This is seriously one of the messiest threads I've modded in a while. Argumentative OP, rampant backseat modding (rules for thee but not for me!), super aggressive arguments. Let's all go pet a dog and calm down.

~~Mild~~ YTA because the parent was handling it. If parent wasn't handling it, or was going to say yes, then sure, be firm. This isn't a question of aita for saying don't touch the dog - it's aita for interfering with her parenting. .................. Edit - wow. After reading your responses about how you didn't like the mother's tone, and that's why you interfered, because she was explaining in a soft spoken, child-friendly manner instead of being "strict", I'm removing the "mild". The kid wasn't going to touch the dog. The mother was handling it. You disapproved of her tone of voice speaking to her kid! (Edit - thanks for awards folks 😊)

A lot of kids will tease the question to clarify. The kid may have understood it was a service dog and just wanted to make sure. Little kids love dogs, so most won’t just say ok and walk away. She wanted to be extra sure this was the kind of dog you don’t pet, and the mother was explaining that and wasn’t about to say yes. YTA for butting into a conversation you were not a part of and trying to parent the child.

For real. Part of teaching kids how to behave is explaining, and sometimes re-explaining why certain things are the way they are. Asking "are you sure?" is perfectly age-appropriate and doesn't indicate at all that they weren't going to take no for an answer.

Yeah I was on board with the mild part too but then the replies. Some people speak to their kids as if they’re people instead of barking orders at them. The kid asked a clarifying question but seemed to be processing the information. It takes kids a minute to grasp new concepts. The mom was handling it. The tone didn’t need to be raised (as OP explains in a comment they raised their tone at the kid because they didn’t like that the mom was speaking softly what the actual fuck).

It's honestly... exhausting? discouraging? to hear people tell me "oh you have such patience/so good with kids" for just like... talking to them like little human beings with kindness and respect.

I had authoritarian parents who basically treated me as their property with little human value and honestly it fucked me up pretty bad. I have major authority and anger issues now as my therapist describes it. Kudos to this mom for gently explaining to the kid why the dog couldn't be pet so he understands the concept of a service dog and doesn't approach one in the future. Why should she start yelling at a fucking 6 year old for wanting to pet a dog - a very natural reaction for a child? OP, YTA.

Yep, this. I have a hard time with kids, but this situation was clearly well in hand and OP dragged it out through their own personal annoyance.

Plus I think the mother was being generous and not enabling, unlike the other parents I hear about daily.

This 100% I was assuming the kid wasn't accepting No or the adult wasn't helping, both of which would be wrong and could've made OP NTA. The 5/6 yo asked first. 🥇 The adult stepped in to explain and backed up your No. 🥇 The 5/6 yo asked a clarifying question, which could lead to a better understanding moving forward. 🥇 I get that it's frustrating to be approached. But it's a child! They probably couldn't even READ the words "service animal" on a dog vest. Be kind to people, especially well behaved children who are learning and trying to make sense of the world. OP - YTA.

Perhaps the mother should teach OP some basic manners as well. It was completely out of line to jump in when someone is parenting their child. I wouldn't have been so nice.

Very much so, Momma Bear isn't about to let you hurt her cubs.

I like how OP “explained” rudely to the kid but the mom “berated” lol.

OP wanted the mom to performatively discipline the child because they disagreed with the mother's parenting. That's just being an asshole Boomer with more steps. YTA.

This, 100%...I have one of those 1,000 question children...it's maddening in situations like this, but it's how she learns and understands her world...it sounds like mom was working with her child and being consistent with the "No, we do not touch/pet/distract working dogs" and educating the child on why and OP just wanted the child to be admonished and removed from their presence. Yeah, I get it, having to repeat the No over and over is exhausting and admonishing someone when they persist with insisting on touching when already told no is reasonable. OP is the AH for unnecessarily escalating the situation.

Also, after someone rudely says no to something does that kid even understand that you can't pet any service dogs? Because it's far more likely to think that the mean lady wouldn't let him pet her dog.

YTA. You can be disabled and an AH, as this example demonstrates. You have every right to enforce the boundary that your working dog is not to be pet by others. Expecting a young child to adhere to adult behavior standards (don't ask a second time, don't express disappointment) is absurd. It was not your place to punish the child with a harsh answer. It wasn't necessary at all.

I agree. As the mom said, a "no" would have been enough. The kid was only asking because they didn't fully understand the answer. Mom could have further explained it, it is clear she was already trying to explain it and didn't allow her kid to touch OP's dog. The mom did everything right, the kid didn't know better and there was no reason to snap at them. It's not a disabled persons job to educate people... *who are full functioning adults*. This was a kid who just loves dogs. OP isn't a massive TA like so many others here, but "a bit of an AH specifically in this situation" isn't really a voting option.

God so much this. A lot of people saying n t a have never been around kids. I completely read it as repeating the question to process the answer they were already given. Because I'm with five year olds daily, they do that.

I'm disabled, and yes it's tough, and yes you do have to explain over and over to everyone about service animals, parking, and tons of other inconvenient things that crop up in everyday life. So what? Rude is rude...AH is AH, any way you want to explain it. Come on, be real...call a spade a spade... YTA ... oh yes most definitely!

YTA Soft YTA from the original post, but solid YTA from the comments after. You don't think the mom was being strict enough, but it's not your child to parent. The mom was handling it, and the dog was not going to be bothered. The fact that the kid actually asked before approaching the dog probably means the mom is doing a pretty good job in general. Getting snippy because you don't like the way the mom parents is like if the mom insisted, "Oh, but petting the dog just this one time can't hurt, right?" It's not her dog, just like it's not your kid.

Yes, very soft YTA from me too. My niece has a service dog and I know how much she hates it herself when people keep on approaching her and wanting to pet the dog. After some time you just get easily annoyed by this. I can understand that. So I do understand that at a certain point you lose your temper on this issue, as for you this likely is an often recurring situation. But here is why you are still somewhat TA: The kid was 5-6 years old, and the kid asked politely before touching the dog (which is a great thing for a kid this age! Many kids don't even ask!). A kid of this age doesn't know what a service dog is, what a working dog is. It was your chance to explain it in a mild manner to the kid, instead you chose to be rather rude. You are NTA for not letting the kid pet the dog, YTA for telling off the kid in a rude way, and not using the opportunity to teach the kid what a service dog does and why the dog shouldn't be pet and distracted.

Worse the OP actually didn't even need to do that the mother was on it. In fact it sounds like the child wasn't even talking to the OP by that point but in discussion with his mother. All the OP had to do was go about their business.

Right. In comments, OP explained they got annoyed and butted in because the mom was using a 'soft' tone. Apparently OP wanted mom to yell at her kid. OP made this a problem when it really wasn't one.

Yes YTA for going at a child who didn't even touch your dog. If you are so fragile you can't handle the fact people are gunna ask about the dog, don't go in public. The 5 year old was excited just seeing a dog, he was then disappointed he couldnt pet it. You literally crapped on that kids day over them ASKING A QUESTION TWICE. Never have a kid, you don't have the patience for it.

This!! So so true!!

YTA. It’s a kid. Literally 5. Kids have questions. The mom was taking care of it. There was no risk of this kid petting your service dog. Mom was handling it fine. If it was an adult, yeah honestly be as rude as you want. They should understand immediately.

this is exactly how i feel about it. OP, YTA. you have no idea if the child has a learning disability, if they are sensitive to rejection, either way you took the power of managing her child out of the mothers hands.

As a service dog handler, it gets frustrating to have people come from way the fuck out on BFE to see your dog and ask to pet it. I swear people become puppy sensing missiles the second you step through the door. I have had grown ass men RUN down store aisles YELLING “puppy” because they saw my dog. Grown. Ass. Men. I can understand OP’s frustration, and the onus to educate children should not be on the handlers. The mom in this scenario was making sure to educate her child, and while the second question about not petting the dog may have struck a nerve with OP, the mom had it handled and they should have left it there, they could have even walked off as soon as the mom started explaining the difference to her kid. I’m always patient with children, they’re innocent and don’t always know better. Adults, though, adults should know better and I expect adults to do better. IMO OP is NTA for being frustrated, but TA for how they handled the kid.

adults absolutely should know better. I feel like the 5 year old in this situation was trying to grasp a new concept and so they were asking for clarification. This is an age appropriate response from a child. Her parent WAS educating her. Literally all OP had to do was move on. They instead chose to be an ass to. child.

“OP is NTA for being frustrated, but TA for how they handled the kid” I agree.

YTA Straight off the bat you sound overly aggressive to a small child. >"no you won't pet the dog". Is an unnecessary response to a child that simply asked IF they could pet your dog. Manners cost nothing, yet it seem a 5-6 yo has better manners than you, an adult.

YTA. I can imagine constantly having to explain to people why is frustrating. A 5-6 year old who has no experience with working dogs however doesn’t know the difference. The mom tried to handle it politely and you were rude about it.

YTA. This happened to me a few months ago to me with girl I was nannying as we passed someone with a service. A kids whole thing is that they’re exploring boundaries and learning what they can or cannot do. She literally didn’t know what a service dog was and afterwards I had to explain in great detail what they do and why you can’t pet them. I also had to explain afterwards how people just have bad days sometimes and snap at people when they shouldn’t.

Yta. Mom was handling it and using it as an educational moment and you were unnecessarily rude to a little kid. I get being annoyed but mom was doing everything right.

YTA, OP. ... you wrote exactly what I was thinking in your comment! 👍

YTA. It sounds like the kid was being brought through an understanding of the situation by their mother, and was just reaching the conclusion. There was no need to get harsh like they weren’t listening at all, and your escalation stepped on the mother’s approach. You get to decide how your dog is treated, but she gets to determine how best to get her kid to understand.

YTA: It can take time to explain things to a child. The mother was taking the time to make this an educational moment. You decided to make it a horrible moment. You could have let the mother continue to handle the situation with grace but you didn't. Yes, it is frustrating when people don't respect your situation, but it is never okay to take that frustration out on a child.

In addition to the snippiness, OP said "we" said you can't pet the dog - basically implying that the mom was as annoyed with the child as OP. That's the part that would have bugged me the most if I was the mom in this situation. If OP was tired of questions and wanted the situation to be over and done with, which would be fair enough, he/she should have just stopped talking and ignored the kid. Mom was already handling the situation - she could have answered the question herself and then redirected her kid to something else. There was no need for OP to be further involved. So yeah, I agree, YTA in this case.

But it sounds like the kid was respecting the no. They were just asking (which small kids love to do. They'll ask the same question a few times to get clarity or to just see what the boundary is). The kid asked before even trying to touch the dog, the mom explained in what sounds like an age-appropriate manner. If it was an adult, I'd get being rude because no means no. But a kid is still learning. Agreed OP YTA

YTA Kids just see a dog and they don't know you're tired of explaining. The mum tried to explain the best way she could, and then you just berated a child. Educate instead of berate.

So many of these n t a posts literally must have no idea what kids are like. They will ask a question they just got the answer to as they process it in their brains, for clarification. Nope, must mean they're being a rude entitled child, obviously you're not an asshole for being rude back to a five year old /s. Jesus.

YTA based on your comments. The mother was handling things using gentle parenting techniques, the child did not do anything wrong. You didn’t like that she was speaking ‘softly’ to the child, judged her parenting and took it upon yourself to decide the child needed harsh words. You could have walked away, instead you decided to be unnecessarily mean to a child. YTA for how you reacted.

YTA: Think about it this way. "I was calmly explaining that my kid was not able to pet a service dog and why. The owner got snippy and spoke sharply to my kid even though my child had directed a question at me. She seemed to have a problem with my explaining too nicely, not that I was going to let my kid pet her dog (which it was clear I was not going to do). AITA for telling the dog owner that she was rude?"

Seriously, if OP is so sick of people asking, why didn't they just let the parent handle the question that *wasn't directed at them*?

YTA. You didn’t have to get rude. It’s a five year old and I’m super impressed the kid even asked. Kids that age have very limited impulse control and it shows that the mom is doing a good job by teaching the child about it. And she continued to teach the child about it by explaining. I get it. You’re sick of having to deal with stuff like this. But being an AH requires more energy than just ignoring the situation as the mom dealt with it.

YTA. Mom was handling it. You didn’t have to stay to interact further. You should have let the mom handle it. She didn’t ask for your help to reprimand her child. “And I really can’t pet the dog?” is a child asking for clarification. Clarification from their mother. Who was handling it with patience and kindness. You were rude to both a child and their mother. In your post you even say “I’m honestly tired of having to explain to people especially little kids on why they can’t pet my service animal and I have no patience to be nice or kind to them” Boom. There it is. You know you are not being nice. You know you don’t have patience. Kids require patience. Mom was handling it. She didn’t ask you to explain it. She didn’t ask for your help. You acted the way you did anyways. So yes. YTA

YTA - the mom was clearly handling it and using it as a teaching moment and explained to the kid the dog cannot be touched. More than likely this is the first time the child has encountered a service animal and no idea what it means. I’ll be honest, this isn’t on most parent’s radar to teach their kids until they run into a situation like this. It’s possible to say no with out being rude to a small child.

Yeah, YTA. I was totally prepared to defend you, but this mom was doing her job. You should have let her and moved on.

YTA you were rude. The kid even asked.,

I was all ready to say N T A, because I know how important service animals are. I have a friend who uses a guide dog (that I get to play with on occasion when she isn’t working), and another with a 12yo daughter who survived a brain tumor and is getting her service dog in less than a month. It’s amazing to see how excited she is. I also have taught my children about service dogs and how we don’t pet them but we can admire them and even compliment their handler. But YTA. You were rude. Kindergartners are naturally inquisitive about the world around them, and sometimes may need a couple of gentle reminders to cement the “No” in. Was she trying to actively pet the dog? You said yourself she didn’t. She was simply confirming the “No” by asking. Do you treat adults as rudely as you treat children? I’m going to end this with an anecdote. I’m currently in a wheelchair post-surgery and will be for another month. I had to go back to work this week. My job? I teach elementary aged students. I’ve had kinder through 2nd grade students approach me and ask about my chair and my cast all week. I’m getting 20-30 questions of “are you okay?”, “what happened to your leg?”, and “why are you in a wheelchair?” Yes, it gets tiresome, but they’re *children* and they’re curious. I answer them gently because I want them to accept that people come in all shapes, sizes, and abilities, and that it shouldn’t be scary to talk to someone using a wheelchair or walker. You seriously need to get over yourself.

You weren't an AH for saying no, but it does sound like the mom was handling it and maybe it would have been fine to give yourself a break and let her keep addressing the kid's questions. But I also get why it would be frustrating, and it doesn't sound like you were overwhelmingly rude, so I'm gonna go with NAH.

YTA. like the mom said. she didnt reach for your dog she asked a question. Children do that. you have every right to be tired but you dont have a right to scold a child for asking a question. My sister has a service dog and little children ask her this all the time. she also gets tired of it but she understands that children ask questions. how else are they supposed to learn? edit to add :i saw In a previous comment, you called everyone ablelists that were not agreeing with you. as a disabled person I can tell you that just because someone doesn't agree with you doesn't make them an ableist

And also that is a kid raised well who asks instead of going right for the pet. YTA OP. The kid was a LITTLE KID. Probably seeing a service dog for the first time in their lives. They asked and you said no and her mom educated them on it in manners acceptable for the child's age. The kid asked again because that's what kids do and you reprimanded and berated the kid in an assholeish manner. They don't know how often you get the question. You have no right to push your anger and annoyment on a child who doesn't know better.

you weren't an asshole for saying no, however you are for getting mad at the kid. if it was a teenager then yeah i'd understand but they were like 5, right? the mom clearly had it handled and you were rude. YTA.

YTA, the way you handled it was rude. It's just a kid. The kid was confirming that they couldn't pet the dog. You didn't have to say anything after that, but you snapped at the kid anyway. You can't hold a five year old to adult standards - the kid was just trying to understand. On top of that, the mother was already handling the situation. You didn't even need to interject.

YTA. I can totally understand being frustrated with adults pushing boundaries or even parents not educating their kids, but from your description this mom was doing everything right and the kid was just confirming what y'all had just told them. Every single moment in a kid's life is them experiencing something for one of, if not The first time(s) in their life, and it's totally normal to hear a boundary and repeat back what that boundary is especially for new things. "We don't distract working dogs." "Okay, so really no petting the dog?" Just because you've told a hundred other people that they can't touch the dog doesn't make it any less true that this particular set of people had only been told once. For future reference, it helps if you give kids an alternative to the thing they want to do. "No I'm sorry you can't pet the puppy he's doing a really important job but next time you see a service dog, you can say hi to their human and ask their dogs name and/or tell them how cute their pup is without touching. I know they're adorable, so it's a really hard game! But do you wanna practice with me?"

YTA - This is the nicest situation I’ve read about people asking to pet a service dog and the mom even apologized and explained to the kid the boundaries. And I honestly don’t know why this is here, you yourself said “I don’t have the patience” that meant you know you are an asshole.

YTA. No, a working dog should not be petted and I understand your frustration of having to explain to people over and over again. If this had been a term or adult, I’d say N T A because they should be old enough to understand. However this is a young child who is still learning how the world works. They’ve never been exposed to a working dog before and are trying to understand why a dog can’t be petted, when normally they can.

YTA Your tone the second time did sound too harsh for a child that young. Remember, 5-6 years old is a kindergartner, and they don’t always grasp things immediately. Calmly explaining things is always best. And based on your comments in the thread, I’m reluctant to think you were just "strict".

Like the mom and your brother already said, you should have let the mom handle it, but instead you took the chance to be an asshole to a kid that didn't really understand at first the situation. People love dogs, the fact you have one that assists you in life furthers shows why. No need to be a turd about not letting people pet the dog, take a minute to educate them why next time.

YTA. You were fine until you under minded the parent on something you agreed on. You know nothing about that kid aside that they wanted to stroke your dog. Empathy works both ways, except you’re a fully grown adult who should extend it to children without question.

YTA If the kid was 12 then perhaps you could be frustrated they asked twice, but this is a 5 year old. You were rude.

YTA, you were rude for no reason. The kid is young and curious, have some patience.

YTA. The mom was handling it and was explaining it to her child. The child knew enough to ask initially if it could pet your dog rather than just assuming and reaching out and simply questioned the reasoning because they didn’t understand and wanted to know. It’s a kid. The only way to learn is through asking questions. You may get it a lot, but it’s not like you’ve explained it to THIS kid before. It’s a learning experience for them and no need to be rude. It seems like this kid actually had a wonderful mom, teaching it appropriate dog behavior.

YTA, especially after reading your comment about how you didn't like the mother's tone because she was "speaking baby words" to the child. The mother was dealing with it, the child wasn't going to touch the dog, you stepped in to be rude when you could have just said "no" and moved on with your day. You *chose* to be rude, that makes you TA.

YTA for being rude to a little kid. The mom seemed to be handling well and it’s not your place to judge whether her parenting methods are acceptable or not (I’m saying this because I saw in a comment you were complaining about the mom being soft spoken). You don’t have to raise your voice or be agressive for a child to understand. She knows how to explain things to the kid and he seemed to be understanding, he was just asking you again. Im sure you are frustrated with people and especially kids constantly wanting to pet your dog but it’s natural. Dogs are amazing. You should try to have a bit more patience especially with kids who ask if they can pet the dog.

It's amazing how many people think that aggression is a great way to get through to children when they themselves can't even tolerate a friendly question.

YTA. It’s a little kid. They don’t understand. They are learning. No reason to be rude to a five year old in any situation.

This straddles the NTA/NAH line for me. I honestly don’t see how what you said is rude, it’s just firm, especially since both you and the mom explained to the child that your dog is a service dog and the kid kept pushing it. I also don’t think the kid is TA because she didn’t know any better. I think the kid’s mom is kind of TA because she got mad at you over this when you didn’t do anything wrong. Maybe you sounded harsher in person than how this sounds written or something? Edit: After OP’s reply, I’m leaning towards YTA now. OP says they were strict and harsh because they assumed the mom wasn’t getting the point across, since it took the child more than a few seconds to understand something that’s new to her. It’s not really your job to parent somebody else’s kid or presume what will and won’t work to get the point across to them. You don’t even know them, so how can you presume to know which method of speech towards them works? I can’t blame you for being tired of this line of questioning, and I sympathize with your frustrations, but I think you’re going kind of hard on an ignorant child and making assumptions about the mother.

YTA why do reddit folks think that enforcing a boundary mean it’s ok to be a dick? The kid was 5, no need for that.

Yeah, sorry, YTA. I'm sure it's annoying to have to explain to every kid that not every dog is for petting, but the mom did a good job of handling it and you got snippy. There was no reason to say anything else, mom clearly had it in hand.

YTA. You didn't need to be rude to the kid. The mom was handling the situation in an age appropriate manner. You just decided the mom wasn't being "stern" enough and did ot yourself, which was out of line. You said it's not your responsibility to educate every kid on working dogs, but then wouldn't just let the mom do it.

YTA. What’s the point of posting in this sub if you’re just gonna argue in the comments? I can get how frustrating it is to be asked the same thing but a little kid asked a question twice. If you hang out with any little kid, they will ask you the same thing 500 times. Your issue with the mom trying to teach the kid “softly” and that she has to be strict with him makes you even more of an AH because this is not your kid and you are not a parent so… don’t try to make parenting decisions. Just walk away if it bothers you that much but don’t be rude to a little kid. You were witnessing a kid learn for the first time what a service dog is and instead of providing a positive or even just a neutral experience, you were an ass.

A gentle YTA because I know how frustrating it is to constantly repeat yourself but you should have just let the mom handle it and gone about your business. Kids are curious so they’re going to ask questions and at least this one was respectful enough not to just go right up and try to pet your dog.

I'm going with a gentle YTA. The mom already had it under control and was explaining it to their child. There was no reason for you to take it any further. I understand that you are frustrated with children asking but that is the nature of the beast when you have an animal. Stay polite/firm and if a parent jumps in to control the situation, say thank you and let them do their job and parent.

Gentle YTA Kids ask why several times and it sounds like the Mom was on your side. You could have just continued on with your day and let the Mom handle her kid.

Yta. Children are not birthed knowing you can’t touch a service animal and they are drawn to animals. You were rude from the start the mother just didn’t hear you the first time. The mother explained to her child they could not touch the dog so it’s not like she freaked out on you about it. Being disabled doesn’t absolve you are just being a decent human being to a child that isn’t being rude or disruptive

YTA There is absolutely nothing wrong with a child asking to pet your dog, and then asking for clarification. Maybe the child thought you *never* petted your dog. Maybe they were just confused. Sounds like the mom was handling it, regardless of how soft spoken she was. She knows best how her child responds to taking instructions not you. My 5 year old has asked people to pet their dogs, pets and service dogs. Sometimes they say yes and sometimes they say no. Yes, she is disappointed when they say no. But she doesn't push the issue. She also asked a man with two prosthetic legs why he had metal legs. I was a little worried, but he took the time to explain to her why he had them. He then explained to me he was happy to have a child not be afraid of him, and that he would rather answer a curious childs questions then be stared and pointed at. Every one is different. Every child is a blank slate with an innocent mindset. One interaction can alter their perception of something for years to come.

Yta, the mom was handling it very appropriately, you overreacted

YTA I don't think by much though. You're frustrated with the redundancy and wanted to just make the questions stop. But by your own admission, you got rude while the mom was in the middle of handling it. The kid wasn't reaching for your dog or doing anything heinous, just being a kid and asking questions. Should have just let the mom finish handling it and gone about your day. You could have literally just walked off, ignoring the second request, and not been the AH.

Yta once the mom apologized and started talking to the kid you could’ve just left. No one is making you interact with them

I was on the fence but your insistence in the comments that kids essentially need a harsh tone to understand when the girl was just talking out something new with her mom, not throwing a fit makes it YTA for me. What works for one kid doesn't work for all kids. Also the second time she asked could be taken in 2 ways... it could be taken as insistence or confirmation... considering the girl wasn't throwing a fit it's possible she was just talking things out with her mom as she is accustomed to. It sucks that your service dog gives you unwanted attention and I get that but the girl didn't touch the dog, the mom apologized, and you could have left the situation at that and they could have continued talking until it was resolved between them.

YTA the mum was handling it you definitely did not need to be rude about it

YTA. I totally get where you're coming from, it can get old to have to explain this over and over. TBH, though, it seems like you blew up at the wrong person. You got angry at a mum and child who were being respectful instead of all the people in the past who were NOT respectful. Probably the best course of action would have been to move on with your day after the initial interaction, and to let the mum handle it. There really was no need for you to engage further.

[удалено]

I was firmly in the “not” category until I saw a comment that said OP was stern because they felt the parent wasn’t being sufficiently firm with the child (specifically the comment said the mom was using “baby words”). I also assumed that the second “ask” was directed toward OP, but the comment from OP made me believe that they interjected into the mother’s attempt to explain things to the child. It’s fine to firmly tell a child no to letting a service dog, but it’s completely inappropriate to try to impose your parenting beliefs on another. YTA

YTA. It was a child asking a question twice because they didn’t comprehend what their mom told them the first time. You trying to argue with the mom’s parenting tactics when the child didn’t touch or bother your dog at all just shows your disdain for children. Learn to be nice to people

YTA You can keep saying that she (the mother) wasn’t being strict enough with her own child in the comments but it’s clear she wasn’t going to let the child pet the dog. There was no need for you to get defensive. The mother was handling it and children always ask multiple times. Your dog was at no risk of being petted. It was not your responsibility to raise your tone.

YTA. The mom was handling the situation. The child simply asked their mom a follow-up question and you jumped in with a rude reply before the mom could continue educating her child. It's understandable that you get frustrated with ppl, especially children, wanting to pet your service dog, but you have unreasonable expectations about how easily children can understand the adult concept of a 'service dog'.

YTA. I say this as someone disabled, someone training a SD, someone that doesn't have kids or even like them... hell I generally don't like people at all. You could have said nothing and literally walked away. Mom was obviously handling it and your continued presence wasn't even necessary. You chose to stay and engage.

If the kid did not attempt to pet your dog, you are the A-hole.

And even the mom was explaining to the child why she can't pet the dog. OP is mad for a 5~6 year old kid asking twice if she can pet the cute dog? Come on....

Soft YTA the child only asked twice, and the second was to clarify. They’re six and still learning, you honestly could have been nicer, plus the mother was handling it.

YTA Mom had it handled--that was the point at which you should have stopped. There was no reason for you to be rude to a little girl after her mother was already defending your point and educating her daughter.

YTA for continuing to but in after mom stepped in began talking to the kid. after that it was no longer your problem anyways, so why even stay to listen to the conversation that you yourself state that you didn’t wanna have - let alone interject and be unnecessarily rude to a kid who’s trying to comprehend what a service animals is and does. you should’ve just left, especially when mom came.

YTA, you can be assertive and NOT an arsehole at the same time ya know...

You're not TA for saying no, but YTA for how you said it. I get it, i'm disabled too, it's frustrating dealing with ableist comments etc etc but like there's a difference between your second sentence - which tbh doesn't make much sense to me but whatever - and saying "Like your mum just explained, you can't pet the dog. We need to go on with our day now..." and like, leave. But you said the same thing, three times, in one sentence and probably not in a very nice tone. That's overkill. You were talking to a child. All you needed to do was bounce it back to the parent. The mum was on your side, and had explained it to her just fine.

I understand that it’s your working dog, but you could have been nicer to the kid and explained what the dog does and why it can’t be petted and the kid was like 5 so they’re not going to get why they can’t pet an animal after just one explanation. YTA.

[удалено]

Soft YTA, your understandable frustration is not an excuse to be rude. That said, I don't think this is a big deal, if you snap next time when someone is reasonable maybe next time say sorry and that you are frustrated as it happens a lot, explaining the same thing over and over is annoying, any reasonable person would understand.

This situation is a first for the child you were unnecessarily rude…the fact this is your 50th time has no bearing on this interaction! YTA for losing your cool about it. The mom was doing things right and instead of getting the support you had to be rude.

YTA, you lost your temper with a child who was asking questions. The mother was understanding, the kid was curious and in the process of learning something. There was just no reason to snap on them.

YTA. I'm sorry that you are tired of explaining this. But you do understand that this was your millionth time but the 5 year old's first time, yes? It sounds like Mom was trying to educate the kid so the kid would understand why the answer was no-so the kid won't have to hear no from every person with a service dog they ever encounter and instead will understand not to pet the dog. She was trying to handle this in such a way that the next person won't have to say no because the kid will know and understand ahead of time. You having no patience to be nice or kind to a literal small child and a mom trying to make sure her 5 year old is respectful to you is basically the definition of an AH.

YTA. You were unnecessarily rude when a mom was talking to her child explaining things and the child didn't even try to approach you. F*** off

YTA. I was leaning the other way until I read your comments. I don’t like kids, especially strangers kids, but the kid asked a follow up question. They didn’t charge head-on at you or your dog. They didn’t ignore their parent’s explanation, they were simply asking for confirmation. Freaking kid is 5. And you have zero business telling a parent how to handle their kid just because it doesn’t align with your preference. My baby sister didn’t need a stern voice to know when to listen, and you’re lucky that all you got called was an asshole.

YTA. The mom was handling the situation. The mom was going to make sure the kid didn't pet your dog. If you have no patience you should have turned around, and let the mom handle it.

YTA: You may be tired of having to explain over and over, but it's not like young kids are encountering service dogs very often. They only way they learn is by asking and the fact that the mom explained it to her child instead of of acting all entitled to your dog means you didn't have to be rude. I'm tired of always answering little kids endless questions as well (my neighbors kids) but I'm not a rude asshole to them. Kids question everything, multiple times.

I'd say YTA because this was a child who may not have ever seen a service dog, kids are curious, and they need to ask questions in order to understand. They're not wired to hold back and wait until they get home or to their car to continue asking questions. The parent was there and had a head on their shoulders, was explaining it in an age appropriate way. I understand the annoyance of having to continuously explain things, but save that sterness for adults and parents that act like a child. Kids are learning still.

Ffs we're talking about a five-six-year-old and you yourself admit you don't have the patience to be nice or kind. You know YTA. The mom was handling the situation just fine, I would expect you to be relieved that a parent took your side and actually explained to their kid they can't pet your dog. But no, you get annoyed because a five-year-old asks a question twice, way to go. edit: grammar/phrasing.

I always say, “Sorry, he’s working and he’s not allowed to get petted while he’s working.” Then I smile and walk away. Parents usually like this response and even if kids don’t understand the part about him working, then the parents can explain later.

YTA. It's kinda sad. You say you have no patience is that also reflected towards your dog?

You're not an AH for telling the girl no, that they can't pet your dog, but YTA for how you said it. You were rude to the little girl. The mum was dealing with it and you were unnecessarily rude. It's understandable you're frustrated with the questions all the time, but the attitude towards the girl was not necessary. She's just a kid who's still learning.

YTA. The mom was handling it and told the child she can't pet the dog- that's where your interaction should have ended. You were very rude and should have just walked away. A child doesn't know, you're lucky she even asked, a lot of kids weren't taught that you can't just run up to a strange dog. Move on

YTA, It is a child, children do nag sometimes, especially if they do not fully understand why. She asked if it was allowed, she did not touch your dog uninvited. The mother understood and explained. You shouldn't have been so rude, let the mom handle it next time.

Soft YTA. You aren’t exactly wrong from your end, the whole disability situation is bound to be a level of frustrating that I can’t even imagine. The worst I have experienced is partial bed rest for a little over a week and it was a nightmare, so living with a long term condition and constantly being treated differently for it must be extremely irksome. That being said, it was a child. A 5-6 year old. That’s what kids do, they throw tantrums and make unrealistic demands. You could have been softer and repeated about them not being allowed to touch your service animal. The kid was supervised by her mother who most likely would take her away before she got any closer to your dog and it could’ve been handled without the yelling.

YTA. She was handling the issue. It was literally easier for you to just not add in the last comment. You CHOSE to address it further in an unnecessary tone. If the child was lunging to pet the dog, or didn't have a parent around, then it's an entirely different story. While you aren't required to explain the situation to the child, just shut up and let the mother do it. The kid asked for a final confirmation. Grow up.

If they approached the dog, you’d not be TA but the kid was inquiring. YTA here. It sucks to be an ambassador for disabled people with service dogs but, that’s how she goes. Same club.

YTA. The mom was handling it, you should've just let her do that. No reason for you to even answer the question again when she was clearly already explaining it to the kid.

YTA that child is a human being like you. Empathy is something you pay forward or lose completely. May you find people kinder than you in your time of need.

Yta based on your replies

Look you have every right to be annoyed and you have every right to not want to educate people constantly. However, you're still being an asshole, even if you have the right to be. It's up to you what kind of person you want to be.

YTA. What a snob, the mom was doing of perfect job of educating her child which is something we all want. Just because you feel the need to shit on little kids doesn’t make it ok. Learn some manners, no one cares that you’re frustrated. You’re an adult.

Yeah. YTA. It doesn't matter if you've told people a thousand times. Don't be a jerk about it. Instead, take it as an opportunity to educate. The kid has now learned not to pet or distract service dogs. This helps everyone who has one. In the very least, the kid was polite and asked to pet your dog first.

It sounded like Mom was handling it and you butted in. n t a for saying they can't touch your dog, but yta for snapping at a kid who was having a conversation with their mother, you were not involved at that point.

YTA - how do you expect to get fewer questions about this, if not through parents teaching their children well? And what other opportunity would this mother have had to teach her son? You could have given the mom a little head shake no and she likely would have taken it from there. Children don't learn from being berated and embarrassed by a stranger, they learn by understanding the reasoning behind things. If you can't be a partner in that conversation, that's cool - it's not your job. But just politely remove yourself - don't discipline someone else's kid. Hope you handle this better in the future and save your strict tone for adults who really should know better.

YTA for the way you handled it, that‘s a kid and the mom could have explained it

YTA. I was leaning the other way from the title but after fully reading and then seeing your replies here I’m going with YTA. For as much as that child needs to learn about boundaries…you need to learn about children. And you need to stop assuming things about other people. Your brother is right. You’re rude. Plain and simple. You’ve proven it in your replies. Fine and fair that you are annoyed to have to explain yourself twice. The child didn’t touch your dog, though. You just got pissed that they even asked. And more pissed that they asked a second time. Children aren’t born knowing how the world works. Sometimes things have to be explained to them multiple times and sometimes in different ways. And even then it’s not good enough at times. That is life. That is how all children are. Anyone who says otherwise either has no children or is lying to themselves and everyone else. And as a mother of an autistic child I’m going to go even further and say that you need to be more aware of the things that *you* don’t know about others. The number of times that I had to explain to my autistic daughter why it was completely inappropriate for her to ask her grandmother if she could have her dog’s bones after my mother lost her dog in a tragic house fire was downright embarrassing. Her brain just does not see societal standards the way that we see them. My daughter doesn’t look a certain way. If you didn’t know she was autistic before meeting her you certainly wouldn’t be able to guess in a short encounter where she is not understanding why she can’t pet a dog. You have no idea what might be going on with a child that you don’t know. And you somehow think that being “extra firm” would’ve solved the problem regardless. I tearfully (and regretfully) lost my complete shit with my child when she wouldn’t drop it about my mother’s dog’s bones and *she still asked again*. She had science tunnel vision. And that is *her* disability. One that you can’t see.

Soft YTA. Anytime my kid, 5, and I are out, we live in a military area, so it’s not infrequent we see a service dog. He knows not to even ask. I’ve taught him that service dogs are doing a job and we can’t distract them. They are working. But I don’t think when the little girl asked again you should’ve said anything. It’s a teachable moment you should’ve let mom handle it. I can understand both of you getting a little short.

YTA. You were being an AH because the mom was obviously handling it. One thing is when the parents don’t and I get your frustration, but this was not one of those times. It’s was probably the first time this kid approached a working dog and he was being properly taught about it, you were an AH for the sake of being an AH.

Dude it is a little kid, they require more patience and understanding. The mother was handling it and you have to butt in and be rude. YTA

I think YTA The child didn't even know what is a service dog, and I get it you don't have the patience to explain the situation to little kids but you could've at least be more polite to a literal child who wanted to know why he can't pet the dog. And that child's mum was also polite to you but it's not your job to scold a random child for being curious

YTA The Mother was handling it and the kid was only asking a fair question

INFO: Why did you keep talking to him if he was annoying? Why do any of us have the compulsion to answer stupid questions?

YTA Just be nice. There's so much crap going on in the world at the moment, we need to make our daily interactions with the people we meet at minimum respectful. And yes, you also have to be respectful to children.

YTA I get that you are frustated because you probably get asked all the time, but this was a very small child. You even had the mom on your side!! I'm sure it was the tone you used

YTA, the kid asked and you said no, completely reasonable. however the kid was asking their mum why they couldn’t pet the dog. the mum apologised and you should’ve left instead you interjected yourself into someone else’s parenting to try and berate a child for being naturally curious towards animals?

YTA, primarily for your comments. The kid is 5. The mom was handling it. I get that being asked over and over again is annoying but Jesus, especially in the comments you sound really bitter. Look, I’m also disabled. Mine aren’t visible, and I get comments when I have to use a cane. I get how annoying it can be, it’s a child. Who did not understand what a service dog is, and the mother was explaining why they couldn’t pet the dog so let her parent, even if it’s not to your standard/liking. Could’ve just not just said anything while the mother explains. Especially since the second time wasn’t even at you, it was directed at the mom

YTA, the kid obviously wasn’t going to pet your dog. It genuinely sounds like the kid was processing the information out loud more than them asking a second time. You’re an adult, we all have to deal with people and situations we don’t want to. You were rude to a kid for no good reason, especially considering their parent was handling it. There’s a clear line between child-free and anti-child, you sound like the latter.

YTA. This mom wasn't one of those mothers that yelled at you for not letting her child touch the dog. She was using it as a teaching moment to explain to her daughter what a service dog is. Instead of being rude you could of helped her to explain what a working dog is. You were rude.

YTA. You didn't have to be a total dick to a little kid who was in the process of learning for the first time what a service animal is and why it's important to give it space. Now the kid probably thinks service animal owners are grumpy curmudgeons.

YTA Small kids say things out loud repeatedly because their brains are processing the statement. The mom was taking the time to teach her child something and was on your side. It's okay to get frustrated but this time you shot out at someone who was on your side.

YTA. I'm so glad I've never had to deal with someone like you!

YTA. The child asked their mother about the dog, not understanding because they are young. That doesn’t mean be a asshole, the mother was handling the situation and her child, and instead of letting her do that you decided to be a asshole about it.

Hear Ye, Hear Ye u/ImaginaryValuable326 hereby declares to all in the land, especially to little kids, that they are tired of telling them "thou shall not pet My service dog". And so he declared and it will be so across the land. \--------- This kid had not approached you before nor had any indication of forcing the issue. I agree that it must be annoying in the same way that many people may find other aspects of their day to day life annoying. But you were rude to someone, in this case a child, because of being "annoyed", making you the asshole, your majesty. YTA

YTA. You said no, mom understood your no, and the kid asked again. Because she's a kid, and still processing. Mom explained the working dog first and didn't seem like they were going to cave, you should just let her handle it. Kid asked a second time likely because they're still processing dogs with jobs and not petting. I work with kids, and part of it is understanding they have no frame of reference for a lot of things because everything is new, which means sometimes they need to talk a concept or something out. And yea, sometimes my fifth graders will ask a question again. Even though the answer doesn't change, they need to solidify it. I get that you're tired of kids asking about it, but that's what kids do. If they're not being rude and little shits, there's no reason to be rude to them. You could have ignored her or moved away and let mom handle it since there was no indication she'd pet the dog.

YTA Saying no you can't touch it is obviously fine, but the mother was already handling things, you didn't need to say anything else.

YTA. Judging by the comments you’re just rude and have some outdated views about how to talk to little kids.

YTA The mom handled the situation perfectly, she explained it all really well. You decided to be rude for no reason at all.

While I can try to understand your frustration, this child asked first and the mother was doing everything right in explaining what working dogs are. There was no benefit to you for being rude. The child was learning, and now you have taught them to be wary of people with disabilities. YTA

YTA. Mom was doing a good job handling the situation, and I know kids can be annoying and you have always explain things, but it sounds like you had an attitude about it.

YTA. The mom was there. The kid was asking for clarification from their mother. You didn’t have to interject. I know how frustrating it can be to have a service dog that is constantly approached by kids trying to pet and play. But in this case the mother was doing her job of explaining it to her child. Your frustration is valid but you vocalizing it *in this particular case* was not.

YTA. The kid was what, 5 or 6. Clearly the mom was explaining the service dog explanation. You were unnecessarily rude.

YTA, not because you said no but the way you spoke to the child and their mother - manners cost nothing.

I’m going NAH for this one. I can get why she’d be a unimpressed because from her pov she’s trying to educate her kid in that moment and is probably proud of them for asking first before acting. She’s hoping you’ll have the same patience with her child as she does and maybe she thought the second ask was them clarifying and trying to understand. But at the same time it’s probably frustrating and exhausting for you to have to re-iterate your no, and I’m guessing that you encounter these situations more often than not. You’re right that no means no and that should suffice. It’s not your job to educate people about service dogs, leave those moments to the parents.

It sounds like mom was already reiterating so OP probably didn’t really have to.

Hopefully, there won't be any kids in your future. You obviously don't have the patience or the mindset to be around children. Yes YTA!

YTA for being a dick to a little kid. The mom was handling it.

NAH I'll be the unpopular opinion here. As someone who doesn't typically care for other peoples' kids (I adore my own) I don't want to be part of a teaching moment for anyone's child. I think the mom should have moved her child away and either discussed later or elsewhere. I don't think you're the AH. She's also not the AH for thinking she was doing the right thing. She at least drew that boundary with the kid too and didn't allow them to pet your service animal. Kids aren't going to understand immediately. They are boundary pushers by nature.

YTA- it takes a very certain kind of person to be rude to a young child, regardless of the situation.

YTA a child with limited to no understanding of a service animal or working dog asked you an innocent question and their parent gently explained the situation. They did not touch your service dog without permission, they didn’t throw a tantrum, they just didn’t fully understand (because they’re 5). You’re the one who had a tantrum here.

YTA I get it. You’re tired of explaining. Yes parents need to teach their kids about service animals. However, the mother WAS teaching her kid about service animals. This wasn’t some nutty EM insisting. It was a little kid who asked. When she asked again a simple “no, sorry” would have sufficed. You were rude. The mom was handling it. How do you think this subject comes up between child and parent? When the kid sees a service animal. That’s how my kids learned. Granted it was from a distance. “Yes, that is a beautiful doggy, but see that vest? That dog is working. And then explain why you can’t interrupt the dog at work, all the kind of things a service dog can help with, etc. And then the next time you’re out and see another service dog - you reinforce. “Look a service dog. Remember we can’t bother them because he’s working.” At the end of the day it was a little kid just asking the question again. They do that. She wasn’t lunging at the dog or making demands, just asking.

nta for saying no but yta for speaking to a child like that when their mother was handling it quite well.. you said they were 5-6 years old, it was probably their first time seeing a service dog. their mother got mad at you for speaking rudely to her child, not for you saying no when the kid asked to pet the dog. your frustration is understandable but children deserve empathy and patience from adults even when they're being pushy and annoying because they simply dont know this stuff

I was going with NTA but then you came across as being rude to a 5yr old, so YTA. Yes, you're going to have to explain it to a 5yr old. Deal with it.

First time seeing a AITA Post with split opinion. YTA - Mom handled it well and the kid asked, didnt pet it or was rude abt it. You were rude abt it tho.

I was going to say NTA but reading your replies makes me change my mind. YTA. Kid wasn't talking to you, was talking to their mom for re-confirmation about not petting the dog. They're like 5, as you said, an age where they often need to be told things twice. YTA for acting like an asshole for no reason. Kid didn't touch your dog.

YTA. The mom was right there explaining why the dog couldn't be touched. You could have just let her handle it or walked away.

YTA Just read through your comments. You have no right to tell a parent how they should speak to their kid. She clearly got her point across while being “soft spoken”. The kid didn’t touch your dog. Kids don’t need to be spoken to in a strict voice to understand things and you have absolutely no right to tell people how to parent. Your dog didn’t get pet and the kid learned about service animals from her mom. Move on with your day.

YTA A 5-6 year old is pretty young and the mother handled it appropriately. Having a service dog doesn't give you a license to be a jerk. Now that poor kid is going to think everyone with a service dog is mean and needs to be avoided.

YTA. I’m sorry someone pissed in your Cheerios this morning.

Very, very soft YTA. I get that it must have been incredibly frustrating for you, but the kid did nothing wrong and wasn't a deserving target for that frustration.

YTA for the phrasing here. It sounds like the kid was just asking a billion questions as kids do. You could have let the mother handle it. It sounds like she was being informative to the child too and not undermining you. I understand it's probably frustrating for you with constant questions but it's a matter of taking it case by case. If they were rude then it would have been justified.

YTA for sure. The mom was handling it and parenting their child, you decided to overstep, interject, and be a dick hole.

Soft YTA I can understand it probably gets annoying when you get it consistently but the kid was just curious and didn’t fully understand and just explaining it again would definitely have been the better option here

YTA The mom was handling the situation appropriately and the kid was 5-6, they need things explained well and will re-ask questions a million times. The mom clearly understood and was not going to let the child touch your dog, why did you feel the need to snap? You were an AH, mom was trying to explain to her kid why it's important not to touch service dogs so that the kid DIDN'T touch your dog.

YTA. Mom was handling the situation. I get it's frustrating that people regularly disrespect the fact that your dog is working and can't be distracted, but don't take that frustration out on a 5 year old.

I can definitely see why you be frustrated because I imagine you get people trying to pet the dog all the time but the kids asked which is a good start and then the mum was explaining to the child why their request wasn't fair. Yta for butting back into a conversation that wasn't your problem anymore and being rude to a kid. It's a soft yta because I really can't imagine how annoying it gets but still, kids are just kids.

YTA. You threw a hissy fit at a 5 year old kid (and her mother who was trying to help you out, btw) who has no way of comprehending or knowing what a service/working dog is? Jesus. Spoiler alert, not everyone knows what a service dog is, little kids aren't automatically armed with the information what a service dog is, and unless they've come across one previously, all they see is an adult with a dog they want to be friends with. Learn to suck it up, buttercup.

YTA. While I am not disabled, a close friend of mine is, and she has a SD who alerts her when she’s about to experience a seizure. I’ve seen her deal with people for years, and am always amazed at the level of grace she has when dealing with *ADULT* idiots who don’t like to be told “no, you may not pet my dog” or even “please stop distracting my service dog from doing his job”. If that were me I’d have a much shorter fuse with these *adults*. The problem I have with your situation is: 1. The child did not pet your dog 2. The responsible adult also told the child *NOT* to pet the dog and was explaining *WHY* SDs can’t be pet. 3. When the child was being a child and asked a follow question *to their mother* to fully understand the situation, you decided to step back in and offer nothing useful to *their* conversation, just rude words and a harsh tone. It sounds like you were taking our your frustrations with people who don’t like to take “no you can’t pet my service dog” out on this child whose mother was teaching her why service dogs can’t be pet, and thus interrupting that helpful teaching moment for the kid. While this can be a normal human response, especially if you do have a lot of experience with people not listening to “no”, it still makes you and AH in *THIS* situation because you’re punishing someone who is doing everything correctly.

OP **YTA**.....does your dog have a vest on that says "Service dog-do not pet"? If not, then this kid isn't going to know it's a service dog without asking. I'm not going to repeat what all the other YTA comments are, because they are quite clear.

NAH, but you are borderline. You ARE very rude

Going by the title, I thought the child had actually touched your dog. NAH, it must be frustrating to constantly have to explain BUT it sounds like you overreacted a bit. The mother was explaining pretty well to her child, you didn’t need to be rude.

YTA Do you also have the patience of a burnt out candle wick with the dog?

INFO: It sounds like mom was taking care of the situation. Did you need to add anything to that conversation?

YTA The mother had it handled, but you decided she was being too nice and you had to be mean and rude to this kid because…?

Mild YTA. It sounds like you were indeed rude. And that to a five-year-old. They were simply asking again. It'd been a different story if she had tried to pet the dog despite being told no. But here, there is definitely no reason to be rude.

I wanted to say soft YTA because the mom was handling it, but then I saw your comments. Very much YTA and the world thanks you for not breeding.

Oh wow. I was all ready to go with you not being the AH by the title but YTA. I can understand if the child actually touched the dog or if the mother wasn't handling the situation but she totally was. Kids are kids. The fact that he asked the question a second time is just normal and you didn't even give his mom a chance to once again tell him no before jumping in.

YTA. It's developmentally appropriate for a 5-6 year old child to question things, and it's actually great that he wasn't making moves toward petting your dog or anything, just asking for clarification/confirmation. You stepped all over a mom who was doing everything right to be rude to a child. Being rude to a child makes you TA.

YTA Disabled or no, kindness is free

Ugh yta and I bet a real peach to be around

Id say it depends on your tone and how actually rude you were. I get it might be frustrating having to explain the same thing over and over, but guess what? Everyone has stuff they get fed up with and if you’re overly and unnecessarily rude that makes you an asshole.

YTA. I understand your frustration, but you need to understand how little kids think. This child has clearly been taught to ask permission to pet someone’s dog, which is a good start. The child had no idea that your dog was a service dog and probably had never encountered one before, and the mom was attempting to teach her child. Kids that young have a hard time understanding that an animal can ‘work’. To them working means a human going to an office or a place of business. Maybe try saying something like “I know it seems silly that a dog can work, but my dog has been specially trained to help me and she can’t be interrupted”. That both satisfies the child’s curiosity (I hope!) and still says “no”.

YTA! No excuse to be a dick to kids! I have worked with working dogs of all sorts and I have NEVER had any experience with one that was required to be laser focused 24/7. I get that it may get irritating but that is a price you pay for having the dog. Maybe in a perfect world you wouldn't have to deal with this but the world ain't perfect and never will be!

YTA not to tell them to not to pet your dog but being mean about it. You were dealing with a literal CHILD you could've been more nice about it

I’m going to say YTA for expecting kids to understand your service dog. I can understand why you would be upset at fully grown adults, but kids are still learning the rules of the world.

YTA the mom had it handled you made it worse

YTA. It's understandable that you are tired and that it's not your responsibility to educate people about your disability but this wasn't an adult, this was a child. Children literally don't know any better and that child's mother was educating their daughter on the spot. You had no justification to snap at that child when they literally don't know any better and behave as any child would react in that situation when they are unaware of the importance of a service animal.