Sick of people w/dogs walking them up to and on elementary school property

[Anonymous]

Immediate PP here: and as for communicating with my dog -- no, I don't try to reason with my dog or discipline him with "gentle spoken words." But I have also never, ever had cause or need to kick him. A loud "No!" or "Stay!" or "DOWN" works.

[Anonymous]

DOGS RULE

GOD spelled backward -- DOG

ADOPT A DOG -- You'll have friend for life!

[Anonymous]

BTW, it is safer to use your leg or foot on a dog (you can call it kick if you want) since bending over to use your arm or hand put you in a more vulnerable (more submissive) position, which is a no no in these circumstances.

[Anonymous]

This discussion has devolved into throwing out hypothetical situations like defending one's children and their dangling limbs from dangerous, snarling dogs and oblivious, unmoving owners -- but let's remember that it started as a conversation about dogs being close to, licking, and (worst case scenario) jumping on children. Let's be honest here -- we are not really talking about pit bulls and dog mauling. We're talking about people who get annoyed when regular ol' family dogs lick/sniff/possibly jump. Some perspective here, maybe? Of COURSE parents should do whatever they can to defend against legitimate dangers, but are we actually talking about real, likely danger, or what is, more likely, just an annoyance? And yes, I KNOW that "all" dogs can turn on you and pose a threat, but again, how likely is that when you are talking about a stranger's dog on the street, and is it really what people starting complaining about?

I will keep my dog away from you and your children. You do your best to keep your child away from my dog. If there is a problem with dogs at OP's school, tell the school to keep the dogs out! This should be a simple solution.

Most of the population lives with dogs and children in relative harmony... DCUM definitely seems to be an anomaly (and a hateful one!) in that regard.

[Anonymous]

I like all of my friends' dogs, but I also feel afraid when unleashed dogs illegally run through Georgetown parks and playgrounds, and then come up to my toddlers and jump on them. And then the owners say things like, "Don't worry, my Doberman is friendly!" I especially worry when their dogs weigh about 60 lbs and my children weigh about 24 lb each!

When it comes down to dogs vs. toddlers, the dogs will win and the children will be scarred for life.

Apparently the dog owners on this board (hundreds of them) would NEVER let their dogs illegally run around public playgrounds without leashes. So thank you!

For the liars on this board, only YOU know who you are, and I hope that your dogs are more emotionally intelligent than you!

ps: I do keep my children away from most strange dogs, though I want to keep a healthy balance - I don't want my kids to be afraid of dogs. So my twins are now "blowing kisses" at dogs. Sounds silly, but it works. And until they're older and can understand the nuances of dogs in the city, it will have to do unless we know the dog.

[Anonymous]

PP here. Sorry meant to say that my kids blow kisses at all unfamiliar dogs - they can pet the dogs we know.

[Anonymous]

This is all so exhausting!! If you start from the beginning-you'll get a good laugh.

If anyone ever kicked my dog-I'd kick them back, maybe even do more bodily harm, and yes, call the police. If anyone ever hurt my child-I'd kill them. This post is just plain nonsense!!! It's like 12 year olds slamming each other, however I will say the dog owners seem to have a little bit of an edge here. It's the DOGLESS persons who seem very angry and disturbed and are making dogs out to be these horrific, terrifying, man eating creatures. The DOG persons are explaining how they keep their dog under control, lalala.

I can't believe you're all grown women with children, husbands and JOBS. Wow!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is all so exhausting!! If you start from the beginning-you'll get a good laugh.

If anyone ever kicked my dog-I'd kick them back, maybe even do more bodily harm, and yes, call the police. If anyone ever hurt my child-I'd kill them. This post is just plain nonsense!!! It's like 12 year olds slamming each other, however I will say the dog owners seem to have a little bit of an edge here. It's the DOGLESS persons who seem very angry and disturbed and are making dogs out to be these horrific, terrifying, man eating creatures. The DOG persons are explaining how they keep their dog under control, lalala.

I can't believe you're all grown women with children, husbands and JOBS. Wow!!!

I am the owner of a dog, the Dobermans, and I agree more with the "dogless" people.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is all so exhausting!! If you start from the beginning-you'll get a good laugh.

If anyone ever kicked my dog-I'd kick them back, maybe even do more bodily harm, and yes, call the police. If anyone ever hurt my child-I'd kill them. This post is just plain nonsense!!! It's like 12 year olds slamming each other, however I will say the dog owners seem to have a little bit of an edge here. It's the DOGLESS persons who seem very angry and disturbed and are making dogs out to be these horrific, terrifying, man eating creatures. The DOG persons are explaining how they keep their dog under control, lalala.

I can't believe you're all grown women with children, husbands and JOBS. Wow!!!

Well, you're contributing to it. If you are so superior, maybe you should go and take care of YOUR children, husband and JOB and leave this thread alone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is all so exhausting!! If you start from the beginning-you'll get a good laugh.

If anyone ever kicked my dog-I'd kick them back, maybe even do more bodily harm, and yes, call the police. If anyone ever hurt my child-I'd kill them. This post is just plain nonsense!!! It's like 12 year olds slamming each other, however I will say the dog owners seem to have a little bit of an edge here. It's the DOGLESS persons who seem very angry and disturbed and are making dogs out to be these horrific, terrifying, man eating creatures. The DOG persons are explaining how they keep their dog under control, lalala.

I can't believe you're all grown women with children, husbands and JOBS. Wow!!!

Well, you're contributing to it. If you are so superior, maybe you should go and take care of YOUR children, husband and JOB and leave this thread alone.

Check out the time I posted. What? Did I touch on a bad subject? This has got to be the stupiest thread.

[Anonymous]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8422342/

DOGS RULE

[Anonymous]

Back to original post..I concur with how frustrating and actually scarey it feels to see a pack of dogs running loose in a children's play area. Just last night I had my 3yo and 9 week newborn at an elementary school playground. Four dogs were running around playing, I was 5 feet from my newborn sleeping in the double stroller and the pack of dogs ended up playing, growling right in front of my baby in the stroller. My mama bear instincts kicked in and obviously I picked up my newborn (woke him up) and attended to my terrified 3yo who wouldnt come down the slide for fear of the dogs biting him. Before I get hazed, I love dogs, grew up with them, and my 3yo loves them as well. But he is an anxious toddler and interpreted the dogs playful growling, biting and bumping into our stroller as "they are coming to get me"....Obviously I told him they were just dogs having fun and werent they cool to watch, as I dont want him fearful of pet dogs, but I would have loved the dog owners to step in a few minutes earlier to redirect the dogs away from my little ones.
I think it's just a basic courtesy and sensitivity issue, if you look at it from the eyes of a little child, it's a no brainer that dogs can be perceived as very scarey and hence dog owners should be mindful of this when they decide when and where to let their dogs run free.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Back to original post..I concur with how frustrating and actually scarey it feels to see a pack of dogs running loose in a children's play area. Just last night I had my 3yo and 9 week newborn at an elementary school playground. Four dogs were running around playing, I was 5 feet from my newborn sleeping in the double stroller and the pack of dogs ended up playing, growling right in front of my baby in the stroller.

I think it's just a basic courtesy and sensitivity issue, if you look at it from the eyes of a little child, it's a no brainer that dogs can be perceived as very scarey and hence dog owners should be mindful of this when they decide when and where to let their dogs run free.

I'd like to add that I am also a dog lover, but dogs in packs get more aggressive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Back to original post..I concur with how frustrating and actually scarey it feels to see a pack of dogs running loose in a children's play area. Just last night I had my 3yo and 9 week newborn at an elementary school playground. Four dogs were running around playing, I was 5 feet from my newborn sleeping in the double stroller and the pack of dogs ended up playing, growling right in front of my baby in the stroller. My mama bear instincts kicked in and obviously I picked up my newborn (woke him up) and attended to my terrified 3yo who wouldnt come down the slide for fear of the dogs biting him. Before I get hazed, I love dogs, grew up with them, and my 3yo loves them as well. But he is an anxious toddler and interpreted the dogs playful growling, biting and bumping into our stroller as "they are coming to get me"....Obviously I told him they were just dogs having fun and werent they cool to watch, as I dont want him fearful of pet dogs, but I would have loved the dog owners to step in a few minutes earlier to redirect the dogs away from my little ones.
I think it's just a basic courtesy and sensitivity issue, if you look at it from the eyes of a little child, it's a no brainer that dogs can be perceived as very scarey and hence dog owners should be mindful of this when they decide when and where to let their dogs run free.

I'm a dog owner and I think it's not so much a matter of courtesy and sensitivity as it is of safety! I would never trust a bunch of dogs running loose (my dog included) in the vicinity of toddlers and babies. Even the sweetest of dogs can do something unexpected in a situation like that.

[Anonymous]

So far, even the dog owners have completely agreed that they have a problem with dogs off-leash. (I know I do. I never let my dog off-leash, for her safety as much as any other reason.) So... we're all agreed! Maybe this thread can die now (especially because the original post didn't say anything about off-leash dogs, anyway).