'AITA for not changing my dog's name even though my new neighbor's child has the same name?'
"AITA for not changing my dog's name even though my new neighbor's child has the same name?"
I (36M) am the owner of a Great Pyr/Australian Cattle Dog mix named Charlotte (6F). I live in a lower-middle class suburb in an unspecified United State. I have lived here for about a year now, and I let Charlotte out to go potty roughly six or so times a day.
It's always the same routine: I open the back door, Charlotte runs outside to pee and "patrol" the yard (apparently it's a Pyr thing), and doesn't typically come bounding back to the door until I poke my head out and call her name.
About a week or two ago (maybe longer if I didn't notice) new neighbors moved in across my back alley. I had no intentions of interacting with them whatsoever, like ever, except today when I was executing the last step of Charlotte's aforementioned potty protocol.
I stuck my head out and called her name, but this time, alongside the familiar sounds of my dog galloping up the porch steps, was an adult human voice shouting something along the lines of "WHY ARE YOU CALLING MY DAUGHTER??"
At first I thought it might just be my new neighbors getting into a spat, until a couple minutes later I heard pounding on my front door. I opened the door to an angry man about twice my size glaring me down.
He said something like "Why the eff are you calling my daughter into your house" and I responded "Your daughter's name is Charlotte?" and he just kind of kept glaring at me??
In absence of a response I followed up with "Charlotte is my dog's name, dude" and he rolled his eyes at me and said I "better" change my dog's name because he doesn't want his daughter (2F) getting confused and running into my house.
I told him that's not going to happen because not only did my dog have the name first, we also lived here first, plus I don't like strangers making demands of me before even attempting to be polite. What I DIDN'T say but really wanted to say is that teaching his child stranger danger is his responsibility, not mine.
He called me stupid and said that a human child obviously has priority over a dog for a name. I shut the door in his face and stared at him through the peephole for a moment before he eventually walked back to his house.
This last potty break, I went out with Charlotte and stayed in the yard with her until she finished her business, but this guy just kind of stood in his yard with his arms crossed and glared at me the entire time.
Here were the top rated comments from readers:
SilliestSally82
Nta. Double down.. Get another dog and name it his wife's name.
Chalkarts
Spectacular. Then get a chihuahua and name it after him.
LoveBeach8
NTA. (Except for that last little bit but I'll get back to that later). You are not obligated to rename your dog. Continue with your usual routine. If their daughter were to come over, you just don't answer the door or you simply tell her to go back home.
You can get a restraining order or file a report if that neighbor harasses/threatens you. "Charlotte" is a beautiful name so your diss "Who even names their kid Charlotte these days" in your post wasn't kind.
Fatal_Foxtrot OP
Okay, that's fair. Charlotte really is a beautiful name, I guess I'm still kind of shaken up and tried to talk tough to make myself feel better. That kid didn't do anything wrong.
LimitlessMegan
Dude if he cubes back I’d say: If your two year old gets out of your house, across the alley and into my yard or front porch without you noticing or intervening because I called my dog… that seems like a big parenting ball drop on your part.
Or you could suggest he bring his daughter over to meet your dog, so he can explain the dog has her name too and if she hears you calling you are talking to your dog. Though, that sounds like an offer you make to a not asshole rather than this guy. NTA.
BlueStarrSilver
NTA. This is one of the dumbest requests (demands?) I've ever heard. Sorry to say, but these neighbors are going to be trouble. Just don't give into any temptations to escalate a fued with them. Carry on your business as usual and try not to let them get under your skin.