...to want to shut the dogs out?

[DinkyGT]

My partner has just started a new job which has resulted in us having to move a considerable distance away from our current home. Due to a short timescale of job starting and having to leave the property on a certain date, we are going to live with DP's parents for a short time while we find somewhere to live and a nursery for DD.

DPs parents have three dogs - all are lovely and well behaved and DP parents always keep them out of the living room when DD (9 months old) is in the house playing BUT mealtimes are becoming an issue.

The dogs roam free in the dining room but when I sit DD in her highchair for breakfast/lunch/dinner they gather around her and wait for her to drop food - one even keeps sniffing at her and licks her hand sometimes and it really REALLY bugs me. Not only the germ issue obviously but also the distraction it causes DD who then becomes preoccupied with the dogs and purposely tries to hand them food as she laughs when they all come scattering around to retrieve it.

This results in me behaving like an obsessive mother - constantly wiping her hands, taking her hands away from the dogs' faces, telling the dogs to go and lire down... it's exhausting and DD isn't eating her food. No one else seems to see it as the big problem I see it as. I'd like to ask that the dogs be shut out when I feed DD but am aware that this is their house and we will only be here temporarily - albeit for a few months at least.

I don't want to be unreasonable but... am I?!

[OutnumberedbyFurchesters]

YANBU.

I'd be asking them to be shut out/distracted too, as your DD isn't eating properly and now sees mealtimes as a game with the dogs sharing her food.

[GeorgeTheThird]

Not unreasonable at all

[Dontyouopenthattrapdoor]

I don't think you're unreasonable but there are ways of doing it. I'd just say lightly "Oh Maureen if it's OK I'm just going to pop the dogs in the garden for five minutes while I feed Little Elvis, is that ok?" (Said whilst already doing it)

Do it a couple of times and then just keep putting them out without saying anything. Let them back in straight afterwards with lots of fuss. No biggie.

[OhFuckOff]

YANBU at all. This would really bother me, but I'm not a dog lover at all.

[Libitina]

After the Colchester incident (not that we know the full story yet), I definitely would. What if the dogs tried to snatch food off your DD? Yes, they may see it as a game, but all it takes is one nip.

[stonecircle]

Totally not unreasonable at all. And I am a BIG dog lover!

[PerspicaciaTick]

I would have thought that small child + several dogs + food is a risky situation which can only be addressed by removing the dogs.

[MetalMidget]

Not unreasonable - our dog is beautifully gentle, but an annoying girl around food. He'd never snatch, but he's a groaker. When he stayed with my SIL and her family, he'd hover underneath my nephew's high chair, waiting for stuff to fall, which my nephew found hilarious (and distracting). They then popped him in the lounge at dinner times - baby gets to eat without distractions, and there's no worry about the dog eating anything poisonous (grapes, raisins, chocolate, onion etc).

[MetalMidget]

Git, not girl!

[skiseasoniscoming]

I love ddog but I would have no issue with you asking for him to be shut away, its also teaching the dogs bad habits such as begging at the table. I automatically shut him away from young children and food as he's such a pig

Why not go down the route of "I am really worried DD is going to feed the dogs something that makes them ill so I'm going to shut them out of the room whilst she's eating just to be safe".

[NoFuchsGiven]

Yanbu.

[TeaEyeDoubleGErr]

Have you mentioned this to your pil?

[Dontpanicpyke]

Mmm I think you should get your dh to mention it to his parents as it might sound a bit precious to your inlaws. They are doing you a massive favour letting you stay there.

Defiantly would bother me and it needs sorting but go through dh with the hint that either as skis suggests or that 'dd loves the dogs so much she's dropping her food for them and not eating it herself'

Just be tactful.

[Sugarpiehoneyeye]

I love dogs too, but firmly believe that they should not be around when the family, or small children are eating. We do not hang around their dishes, when they are eating. Food is too much of a temptation, for most dogs, and not pleasant to see them drooling, or hear them whining, when they want, what we are having. Ewww, licking the babies hands, just no !
Shut them out OP, for sure.

[MrsJayy]

Yanbu i love dogs but hate them begging for food i would shoo them out tbh. My sisters dog is a begger and it pisses me right off its her and my parents fault though they feed it titbits

[DinkyGT]

Good idea TrapDoor - I am very conscious of sounding precious mainly because nobody else has seen it as an issue and they just laugh when the baby throws her food to them or they sniff around her.

Think I will have to mention it to PIL with DP though when I mentioned it to him before he replies with 'I grew up with the dogs around and I'm ok' - not helpful!

I haven't mentioned it to PIL at all yet as we have only just moved and as mentioned above, they are doing us a massive favour and don't want to sound rude imposing 'my rules' as soon as I step through the door. Something's got to give though as I can't stand it!

[MrsJayy]

I would say the dogs are distracting her or something see how it goes, your dh is not being helpful with his comments i wouldnt like 3 dogs round my feet while im eating

[DontStopMovinToTheSClubBeat]

YANBU, my PIL have 3 big dogs but they shut them out of the living room when DS is playing on the floor and they shut them out of the dining room when DS or any of us are eating. I'd just ask in a nice friendly way if it's ok to shut them out just while your LO eats as it's really distracting her.