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As a dog owner, I don't see anything wrong with that! The only issues I even remember encountering were people who would come INTO the dog run (fenced area) with younger kids (ages 3+ maybe?) but without a dog. It's kinda a safety issue at that point since it's not a kids play area but for dogs. But you guys are standing there watching so I don't see a problem with it. If anyone looks at you odd, just explain that LO likes dogs! I have a small pug and love little kids coming up to pet him

@Corduroy: Haha I think dog-watching is totally OK and non-creepy! The reverse, though, is definitely weird!

totally okay! as long as you don't come into the park or let your kid approach the dogs without asking the owners first, as other people have mentioned. my dogs haven't been around kids much (yet! they're in for a surprise in April!!) and they get really freaked out by kids who run at them or try to pet them if I don't have time to prepare. they would never bite or anything, but they bark and then that freaks out the kids! if a parents asks me first, I can get down on the ground and hold my dogs so that the kid can pet them without them barking or running away.

Totally fine! It's a pretty good way to entertain LO huh

That's a great idea! Dogs are fun to watch.

I don't think it is weird because you are doing it for/ with LO. Haha! When I came into the thread I was imagining you just standing out there by yourself I was like... yeah that's a little weird.

Totally normal. Kids love my dog and luckily he's super good with them so they give him a lot of love at the park. The reverse is creepy - strangers lurking around playgrounds without kids weirdos me out.

As a dog owner who goes to the park almost daily, I think that's awesome!! Especially that you and her are outside of the fence watching. I get a little nervous when people bring in real little ones into the fenced in park area, because truthfully, my dog is such a clutz, and tends to knock over kids all the time. He just runs and is sooo excited. I can't tell you how many parents give me the stink eye when my dog knocks over their kid....

My dog adores children, so this would probably make her day. In fact, I'm pretty sure she would ignore the other dogs until she came over to make friends with the kiddo first (we're working on her nosiness!) So, this is totally OK in my book

i thought it was really cute when kids would come to watch the dogs run around at the park. i love that our dogs can brighten someone's day.

@LovelyPlum: I wish that were the case at ours! I remember last summer there was a couple that came with their maaaybbe 1 year old....she was just learning how to walk....and the parents were squatting like 4-5 feet from one another, having their LO walk back and forth.....well my puppy at the time, was running around and knocked the baby over. I ran over and apologized, and they wouldn't even acknowledge my apology, they just rolled their eyes, and walked away.....Such a silly little thing, but I was furious!!

I don't think it's creepy at all and it's a good idea. I might start taking mine. I also think it's a good opportunity to start teaching your LO about how to interact safely with dogs.

@Foodnerd81: @nana87: Also a huge pet peeve of mine. I have a smallish dog (~23 lbs) and for some reason kids LOVE her - but she is not super excited about any humans she doesn't know, so she always runs away and then the kids chase her. She had never bitten or even growled at any kids in the 7 years that I have her until the other day when my friends' 16 mo old cornered her in the kitchen last week. She nipped (no contact, just a warning) at the little girl which freaked me out, but the little girls didn't even blink, just kept going towards the dog. I jumped up and redirected the child, but I never thought my dog would bite someone, so now I am super alert if we have mobile children in the house.

oh DH and i do this ALL the time. (we don't have a dog). we always say how creepy we are, going to watch the dogs at the dogpark.

I agree with pretty much everyone- as long as LO isn't running around the dog park, you're good! If anyone looks at you weird you just say "My LO loves watching the dogs!" If I noticed that, I might even bring up my (friendly) pugs for your LO to say hi if they seemed interested. My pugs loves getting attention from little kiddos, obviously I would NOT want kids running up to them unannounced/without asking but I have held them before for little kids to pet. I think it's a great idea to get your LO out and having new experiences!

I love this idea! I like that you're doing it to help find things to talk to your lo about. I have this problem too but going to a dog park gives you so many things to talk about! It is also a great time to talk about dogs, their owners and what is and isn't acceptable. I love that you're doing this!!