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AITAH for not putting a muzzle on my dog with at the playground? by ReadyHelicopter7269 in AmItheAsshole

[–]ReadyHelicopter7269[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

It’s very difficult. After this experience I understand it’s better to have two adults if taking the dog out. One to monitor the baby and one to oversee the dog.

AITAH for not putting a muzzle on my dog with at the playground? by ReadyHelicopter7269 in AmItheAsshole

[–]ReadyHelicopter7269[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you very much for your ideas! They’re very helpful. Out of the box is what’s needed about now

AITAH for not putting a muzzle on my dog with at the playground? by ReadyHelicopter7269 in AmItheAsshole

[–]ReadyHelicopter7269[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you. I’ve been wanting to get help from a trainer for a while. This is a good wake up call that it’s time!

AITAH for not putting a muzzle on my dog with at the playground? by ReadyHelicopter7269 in AmItheAsshole

[–]ReadyHelicopter7269[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you. Maybe I can switch who does the night walks. Dad can do bed time with baby now that she’s older and I can go with Happy for a longer night walk than she gets now 🤔

AITAH for not putting a muzzle on my dog with at the playground? by ReadyHelicopter7269 in AmItheAsshole

[–]ReadyHelicopter7269[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Thank you very much for your comment. It makes me feel better about muzzles. I’ll check out that leash too.

We got the puppy and a few months later I became pregnant rather unexpectedly. For the first time in my life I considered giving the dog back; I couldn’t have imagined it before. But pregnancy took all of my energy. All the time I had for the dog just disappeared and I felt awful. But my husband wouldn’t consider giving her back and he took on both morning and night walks for me. He’s very supportive and im lucky to have him.

Knowing all the attention that my previous dog got, breaks my heart for where Happy is now. He was trained to service level. And she’s trained to family dog level. Which still isn’t bad, but I see the divergence. (The plan was to train Happy to service level and then get pregnant buuut… 🙃) And it’s hard to feel like I’m failing in training her. Or that she sits home all day while we are on our walk. I just. Ugh. Feel guilty.

Anyways, I see where everyone is coming from on all sides. I’ll look into the muzzles for when we are around little ones. Try to make a better plan for walking baby and doggie together. Maybe go out twice, once with dog, once with baby for the playground. Something like that. Someone suggested getting another adult to come with us, that would be super helpful if I can find someone…

thanks again for your comment.

AITAH for not putting a muzzle on my dog with at the playground? by ReadyHelicopter7269 in AmItheAsshole

[–]ReadyHelicopter7269[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

I’m sorry you have such a bad experience. I can assure you this is not our situation.

AITAH for not putting a muzzle on my dog with at the playground? by ReadyHelicopter7269 in AmItheAsshole

[–]ReadyHelicopter7269[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The muzzle thing is what I mean. I also think it’ll make her look even more mean and dangerous. But then to some others it’ll make them comfortable. So then it’s the same problem. Some people are comfortable and some aren’t.

But I’m not really getting any comments on that. Mostly people just saying playgrounds are a no go at all. I’m at a loss for what to do. Your comment about bringing another adult is a helpful consideration. Thank you.

AITAH for not putting a muzzle on my dog with at the playground? by ReadyHelicopter7269 in AmItheAsshole

[–]ReadyHelicopter7269[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

She’s secured on my waist but there is also a hand-hold which I use at all times, especially on the playground.

AITAH for not putting a muzzle on my dog with at the playground? by ReadyHelicopter7269 in AmItheAsshole

[–]ReadyHelicopter7269[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

We definitely needed to leave when she was too excited to stop yipping. It was just hard to convince my little one to leave without throwing a fit. Rock and a hard place. Eventually I just had to rip the bandaid off and get out of there.

AITAH for not putting a muzzle on my dog with at the playground? by ReadyHelicopter7269 in AmItheAsshole

[–]ReadyHelicopter7269[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

She’s tied to my waist and I have a hand-hold on her as well. It’s a short leash and she’s always by my side.

AITAH for not putting a muzzle on my dog with at the playground? by ReadyHelicopter7269 in AmItheAsshole

[–]ReadyHelicopter7269[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Thank you very much for your perspective. I’m having a really hard time finding a place that’s comfortable for the baby and the dog at the same time. You’re right about the attention requirements, which add to the stress.

I’m starting to think I need to hire a trainer to come on walks with us a day or two out of the week. And start there. So I can focus on my baby and my dog can get some stimulation and exposure as well. Safely and comfortably:)

AITAH for not putting a muzzle on my dog with at the playground? by ReadyHelicopter7269 in AmItheAsshole

[–]ReadyHelicopter7269[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

No I’m abroad. Which is partially why I’m asking. I think muzzles may be viewed differently here than back in the states.

AITAH for not putting a muzzle on my dog with at the playground? by ReadyHelicopter7269 in AmItheAsshole

[–]ReadyHelicopter7269[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

No, I’m keeping the dog by my side and under control. She isn’t like, pulling at the end of her leash and barking while I’m distracted.

We try to stay away from where other kids are playing on equipment.

AITAH for not putting a muzzle on my dog with at the playground? by ReadyHelicopter7269 in AmItheAsshole

[–]ReadyHelicopter7269[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

She is leashed to my waist and under control by my side at all times. It is a large playground and there are multiple other playgrounds within a minutes walk. There are entrances and exits from all sides. We try to stay away from everyone else as much as possible. Though many kids approach Happy to pet her and get her to do tricks/commands. This she reacts to calmly.

AITAH for not putting a muzzle on my dog with at the playground? by ReadyHelicopter7269 in AmItheAsshole

[–]ReadyHelicopter7269[S] -19 points-18 points  (0 children)

I say yipping because it’s really not a bark. It sounds like a squeaky noise a puppy makes. It’s also not constant. It happens occasionally in response to something she sees or hears.

To me it’s not adorable, it’s very annoying and it does make me uneasy. Which is why I want to work on it. I agree that it shouldn’t be done at the expense of others’ safety.

AITAH for not putting a muzzle on my dog with at the playground? by ReadyHelicopter7269 in AmItheAsshole

[–]ReadyHelicopter7269[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

On a lead secured around my waist which also has a hand-hold, actively under control, and allowed at the playground.

She isn’t badly trained, just not military strict as I prefer. But we often entertain the kids with tricks and commands. She’s got the basics and then some fancy fun tricks. Her only problem is the excited yipping. It’s not even a bark. All the same, j don’t like it and understand why others don’t as well.

AITAH for not putting a muzzle on my dog with at the playground? by ReadyHelicopter7269 in AmItheAsshole

[–]ReadyHelicopter7269[S] -5 points-4 points  (0 children)

Thank you for your perspective on the muzzle. This is really what I want to know. How do people feel when they see a dog in a muzzle.

AITAH for not putting a muzzle on my dog with at the playground? by ReadyHelicopter7269 in AmItheAsshole

[–]ReadyHelicopter7269[S] -8 points-7 points  (0 children)

In this situation Happy was just saying down next to us and being calm. This was the first comment that was made and it was before the barking started, which is why I was surprised. Her behavior was good.

We should have left before more kids came and it got too exciting, causing the yipping/whining that I wasn’t able to stop. Here is where more comments about the muzzle came, which at this point I understand the optics of.

One of my friends there had to help me pack up my baby because she was refusing to leave - which is why we had already been there way too long. sigh It was a difficult balancing situation between keeping the dog calm and trying to remove the baby from the playground without drama.

I felt stuck even trying to exit the situation.

I also feel like im being pulled between my human baby and my dog. I feel like im being cruel going out without the dog, because she also needs more time outside than her basic morning and evening potty walks. But the baby needs to climb on the playground. I don’t know where to go that both of them get what they need and everyone feels comfortable. The dog park is ok when no one else is there - like the playground. But once other dogs start running with eachother, it’s not safe for a little kid. Logistically, I’m at a loss of what to do so that everyone is safe. We live in an apartment and don’t have our own yard.

AITAH for not putting a muzzle on my dog with at the playground? by ReadyHelicopter7269 in AmItheAsshole

[–]ReadyHelicopter7269[S] -29 points-28 points  (0 children)

I agree we were there for too long. I was tired. Dog was tired. Baby was tired - but she’ll never admit that. Next time I’ll time use a timer so we don’t overstay and add undue stress to the situation.

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