Should dogs be kept on lead in Public Parks

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liaconn

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I was in Bushy Park with my nephew (aged 4) on Saturday morning feeding the ducks. A dog who looked like a bulldog came running up to him and started jumping around him. My nephew was screaming and I was terrified as well. The owner, who was several yards away just very mildly called 'Oscar, Oscar' having absolutely no effect. Eventually I shouted at him in a fury to call the dog off at which stage he made slightly more effort and called him away (not bothering to apologise or even look at me in the process). My understanding is that dogs are meant to be on a lead in the park. Does anyone know if I'm right?
 
You'd have to check the park rules, but Im nearly sure that the answer is Yes, they have to be on a lead in a public place.
I know Marlay Park have it explicitly stated in the rules, and a park ranger will drive over and tell you to leash the dog if its off leash - they have a dog park where owners are free to de-leash the dogs, but not in the park itself.

I feel your pain, badly behaved dogs off leash is a particular pet hate of mine - it drives me nuts.
 
As far as I know they should be kept "under control" which would indicate to me being on a lead ( how else can you control a dog in a public place!) I agree they should be on a lead when out in the public, whether it be parks, beaches or just out for a walk. Our dog is never off the lead once she is outside except in our enclosed back garden. She is a nervous animal and I have lost count of how many times she has been startled by unleashed dogs running up to her - while the owners blissfully look on!
 
Majority of times they do. Some area allow dogs off leashes but I can't imagine that Bushy Park is one. Also some breeds of dogs also need to be muzzled.
 
What really upset me was that my nephew stepped back in fright and could have fallen into the pond. I really think in areas where there are children and water, dogs should have to be on a lead and not free to run off and bound up on small kids.
 
I think they do HAVE to be on a lead in Bushy Park - but you just experienced an irresponsible owner who ignored the rules. Unfortunately in this country where control of dogs is not enforced there are many irresponsible owners who just let the dogs do what they like.
 
I've emailed Dublin City Council recounting the incident and asking for clarification on the rule re dog leads. If they confirm that dogs must be on leads anywhere in the park I'm going to suggest that they put a BIG sign up at the pond reminding dog owners of this, as some of them are obviously too stupid/thoughtless/self absorbed to work out for themselves that this is not a good place to have dogs running free and leaping around small kids (and nervous of dog adults like myself). This happened to me before in the same place and that time the dog owner told me his dog was 'entitled' to be off the lead so I needn't be giving him dirty looks. Again, not one word of apology or concern re an obviously terrified child.
 
Maybe take a picture of the dog with it's owner and pass it on to the park warden who will have a quiet word in the owner's ear next time they come in to the park.
 
Never mind the park rules, as a dog owner, I would never let our dog off the lead. He is as friendly as they get and really a big cuddly pup (8 yr old lab) but not everyone would see him that way and there are people who are scared of dogs for their own reasons.

I think you are wasting your time contacting the council or the park rangers. It's down to the owner who is most likely aware of the park rules yet choses to ignore them.
 
liaconn said:
I was in Bushy Park with my nephew (aged 4) on Saturday morning feeding the ducks. A dog who looked like a bulldog came running up to him and started jumping around him. My nephew was screaming and I was terrified as well. The owner, who was several yards away just very mildly called 'Oscar, Oscar' having absolutely no effect.
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Are you sure you're not overreacting a little? Sounds like the dog was only being playful and your nephew most likely picked up on your 'terror'.
 
MelF said:
Are you sure you're not overreacting a little? Sounds like the dog was only being playful and your nephew most likely picked up on your 'terror'.
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So what if the dog was only being playful? The point being made is that the dog was not under control of its owner.
It doesnt matter if the dog was snarling, barking, wagging its tail or sitting giving the paw - the dog was not under its owners control in a public place.

Because an owner cannot predict the behaviour of every person their dog encounters then they cannot predict theirs dogs reaction to each person it encounters. An unpredictable situation can lead to confusion for the animal and a possible attack.
 
Practically all the dogs I see in parks are off their leashes. These are in parks where I know it isn't permitted BTW.
 
MelF said:
Are you sure you're not overreacting a little? Sounds like the dog was only being playful and your nephew most likely picked up on your 'terror'.
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This is the kind of insensitive attitude that annoys me - 'ah shure he's only playing' as a child screams his head off in fright.

The point is that some people are afraid of dogs and, as truthseeker said, some dogs are unpredictable which is why, presumably, there are laws and regulations regarding where they can and cannot be let off the leash. My nephew started screaming the minute the dog bounded up at him (he was nearly as big as my nephew) and was not picking up on my terror. Even if he was, why does this excuse the adult who owned the dog failing to deal with the situation or to apologise for any upset he had caused, particularly as he was the one in the wrong and it was a little 4 yr old who was distressed. I got an email back from Dublin City Council who have confirmed that, after 11am, dogs must be on a lead everywhere in the park. Presumably this particular moron decided to ignore that.

As we were walking back home along the river path a girl passed us holding her dog by the actual collar. She laughed when she saw me looking and said 'I have to hold him like this. He loves children and is inclined to jump up at them'. That is the kind of common sense attitude that all dog owners should have not the stupid 'don't worry, he won't hurt you. He just likes jumping all over strangers and enjoying himself'.
 
We have a nearby small park with a small running track. I use it occasionally. Same thing, council bans dogs being off the lead, but none of those who walk their dogs observe it. It's a great motivation to keep running with a pack of hounds following you, plus the additional hurdles of avoiding dog droppings adds to the cardio workout (seriously, what do these people feed their dogs, it's like an elephant enclosure).

But it's good to note that the person mainly responsbile for letting their dog of the lead is the the ex-mayor of the area and current member of the LA, or I should say he's the one I see most frequently. He doesn't even bother to call the dog back after it chases you or bounds up to you or tries to jump at you. I was humoured at his anger when for the 4th time in 10 minutes his dog ran at me and jumped up at me he threatened to call the gardai when I kicked the dog in the un-neutered region.

Yup, it was animal cruelty, but then if a farmer can shoot a dog for worrying their sheep, I can use a size 12 Asic to enjoy my run to the local bylaws.

I would also say those extendable leads do not mean the dog is under control as very often even on footpaths I've seen owners allow their dogs to charge at people. As the french don't say: "votre chien, ma botte"

As an aside, the same ex-mayor also parks their car on the footpath in our estate (largely because their garage is full of old election posters) meaning that all pedestrians have to cross the road at a blind corner.
 
liaconn said:
This is the kind of insensitive attitude that annoys me - 'ah shure he's only playing' as a child screams his head off in fright.

The point is that some people are afraid of dogs and, as truthseeker said, some dogs are unpredictable which is why, presumably, there are laws and regulations regarding where they can and cannot be let off the leash. My nephew started screaming the minute the dog bounded up at him (he was nearly as big as my nephew) and was not picking up on my terror. Even if he was, why does this excuse the adult who owned the dog failing to deal with the situation or to apologise for any upset he had caused, particularly as he was the one in the wrong and it was a little 4 yr old who was distressed. I got an email back from Dublin City Council who have confirmed that, after 11am, dogs must be on a lead everywhere in the park. Presumably this particular moron decided to ignore that.

As we were walking back home along the river path a girl passed us holding her dog by the actual collar. She laughed when she saw me looking and said 'I have to hold him like this. He loves children and is inclined to jump up at them'. That is the kind of common sense attitude that all dog owners should have not the stupid 'don't worry, he won't hurt you. He just likes jumping all over strangers and enjoying himself'.
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Believe me it works both ways. While I always have my dog on a leash, I'm sick to the teeth of other people's little darlings running up and patting (ie whacking) my dog on the head and pulling at his ears while the parents look on adoringly. I wouldn't blame a dog for lashing out in some cases yet if he did there would be hell to pay. Just try and keep in mind that not all dogs are out to get you!
 
Gggggrrrrrrr - the 'ah shure he is only playing' or 'dont worry, he wont go near you he just barks cos he is excited' attitude really annoys me.

A dog went for me last year when I was out walking up the mountains in a Coillte site. The owners didnt even budge from where they were sitting. The comments of 'oh she just likes to play guard dog' did nothing for me while I had a snapping, snarling dog charging me. Im only sorry I didnt wait in the carpark and take their reg and report them for it.

Im not even afraid of dogs - but irresponsible owners do my head in.
 
MelF said:
Believe me it works both ways. While I always have my dog on a leash, I'm sick to the teeth of other people's little darlings running up and patting (ie whacking) my dog on the head and pulling at his ears while the parents look on adoringly. I wouldn't blame a dog for lashing out in some cases yet if he did there would be hell to pay. Just try and keep in mind that not all dogs are out to get you!
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But as the dogs owner, and an adult, it is your responsibility to (a) walk away from other peoples children and/or (b) tell them (and their parents) not to touch the dog.

You can speak to a child or walk away. You cant do that with a dog not under control.
 
My point is that parents of excitable children can be just as irresponsible as owners of excitable dogs - surely there is an onus on both to ensure that a situation doesn't end in tears for everyone?
 
MelF said:
My point is that parents of excitable children can be just as irresponsible as owners of excitable dogs - surely there is an onus on both to ensure that a situation doesn't end in tears for everyone?
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But an excitable child is not likely to bite you or your dog - I would hope ;)
You can always move off with your leashed dog. Its a lot harder to move off from a dog out of control.

A child is not an unpredictable animal. A dog is.
 
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