Lady Wants To Know If She's An AH For Telling People They Can't Pet Her Dog
That difference can turn a simple walk into an awkward standoff fast.
In this Reddit story, one woman says people keep reaching for her dog without asking, even when she is trying to keep the walk moving. Things got especially tense after she stopped a boy from petting her dog and his mom accused her of being selfish.
Now the internet is weighing in on whether she was rude, or just setting a boundary. Read on.
OP asks:
The OP has a high-energy, sweet dog
The OP's dog has now learned that she can pull her leash
The desire to protect a dog from unwanted attention is pretty relatable.
It often comes down to boundaries, comfort, and knowing what works best for the pet.
We’re working on her focusing on walks instead of getting pets
I could have stopped to let the boy pet my dog
Here is what Redditors had to say about this issue.
People who feel entitled to pet other people's pets
That is where the boundary debate really kicks in.
No one is entitled to pet your dog
This Redditor is not surprised the OP's friend agrees with the woman
No permission, no dog petting
Some commenters clearly thought the mom was the one out of line.
You do not need a reason to tell people no
The mother should teach her kids to ask for permission
It is important to respect boundaries
And a few people kept coming back to the same point, ask first.
You don't know what the dog might do otherwise
She is adorable, so everyone wants to pet her
It's your dog, and you have that right
No, he wants to pounce on her
Stopping for every stranger is not proper exercise
Let him ask first because it's not his dog
Random strangers reinforce bad behaviors
Get your dog a loosely fitted muzzle
This Redditor is impressed the kid asked at all
Good on knowing your dog well enough
You are not obligated to let anyone pet your dog
People need to keep their hands to themselves
You should be allowed to dictate who touches her
Who would not want to pet a cute dog? It is normal to want to pet, play with, and care for any dog you come across, whether because they have the reputation of being "man's best friend" or simply because they are so adorable.
However, when thinking about approaching someone else's dog, you must remember to ask the owner's permission first.
The whole thing really comes down to one simple question, who gets to decide when a dog is up for attention?
Wait until you see the stranger’s “evil eye” after the niece was denied petting the dog.
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