# The Rottweilers weren't chained

- Teacher: Ajahn Brahm
- Type: Story
- URL: https://beingmindfulstories.com/stories/brahm-rottweilers-forgot-the-chains
- Themes: fear, animals, kindness, humour
- Life situations: fear of dogs, unnecessary fear

## Synopsis (editorial summary)

Visiting a house, he's told not to worry about the two Rottweilers — they're chained up — so he walks right past them. Only afterwards does the owner nearly have a heart attack: she'd forgotten to put the chains on. He reflects that animals pick up fear; if you're kind and unafraid, they won't harm you.

## The story, as told by Ajahn Brahm (verbatim captions)

I just remember just going to one person's house and she had these two Rottweilers chained up and so he said, "No, it's okay. You don't need to be afraid of the Rottweilers. They're all chained up." So they walk right past them and only afterwards. No, she will. Almost had a heart attack. Oh my goodness, I forgot to put the chains on.

## Teaching point

Fearlessness and kindness are sensed even by animals.

## Reflection (in the spirit of Ajahn Brahm's talk)

Told the two Rottweilers were chained, the monk strolled right past them, and only then did the owner realise she'd forgotten the chains. Animals read fear in a moment. Ajahn Brahm believes calm kindness protects you. Use common sense with strange dogs, but notice how much fear invites the very trouble it dreads.

## Source

- [Being Afraid | Ajahn Brahm | 16 March 2018](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYHTHj4PGPU) (Buddhist Society of Western Australia) — watch from 45:29 to 45:56: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYHTHj4PGPU&t=2729s