I just got told off for letting my dog run in an empty playground

[MsAdorabelleDearheartVonLipwig]

Was just packing up the kids to go home. Nobody around. Playground deserted. Car park deserted. Let the dog out of the car for two minutes - we'd been for a long walk before we went to the playground - as he'd been tethered in for an hour, although the boot was open. He ran under the fence to join the kids and was mooching about on the grass for about a minute. No harm done, no one there, no one to offend. Obviously didn't poo or anything.

Kids back in car, dog in boot, ready to go. Elderly man appears out of nowhere and tells me off. Very patronising, explaining that people don't want to step in dog poo. Well yes I know that, very sorry, but no harm done, dog didn't poo, didn't even cock his leg. Very sorry etc. Shut car door.

Old man opens my car door, stands practically in door frame so I can't shut the door and proceeds to carry on berating me. I can't shut the door, he's about six inches from my face.

I'm afraid I was very rude. I thundered 'DO YOU MIND!' about three times before he got out of the way and I could shut the door.

I can't show my face there again can I?

[MsAdorabelleDearheartVonLipwig]

Yes. The boot lid was up, he was in the boot on a long line looped over the tow bar in case he jumped out and I was on a seat next to the car reading a book. It's a 4x4, it's got a big boot.

Big butts was a prat. It's hardly indicative of general life as a dog owner. She overreacted.

[MsAdorabelleDearheartVonLipwig]

Oh god, big buttons, sorry.

[user7755]

I couldn't have done that with ours no matter how big the boot was. It would be like standing with a bag of chips just too far away from him for him to reach it - poor dog must have been desperate to get out to them.

[MsAdorabelleDearheartVonLipwig]

Bag of chips

Well he did whine a bit but I threw him a biscuit and then he lay down and went to sleep. He's pretty good as a rule.

[user7755]

Our greedy and child loving lab would have had the tow bar off! I'm very jealous of owners of calm dogs, Sam would have been constantly whining.

[Floggingmolly]

What does"obviously he didn't poo" mean? You know now that he didn't, but you couldn't possibly have known he wasn't going to.
There's a reason why children's playgrounds are in a sectioned off bit of the park.

[mrslaughan]

Thing is - I thought dog we was (like all wee) is sterile , so if your worried about your kids crawling around on the grass that has dog wee,,,,, well as unpalatable it may seem, you actually have far more to worry about bird poo, which can contain salmonella................

You probably should stick to the rules, as although your dog didn't poo - others may see yours and decide she did it, so I'll do it , and there dog will poo, then that is kind of gross

[Wolfiefan]

That man sounds like he was rude and possibly overreacted.
This may have been your only doggy faux pas. He doesn't know that. You were still wrong. You should have recalled your dog when he went in the playground. He didn't wee but the rule is still no dogs.

[EasyToEatTiger]

If someone actually opens your door, it is a dangerous thing for them to do. It borders on assault. He should not have done that. Ever. Your dog jumped out, was under control pretty fast. This man is in the wrong. He had no right to open your car door. By this time you were in you in your own property. He violated that. Pathetic little man. Sorry you are shaken. You (and nobody else) deserves to be treated like this. If you were a hairy bloke with a boot full of fighting dogs, I don't think this man would have done the same. It must have been frightening.

[tilder]

Yes he does sound a bit aggressive.

But then you seem to think what you did was ok. Just that you 'got caught out'. It's either a dog free zone or its not.

I think you were rude to bigbuttons as well. I agree with her. You seem more concerned with the manner in which you were treated and irritation about being caught out doing something rather than acknowledging the several posters who said you shouldn't take a dog in there.

[MsAdorabelleDearheartVonLipwig]

Yes I know, might have known someone was watching.

Obviously he might have bopped down for a poo but given that we'd just been on a walk through the woods for about two hours and he'd probably pooed all he could, I'd have been bloody surprised if he squeezed any more out. Hence why I wasn't too frantic about calling him back right that second.

[MsAdorabelleDearheartVonLipwig]

Oh it's moved on a bit, that was to flogging and mrslaughan.

[MsAdorabelleDearheartVonLipwig]

It's not aibu tilder. Several posters have said they can't see what the problem is either.

[tilder]

I do realise that it isn't aibu thank you

I didn't mention the phrase.

Yes he sounded like he was a little excessive in his approach.

Doesn't change the fact that it was a children's playground. You knew dogs weren't allowed. I appreciate you would like to focus on his behaviour. However that does not make your behaviour ok.

[EasyToEatTiger]

He should never, ever have opened the door of your car. Ever. That is the start of a fight. It is an act of aggression. You cannot, ever be responsible for an act of aggression from another person. And he was trying to prevent you from leaving. Your dog committed a minor indescretion. Sadly there are people out there who are angry. Just angry. Nothing to do with you, and I think you and you dogs live a joyous life together.

[Thisismyfirsttime]

He shouldn't have been so aggressive, of course not. That wasn't acceptable.
But your dog shouldn't have been in a play area. Not at all. And I'm a dog owner, it's just not right.

[candykane25]

The mans behaviour was not acceptable in the way he spoke to you.
However the dog should not have been in the playground.
Would you park in a disabled parking bay just for a minute if it was empty, and in your opinion no harm, no foul?
I regularly took my nephews to the park with my pet dog. The dog and I sat outside the park gate.
I am getting a guide dog next month. That dog will be coming into the park with me and DD. I am sure I will get lots of flak and ill be having to explain she is allowed in the park.
I'm sure not all of it il will be polite.

Just a different point of view.

[MsAdorabelleDearheartVonLipwig]

She'll probably be wearing some sort of special jacket and lead though won't she candy? I'm sure you'll be fine.

[cheerfulmary]

The problem with abusing dog laws (even if your dog is exemplary in its behaviour) is that it does directly lead to less access for all dogs which is becoming a problem. eg dogs being banned from more areas and enforcing dogs to be on leads.

[bigbuttons]

tilder you speak a lot of sense.

[candykane25]

msadora you would think so. Yes obviously she will have her harness on but as I know many guide dogs and their guide dog owners very well, I can confirm ignorance is rife and most are challenged frequently/denied entrance/access.

[EasyToEatTiger]

There are rules and there are laws. There is a difference. MsAdorabelle didn't break any laws. Her dog broke the rules and she was assaulted. Otherwise there would be a sign outside clearly stating a statuary fine. People don't like dogs in kids playgrounds for lots of reasons, not just poo. It is the least of the issues.

[Thisismyfirsttime]

Candy I hope you don't ever get challenged with your guide dog but I know people do. If you were posting the same op though there would be (from me at least and I am sure others) a very different response because your dog would be on the lead and with you under your control in the park. OP's dog was roaming.

[candykane25]

I agree with you first.

[Ciggaretteandsmirnoff]

I most likely would have punched him in the face.