How do you handle unleashed dogs at a park?

[Anonymous]

I have toddler twins, and when I take them to our nearby park, there are often dog owners that let their dogs run free. It is NOT a dog park. My girls get scared of the dogs and I obviously don't know which dogs we can trust and which we can't. I also don't want them to come and sniff my girls' faces.

I have sometimes just walked away from the area, sometimes asked the owner to leash their dog. The response is not always friendly. I know I can legally call the police because they are breaking the law, but I am hesitant to get confrontational.

How do you handle the situation? Do you just not worry about it?

[Anonymous]

Call animal control.

Seriously.

There are dog parks for this reason.

Pet owners who let their dogs run free in any other park, especially one with a playground or kids sports fields, are just irresponsible and deserve what they get.

[Anonymous]

If the dog is just running around and not paying attention to the kids, I ignore it. If it approaches my kid, I generally screen the kids--shoo the dog away, etc. I have even physically pushed dogs away from my kids. I've never had a dog that persisted or seemed aggressive, so I haven't had to go any further.

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

I call the police.

[Anonymous]

Total bitch here, but I've yelled at dog owners that their dogs need to be leashed. Especially hate the dog owners who "walk" their dog while just carrying a leash, as if that's ok.

Btw, my ds was bitten by an off leash dog in our backyard. Horrific experience and it was "just" a small dog and "just" required seven stitches. ER doc told us one mm closer to Ds' lip and we'd be talking about plastic surgery.

[Anonymous]

I would ask nicely first. It doesn't have to be confrontational and some dogowners are more oblivious than anything else. "Hey, would you mind leashing your dogs, at least while my toddlers are here? Thanks." If they insist they have nice, boring dogs who would never chase a child, they could be right, but you are still within your rights to explain as you do above. "Sure, it's not that I don't believe you, but I don't know your dogs and my kids don't know how to behave around dogs. It would be safest for everybody - kids and dog - if you would leash your dog." And if that doesn't work or they get nasty, call animal control.

Note, I am a doglover, and I have been known to let my dogs run offleash in empty, enclosed parks and sparsely populated trails at off hours (like 530am), but I never do it when I think we might run into people - especially children, because children pretty much never know how to act around dogs and many adults do not. I would be mortified and apologetic if someone had to ask me to leash the dog.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would ask nicely first. It doesn't have to be confrontational and some dogowners are more oblivious than anything else. "Hey, would you mind leashing your dogs, at least while my toddlers are here? Thanks." If they insist they have nice, boring dogs who would never chase a child, they could be right, but you are still within your rights to explain as you do above. "Sure, it's not that I don't believe you, but I don't know your dogs and my kids don't know how to behave around dogs. It would be safest for everybody - kids and dog - if you would leash your dog." And if that doesn't work or they get nasty, call animal control.

Note, I am a doglover, and I have been known to let my dogs run offleash in empty, enclosed parks and sparsely populated trails at off hours (like 530am), but I never do it when I think we might run into people - especially children, because children pretty much never know how to act around dogs and many adults do not. I would be mortified and apologetic if someone had to ask me to leash the dog.

A simple "it's the law" should suffice. No need for all that explanation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would ask nicely first. It doesn't have to be confrontational and some dogowners are more oblivious than anything else. "Hey, would you mind leashing your dogs, at least while my toddlers are here? Thanks." If they insist they have nice, boring dogs who would never chase a child, they could be right, but you are still within your rights to explain as you do above. "Sure, it's not that I don't believe you, but I don't know your dogs and my kids don't know how to behave around dogs. It would be safest for everybody - kids and dog - if you would leash your dog." And if that doesn't work or they get nasty, call animal control.

Note, I am a doglover, and I have been known to let my dogs run offleash in empty, enclosed parks and sparsely populated trails at off hours (like 530am), but I never do it when I think we might run into people - especially children, because children pretty much never know how to act around dogs and many adults do not. I would be mortified and apologetic if someone had to ask me to leash the dog.

A simple "it's the law" should suffice. No need for all that explanation.

As a dog owner (and a simultaneous respector of people who are not comfortable around dogs) I'll chime in that I think you will get a more positive response if you use the PP's longer recommendation rather than a short "it's the law." Because people who are dog lovers often forget that their kind/boring/easy-going dog may not know what to do when a toddler comes up and pulls on the dog's ears, etc. A kind reminder, along the lines suggested by PP, should bring those oblivious dog owners to the realization that they are putting kids and their beloved pets at risk in that situation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would ask nicely first. It doesn't have to be confrontational and some dogowners are more oblivious than anything else. "Hey, would you mind leashing your dogs, at least while my toddlers are here? Thanks." If they insist they have nice, boring dogs who would never chase a child, they could be right, but you are still within your rights to explain as you do above. "Sure, it's not that I don't believe you, but I don't know your dogs and my kids don't know how to behave around dogs. It would be safest for everybody - kids and dog - if you would leash your dog." And if that doesn't work or they get nasty, call animal control.

Note, I am a doglover, and I have been known to let my dogs run offleash in empty, enclosed parks and sparsely populated trails at off hours (like 530am), but I never do it when I think we might run into people - especially children, because children pretty much never know how to act around dogs and many adults do not. I would be mortified and apologetic if someone had to ask me to leash the dog.

A simple "it's the law" should suffice. No need for all that explanation.

As a dog owner (and a simultaneous respector of people who are not comfortable around dogs) I'll chime in that I think you will get a more positive response if you use the PP's longer recommendation rather than a short "it's the law." Because people who are dog lovers often forget that their kind/boring/easy-going dog may not know what to do when a toddler comes up and pulls on the dog's ears, etc. A kind reminder, along the lines suggested by PP, should bring those oblivious dog owners to the realization that they are putting kids and their beloved pets at risk in that situation.

Yup - ditto. To both the poster who laid out a gentle way to approach the dog owner in a way that allows them not to get defensive, and the last poster who supported that approach. Dog lovers are probably kid lovers too - no one wants anyone to get hurt, so start by trying to be on the same side in keeping everyone safe and comfortable. And teach your kids how to deal w/ animals also so they can be smart in how they handle it if an animal does approach them.

[Anonymous]

Why don't dog owners already know the law?

[Anonymous]

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.

[Anonymous]

Hello Wood Acres park!

[Anonymous]

I think you should start yelling: "SOMEONE LOST THEIR DOG! THERE'S AN OFF-LEASH DOG HERE!" and then when the owner claims the dog say, "Phew, I'm glad you're here. Now you can put him on his leash where he belongs."

[Anonymous]

The world is full of dogs and children. Some dog owners are oblivious, but well intentioned, and some parents are oblivious, but well intentioned.

I agree that the best way to handle the situation is to call the dog owners attention to it and explain that your children are scared. Perhaps ask the owner to help your children interact with the dogs on a leash.

Your children are going to grow up with friends who have dogs and relatives that have dogs and the best way to protect them is to educate them. It's the same with pools - teach them to swim if you want them to be safe.