Redditor Faces Off With Entitled Dog Owner Over Refusal To Play With Her Dog

“I am just not a dog person”

Jesse

• Published in Interesting
• July 28, 2023

Dogs are undoubtedly one of the most lovable creatures on Earth. Yet, as the saying goes, "Different strokes for different folks"—while many find these four-legged creatures irresistible, not everyone wants to be around them.

Our narrator (Original Poster) had no inkling that their day would be significantly influenced by this very conflict. They had a simple mission in mind: Grab some supplies at the hardware store, then dash home to commence a project—what could possibly go wrong? 

OP was engrossed in their search for an item when they were suddenly jolted by a wet feeling on their leg. They glanced down to find a golden retriever on a leash, accompanied by a lady.

The woman, sensing the unease, quickly reassured them that her canine companion was harmless. Her words were meant to reassure, but they held no comfort for OP. 

OP expressed their discomfort in a polite but firm way, explaining that they're not particularly fond of dogs. In addition, they requested her to move along or keep her pet at a distance.

The lady persisted, convinced that her dog's charm could win over anyone regardless of their feelings toward dogs. She went on to urge OP to pet the dog if they really wanted it to “go away.”

OP raised their voice in anger to insist that they wanted nothing to do with the dog. The situation escalated into an unpleasant confrontation, with offensive language exchanged between the pair.

At this point, bystanders couldn't help but be drawn to the unfolding drama. But to OP's relief, she decided to withdraw her dog and walk away.

The question is: Was OP wrong for simply asserting their right to shop peacefully without interacting with someone's pet, or were they just overreacting in a rather harmless situation?

Scroll down to find out the verdict of the Reddit community.

The story in detail

OP asked a stranger to get her dog away from them, as they're not a dog person

The woman insisted that her dog was harmless. But it only made the situation worse, as OP began raising their voice

Here's how the Reddit community reacted to the story:

"Nta. Dog owners like that are shit people."

"Some dog people seem incapable of accepting that not everyone likes dogs"

"She didn’t respect your boundary the first time you asked"

"I hate dogs, but more so I hate dog owners who don't respect others."

"As a non-American it weirds me out how many stories I've read about this kind of thing."

"NTA. I hate dogs, one reason being I don't want them jumping on me or licking me"

"NTA. Respecting people's boundaries is #1 for me."

"Entitled dog owners are terrible."

"NTA. You made a fair request politely which she rudely ignored"

"The stores really need to do a better job of protecting their customers"

"Bringing non-service dogs into a store is wrong"

This story is a reminder that not everyone shares the same affection for dogs, and that's perfectly okay. Thus, in the eyes of commenters, OP was justified in their reaction.

Owning a dog comes with the responsibility of keeping it under control and respecting the space and feelings of others. Imposing them on unwilling individuals is not only inappropriate but also disrespectful.

We'd love to get your thoughts on this story. Join the conversation in the comments below.

Jesse