'It really isn't my responsibility to enforce her rules': Entitled neighbor gets mad at dog owner for letting kids pet his dog after she leaves them unsupervised in her yard

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Blake Seidel • Managing Editor & Brand Manager
Aug 18, 2025 9:00 AM EDT

As someone who owns a reactive dog, we are very careful about how people approach her. The worst is when people just assume she wants a stranger's attention just because she's a dog and reach their hand out to her without knowing anything about her. This is a recipe for a not-fun scenario, no matter what kind of dog you have. The first rule you should know for interacting with any dog is this: ask the owner first. There are many times that people ask and we tell them no, simply because it's not something that will be good for our dog. Sometimes the answer is yes, and then everyone has a good time, but you should always ask first.

Here's where we get to the meat of the story below. A dog owner was walking his doggo around the neighborhood when two kids, playing in the yard approached him and asked if they could pet his doggo. Yay, they did the right thing and asked first! He said yes, but was subsequently berated by an entitled neighbor who told him he should have asked her permission for them to pet his dog first. Well, lady, if you wanted to give your permission, maybe you should have been outside watching your kids in the first place? Just a thought.

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  • 01

    [Am I wrong] for letting a child pet my dog?

    Two children playing with a dog outside including 'She said it's a crime to talk to a stranger's children. I told her to call the police then.'
    via victorcoscaron

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 02
    I was walking my dog in my neighborhood and we were getting close to a yard that had two kids, maybe elementary age (I'm bad with ages) in it. My dog stopped to sniff a spot. One of the kids came over and asked if she could pet my dog. I said she could.
    via PresentEase1605
  • 03
    Both kids started petting my dog. He likes kids, so he started licking their toes, which they thought was funny. One kid asked what kind of dog he was, and I said he was a mutt. A woman came out of the house and yelled at the kids to go inside.
    via PresentEase1605
  • 04
    I started to leave, but she yelled at me and asked why I was talking to the kids. I said they wanted to pet my dog. She said I should have gotten her permission. I said okay, in the future I won't let those kids pet my dog. She said I shouldn't let any kid pet my dog without the parent's permission.
    via PresentEase1605
  • 05
    I said that if she doesn't want her kid petting dogs she needs to tell her kid that, because it really isn't my responsibility to enforce her rules for her. She said it's a crime to talk to a stranger's children. I told her to call the police then. She asked me which unit I lived in, and I told her. She said she was going to report me. I said she absolutely should do that.
    via PresentEase1605

  • There is a pawsitively sweet satisfaction in knowing when you're right and rubbing it in someone's face. You know you shouldn't do it, but it's just too hard not to. This Karen mom knew she was in the wrong and hoped he would back down out of sheer force. She made a bet, and she lost.

  • 06
    Now that the moment has passed, I'm wondering if I don't have a much moral high ground as I originally assumed. Which of us was the hole?
    via PresentEase1605
  • 07
    chtmarc What the actual ck is wrong with that woman? NTA.
    via chtmarc
  • 08
    Man walking his dogs outside
    via No-longer-here from Pixabay

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 09
    2dogslife Some people aren't happy unless others are unhappy. Assuming I have a kid-friendly dog, I've never had an issue with kids loving on the dog. If the mother cannot be present to oversee such interactions, that's on her.
    via 2dogslife

  • Right! If she doesn't want her kids interacting with stranger's dogs (completely understandable), then she should teach her kids to always ask her permission first, even if she isn't there. It's not his job to teach them that for her. What kind of backwards logic is that?

  • 10
    Also, I have never found that it's illegal to talk to strangers. Perhaps it's not smart, but that's on the parents to teach about the whole "stranger danger" thing.
    via 2dogslife
  • 11
    Pebbles197053 If she doesn't want her kids talking to people and petting dogs she needs to be outside watching her kids. NTA
    via Pebbles197053
  • 12
    hamsterfamily NTA. Her kids approached you and asked permission to pet your dog, right? The kids should be praised for asking you rather than just assuming they can pet the dog.
    via hamsterfamily
  • 13
    If unknown kids approach you, you can talk to them. You can't lead then to a different location or give them food, but you can talk to them.
    via hamsterfamily
  • 14
    Children running outside
    via FatCamera

    Image is representative only and does not depict the actual subjects of the story.

  • 15
    AdventurousTadpole3 NTA. When someone says "it's a crime to do X," ask them which law is relevant. Very often, they're just mouthing off and don't actually have a clue.
    via AdventurousTadpole3
  • 16
    The_same_potato I would've reacted similarly but I'm also an hole when it comes to people like that. TONS of kids have pet my dog during walks. NTA
    via The_same_potato
  • 17
    Classic_Cauliflower4 NTA. However, I want to point out something the mom did right: she taught her kids to ask before petting a strange dog. I see stories all the time from owners of anxious or
    via Classic_Cauliflower4
  • 18
    aggressive dogs complaining that kids just charge up and scare the poor dog and then get upset when the mean owner says don't do that, he's not friendly!
    via Classic_Cauliflower4
  • 19
    Plants_and_Flours As a mom- my answer is no. If your dog was aggressive or in training I would co-sign. But my kids are animal lovers and they would have been right there waiting for pets. They have also been taught about animal behavior.
    via Plants_and_Flours
  • 20
    You didn't do anything wrong. I would guess she has anxiety or concerns based on her own fears or past experiences.
    via Plants_and_Flours
  • 21
    AlwaysHelpful22 She's out of line. NTA
    via AlwaysHelpful22
  • 22
    CeruleanChancla She could have just walked out there and started a convo while the kiddos were petting your pup. She could have gauged the situation from a closer and a friendlier approach.
    via CeruleanChancla
  • 23
    I completely get the fear of kiddos being approached by dangerous strangers but if she was that afraid she needed to be out there monitoring the kids. Yelling at the kids to go inside and making it seem like that is going to cause more issues with the kids. Poor kiddos were just petting a nice dog
    via CeruleanChancla
  • 24
    Yaguajay NTA. You clearly have the moral high ground However, that angry lady, if she calls. the police, will likely try to attack and cause damage by reporting lies about the incident.
    via Yaguajay
  • 25
    Adelucas My dogs love kids. They enjoy the fuss and attention. Dogs are like crack for children, they can't get enough of them. I spend a lot of time trying to get my dogs to move as all they want to do is lie on their back getting belly rubs. and head scratches.
    via Adelucas
  • 26
    The children did right, asking if it was OK to pet the dog. That's the etiquette. Not "Go ask your mom".
    via Adelucas
  • 27
    PennyProjects NTA. You are 100% correct, if she doesn't want her kids petting strangers' dogs she needs to tell them not to do it. Most parents are ok with their kids petting dogs, if the kids ask the owner and the owner says yes which is what happened. You did nothing wrong here.
    via PennyProjects
  • 28
    Now she might have been uncomfortable with her kids getting physically close to a random stranger on the street when she wasn't around. But again that's a conversation she should be having with her kids.
    via PennyProjects

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rules responsibility dogs neighbors kids yard dog owners animals karen entitled people
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