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AIBU?

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Original poster

Parent went mental at my Ddog!

386 replies

WesternAmy · 30/04/2026 17:42

Can someone please tell me how Ddog was at fault here?! We were walking on a footpath close to our house earlier, and a woman was pushing her toddler along on a sort of bike thing.

As we were passing, the toddler dropped a cuddly toy. Ddog instinctively went to pick this up (it resembled a dog toy) and I stopped him.

The woman went mental, shouted at Ddog “NO, NO” and I hurried us away.

I can tell it has impacted him, he has been really subdued since which is not like him at all.

Am I wrong to think the woman should have had some restraint?

OP posts:
ForCosyLion · 01/05/2026 13:01

I have a much-loved soft toy. DLion has kept me going through some tough times! 😂

34feeling54 · 01/05/2026 12:57

StormGazing · 01/05/2026 12:04

Yes, we dog lovers have dear/darling dogs 🐶… and DCats too!

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As a dog lover myself I am yet to refer to my dog as DDog on social media or my "Dguinea pigs"!!

Harhar · 01/05/2026 12:14

StormGazing · 01/05/2026 12:04

Yes, we dog lovers have dear/darling dogs 🐶… and DCats too!

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Even DH when the husband’s a prick. Ddog is better than that!

Velumental · 01/05/2026 12:08

If it's the only thing standing between her and the child not sleeping I can understand her overreaction. The no no was probably a panicked 'ffs if I need to put sweetums giggleton in the wash and get it dried bedtime will have to be put back an hour oh God no'

StormGazing · 01/05/2026 12:06

Mischance · 01/05/2026 09:44

Ah - your dog i the exception - they all are - each owner thinks their dog can do no wrong.

Your dog must be the only one in the world that does not have a wet mouth! - do you not give it water?

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My dog doesn’t slobber either … she’s a snow dog originating from Siberia, have upturned mouth corners so they don’t, otherwise they’d freeze!

StormGazing · 01/05/2026 12:04

34feeling54 · 30/04/2026 17:44

'Ddog' 🙄🙄

Yes, we dog lovers have dear/darling dogs 🐶… and DCats too!

Boomer55 · 01/05/2026 12:01

DDog? Lost me there. 🙄

tommyhoundmum · 01/05/2026 12:00

Theslummymummy · 30/04/2026 18:09

It's you who should have had some restraint over your dog.

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Your comment is completely unreasonable.

LiviaDrusillaAugusta · 01/05/2026 10:51

Mischance · 01/05/2026 09:44

Ah - your dog i the exception - they all are - each owner thinks their dog can do no wrong.

Your dog must be the only one in the world that does not have a wet mouth! - do you not give it water?

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And some people think that all dogs and their owners are BAD.

I said upthread I’m neutral about dogs. However I am becoming increasingly sympathetic toward them because of the vitriol on MN

Ophy83 · 01/05/2026 10:32

AllyMacbealmyarse · 30/04/2026 19:36

Tell me you know nothing about dogs without saying so…

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Um... I have a lovely 12 yr old black lab who is like my shadow when I'm working from home. He's sitting on the sofa behind me now . We also have many dogs in the wider family and pretty much all my friends have dogs. The dogs do not go home upset after someone has said (or even shouted) "no no" to them if they've tried to play with one of the kid's toys.

Mischance · 01/05/2026 09:44

DaisyDooley · 30/04/2026 22:40

Have you ever met a dog?
My labs don’t have slobbery mouths -when they pick something up it’s not wet fgs.

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Ah - your dog i the exception - they all are - each owner thinks their dog can do no wrong.

Your dog must be the only one in the world that does not have a wet mouth! - do you not give it water?

olivepicanto · 01/05/2026 09:37

rwalker · 30/04/2026 17:50

She didn’t want Dslober on it

🤣🤣

Calliopespa · 01/05/2026 09:34

Kokonimater · 01/05/2026 08:58

People here don’t seem to like or understand dogs. Most dogs would’ve reacted the same in that instant. The woman over reacted. Bit silly
but you’ve over reacted too by posting on here. It’s not a big deal. Forget about it. The dog’ll be fine. Xx

Yes, the dog will be fine. This will be him in no time op.

Dance Dog GIF
Imdunfer · 01/05/2026 09:07

Harhar · 01/05/2026 09:00

Your anecdotes are irrelevant.

Your empathy and understanding, in common with so many dog walkers, is non existent.

Harhar · 01/05/2026 09:00

Your anecdotes are irrelevant.

Imdunfer · 01/05/2026 08:58

Harhar · 01/05/2026 08:54

Showing you that sticking to what we know rather than making shit up is important.

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I am sticking to what I personally experience all the time.

And if the OP refuses to answer a reasonable question then we are entitled to come to the conclusion that she knows we wouldn't like the answer.

I'll bet the dog wasn't on a lead at all.

Kokonimater · 01/05/2026 08:58

People here don’t seem to like or understand dogs. Most dogs would’ve reacted the same in that instant. The woman over reacted. Bit silly
but you’ve over reacted too by posting on here. It’s not a big deal. Forget about it. The dog’ll be fine. Xx

Harhar · 01/05/2026 08:54

Imdunfer · 01/05/2026 08:51

What did you post two up from this about making things up? 🤣

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Showing you that sticking to what we know rather than making shit up is important.

Imdunfer · 01/05/2026 08:51

Harhar · 01/05/2026 08:49

The kid probably had a tantrum and threw the toy into the dogs path. That’s what always happens in my experience.

What did you post two up from this about making things up? 🤣

Harhar · 01/05/2026 08:49

The kid probably had a tantrum and threw the toy into the dogs path. That’s what always happens in my experience.

Imdunfer · 01/05/2026 08:44

Harhar · 01/05/2026 08:21

Making stuff up to try and paint the OP in a bad light just means deep down you all realise the mum and kid were at fault.

Oh god how I wish I was making stuff up. I'm just describing what happens to me every single time I walk where dog walkers walk.

Just a few days ago I was told by a woman that if I'd told her I had sight loss at ground level before, she wouldn't have let her ankle high off lead dog run towards me. Others tell me I should wear a notice, others that I should walk somewhere with no dogs.

If the mother was put in a position where she believed that dog was about to grab the toy then the OP was very much in the wrong and the mother not at all.

Harhar · 01/05/2026 08:21

Making stuff up to try and paint the OP in a bad light just means deep down you all realise the mum and kid were at fault.

Imdunfer · 01/05/2026 08:12

Imdunfer · 30/04/2026 19:19

Was the dog on an extendable lead?

Was the lead extended?

If so YABU to allow the dog to get so close that a mother thought it was about to pick up the child's toy.

The OP is declining to answer this question.

I think it is fair to assume, then, that the dog was on an extendable lead and that the lead had not been reeled in to pass the child in the buggy. The mother had no way of knowing that the OP would be able to stop the dog taking the toy, and her reaction was perfectly reasonable.

Those leads are a complete nightmare to walkers with stability or sight issues. Owners seem to be oblivious to the fact that if the dog is 10 feet out in front of them, there's nothing to stop it suddenly being 10 feet to the side of them, presenting a low trip wire to other walkers. As a person in both categories, I wish they could be banned.

LiviaDrusillaAugusta · 01/05/2026 07:29

Helpboat · 01/05/2026 00:32

Keep your dog away from other people children. It’s simple as that. They don’t know your dog and it could turn the consequences of that could be fatal for the child. She’s not being unreasonable in her reaction.

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It was the toy that the dog had gone to. He wasn’t a threat to the child and the OP had the situation under control.

She and her dog had as much right to be there as the woman and child.

I am neutral about dogs but how on earth do people live their lives day to day if they are that terrified of dogs?

Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 01/05/2026 06:18

Freda69 · 30/04/2026 21:55

Don’t worry OP - some people are weird around dogs. I once got told my golden retriever was a wolf.
I’m sure some cheese will make your boy forget the trauma.
(from a labradoodle mum).

Well technically it is related to a wolf so…