'[I] didn't realise it was that big of a deal': Neighbor accuses dog owner of being insensitive to community after they bring two big doggos trick-or-treating with their kids on Halloween

Author image for Blake Seidel
Blake Seidel • Managing Editor & Brand Manager
Nov 8, 2025 9:00 AM EST

This might be one of the first times we don't agree with the public in one of these stories. We 100% understand why this dog owner did what they did - it makes sense to get both things done at the same time. Plus, if they are social dogs and well-trained, they would enjoy it. Plus, we love any excuse to dress our doggos up in costumes.

A little about the story itself - a dog owner decided to take their two chocolate labs with them while they supervised their kids trick-or-treating. According to the owner, they were very respectful with their dogs (but you shouldn't believe everything you read on the internet). They say they were leashed the whole time, and cleaned up after. But when they got to one neighbor's house, they got screamed at in front of their kids, saying that they don't want their dogs anywhere near their house. 

Pawsonally, we think the neighbor overreacted because if they're a member of that community, they should be able to take their dogs out whenever they want, even if it's on Halloween. As long as the dogs aren't causing issues, they have just as much right to be there as anyone else. Obviously, they shouldn't go around doing their business on other people's yards, and they should be good around lots of people, but if they're respectful, we don't see a problem with it. Apparently, we're in the minority here, as every comment seems to think they did something wrong. Do you think it's insensitive to bring your dogs trick-or-treating with you? Let us know in the comments below!

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  • 01

    Am [I wrong] for bringing my dogs trick-or-treating?

    Two dogs in ghost costumes on a front porch including 'I felt embarrassed being yelled at in front of my kids'
    via Sergeeva

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

  • 02
    I went trick-or- treating with my two kids (ages 4 and 7) and brought the two dogs (both chocolate labs) along with me.
    via Ok-Rock6544
  • 03
    I decided to bring them along because they were needing their daily walks (having been cooped up inside the whole day) and they love exploring new places and scents as they're quite social animals.
    via Ok-Rock6544

  • If we had a dog that loved people, kids, and was well-trained, we would definitely bring them trick-or-treating. Unfortunately, our doggo doesn't do well in crowds - it stressed her out. She likes big open spaces, not lots of mini monsters walking around and clogging the sidewalks.

  • 04
    They were on a leash the entire time and are well trained. I wouldn't bring them right up to people's doors, I'd stand off to the side and let them sniff around the garden while still keeping an eye on my kids.
    via Ok-Rock6544
  • 05
    The vast majority of people were fine with it, many kids came up wanting to pet them and nobody said anything
    via Ok-Rock6544
  • 06
    I would come up to the doors with them but would hang back a few feet to make sure that the dogs weren't able to reach the homeowners or front door.
    via Ok-Rock6544
  • 07
    Dog in a Halloween costume
    via pixelshot

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

  • 08
    I brought doggy bags with me and cleaned up. their poop as expected. At one house, however, the home owner yelled at me and told me to get off his property (that's the PG version), at which point I quickly obliged and retreated.
    via Ok-Rock6544

  • Hot take: people are too sensitive these days. We know that's controversial, but this wouldn't have been an issue twenty years ago. So what, some person brought their dogs with them while their kids enjoyed Halloween? Not everything needs to be a big deal. You don't have to make a point of being right about everything.

  • 09
    Was I TA here? Did I really do anything wrong? I felt embarrassed being yelled at in front of my kids tbh but didn't realise it was that big of a deal.
    via Ok-Rock6544
  • 10
    HollyGoLately You let your dogs sniff around people's gardens just so you didn't have to go out again for their walk? Soft YTA, not everyone is a dog lover, and not everyone wants random dogs sniffing round their gardens. Take it from a dog lover that owns a dog, this wasn't the best choice. It doesn't matter how good your dogs are, not everyone is going to want them on their property.
    via HollyGoLately
  • 11
    Sufficient-Produce85 As a dog owner I'm going to say YTA. You brought 2 large (though lovable) dogs into a situation that is child centric. Many children are scared of dogs. And though your dogs might be perfect angels, a walk among screaming, chaotic kids in costumes could be too much. It was random an adult grumped at you but they can be scared of dogs too. Walk them before or after trick or treating.
    via Sufficient-Produce85
  • 12
    French bulldgo in a Halloween costume
    via Lakshmi3

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

  • 13
    iamonewiththecheese Correction the vast majority didn't bother saying anything to you; but you annoyed a lot more people than you realize with your dogs. Unless it's a service animal; there is no need to bring your dogs on leashes around with you - clogging up the already congested sidewalks; scaring some of the kids; and peeing and pooping all of the place (even if you clean it). It would not have killed you to take an extra walk that day with your dogs outside of trick-or-treat hours. YTA.
    via iamonewiththecheese
  • 14
    YTA Disastrous-Nail-640 You don't know who has allergies, is afraid of dogs, or just doesn't like dogs.
    via Disastrous-Nail-640
  • 15
    YTA Jessie Colt I say this as a life long dog owner, do not take your dogs up to someone's house if you do not both know them and have prior permission. You have no idea if the people might be scared of dogs, or allergic, or have their own dogs or other pets that might be reactive to strange dogs, or they just hate dogs in general and not want them on their property. Just standing back away from the actual door doesn't matter. If you walk a dog during trick or treating, stay on the sidewalk or n
    via JessieColt
  • 16
    Old_Inevitable8553 Kinda YTA. I say that because even if the dogs were on leashes, you were still letting them onto someone else's property, sniffing in areas that they had no business in and it seems that they were going potty at some points. Even if you brought doggy bags to clean up after them, that's not cool. Because I for one do not want to walk into my yard and then find out that someone let their dog use it as a toilet. I've certainly fussed at my own neighbor plenty of times for the sam
    via Old_Inevitable8553
  • 17
    firefly-dreamin YTA I love dogs and have 3 of my own... who would absolutely go nuts barking if some random person brought their dogs into my yard. Just walk the dogs separately.
    via firefly-dreamin
  • 18
    Marsupial-Old Took my kids out today and several dogs were out walking up to the kids and trying to get in the candy buckets, sniffing around the kids, and peeing right in front of everybody (so close to the point I'm sure some of those kids got some splash back). This was in a very crowded suburban neighborhood. 2/3 of my kids are terrified of dogs from past experiences and this was a pita. I'm also not a pet person in general, but for me, yta
    via Marsupial-Old
  • 19
    maidofatoms YTA. You don't get to take your dogs onto other people's property and shit in their gardens. I don't care if you cleaned it up, unless you'd be happy sitting your ass right down on that bit of grass where your dog just shat, it's not really clean, is it? Let kids enjoy Halloween without having to dodge your dogs. Many people are scared of dogs, and Halloween is supposed to be fun- scary not scary-scary.
    via maidofatoms
  • 20
    Calista 189 I wouldn't be surprised if this is common in the burbs I guess (I'm in the city and I've never seen anyone bring a dog to apt trick or treating) but it does sound kind of inconsiderate. Big dogs can be scary to kids bc they're almost the same size as them (or bigger!) and Halloween is a time when kids of all ages are out and about within a relatively short period of time. As nice as labs are, going from house to house with two large dogs can likely impose stress on at least some of t
    via Calista189

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animals big dogs dogs neighbors halloween trick or treat neighborhood-drama doggos
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