How do you handle unleashed dogs at a park?

[Anonymous]

Tell them your child I'd afraid. Most dog owners will respect this. Make it about your kids and not the dog. Too many dog owners have tha "but my dog is voice controlled, so I do not need a leash" attitude.

[Anonymous]

I don't get either side of this.

I'm a dog owner and our dog is just never unleashed - he'd chase a squirrel right into the middle of the street, so it's not a personal issue to me. I used to live a block from lincoln park, which is a bit of a de facto dog park, and I cannot even imagine the moms running around telling all the dog owners to leash the dogs. Especially if their dogs were showing no interest to the children at all. On the other hand, the person who is allowing his dog to sniff at other kids, etc? Out of line.

at the same time, there are always long cry fests on MOTH listserv about how these big scary dogs are just running around unleashed and in most of the cases, the mom is freaking out, scaring the kids, and creating hysteria for no reason. I mean, these are moms who will shout across the park to a dog owner to leash their dog even if they aren't going anywhere near the dog, if the dog is paying them no mind. They pick up their kids, and scream "leash your dog! I don't want your dog biting my child! He barked at us! He could bite us!" etc.

I realize the law is the law, and people SHOULD leash their dogs, but I just want to tell these moms that they are creating a terror of dogs in their children.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There's been a discussion on this recently on the AU Park listserve. A poor toddler was bitten in the face in a neighborhood park.

It is NOT okay for a dog (any dog) to be off a leash except in marked areas.

The local police apparently advise taking a video and calling them.

Personally, I would say something to the dog owner. I hope everyone else does the same. They need to know that they are breaking the law, and there are no exceptions.

I hope the owner will face some serious charges.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't get either side of this.

I'm a dog owner and our dog is just never unleashed - he'd chase a squirrel right into the middle of the street, so it's not a personal issue to me. I used to live a block from lincoln park, which is a bit of a de facto dog park, and I cannot even imagine the moms running around telling all the dog owners to leash the dogs. Especially if their dogs were showing no interest to the children at all. On the other hand, the person who is allowing his dog to sniff at other kids, etc? Out of line.

at the same time, there are always long cry fests on MOTH listserv about how these big scary dogs are just running around unleashed and in most of the cases, the mom is freaking out, scaring the kids, and creating hysteria for no reason. I mean, these are moms who will shout across the park to a dog owner to leash their dog even if they aren't going anywhere near the dog, if the dog is paying them no mind. They pick up their kids, and scream "leash your dog! I don't want your dog biting my child! He barked at us! He could bite us!" etc.

I realize the law is the law, and people SHOULD leash their dogs, but I just want to tell these moms that they are creating a terror of dogs in their children.

Are you crazy? The mom is the jerk here? No. Those people who let their dogs run leash less are creating the situation. For the love of God put a leash on your dog!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There's been a discussion on this recently on the AU Park listserve. A poor toddler was bitten in the face in a neighborhood park.

It is NOT okay for a dog (any dog) to be off a leash except in marked areas.

The local police apparently advise taking a video and calling them.

Personally, I would say something to the dog owner. I hope everyone else does the same. They need to know that they are breaking the law, and there are no exceptions.

I hope the owner will face some serious charges.

But nothing will ever be enough for that poor toddler or the parents of that poor toddler.

[Anonymous]

This has nothing to do with whether or how kids get used to being around dogs. That toddler would have been bitten in the face regardless of whatever conversations the mother had. If you want to talk about getting your kids used to dogs, then start another thread.

Every dog should be on a leash, except in designated areas or private property, period.

Can you imagine how the parents of that toddler are feeling right now? It could be your kid. Or your dog.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There's been a discussion on this recently on the AU Park listserve. A poor toddler was bitten in the face in a neighborhood park.

It is NOT okay for a dog (any dog) to be off a leash except in marked areas.

The local police apparently advise taking a video and calling them.

Personally, I would say something to the dog owner. I hope everyone else does the same. They need to know that they are breaking the law, and there are no exceptions.

I hope the owner will face some serious charges.

But nothing will ever be enough for that poor toddler or the parents of that poor toddler.

I have been walking my dogs on a leash many time and small children have coming running up to them in the park. I wonder where the hell the parents are because although I have them on a leash, I can't hold the leashes and grab the kids at the same time. For the love of God, teach your children how to act around dogs instead of complaining about the dogs. Instead of getting hysterical about dogs, do something to educate your kids!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why don't dog owners already know the law?

They know it, but think their precious snowflake is exempt due to stellar behavior.

The same could be said for your child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Why don't dog owners already know the law?

They know it, but think their precious snowflake is exempt due to stellar behavior.

The same could be said for your child.

Huh? Who's child are you talking about that is breaking the law? Your comment makes no sense.

[Anonymous]

I usually just whack them on the head with my handy club embedded with nails. The dogs I mean.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't get either side of this.

I'm a dog owner and our dog is just never unleashed - he'd chase a squirrel right into the middle of the street, so it's not a personal issue to me. I used to live a block from lincoln park, which is a bit of a de facto dog park, and I cannot even imagine the moms running around telling all the dog owners to leash the dogs. Especially if their dogs were showing no interest to the children at all. On the other hand, the person who is allowing his dog to sniff at other kids, etc? Out of line.

at the same time, there are always long cry fests on MOTH listserv about how these big scary dogs are just running around unleashed and in most of the cases, the mom is freaking out, scaring the kids, and creating hysteria for no reason. I mean, these are moms who will shout across the park to a dog owner to leash their dog even if they aren't going anywhere near the dog, if the dog is paying them no mind. They pick up their kids, and scream "leash your dog! I don't want your dog biting my child! He barked at us! He could bite us!" etc.

I realize the law is the law, and people SHOULD leash their dogs, but I just want to tell these moms that they are creating a terror of dogs in their children.

I see where you are coming from, but I still think absolutely no responsibility falls on the parents here, it's all on the dog owners. It's not for them or you to judge whether a mother's fear of dogs is excessive or not, and whether she is overreacting and getting the children (as you think, unnecessarily) scared of dogs. If a dog is off leash, there is always a risk that it bites a child, even if it is currently showing no interest. No parent is required to accept that risk, no matter how small. They don't share the love for your dog, which will make you live with that risk for your own children, and you need to accept that fact.

FWIW, my father's dog is perfectly nice and still ended up snapping at a toddler in the family. He subsequently wore a muzzle around the kids. When I was young, we had a very sweet young dog that also ended up almost biting my baby brother. My parents gave the dog away to another home, and as much as I hated it back then, I totally understand now.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't get either side of this.

I'm a dog owner and our dog is just never unleashed - he'd chase a squirrel right into the middle of the street, so it's not a personal issue to me. I used to live a block from lincoln park, which is a bit of a de facto dog park, and I cannot even imagine the moms running around telling all the dog owners to leash the dogs. Especially if their dogs were showing no interest to the children at all. On the other hand, the person who is allowing his dog to sniff at other kids, etc? Out of line.

at the same time, there are always long cry fests on MOTH listserv about how these big scary dogs are just running around unleashed and in most of the cases, the mom is freaking out, scaring the kids, and creating hysteria for no reason. I mean, these are moms who will shout across the park to a dog owner to leash their dog even if they aren't going anywhere near the dog, if the dog is paying them no mind. They pick up their kids, and scream "leash your dog! I don't want your dog biting my child! He barked at us! He could bite us!" etc.

I realize the law is the law, and people SHOULD leash their dogs, but I just want to tell these moms that they are creating a terror of dogs in their children.

Are you crazy? The mom is the jerk here? No. Those people who let their dogs run leash less are creating the situation. For the love of God put a leash on your dog!!!

Can you read honey? I leash my dog 100 percent of the time. That still doesn't stop me from thinking that the mom who sees a dog chasing a ball happily, 50 feet away, and picks up her child and literally runs away saying "LEASH YOUR DOG!" is not doing that child any favors. Sure, dog should be leashed, but these moms are also just freaking nuts anyway. BTW, the same moms on moth also complains that people who have their dogs on LEASHES are putting their children at risk. Mom is a hysterical basket case and teaching her kids to be afraid of dogs is not the smart thing to do in this situation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There's been a discussion on this recently on the AU Park listserve. A poor toddler was bitten in the face in a neighborhood park.

It is NOT okay for a dog (any dog) to be off a leash except in marked areas.

The local police apparently advise taking a video and calling them.

Personally, I would say something to the dog owner. I hope everyone else does the same. They need to know that they are breaking the law, and there are no exceptions.

I hope the owner will face some serious charges.

But nothing will ever be enough for that poor toddler or the parents of that poor toddler.

I have been walking my dogs on a leash many time and small children have coming running up to them in the park. I wonder where the hell the parents are because although I have them on a leash, I can't hold the leashes and grab the kids at the same time. For the love of God, teach your children how to act around dogs instead of complaining about the dogs. Instead of getting hysterical about dogs, do something to educate your kids!

Yes, exactly. We've never violated a leash law with our dog, who is as gentle as they come. What's with the moms who let their toddlers run up and grab fist fulls of his hair? It's not that my dog will ever bite them - he won't. But, I don't appreciate the toddler poking my dog in the eye, while I try to move the dog away, and then mom coming and scooping up her child like my dog was about to eat it. This actually happened to us once. My family was sitting at the park, on a blanket, and my dog was drinking water from a bowl in a leash when a kid toddled up with no parent around, and just tried to fling himself on my dog. My dog just licked the kid, he is a lover. But it was on ME to move the child away from my dog. Then mom came up with her knickers in a twist, grabbed her kid, then huffed to her friend (intending me to here) how she wishes people would let parks be for PEOPLE not animals.

Dogs are the least of this woman's problem. Unfortunately, I bet a lot of the hyster sisters on here share her mindset. People who are this uptight about dogs are generally neurotic in general and are sadly teaching their kids to be equally nuts.

[Anonymous]

intending me to "hear" (before the grammar police come.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There's been a discussion on this recently on the AU Park listserve. A poor toddler was bitten in the face in a neighborhood park.

It is NOT okay for a dog (any dog) to be off a leash except in marked areas.

The local police apparently advise taking a video and calling them.

Personally, I would say something to the dog owner. I hope everyone else does the same. They need to know that they are breaking the law, and there are no exceptions.

I hope the owner will face some serious charges.

But nothing will ever be enough for that poor toddler or the parents of that poor toddler.

I have been walking my dogs on a leash many time and small children have coming running up to them in the park. I wonder where the hell the parents are because although I have them on a leash, I can't hold the leashes and grab the kids at the same time. For the love of God, teach your children how to act around dogs instead of complaining about the dogs. Instead of getting hysterical about dogs, do something to educate your kids!

Yes, exactly. We've never violated a leash law with our dog, who is as gentle as they come. What's with the moms who let their toddlers run up and grab fist fulls of his hair? It's not that my dog will ever bite them - he won't. But, I don't appreciate the toddler poking my dog in the eye, while I try to move the dog away, and then mom coming and scooping up her child like my dog was about to eat it. This actually happened to us once. My family was sitting at the park, on a blanket, and my dog was drinking water from a bowl in a leash when a kid toddled up with no parent around, and just tried to fling himself on my dog. My dog just licked the kid, he is a lover. But it was on ME to move the child away from my dog. Then mom came up with her knickers in a twist, grabbed her kid, then huffed to her friend (intending me to here) how she wishes people would let parks be for PEOPLE not animals.

Dogs are the least of this woman's problem. Unfortunately, I bet a lot of the hyster sisters on here share her mindset. People who are this uptight about dogs are generally neurotic in general and are sadly teaching their kids to be equally nuts.

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