Owning a pet is a big responsibility. It takes time, patience, planning, and dedication to training.
Although most people will be as accommodating as then can, in the end it is up to pet owners to care for their animals properly and avoid being a nuisance.
One Redditor by the screen name InTheHeightsObsessed turned to the AITA (Am I The A**Hole) subreddit for answers after her barking dog caused a blow out with their neighbors.
She asked:
“AITA for asking my neighbors to keep their kids inside at certain times?“
The OP (Original Poster) explained her neighborhood conflict.
“Title is a bit confusing, but the situation is simple. I (35F) just moved with my husband (43M) and our dog, who is a pitbull mix and who has never had an actual yard to play in. We got him when we still lived in an apartment and needless to say, he’s having the time of his life out there.”
“The problem is that we have neighbors, a husband&wife with four kids, all of whom are quite young, and our dog barks incessantly whenever they’re in the yard at the same time.“
“I talked to my husband and decided to ask the parents if they could prevent the children from going outside at certain times that our dog was out there, but the wife told me that it was ridiculous and that I shouldn’t expect them to keep their kids inside just because our dog isn’t trained.”
“That set me off and I snapped at him and told him that that was uncalled for and that he had to compromise a little bit, but the husband stepped in and said that he understands the predicament but that his wife is right and that I shouldn’t expect them to bend over backwards just because our dog isn’t trained and then they shut the door.”
“I want to say that I’m not the a**hole but I’m feeling conflicted. Am I?“
The OP asked Redditors to judge if she was the jerk:
- NTA – Not The A**hole
- YTA – You’re The A**hole
- NAH – No A**holes Here
- ESH – Everyone Sucks Here
It may not have been the answer she was looking for however as Redditors judged her a resounding YTA.
“YTA. Welcome to the non-apartment world, where everyone has the right to enjoy their own property fully so long as they are not encroaching on their neighbors’ property. Asking a neighbor to limit their use of their own backyard is a major faux pas.”
“And yet, if your dog barks too much, you will find other neighbors calling animal control on you about the excessive barking. The better approach would have been to ask if the kids could work with you to help your dog get used to kiddie noises and so forth.” JeepersCreepers74
”You know those neighbors have quietly spoken to other neighbors to warn them about the bad neighbors with the untrained pit bull who’s hostile toward children.”
“I guarantee you everyone has animal control on speed dial now and is just waiting for the day they need it. The OP has just guaranteed nobody in their neighborhood will give their pup a fair shake. YTA for so many reasons.” Ischmiester
“YTA, Train your f**king dog OP. Other people living their lives are not responsible for your inability to do something basic like train your dog. Can you even imagine: ‘Hey, so how about you be severely inconvenienced and change your behavior in your home because I can’t be bothered to train my dog and think the world revolves around me?’” ErisInChains
“Look, OP. I’ve got a dog that isn’t particularly well-trained and can bark when she’s not supposed to. And you know what I do? Remove her from situations where she does it, and continue to work with her on learning when and where barking is appropriate.”
“It’s… not going GREAT, but I fully accept that her behavior is completely my (and my parents’) responsibility to manage. Not the neighbor’s. Not the guy at Petsmart’s. The OWNERS.”
”YTA. Everything your neighbor said is 100% on point and, I’m guessing, is going to just keep being repeated in various different phrasings in these replies (consider this my phrasing).” Willowed-Whisp
“Exactly this post is laughable. My property is surrounded by dogs that bark literally all day and my dog doesn’t AT ALL because he’s trained well.”
“Be a good dog owner and train your dog and stop being entitled into thinking you can force your neighbours to be on a roster. Thanks for the laugh OP. YTA.” Gracillar
“Imagine trying to train your whole entire neighborhood instead of your spoiled dog. YTA.” lotsofcache
“I have two barky dogs. They enjoy barking at:
- Doors slamming
- Other dogs in their yards
- Small children noises
- Large children noises
- Airplanes
- Ghosts??”
“They also went from an apartment to a yard. When they start barking, they go back in the house, no matter how sad it makes them.”
“My boyfriend and I find this is more effective than asking the world to compromise by not slamming doors, owning other dogs, having children of any size, not flying airplanes, or not dying and leaving behind restless spirits.”
”(For real, though, yes, of course YTA. Your neighbors’ kids have every right to enjoy their personal yard when they want to.)” TheDameWithoutASmile
“YTA: why would think it’s remotely acceptable to tell another resident of your neighborhood when they can use their own yard? They are right. It’s your responsibility to train your dog not to bark.”
“I have 7 dogs that go out at the same time and it’s my responsibility to ensure they dont bark. It’s not my neighbors responsibility to cower inside while my dogs are out.” valathel
”YTA. This really, really isn’t fair to those 4 kids who want to use their OWN backyard. If the dog’s barking is annoying enough to you that you would rather have 4 children stay inside just to avoid your dog barking at them, while they’re on their own property… Imagine how annoying the barking must be for them, a family who didn’t ask for a dog that barks at and probably scares their children when they’re just trying to play in their own backyard.”
“Add to that you’re also asking the entire family to bend to your wishes because your dog is not trained. Not okay, you’re definitely the AH here.” jmaeww
Hopefully this poster and her husband offered their neighbors a sincere apology and did what they could to train their dog quickly.