A woman has revealed what happened when she asked her neighbour to change his dog's name after she found it offensive. The Labrador's name, B*ner, caused her so much discomfort that she confronted the owner during a family barbecue, but he simply laughed and went back inside.
The woman, who shared her story on Reddit, said she enjoys the daily greetings from the dog at the fence. She explained that she cannot have a dog of her own due to her working hours, so these interactions “bring me a few seconds of joy.” However, the dog's name has turned her fondness into awkwardness.
A Name That Causes Daily Embarrassment
The woman described the name as “really offensive,” adding: “I understand how it is funny, but it isn't practical and it's just stupid, in my opinion.” She compared the situation to “living next door to Jay from The Inbetweeners.”
Every morning she hears the neighbour shouting “B*ner, B*ner, B*NER COME BACK INSIDE.” She said: “It may sound funny when you first hear it and only when you realise he is talking about a dog, but I hear this every day.” She also worried about the name being shouted in public, saying: “What if there are children around and he is screaming for B*ner? It's just not OK.”
Barbecue Confrontation Backfires
The situation came to a head during a barbecue held for her father's birthday. The dog jumped up at the fence for attention, and the neighbour began calling him in. The woman said: “It was so awkward for me! I had my parents and grandparents round and my neighbour keeps shouting for his dog.”
After a few drinks, she asked the neighbour whether he would consider changing the dog's name because she felt it was “inappropriate.” She said: “He just laughed and went back into his house.” She now feels awkward about the request, saying: “He should have free will to name his dog - but also, why would you pick B*ner?” She has been avoiding him since, adding: “B*ner is a lovely dog and it's not his fault he has an offensive name.”
Reddit Users Weigh In
The post sparked a debate among Reddit users. One said: “If it were a racial slur or similar, it'd be reasonable to say you don't want to hear it. But B*ner? Nah. Just try to tune it out.” Another called her “oversensitive,” adding: “B*ner is not especially offensive, and it can be explained - if required - to kids as dogs like bones. Lay off.”
A third user shared a similar experience: “When I was younger my grandmother had a dog named s***. The novelty wears off with such names.”
