Dog parks and young kids

[Anonymous]

Our 3.5 year old daughter loves taking our dog to the dog park. We've been 8-10 times without any problems. I'd describe her as high energy but well behaved and she knows not to be rough with dogs. Today a dog came over near us. He was wagging his tail and seemed calm so we let her put her hand out for the dog to sniff, and then pet the dog. No problems. Then she went to get a tennis ball to throw for our dog. Both dogs ran after her, and the dog we didn't know started jumping on her. My husband says the dog tried to bite her, although I didn't see it, but did did have a large scratch down the back of her neck. I ran over and picked her up within perhaps 15 seconds. My husband was pissed at the owner, who said the dog was a puppy and not great with kids, but also yelled at my husband that we shouldn't have small children there. Later on, I was holding my daughter because she was scared, and another guy (who hadn't been there when the earlier incident happened) said it was good that I was holding her, because his dog isn't good with little kid. After the first one, I thought the woman was irresponsible, but the second one has me wondering -- is it acceptable to bring dogs that aren't good with little kids to an off-leash dog park? Would most people assume there wouldn't be little kids there?

[Anonymous]

I would never take a small child to the dog park, and I'm a dog lover and a parent. Both children and dogs are too unpredictable to make it a safe situation for either.

[Anonymous]

No-small kids should not be in dog parks. And holding a kid or baby in s dog park is a bad idea too-many dogs will jump up to try to see what you're holding.

[Anonymous]

When we have gone, if we bring little kids, we are ALL there. So one parent inside with the dog. And one parent outside the fence where we look at the dogs.

Occasionally as dogs are coming in and out, the owners will ask if our kids want to pet their dog. That's as close as we get.

The inside of the fence is for dogs to be free and play, not for young kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Our 3.5 year old daughter loves taking our dog to the dog park. We've been 8-10 times without any problems. I'd describe her as high energy but well behaved and she knows not to be rough with dogs. Today a dog came over near us. He was wagging his tail and seemed calm so we let her put her hand out for the dog to sniff, and then pet the dog. No problems. Then she went to get a tennis ball to throw for our dog. Both dogs ran after her, and the dog we didn't know started jumping on her. My husband says the dog tried to bite her, although I didn't see it, but did did have a large scratch down the back of her neck. I ran over and picked her up within perhaps 15 seconds. My husband was pissed at the owner, who said the dog was a puppy and not great with kids, but also yelled at my husband that we shouldn't have small children there. Later on, I was holding my daughter because she was scared, and another guy (who hadn't been there when the earlier incident happened) said it was good that I was holding her, because his dog isn't good with little kid. After the first one, I thought the woman was irresponsible, but the second one has me wondering -- is it acceptable to bring dogs that aren't good with little kids to an off-leash dog park? Would most people assume there wouldn't be little kids there?

Yes, of course it is acceptable to bring dogs who aren't great with kids to the dog park. In this case it doesn't even sound like it was the dog's fault. It sounds like two dogs got overly excited about a high value toy, and once you saw that happening you didn't put an end to the play or take your dog (and child) out and go home.

Being at dog parks, if you want to be safe and responsible, requires paying attention all the time to what is going on. You have to recognize when your dog, or another dog, is getting too amped up. It probably means not letting your kid throw a ball when there are a lot of dogs around, since that gets the dogs excited.

[Anonymous]

I'd never trust my child within proximity to an unknown animal. Never.

[Anonymous]

Your child does not belong inside the dog park gates. One of you goes in with the dog, the other parent stays out with the child.

[Anonymous]

OP, c'mon. This was not the dog's fault. Please.

[Anonymous]

Just echoing everyone else that your child should not be inside the dog park. They are meant for dogs, not children. I would never bring my child to a dog park... they can get crazy with all those dogs playing! I would also not bring my dog to a playground. This incident was definitely your fault as the parent, it the dog owners.

[Anonymous]

Let me get this straight. Your husband was pissed with a dog owner in a dog park because a dog in a dog park tried to play with a dog toy your daughter was holding. Later, you had the thought that dogs in dog parks should be screened for child-friendly behavior.

Oh.My.God.

[Anonymous]

Op, you are a fool and 100 percent at fault here.

[Anonymous]

Dogs are banned from playgrounds, and small children should be banned from dog parks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let me get this straight. Your husband was pissed with a dog owner in a dog park because a dog in a dog park tried to play with a dog toy your daughter was holding. Later, you had the thought that dogs in dog parks should be screened for child-friendly behavior.

Oh.My.God.

This.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Dogs are banned from playgrounds, and small children should be banned from dog parks.

this. OP is wrong to bring her daughter to the dog park

[Anonymous]

I hate dogs, OP, but you were wrong to expect a dog in a dog park to be on leash for your child. Kids in kids' parks and dogs in dog parks.