Friends Dogs Aggressive Behavior Leads to Friendship Dilemma

AITA for refusing to walk my friend's dog after a concerning incident? Find out if prioritizing safety over friendship is justified in this dilemma.

Davy

Published in Interesting
2025-08-20 07:00

Friends Dogs Aggressive Behavior Leads to Friendship Dilemma

Are you the jerk for refusing to walk your friend's dog after a scary incident? Picture this: you're out strolling with Max, your friend's pup, when suddenly, he growls and lunges at a passing child.

No harm done, but the fear lingers. Max's behavior raises red flags, leaving you uneasy.

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Despite Sarah's reassurances that it's a one-time thing, the unpredictability gnaws at you. You voice your concerns to Sarah, opting out of future walks with Max.

She's miffed, claiming you're overreacting and even hints at your exaggeration. Relationships are tested as she accuses you of being an unsupportive friend in her time of need.

But, is it really about support when safety is at stake? The Reddit community deliberates: prioritize your safety or assist a friend in denial about Max's behavior?

Opinions are divided - some vouch for prioritizing safety, while others stress the importance of support in tough times. It's a delicate balance between standing your ground for safety and extending a helping hand in a friend's dilemma.

Where do you draw the line?

Original Post

I (28F) have a close friend, let's call her Sarah (30F), who has a sweet but sometimes reactive dog named Max. Sarah asked me to walk Max while she was away for the weekend.

I agreed since I've done it before without any issues. Everything was going smoothly until one evening during the walk, Max unexpectedly growled and lunged at a small child who was passing by with their parent.

Thankfully, no one was hurt, but it was a scary moment that left me shaken. For background, Max has always been excitable, but this level of aggression was new and concerning.

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Sarah insists it was just a one-off incident and that Max is usually well-behaved. However, I can't shake off the fear of what could have happened if Max had bitten someone.

I expressed my discomfort to Sarah and told her I didn't feel comfortable walking Max anymore. She was upset and said I was overreacting, emphasizing that Max has never bitten anyone before.

But I can't ignore the fact that the unpredictable behavior puts both me and others at risk. Sarah now accuses me of being a bad friend for not helping her out when she needed it.

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She's even implied that I'm blowing things out of proportion. I value our friendship, but I can't shake the feeling that prioritizing my safety and the safety of others is the right choice here.

So, Reddit, am I the a*****e for refusing to walk Sarah's dog after this concerning incident?