

TheQuirkyMaker · 02/02/2026 09:23

Everybody is entitled. No one has responsibility. We can do whatever we want. Who needs to work or get an education- it is all on TikTok, know what I mean?

Show quote history

Your sarcasm and defensiveness is not coming over well, OP.

There was only one person in this scenario who was acting irresponsibly, and that was you. However big and empty the car park, and however docile and elderly the dog, having your dog off lead in a public car park is irresponsible dog ownership.

He may have been making a point, he may have been being a dick, or he may just have parked conveniently without really thinking about it. Regardless of his motivations, he’s not in the wrong here. Your response was disproportionate and would justifiably piss anyone off.

Starlight1979 · 02/02/2026 09:44

TheQuirkyMaker · 02/02/2026 09:38

What is all about, is my little collie is dying of old age, she can't climb stairs, jump into cars, chase balls, hear cars approaching, I just don't know what we emotionally load on to dogs, but their deaths tear our hearts. Life is hard enough without those little babies sleeping next to us, with their breaths getting slower and slower.

Show quote history

You're on the wind up now.

If you were that concerned about your dog then you wouldn't let her roam off lead in a car park.

Floatlikeafeather2 · 02/02/2026 09:44

Rainbowdottie · 02/02/2026 08:26

Yes I think you’ve been a bit extreme. Dogs to me are like children, they need love and attention in higher public places where they can potentially run off/get scared/get distracted. We all like to think we know we our kids and animals but you can just never know what they’ll do next. Protection (to me) is just a necessary stage of keeping everyone safe. I’ll always put my dog on a lead in a car park, at the exit of the car park, along the road etc. She is the most placid well behaved dog ever, she wouldn’t look any other human, dog , car whatever….but there’s always that chance that a loud noise will scare her, a car won’t see her, who knows…she could run off at the wrong time….as much as I think she wouldn’t. She can’t speak to me to tell me that’s she’s spooked or distracted or actually shut up talking and let’s go home…I have to have forward thinking of that. And my dog is still fairly young. In the past my older dogs would 100% be on a lead at that point. You know he got grumpy, he didn’t like people approaching him , he walked with some pain etc. even if your elderly dogs aren’t grumpy or in pain, if they’re small, it is safer in car parks etc as not everyone will see them.

i agree it’s a shame that the car park was empty by the sound of it and why park where you’re standing. It’s like when I park miles away from the store to “have a nice space “ where there’s no cars and I come back to my car after a bit shopping and someone has parked as close as they can next to me when there’s 50 others spaces free to park in!!!! But equally I don’t own the car park and can’t go round slapping every car with an owner I don’t agree with!

I think the slapping the car was unnecessary. If you had to show your displeasure at their actions, a roll eye would have been better if you really really had to say something. Maybe your actions of “standing in the way “ chatting was his way of saying that you were equally in the way. Whilst I don’t think you can compare a dog to a car, of course a dog is living thing with feelings and no one should ever slap a dog. Ever. Maybe his car was his pride and joy. Maybe he thought you had damaged it. Imagine him slappping your dog, you’d be outraged (rightly so!!!)

I think you’ve both been a bit caught up in the moment. You’ve both got equal access to the car park, you’ve both got a right to park where you like. I think you overstepped the mark by the slapping of the car. I’m not sure what reaction you’d thought you’d get by doing that. Not many people are going to take it well or ignore it. You don’t own the car park even if you take the dogs out of it. But what can you do? It’s done, no point worrying about it. Maybe next time park further away yourself to give you space, time to talk etc. by the sounds of it you too have parked in a popular part of the car park. You can’t be up all night worrying about it, it’s done , all you can do is learn from it 🫶

You're sending this person solidarity in the shape of a heart? Why? It doesn't matter what he thinks of his car - it could be his pride and joy; it could be an old jalopy - she was utterly wrong to bang on the roof or touch it at all. That car contained his children. He was taking to the park for a nice time. If she alarmed him by banging on the roof while he was still manoeuvring, he behaved perfectly normally to jump out to confront her. She then compounded it all by yelling at him to fuck off in front of his children. If that had happened to me and my children, it would have ruined the outing and at least one of them would have been begging me to go home. You feel that kind of behaviour deserves a cutesy little heart? She can't be truly concerned about her dog or she would have had it on a lead or even carried it until she was out of the car park. She just sounds like a thoroughly nasty person.

@TheQuirkyMaker I'm glad you had a sleepless night and wish you many more of them.

IntelCoreStrength · 02/02/2026 09:46

You were very very unreasonable. What he did may have been inconsiderate, but ultimately he’s allowed to park where he likes, and he parked safely and without incident (despite your descriptions of him “swooshing” past you and your dog, who according to you was “wandering about” off lead).

No matter what you say or how much you don’t like it, he parked safely.

You, however, hit his car - which is aggressive and dangerous - and told him to “fuck off” in front of his children. That is truly appalling behaviour. I cannot believe you are defending it.

WorriedRelative · 02/02/2026 09:47

TheQuirkyMaker · 02/02/2026 08:13

Okay, maybe I was in the wrong. But an empty car park? Why decide to park near other cars anyway? And little dogs wandering around?

Show quote history

Your dog shouldn't be wandering around a car park however large or small.

Get it on a lead if you care about it. It is fucking neglect to leave it loose where it could be run over.

I am bloody sick of people having their dogs off lead in inappropriate places, just the other day my horse and I were chased down the road because some idiot thought their dog would be fine off lead in a car park. Had that dog been hit by a car, trodden on or kicked by my horse it would have been the dog owners lack of care for their dog that caused it. If my horse had been injured I would have sued them for vets bills.

DotAndCarryOne2 · 02/02/2026 09:47

TheQuirkyMaker · 02/02/2026 09:38

What is all about, is my little collie is dying of old age, she can't climb stairs, jump into cars, chase balls, hear cars approaching, I just don't know what we emotionally load on to dogs, but their deaths tear our hearts. Life is hard enough without those little babies sleeping next to us, with their breaths getting slower and slower.

Show quote history

🎻🎻🎻

That’s not the drivers’ fault. Have you considered that off the leash in a car park isn’t exactly the safest place for an elderly dog who can’t move quickly and is hard of hearing ? I’m not sure what you want out of this thread - you asked if you’re being unreasonable, the answer here is a resounding yes, but you’re still arguing the toss because you’re not getting the answers you wanted, so now you’re playing the sympathy card. If we were anywhere near school half term holidays I’d have dismissed this thread as the product of a bored schoolboy.