Kids And Dog Parks

[Starkehre]

Firstly, I will say, that I no longer go to off leash dog parks, for many reasons, and kids not really even being one of them.

IMO parents that take kids to off leash parks are tempting fate. Sorry, don't mean to ruffle feathers, but just my opinion. Of course it is absolutely their choice.

Yes, dogs should be well behaved. Yes owners should control their dogs. But let's face it, many of us here get on DOL and have a story to tell about a bad experience at a off leash dog park. It happens. Whenever you are in any situation where as one owner you have no control over what other owner's and other dogs do, there is always an element of risk. Dogs will be dogs, and irresponsible owners will be irresponsible owners.

Parents prefer not to allow young kids to play outside in the streets with their friends anymore, like we did when we were young. The child will probably not get hit by a car or kidnapped, but parents are not willing to take that risk. Sensible, and seems to be a sign of the times. Perhaps parents that own bomb proof dogs believe that all dogs at off leash parks are also bomb proof?? There is no guarantee of that. I have seen some awful things occur at off leash parks. I think sensibility should prevail.

I don't think kids should be banned from off leash parks. And if kids are not screaming and running around throwing balls etc, I do not have a problem with them being at an off leash dog park. I would never measure other people on my yard stick of decisions I would make for myself. Each to their own.

But the problem arises when the child gets injured, and this might vary from a mild bump or knock and a grazed knee to a severe bite. The law is going to be on the side of the child and parent, and I do not have a problem with that, but the law will not be the one fixing the child's injuries be they physical, mental or emotional or all of the forementioned.

Dogs do not require to be run off leash. Yes it is nice, but not necessary. Parents are required to keep their children safe.

Personally, if I was in a situation where I had young children in my care at all times (btw, I do not have children) and wanted to run the dog at the off leash park, I would choose to not run the dog at the off leash park. I would take the dog for a nice walk on leash. There are other options also - plan a play date in your home or someone elses home, take your dog swimming at a dog pool or to a dog treadmill.

But that is just me.

Edited March 30, 2010 by dyzney

[Starkehre]

To Jeanne, (OP), I would stick with your gut feeling. You are already having concerns, so why risk it? There is every chance that nothing will go wrong, but what if it does? How will you feel then?

May I suggest some training with Berri at home if you do not wish to take him for an on leash walk. He should be taught not to expect an off leash run every day, and should be taught to be calm when expected to be calm. It is simply a training issue. Berri is smart. He is training you to take him to the off leash park every day.

Exercise is an integral part of a dog's life. But far too often owner's put too much emphasis on a good off leash run when quality training and on leash walking is of excellent value and it all should be well balanced out.

Perhaps do some training involving both Berri and Meika on the floor. Can be very rewarding and the mental stimulation will give him the same satisfaction.

Best of luck with whatever you decide to do.

Edited March 30, 2010 by dyzney

[Dame Aussie]

LOL I love these threads. Maybe we should stop families owning dogs and then dog park people all over Australia can rejoice!

All of a sudden three big muddy dogs (one was mine) came bounding over and jumped all over these models who were wearing white! The photographer and the women went ballistic at us.....we just laughed and said "Well its a dog park? wat do you expect?"

Arent you meant to have your dog under control at offleash parks regardless. If my dog jumped all over someone else walking their dog I would be embarrassed.

I do not believe that kids should be allowed in dog parks. I take my dogs to offleash "designated" dog parks for some time out from my kids and to have some doggy time.

Not everyone has that option. I am a responsible dog owner and a responsible parent. My children will continue to accompany me to the dog park like it or not. Maybe I am lucky as were I take my dogs children are welcome and dogs are relatively well behaved

Good for you Shells, I don't think anyone here would try and stop you, we're just saying that you shouldn't be too surprised if one of your kids gets knocked over, I wish the dog park near me had well behaved dogs .... I don't go there anymore for that reason.

[Whippetsmum]

The question is, if you are supervising your dog or dogs, can you also genuinely supervise the children in your care, will there be a second adult to help if needed? ( I don't know you, your children or pooch, so I'm not making any judegements, just asking questions) You are still responsible for your children's and dog's behaviour in an off leash area, the same as if you were walking on leash. In making a decision, consider: Do you have a strategies in place for the unexpected, say for when one child has fallen over and your pooch is being approached by a dog you don't know very well? What happens if you need to change a nappy and pick up droppings at the same time? How well do you trust the others using the off leash area, is it a park where people do watch their dogs, or one where the dogs are let off and left to their own devices? I think that you should go a couple of times on your own, observe the etiquette of the park, and think about any situations that may arise for you or other owners and then consider how you would deal with things managing the children at the same time. Your decision will be influenced by the temperament of all the dogs in the park, and the way that your children behave around dogs that they don't know.

[Prydenjoy]

Wow there are a lot of thought provoking posts from both sides of the story.

Just to clarify, if I were to wait until I could go without Meika the dogs would be getting walked once every month or two. If I can go without Meika I do, but it isn't an option, one walk every month or two wouldn't be fair on the dogs!

By no means do I expect dogs not to behave as dogs do at a dog park. If Meika gets bowled over she usually gets up laughing and I'll have a laugh with her as I pick her up from the ground. When I used to take her in the stroller she had a cookie on her once or twice and when someones dog stole it no body was concered because that's what dogs do, right? She wont stay in the stroller now though, she screams and crys and just wants to get going, she's not a sedentary toddler, just as the cheeky Paps are not sedentary dogs.

I do have issues with one dog that always pins down Berri and makes him cry (the owners just stand there watching), I try to leave when I see that dog come but I usually don't see it until it's barrelling up to the dogs and knocking Berri around. The "gang" that are usually there are fine with Meika, I guess I'm more worried about strange dogs turning up. I'm trying my hardest to socialise the dogs, Berri wasn't as socialised as I'd have liked him to be and I don't want Mango to be the same. Most of the dogs there are fine, but this one dog!! I think I might stop walking there anyway, if not for Meika's sake for Berri's. It's a shame, it's supposed to be a place everyone can enjoy.

There are some nice on leash areas that I might consider instead

Oh and Berri does have training, he knows not to demand anything from me or he'll get ignored. I have several training sessions with him every day, but he's a chronic escaper. If he gets bored or frustrated he escapes. It's my job to keep him well exercised so that he doesn't find his own entertainment.

He is good on leash though, doesn't pull etc. I guess it's me craving the off leash walks as much as them, I just love to see them run around with the wind in their ears :D

[Chocolatelover]

I disagree.

I am a mum to a 4yo and a step mum to an 11yo and 14yo. I do not believe that kids should be allowed in dog parks. I take my dogs to offleash "designated" dog parks for some time out from my kids and to have some doggy time.

I have seen too many parents take their little kids to dog parks only to have their kids bowled over and the poor dog owner get abused over it. In my opinion it is not fair. I take my dogs to the dog park to do agility and often see 3-4 kids playing on the agility equipment....my dog cant even do her agility training as the parents wont ask the kids to get off......how is that fair on me or my dog? Its not.

And if it is descriminatory to not allow kids into dog parks.....isnt it also descriminatory to not allow my dog to play offlead in a kiddies play area with swings, slides etc? When I take my daughter to the kiddie park I never allow my dog near the play area. I dont even take my dogs there....as its not fair on the other parents to have to worry about my dogs.

JMO though.

Then it would also be discrimination not to let your dog in a restaurant, on public transport etc by your reasoning. As far as I am aware their are only anti- discrimination laws for humans, none for dogs yet.

I am just wondering how we will enforce the "no kids at dog park" laws - a bouncer at the gate maybe?

Seriously, my dogs love the dog park and I would never give this up. And using the dog park as time out from the kids as someone suggested would be wonderful if we all had someone to look after our kids while we went there. Good suggestion but not very practical for most of us.

[GoldenGirl85]

"All persons under the age of 12 must walk on 4 legs at all times within the grounds of the park"

[Danielle]

LOL I love these threads. Maybe we should stop families owning dogs and then dog park people all over Australia can rejoice!

All of a sudden three big muddy dogs (one was mine) came bounding over and jumped all over these models who were wearing white! The photographer and the women went ballistic at us.....we just laughed and said "Well its a dog park? wat do you expect?"

Arent you meant to have your dog under control at offleash parks regardless. If my dog jumped all over someone else walking their dog I would be embarrassed.

I do not believe that kids should be allowed in dog parks. I take my dogs to offleash "designated" dog parks for some time out from my kids and to have some doggy time.

Not everyone has that option. I am a responsible dog owner and a responsible parent. My children will continue to accompany me to the dog park like it or not. Maybe I am lucky as were I take my dogs children are welcome and dogs are relatively well behaved

Oh, I see....and you can honestly say that your dogs have never jumped up on anyone? Ever?

Get off ur high horse, that reply was utterly ridiculous!

I cant help it if my dog chooses to jump on someone....he isnt a robot...he's a dog. A well trained one but still a dog! He rarely does jump on people but when he is at a dog park playing with three other high energy dogs and doing zoomies......well...sometimes things happen. Maybe they shoudve stayed the hell out of a dog park (that was full of mud) if they didnt want their pretty little clothes to get soiled.

LOL!

[shells]

Oh, I see....and you can honestly say that your dogs have never jumped up on anyone? Ever? rolleyes.gif

Get off ur high horse, that reply was utterly ridiculous!

I cant help it if my dog chooses to jump on someone....he isnt a robot...he's a dog. A well trained one but still a dog! He rarely does jump on people but when he is at a dog park playing with three other high energy dogs and doing zoomies......well...sometimes things happen. Maybe they shoudve stayed the hell out of a dog park (that was full of mud) if they didnt want their pretty little clothes to get soiled.

LOL!

Look I will admit my post was over the top but honestly wait until next week and there will be someone venting about someones unruly dog jumped all over them at the dog park and how their owner should have had the dog under control.

Everyone will be replying "Yeah idiot owners, you tell em"

So whilst people defend their dogs being well trained I was just defending my kids for being well trained and enjoying their offleash time too

[Prydenjoy]

I think dogs jumping on people are a different matter, dogs will be dogs and I will never apologise for one of my dogs jumping on someone at home or at a dog park... If they escape the yard and jump on someone walking down the street that is a different matter!

My trips to the dog park are for the dogs, not so that the toddler can run an uncontrolled muck. If there is an issue with a dog there jumping on her (which there hasn't been, because I don't make it an issue) I would just leave.

I guess if a dog were to be over exhuberant with my baby they would probably be too much for my little dogs anyway. I wish we had a big dog park and a small dog park here, it does feel sometimes like it is predominantly a big dog place.

[Red Fox]

My trips to the dog park are for the dogs, not so that the toddler can run an uncontrolled muck. If there is an issue with a dog there jumping on her (which there hasn't been, because I don't make it an issue) I would just leave.

Yes, but not all parents are like you Jeanne

Some will lets there kids run around screaming (which might frighten or trigger prey drive in certain dogs), others bring food in there, others yet will be too focussed on the kid to watch the dog or vice versa...

Some parents will abuse you if your dog barks at their kid, or knocks them down. Some parents will let their children behave in a completely unacceptable manner towards the dogs (eg, let them stare or bark or pull faces) and laugh and think it's 'cute'.

I wouldn't allow my dog to bark and run and carry on inside a fenced childrens playground and I think most parents would be offended to see that happen, so why is it okay to let kids do that in a dogs playground? (not directed at you Jeanne, just saying that some parents wouldn't give a hoot.)

Personally I think that the only way to fix the problem is simply not to have kids under a certain age in fenced dog parks You can have the most well behaved dog savvy children but all you need is for one irresponsible dog owner to come along with an aggressive or hyperactive dog and it's all over.

If everyone had perfect dogs and perfect kids it wouldn't be a problem - but we all KNOW that's never going to happen

Surely the parents can organise a play date for their kids when they want to take the dogs to the park? Why not set that up with another dog owner with young children and take it in turns? It's really not that hard. And on the days when you cant go to the park there are plenty of other things that you can do with your dog. The park is not the be all and end all. My dog doesn't go to dog parks and he is absolutely fine.

[Prydenjoy]

others bring food in there, others yet will be too focussed on the kid to watch the dog or vice versa...

The only food I bring is for MY doggies

I admit it is hard to watch the kids and the dogs closely enough, Mango is a little dream and is usually off lying on her back getting tummy rubs from everyone at the park, or shadowing around the Great Dane which, for some reason, she thinks is the ants pants and he thinks the same of her (I'm sure she'll be stolen by him one day lol, his owner even said, much to her surprise, that she's finally met a little dog that she could take home). Berri is who the food is for, every time a big dog comes near me I feed him - He used to be very posessive of Meika and I but now accepts other dogs crowding around us because he knows it means good things are coming his way. That's why I love the dog park so much, it's helped me get Berri well socialised and friendly. Meanwhile though, Meika is a full of energy toddler who doesn't want to stop, I spend my evening shadowing her around, keeping her out of the dog water etc. I know that kids can be alien like to many dogs, which is why I keep such a close eye on her AND everybody's dogs, reading their body language the whole time.

I don't know anybody with dogs and kids that I could do a swap with. My brother lives across the road from the dog park, unfortunately he has mental illness, I can't even go in his house for cigarette ash and broken glass, let alone Meika

I'll keep thinking of my options, I know it isn't ideal to have Meika there but the dogs are getting a lot out of it and it's my wind down at the end of each day. Maybe it will have to be a combination of on leash walks, dropping her off to a baby sitter, and taking her to the dog park only occasionally.

[Tim'sMum]

In an ideal world, I think small children wouldn't be in dog parks.

In an ideal world.....kids and dogs should be together. Every kid should either have a dog or be exposed to dogs and taught how to interact with them. It's one of life's joys.

It's not the kids that are the problem....it's the parents!

[Odin-Genie]

I think dogs jumping on people are a different matter, dogs will be dogs and I will never apologise for one of my dogs jumping on someone at home or at a dog park... If they escape the yard and jump on someone walking down the street that is a different matter!

I disagree. I have a dog who tends to jump when she is excited. I am trying to train her out of it and she's much better now. However, everytime she jumps on someone at the dog park, I stop her immediately, put her in a timeout and apologise to the person she jumped on.

When she was a puppy, she jumped on a 8 year old kid whose father got really upset, even though this kid was waving a stick in front of my dog, trying to get her to play. I don't think jumping up on people is acceptable, even at a dog park.

Saying that, I would also add that I personally love having dogs (not just my dogs) jump up on me and greet me. But I understand that everyone doesn't like dogs the way I do.

[Clyde]

I think dogs jumping on people are a different matter, dogs will be dogs and I will never apologise for one of my dogs jumping on someone at home or at a dog park...

If a dog jumps on me it gets my knee firmly planted in it's chest. If I have my child with me it gets my foot in it's face.

One of my dogs is a jumper, there is no excuse for allowing it to jump on people in parks.

Dog parks are no place for kids. Throw the baby in a pram, clip your dogs on a lead and go for a walk.

All of a sudden three big muddy dogs (one was mine) came bounding over and jumped all over these models who were wearing white! The photographer and the women went ballistic at us.....we just laughed and said "Well its a dog park? wat do you expect?"

I am surprised they didn't bill you for the dry cleaning, I would have!

[Prydenjoy]

I disagree. I have a dog who tends to jump when she is excited. I am trying to train her out of it and she's much better now. However, everytime she jumps on someone at the dog park, I stop her immediately, put her in a timeout and apologise to the person she jumped on.

If it's an issue that bothers you and you are working on it then good on you (I admire people who make an effort to manage their dogs behavior), but I hardly think someone should be at a dog park and expect for every single dog there to be trained not to jump. Accidents happen. My guys are <4kg, so I really don't think most people have a problem when they jump up (most people actually encourage it)

I was told by someone the other day "It's ok, let Berri keep barking", that is the one thing though that I do try to stop him doing. Not because I have a problem with it, but because I have a problem with other people who seem to think it's their duty to yell at him when he barks.

[ILK]

I'm not a fan of busy off leash dog parks at all. I don't even go to them anymore. I certainly wouldn't allow a small child to walk around.

The problem is that you are relying on other peoples dogs being well behaved and that is not always the case. Other owners are not always responsible either and most of us have come into contact with irresponsible dog owners - off leash dog parks are renowned for occupying irresponsible dog owners.

[ILK]

I think dogs jumping on people are a different matter, dogs will be dogs and I will never apologise for one of my dogs jumping on someone at home or at a dog park...

If a dog jumps on me it gets my knee firmly planted in it's chest. If I have my child with me it gets my foot in it's face.

One of my dogs is a jumper, there is no excuse for allowing it to jump on people in parks.

Dog parks are no place for kids. Throw the baby in a pram, clip your dogs on a lead and go for a walk.

All of a sudden three big muddy dogs (one was mine) came bounding over and jumped all over these models who were wearing white! The photographer and the women went ballistic at us.....we just laughed and said "Well its a dog park? wat do you expect?"

I am surprised they didn't bill you for the dry cleaning, I would have!

I have to agree with Clyde here. Everyones space should be respected and allowing your dogs to jump on someone else is very disrepectful. Doesn't matter whether you are in a dog park or not. It is a public place and everyone should be able to move around freely without disturbance. I would have been horrified had I saw the models get jumped on.

People with no respect are the reason that people like me have been driven away from dog parks

[Chocolatelover]

I think dogs jumping on people are a different matter, dogs will be dogs and I will never apologise for one of my dogs jumping on someone at home or at a dog park...

If a dog jumps on me it gets my knee firmly planted in it's chest. If I have my child with me it gets my foot in it's face.

One of my dogs is a jumper, there is no excuse for allowing it to jump on people in parks.

Dog parks are no place for kids. Throw the baby in a pram, clip your dogs on a lead and go for a walk.

All of a sudden three big muddy dogs (one was mine) came bounding over and jumped all over these models who were wearing white! The photographer and the women went ballistic at us.....we just laughed and said "Well its a dog park? wat do you expect?"

I am surprised they didn't bill you for the dry cleaning, I would have!

I have to agree with Clyde here. Everyones space should be respected and allowing your dogs to jump on someone else is very disrepectful. Doesn't matter whether you are in a dog park or not. It is a public place and everyone should be able to move around freely without disturbance. I would have been horrified had I saw the models get jumped on.

People with no respect are the reason that people like me have been driven away from dog parks

Everyone except for the children you mean - because Clyde said they shouldn't be in this public place

[Odin-Genie]

I think dogs jumping on people are a different matter, dogs will be dogs and I will never apologise for one of my dogs jumping on someone at home or at a dog park...

If a dog jumps on me it gets my knee firmly planted in it's chest. If I have my child with me it gets my foot in it's face.

One of my dogs is a jumper, there is no excuse for allowing it to jump on people in parks.

Dog parks are no place for kids. Throw the baby in a pram, clip your dogs on a lead and go for a walk.

All of a sudden three big muddy dogs (one was mine) came bounding over and jumped all over these models who were wearing white! The photographer and the women went ballistic at us.....we just laughed and said "Well its a dog park? wat do you expect?"

I am surprised they didn't bill you for the dry cleaning, I would have!

I have to agree with Clyde here. Everyones space should be respected and allowing your dogs to jump on someone else is very disrepectful. Doesn't matter whether you are in a dog park or not. It is a public place and everyone should be able to move around freely without disturbance. I would have been horrified had I saw the models get jumped on.

People with no respect are the reason that people like me have been driven away from dog parks

Everyone except for the children you mean - because Clyde said they shouldn't be in this public place

Everyone should be able to move around freely. But that does not mean everyone should do whatever they want (including having picnics in the dog park, cycling, skateboarding etc) if that impinges on the rights of dog owners who come here to exercise and socialise their dogs. Running children fall into that category. A dog park is built for a purpose. A road is also a public place, but it is for a purpose. You would expect to be able to drive peacefully on a road without being bothered, but if you expected to have a picnic on the road, you would be impinging on other people's right to use the road. I don't see any contradiction there.