What would you do?

[milos_mommy]

Originally Posted by Barbara!

We have argued with a couple of the parents before when we asked their kids to leave. The general public seems to think that "if your dog doesn't like kids, you shouldn't bring them to the dog park." Uh, what? ): I don't bring my dog to the dog park to play with kids... That's why it's called a DOG park...not a playground.

I mean, I sort of agree you shouldn't bring your dog to a dog park (or anywhere off leash in public) if he doesn't like kids. And I mean he period-end-of-story doesn't like kids approaching him correctly or making squealy kid noises or running.

If your dog "doesn't like kids" and that means kids who chase them and get in their face and try to take their things and climb on them, then that stupid kid shouldn't be in public.

[Barbara!]

Originally Posted by milos_mommy

I mean, I sort of agree you shouldn't bring your dog to a dog park (or anywhere off leash in public) if he doesn't like kids. And I mean he period-end-of-story doesn't like kids approaching him correctly or making squealy kid noises or running.

If your dog "doesn't like kids" and that means kids who chase them and get in their face and try to take their things and climb on them, then that stupid kid shouldn't be in public.

Yeah. I guess that's what I meant. Not sure if that's what they mean, though.

One woman came to the fence once after I asked her son to leave like this:

Her: "Hey! You! What exactly gives you the right to tell my son to leave the dog park?"
Me: "He was chasing some of the dogs in here and grabbing them and a lot of them don't like that. He could get hurt. Also, the sign says no children under the age of 16 without an adult."
Her: "What do you mean they don't like that? That's dumb. Those rules are dumb."
Me: "Some of the dogs in here don't like being pulled on."
Her: "If they're like that, they shouldn't come here where there are kids. My son sits on our dog and pulls on his ears and he doesn't do anything because he's a good dog... Maybe you should teach your dog how to be good."
My friend: "Ma'am, your son isn't allowed in here without supervision. It's not the dogs that don't have manners, it's him. If he comes back in here I will call park security and you'll dealing with more than angry dog owners. Now leave us alone."

That's the most heated it's ever really got aside from one woman who suggested my friends Husky who likes to chase running children and nip at their elbows should be shot in the head. ): I don't like face-to-face confrontation a lot because I don't really have a middle ground... I go from civil to ghetto in a matter of seconds. Lol. Which is why I am glad I have friends with me who also get vocal with parents and children.

[RD]

That is SO stupid, and equally stupid is that you would be completely at fault if he bit a kid. For that reason, I'd leave him home or find a different place to exercise the dogs. It's completely unfair and unsafe that children are allowed to roam around a dog park like that without supervision.

If your dog was the one who chased kids down and had an issue with them, he'd be "bad with kids" in my book. Sounds like Chevelle is some sort of super-dog because none of my dogs would ever have stood for being tackled by strange children, and I consider them pretty solid animals.

[LostAndConfused]

Originally Posted by Barbara!

Her: "Hey! You! What exactly gives you the right to tell my son to leave the dog park?"
Me: "He was chasing some of the dogs in here and grabbing them and a lot of them don't like that. He could get hurt. Also, the sign says no children under the age of 16 without an adult."
Her: "What do you mean they don't like that? That's dumb. Those rules are dumb."
Me: "Some of the dogs in here don't like being pulled on."
Her: "If they're like that, they shouldn't come here where there are kids. My son sits on our dog and pulls on his ears and he doesn't do anything because he's a good dog... Maybe you should teach your dog how to be good."
My friend: "Ma'am, your son isn't allowed in here without supervision. It's not the dogs that don't have manners, it's him. If he comes back in here I will call park security and you'll dealing with more than angry dog owners. Now leave us alone."

I don't think I'd argue with people, well that's not true I'd totally argue with people because people are stupid. But, I would just say
"Rules state no kids under 16 without supervision. If we see him here again we will be calling park security" and then walk away. There is no use arguing with some people. They either don't understand what you're saying or believe that the sun shines out their kid's hind end.

[Barbara!]

I guess we will see what happens today if I ask the kids to leave.

And yeah, Chevelle is ridiculous. She would never get aggressive with a human...child or adult. Never ever. One time she accidentally snapped at me with her food bowl (she has food aggression towards dogs, but not people. She may have thought I was a dog.) and when she looked and saw it was me, it totally broke her heart. She fell to the floor and rolled over and wouldn't stop whining and licking me. Lol. She's my good girl.