A mum has sparked a heated debate after refusing to shut her elderly family dog away during her daughter’s playdate, saying it isn’t fair to lock the family pet up in its own home.
This is despite another mum explaining her daughters are terrified of dogs.
The mum explained that she’d invited a group of children from her five-year-old daughter’s school over for a playdate, with games and activities planned in the backyard.
The only complication? Their 12-year-old Beagle.
She describes the ageing family pet as incredibly gentle, partially blind and happiest either snoozing under the trampoline or quietly following her around the garden.
But one of the invited mums contacted her with an unexpected request.
Her two daughters are absolutely terrified of dogs and, before agreeing to come, asked whether the Beagle could be shut away for the afternoon.
The host said she completely understood the girls’ fear, having seen it herself.
“I found this out when we were walking to the park and a dog passed them, it was on a lead and wasn’t even looking in their direction but both girls screamed, clambered up their mum and were crying hysterically. It wasn’t until the dog was out of sight they calmed down.
“I was honestly quite taken aback by their reaction, especially as the dog was so unbothered by their existence. I asked their mum if they’d had a bad experience with dogs in the past that had caused them to be so scared but she said no, they had just always been terrified of them.”
Although sympathetic, she still wasn’t comfortable locking her own dog away.
“Sorry, no, that would upset my dog and it’s her home, she shouldn’t have to be shut away.”
She explained that the Beagle is extremely placid and would most likely spend the afternoon sleeping or keeping close to her rather than approaching the children.
But that reassurance wasn’t enough.
The other mum was furious, accusing her of putting “a dog’s needs over children” and saying she’d now have to explain to her daughters why all of their friends would be at the playdate while they were left out.
The disagreement didn’t stop there.
Even the friendship group couldn’t agree.
The mums who own pets generally felt the host was right, saying it was unfair to expect an elderly dog to be confined in its own home.
Others argued that shutting the dog away for a couple of hours would have been a simple act of kindness that would allow two frightened children to join in.
The post has since attracted hundreds of comments, with parents fiercely debating whether the host was protecting her pet, or whether she should have made a small compromise for the sake of the children.
What would you do?
Would you shut your dog away for a few hours so children who are scared of dogs could come to a playdate, or do you think it’s unreasonable to expect a family pet to be locked away in its own home?
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mom486197, WA said
- 22 Jul 2026
Post a comment5:23 pm
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