Small Children in Dog Parks

I am so upset! I took my 7 month old pup, Kipper, to the dog park today. It was a fenced off area that was separated into small/big dog area and she was in the small dog area. At first she had a ton of fun, then all of a sudden, from the corner of my eye, I saw two children inside the park. One was a boy about 5 years old and the other was a little girl around 3. Since Kipper is still a pup and also because she loves children, she gets extremely excited and jumps on the girl. The girl begans to squeal and cry and her brother glares at me and Kipper. The girl wasn't hurt at all, but I think she was crying because she was scared. I apologize to the girl, however, I am angry because I don't understand why those kids were in there in the first place. The parents were nowhere to be found. In fact, the father was on the other fenced off area for the big dogs and had no idea what happened. I am upset that the parents were not supervising them and that they would leave the children in there with 20 other stranger's dogs. Are small children even allowed in dog parks? I feel like I have to defend my pup because she is still learning and the parents posed a hazard to the other dogs by letting those children go in there. I've lost a bit of confidence in taking her to the park. I spent so much time and effort training her and I don't want these little things to make people think that she's wild.

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Comment by Carla on May 23, 2010 at 8:18pm: You are totally right - IF children are going to be in a dog park, they need to understand how to interact with dogs, and need to be directly supervised by parents, and children under the age of 7 or 8 should definitely not be there. Just a few weeks ago, a woman brought a 2 year old (!?!?!) to our dog park and let him walk around in the middle of 5 playing dogs (!?!?!). The child was tripped by playing dogs (of course, what would you expect) and started to cry. Getting tripped was actually probably a more positive outcome than what could have happened (getting bit by a dog while they are playing). Totally irresponsible parenting and you are right to be frustrated. People expect too much from dogs sometimes, and forget that they are NOT little people, but animals.

Comment by Patricia A Columbo on May 23, 2010 at 7:57pm: I HATE DOG PARKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Not because of the dogs but because of the owners.........

Comment by Cody, Carly, Addie, and Becki on May 23, 2010 at 7:48pm: At our dog park unsepervised children arent allowed, but it does happen. Children who are that young have no need to be in a dog park. Don't feel bad, they werent your kids and you had no idea your pup was going to do it.

Comment by Sarah C. on May 23, 2010 at 7:35pm: At my dog park children under 7 aren't allowed.
I'm sorry this happened to you, I know how you feel. I was at the dogpark once and a little girl kept picking up my dog every time a big dog would come to sniff my dog. I was terrified my dog would freak out and but her! But I also felt like an ogre telling the little girl not to touch my dog. :(
Children have their own parks. They don't need to be in dog parks.

Comment by Jane Christensen on May 23, 2010 at 7:24pm: Children should not be allowed without direct supervision as far as I'm concerned. I would think this should be a rule. My grandchildren love animals but just like anywhere they go I would expect an adult and to be asked if they can pet my dogs. Poor kids...sounds like a parent wasn't doing their job! It could be dangerous for a child. You're there for your dog not to have children to interupt your dogs play. It's too bad you had this experience and I would contact a park official if it happens again...for every ones safety!

Comment by Heather and Ella on May 23, 2010 at 7:21pm: I'm not sure on the rules for a dog park, but can understand your frustration. It seems like a bad decision on the parents part, as the kids could have been bit or worse by a stranger's dog. I know my dog doesn't care for small children, and she probably would have barked at them.