Don't bring your kids to the dog park!

[FryFry]

I had Leo, and Zoey at the dog park today. Leo's friend, Gizmo came and everything was going fairly well. Leo was chasing tennis balls, and Zoey was zooming all around. Then, a woman brought her golden retriever puppy, and her 2 kids. Leo loves my little cousin, but he is wary of strangers including kids. Some people he loves right away, other people it takes him a while to get used to. Luckily, the woman, and her 2 kids went into the big dog side. However, Gizmo started barking which caught Leo's attention. Leo ran up to where Gizmo was, and he started barking, too. Then these kids jumped at Leo and Gizmo flailing their arms around and going "AH!" they did it at least 3 times. I grabbed Leo's leash and took him down to the other end of the park. I sat with him until he was calmed down (for about 10 minutes) I got Leo and Zoey ready to leave because we had been there for about an hour, and ALL of the people on the big dog side were leaving. I overheard them all muttering to each other "don't bring your kids to the dog park" "why would someone bring their kids here?" Those kids were so misbehaved it was ridiculous.

[Britster]

That is SO annoying. It also annoys me that people equate dogs at a dog park should be all loving towards kids. Sorry, but it's a DOG park... if we were to take our dogs to a KID park and just let them loose and let them jump on kids, etc, I think parents would throw a fit.

I honestly don't mind kids being physically IN the dog park. I have seen some well behaved kids who simply sit on a bench and play a game or read a book while the parents watch the dogs run around.

I understand parents having to compromise- I would rather the dogs get exercise needed, then stay at home, so I get that sometimes parents are going to have to bring kids .... just like with me, when I go to the local park with my 6 year old sister, she wants to play, and Jackson wants to play- so I usually sit on a bench with my well behaved on a leash while she plays on the playground, and when it's his turn, she sits on the bench while he plays with 'his' friends.

But I cannot stand the parents who seem to think they are above everyone else and just let their kids run rampant.

[kreuer]

I do not agree with no kids at a dog park, but I do think parents need to be responsible for their kids and their behavior. Just like a parent should monitor their kids at the store and not let them run around breaking things they need to do the same at a dog park. If their kid can't handle behaving at a dog park then they should not be there.

[Cherie6446]

If kids are well behaved then I don't have a problem with them at the dog park. Yesterday we were at the park and a young girl was interested in Zoey. She asked some questions about Zoey and then asked if she could hold her. I said you may pet her but she is wigglely and you might drop her. Her friend threwballs for Jackson which he loved. Everyone had a good time.

[FryFry]

Originally Posted by kreuer

I do not agree with no kids at a dog park, but I do think parents need to be responsible for their kids and their behavior. Just like a parent should monitor their kids at the store and not let them run around breaking things they need to do the same at a dog park. If their kid can't handle behaving at a dog park then they should not be there.

That's true. If the kids are well behaved, and aren't jumping at dogs and screaming their heads off then it's okay for them to be there. But clearly these kids weren't well behaved.

[DvlshAngel985]

Originally Posted by Britster

That is SO annoying. It also annoys me that people equate dogs at a dog park should be all loving towards kids. Sorry, but it's a DOG park... if we were to take our dogs to a KID park and just let them loose and let them jump on kids, etc, I think parents would throw a fit.

I honestly don't mind kids being physically IN the dog park. I have seen some well behaved kids who simply sit on a bench and play a game or read a book while the parents watch the dogs run around.

I understand parents having to compromise- I would rather the dogs get exercise needed, then stay at home, so I get that sometimes parents are going to have to bring kids .... just like with me, when I go to the local park with my 6 year old sister, she wants to play, and Jackson wants to play- so I usually sit on a bench with my well behaved on a leash while she plays on the playground, and when it's his turn, she sits on the bench while he plays with 'his' friends.

But I cannot stand the parents who seem to think they are above everyone else and just let their kids run rampant.

Agreed!! There was this one time a girl kept wanting to hug all the little dogs, even when the little dogs didn't want to be bothered. She kept lying down on the wood chips. I thought that was kinda gross.

[FryFry]

I should mention a few things:

When these kids came to the park they were already yelling half way down the sidewalk before they even got to the gate. They were saying, all excitedly "woohoo lets play with the dogs!!! yeaaaa!!!" "WAAAAAHHH look at the little dogs!! BOOO!" and jumped at the little dogs, which is why Gizmo started barking in the first place, I think..Plus, I don't think the little dogs like those kids energy. Their mom completely ignored her kids. I can understand why everyone started to leave about 5 minutes after they got there. These kids were way too rambunctious. I'm glad I left too, because I was about ready to scream those kids ears off.

Now, if your kid is well behaved, doesn't TRY to touch a dog through the fence, or pet the dog without your permission, then I'm all for kids being there. If you're not worried about your child potentially being knocked down by a large hyper dog, then I'm all for it. But, when your misbehaved children want to yell, scream, jump, and wail their arms at my dogs then we're gonna have a problem.

[SirTeddykins]

What is it with parents??


Why are our animals expected to have manners but the kids can antagonize, yell, jump around and do all manner of things to aggravate the dogs at THEIR park.


I do not let my dog go to the kids park and bark, run, jump on people etc.


ARGH it annoys me so much!!!


I totally agree with your expectations of how a child should behave (not like an animal, for one!) when they are at the park for the DOGS!

I had to edit this to add that the reason I'm probably so annoyed for you is because whenever I am walking Teddy, some kids on the corner scream, "LOOK AT THE DOG, AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH IT'S A MOUSE, CHASE IT!!!"

Their parents have selective hearing and so ignore the behavior and it seriously riles me.

[calismama]

I hope you don't take your dog anywhere but pet specific places (dog park, pet store, etc.) with that attitude.

[Rachael1983]

I agree with Kreur. I think that kids can go to the dog park with the understanding that the children abide by the rules just as the adults should.
I've taken my daughter to the dog park with only one incident before. She was sitting on the bench just watching the scenery when a big dog walked up to her and started barking non stop. Scared her to death. The owner said that this was out of the norm for the dog and that he doesn't know what provoked him. But that could have happened to anyone not just a child. Now mind you my daughter is 5'3 and that's bigger than me so it couldn't have just been she's a tiny person.

[sandy simpson]

I never take my Yorkies to the dog park. It only takes one aggressive dog to go after mine and then there's a fight. Plus they can get sick from other dogs who come ill. I just do not like to go there. I walk them around the block and carry spray in case another dog attacks. Just have to take precautions with our Yorkies!

[FryFry]

Originally Posted by SirTeddykins

What is it with parents??


Why are our animals expected to have manners but the kids can antagonize, yell, jump around and do all manner of things to aggravate the dogs at THEIR park.


I do not let my dog go to the kids park and bark, run, jump on people etc.


ARGH it annoys me so much!!!


I totally agree with your expectations of how a child should behave (not like an animal, for one!) when they are at the park for the DOGS!

I had to edit this to add that the reason I'm probably so annoyed for you is because whenever I am walking Teddy, some kids on the corner scream, "LOOK AT THE DOG, AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH IT'S A MOUSE, CHASE IT!!!"

Their parents have selective hearing and so ignore the behavior and it seriously riles me.

I think those kids needed more exercise and discipline than the dog

[MauiGirl]

I had my fill of misbehaved kids today too. Schools were out, so everywhere I went people had kids with them, and they were literally bouncing off the walls.

I was at a clinic for over 2 hrs. for lab tests, and could not leave.... kids were running around, jumping on the seats in the waiting room, snotty noses and fingers on every surface in the room, throwing fits. Then I went to vote at a gymnasium/polling place, and again..... out of control kids everywhere; it was like a daycare but with no supervision.

I was so happy to get home to my almost perfect kids.... the ones with fur, and I am so happy they were not subjected to the brats I encountered today.

[FryFry]

Originally Posted by MauiGirl

I had my fill of misbehaved kids today too. Schools were out, so everywhere I went people had kids with them, and they were literally bouncing off the walls.

I was at a clinic for over 2 hrs. for lab tests, and could not leave.... kids were running around, jumping on the seats in the waiting room, snotty noses and fingers on every surface in the room, throwing fits. Then I went to vote at a gymnasium/polling place, and again..... out of control kids everywhere; it was like a daycare but with no supervision.

I was so happy to get home to my almost perfect kids.... the ones with fur, and I am so happy they were not subjected to the brats I encountered today.

haha, gotta love our furkids

[FryFry]

Originally Posted by calismama

I hope you don't take your dog anywhere but pet specific places (dog park, pet store, etc.) with that attitude.

Of course not. I don't take them to people parks and let them run loose, nor do I take them to the grocery store. I tried once because I didn't want to leave him in the car, but I was kicked out.