'People who think they can control dogs with their minds are the worst': Neighbor lets her unleashed dog run loose in the lobby, then screams at a woman for opening the door when the dog escapes

Author image for Ayala Sorotsky
Ayala Sorotsky • Writer and Editor
Jul 23, 2026 7:30 AM EDT

Why is it so hard for people to use a leash?

I want to make a few things clear from the get-go: First, I love dogs, and nothing will ever change that. Second, I acknowledge the fact that other people don't like dogs, and there's absolutely no reason to make them share their personal space with one. And third, it's so very understandable that we, pet pawrents, think of our pets as our kids (like I do with my cat - she's obviously my firstborn daughter), but they are not kids, and should not be treated the same as a human child. But for some people, these three simple truths are missing from their hard drives.

It seems that one person has no idea how to handle her dog because she hasn't given a single thought to these three things is u/junikh's neighbor. Let's compare together, shall we? First, risking her dog escaping so boldly is not loving her dog; it's proof she doesn't prioritise the dog's best interests. Second, she doesn't care one bit about people in her surroundings, because some of them might not like her escaped dog running up to them. And third, which is the hardest point for some dog owners to admit - you might call them "my child", but this very-fast "child" with sharp teeth and wild instincts that could kick in through any trigger needs to be leashed. Period. And this dog wasn't.

Now, let me spoil that no one got hurt; this is not the kind of story where the dog did something wrong (not directly, obviously). But it's definitely a situation that demonstrates very clearly that if you want to be a dog pawrent, you have to take responsibility for your dog - first of all for their sake, because our beloved pets depend on us, and also for all the people who surround us. And that seems to go over that neighbor's head entirely. Seriously, how dense can a person be to risk their dog like that, while completely disregarding the people around her?

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  • 01
    AIT for prioritising my train over an out of control door-darting dog??
    via junikh
  • 02
    I F(27) live in an apartment building. As I was leaving my home one day, a woman - around the same age as me - got into the lift with her dog.
    via junikh
  • 03
    Right off the bat, gave very bitchy vibes, very rudely entered a lift first that I clearly was waiting for and
    via junikh
  • 04
    Woman holds an aggressive small dog in her hands.
    via victora**88

    Woman holds an aggressive small dog in her hands.

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

  • 05
    did not apologise or return a smile at me either. I thought fine, whatever. Her dog
    via junikh
  • 06
    wasn't on a leash, sniffed me up in the lift, which made me uncomfortable but I didnt react at all.
    via junikh

  • I have to pause on this point for a second - why would anyone allow their dog to get so close to a person's personal space in the first place? Like, she obviously sees she doesn't smile towards the dog, doesn't ask if she can pet the dog, and just shows zero interest in being around the dog. Why on Earth wouldn't she try to call her dog over? Hold the dog in her arms? I mean, the dog isn't leashed (prime mistake), then why does she think she can just let the dog do what it wants? Some people don't like to interact with dogs, and dog people have to respect that - even if they think it's wrong.

  • 07
    As soon we got out the lift, the entrance door in the main lobby was open and
    via junikh
  • 08
    Woman walks her dog through the lobby and out of the building door.
    via RossHelen

    Woman walks her dog through the lobby and out of the building door.

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

  • 09
    she started screaming at the two men standing there to shut the door or else her dog is gonna escape. They shut
    via junikh
  • 10
    the door and the dog immediately dashed towards the door. It ran to one of the guys and started circling and
    via junikh
  • 11
    sniffing him and the guy started frking out too but the owner was entirely unapologetic and reprimanded the man for not realising it's just a dog.
    via junikh
  • 12
    Then she again, told us not to open the door until she got a hold of it. I waited for like a minute or two but I
    via junikh
  • 13
    was sure I was going to miss my train if I waited any longer. And the next train. I was 20 minutes later. I told
    via junikh
  • 14
    the owner I needed to leave but she kept running after the dog and the only response she had for me
    via junikh
  • 15
    was, 'what else do you want me to do, i'm trying to catch her'. ngl that ped me off,
    via junikh
  • 16
    Small aggressive dog face close-up, exposing its teeth.
    via jonnysek

    Small aggressive dog face close-up, exposing its teeth.

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

  • 17
    and i opened the door slightly to slip out but her tiny dog darted between my legs and out the door. She
    via junikh
  • 18
    screamed at me for opening the door, started calling me a b as she got a hold of her dog and I told her to keep her dog in control and just hurried towards the station.
    via junikh
  • 19
    She kept hollering curses at me down the road and told me to never see me in the building again. I flipped her off and caught my train just
    via junikh
  • 20
    in time!! Am I really the ah_le for opening the door to the building when she
    via junikh
  • 21
    clearly had no control over her dog? And it wasnt even on the leash?? Apologies for this VERY long rant lol
    via junikh
  • 22
    Small dog on a walk aggressively trying to reach another dog on the sidewalk, stopped only by the leash held by the owner.
    via Valeriia Boiko

    Small dog on a walk aggressively trying to reach another dog on the sidewalk, stopped only by the leash held by the owner.

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

  • 23
    UPDATE: guys, i ran into her in the lobby the next day. this time w my husband thankfully who knew the entire incident.
    via junikh
  • 24
    right as i was entering my apartment, she crossed me and said 'thanks for the other day, btw' and i asked her why her dog wasnt on a leash. the
    via junikh
  • 25
    only response she had for me was calling me an ugly b Imao. my husband then gave her a shut up call and
    via junikh
  • 26
    she proceeded down to her apartment. the fact that i have NEVER seen this woman in the past 9 months. but somehow twice in the past three days is WILD
    via junikh
  • 27
    Small dog lies on an entrance carpet, holding his leash folded in his mouth.
    via Damedeeso

    Small dog lies on an entrance carpet, holding his leash folded in his mouth.

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

  • 28
    spiderandsaint NT, she should have had her dog on a din leash.
    via spiderandsaint
  • 29
    tiredgummybear NTO. 1. Have your dog on a leash 2. If your dog runs away - HAVE YOUR DOG ON A LEASH.
    via tiredgummybear
  • 30
    Unleashed small dog chases a woman outside and bites her towel.
    via @core-rock

    Unleashed small dog chases a woman outside and bites her towel.

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

  • 31
    ammoae It's so bizarre, it's like people who don't leash their dogs do not understand the concept of leashes and why they're helpful. They seem to think they're just an inconvenience? Had a guy
    via ammoae
  • 32
    in my apt building who'd let his giant Doberman run leash free in the building, and sure enough one day I hear him screaming murder calling to his dog who'd darted outside and into a busy street/oncoming traffic. Total morons. Dog was fine, btw. NT
    via ammoae
  • 33
    sunday_cumquat As someone who trained their dog to be trusted off leash it's doubly frustrating, because it really wasn't that much work to train him properly. I got my dog to the point where even upon seeing a cat or a fox he won't give chase.
    via sunday_cumquat
  • 34
    There are many places it's simply r de to have them off lead too. In OP's case, it was off in the lift - like . You can't just let your dog walk up to random people. Some are really scarred of dogs and/or don't like being touched by dogs. Part of sharing a space like that is being respectful of other people's personal space.
    via sunday_cumquat
  • 35
    Dog barks, tagging on his leash, held by his owner on a walk.
    via Valeriia Boiko

    Dog barks, tagging on his leash, held by his owner on a walk.

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

  • 36
    Flimsy-Surprise8234 NTA. I would complain to management about this and ask that they request people keep their pets under their control. It would be beyond ridiculous to falsely imprison you in the lobby????
    via Flimsy-Surprise8234
  • 37
    for any reason, even if you had nowhere to go. I think it also sounds like her treatment of staff was ab ive and unreasonable, and you could say so on their behalf.
    via Flimsy-Surprise8234
  • 38
    junikh OP this!!! my husband and i will be contacting the building manager once he gets back from his leave regarding having pets on leash if they're entering the main lobby
    via junikh
  • 39
    username 0000 I stopped reading after she didn't use a leash. NTI love dogs, have my own. People who think they can control dogs with their minds are the worst. There's always something their dog will ignore them for (often my leashed dog)
    via username__0000
  • 40
    And she knew she couldn't so she's the absolute worst. What if another dog was waiting for the elevator and the door opened. Her dog would have rushed out and it would have been expensive vet bills for everyone.
    via username__0000
  • 41
    Confident-Ad7531 The dog person is a prime example of a bad dog person. Won't train the animal, won't put a leash on them, but blames everyone else when their dog does something. wrong. This bad dog person needs her nose rubbed in her dog's business.
    via Confident-Ad7531

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Tags

manners dogs neighbors leash drama small dogs entitled building Bad Neighbor entitled people
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