PIL and dog issue

[Blablabla1984]

We just moved into a new house and I’m already losing my patience. PIL visiting with a dog for a few days and I’m hating it. The dog is treated better than anybody. He has to try a bit from every meal we have and have carrots as a treat at night…. I know, don’t ask, it’s bonkers!!! If everything is eaten after dinner we have to go through the guilt trip of why we haven’t left anything for the dog.

Not bringing the dog isn’t an option for them because they live 2h away. Fine, I said can he stay in the garden? Oh no poor doggy will be cold (mind you, he’s a huge Labrador).

Last night was the boiling point… We were having some strawberry ice cream and the dog HAD to have some. Strawberries went all over the carpet, took me forever to clean the stain!!! When my DH said no more feeding the dog on the carpet they got upset and left.

I want them to visit but this dog malarkey is getting way over the top!!!

HELP!!

[wowfudge]

Urgh - it's your house and anything being fed to the dog should be in his bowl. Is he being fed when you are at the table? That is really poor. Be glad they've gone.

[pinkie1982]

What? They are being stupid.
You let them bring their dog to stay...fine...you compromised for them. I wouldn't have let him be fed on carpet AT ALL. Tell them he is welcome to come but will be fed in the kitchen.

[Shizzlestix]

So dog only eats dog food, not human next time. Do you have DC? Because I'd make it an etiquette lesson, dog stays in the kitchen, dog doesn't eat our food, it's inappropriate and poor table manners. If there are scraps, fine, he gets them in his bowl. I thought I was a mad dog person, but strawberry ice cream on the carpet is way too far!

They actually left to go home?!

[ceebie]

What's DH's view on the dog? Get him to deal with it.

[RestlessTraveller]

Your house, your choice. As a dog owner the minute you suggested the dog stayed outdoors I would have realised you aren't an animal person and stayed somewhere else.

[Dutchcourage]

I've just sent my DGM dog back after two months because she was ill but now better.

That fucker spewed and shat all over my carpets and we are having to have them replaced.

Don't push it with them - let them be. Some folk treat their animals like children. At least it won't be coming again !

[Blablabla1984]

Shizzlestix Yes they left and went home. I have an 18m old that gets so confused with this behaviour. He thinks it's ok to feed the dog EVERYTHING so when he tries to give him chocolate FIL tells him off. But can you blame him when he sees that granny and grandad feed him everything off the table?

ceebie DH is on the same page with me, he said last night about no more feeding the dog on the carpet and that's when PIL left in a strop...

[LikeIGiveAFrock]

I'd be pointing out that they are effectively killing their dog
Labradors are greedy fuckers who'll eat anything
Feeding them on the carpet , completely disrespectful

[StarryIllusion]

Oh ffs. I love dogs as much as anyone but it does my head in when people do this. They need some bloody boundaries and as well as that, too many titbits is bad for them. They eat from their bowl, not the table. I'm guilty of giving them the odd bit of sandwich but ffs, ice cream?

[LunaLoveg00d]

Sounds as if PIL are having trouble differentiating between an animal and a human being.

[Nataleejah]

Ask them to clean up the mess themselves maybe?

[Missgraeme]

Side tracking but my ds mil feeds her 4 labradors full plated dinners at the table no less!! Next time u visit take something really messy and give it to the dog on their carpet! A meringue maybe?

[2kids2dogsnosense]

Missgraeme Karma in action! Luvvit!

[happypoobum]

They sound deranged. I have a lab and agree with PP, you have to be really strict about how/what you feed them because they will eat anything and everything.

I don;t really understand why you didn't just shut the dog out of the room when you were eating though? Is your home totally open plan? If PILS say they want the dog in the room you just say no, we don't him at the table when we are eating. If they go home, wave goodbye.

[Gottagetmoving]

I wouldn't care if they were offended or not. I would tell them the dog cannot eat where we were eating and it cannot have our food even if it is leftover.
I like dogs and would not risk it harm by behaving like that in my own home.
Their choice,..don't bring the dog or don't be a twat if you do.

[FionaThePrincess]

Poor dog. I do hope they curb the sugary crap like ice cream and that they don't give him toxic stuff like onions, grapes or chocolate. You might want to point out that they're potentially slowly killing their dog with all this crap they're giving him and that dog diabetes is a huge problem because if stupid behaviour like this.

Oh and yes - your house, your rules. Just refuse to engage in the ridiculous feeding dog from table behaviour. It's kinder for the dog.

[kiwiquest]

YANBU.....I'm a doggy person but this sort of carry on would drive me demented. My DH relatives arrived with their (badly behaved) mutt after taking it on a nice muddy walk, let it in, damn thing ran straight upstairs, jumped on my bed and white duvet cover. I was not impressed. They also feed it at the table and wondered why it mugs you for food all the time. They think I just don't like dogs. Not true, I just don't like the bad mannered ones....

[WiddlinDiddlin]

They sound nuts - and I say this as a person who has five dogs, doesn't have nice things because.. the dogs... and became a dog trainer/behaviourist because .. the dogs..

It would be unreasonable to invite someone knowing they have a dog they need to bring, and to expect the dog to stay outside - dogs used to living in the house with people almost certainly won't just laze around outside quietly but would kick up a massive fuss, bark and dig and howl and scratch at the door..

But there is a WORLD of difference in expecting the dog to be allowed inside ... and expecting the dog to be allowed to make a bloody mess and take over someone elses house and life for the duration of the visit.

If I go visiting with some of my dogs (I never take FIVE dogs to someones house though!) the two things I can't compromise on are, dogs have to be in the house with me, dogs have to sleep in the room I am sleeping in.

Thats because thats the norm at home and to change it in a strange place would cause more trouble than it's worth.

Beyond that, its my job to ensure my dogs are polite and unobtrusive house guests.

It is ENTIRELY possible to allow your dogs to do something in YOUR home, that you wouldn't allow elsewhere.

My dogs get food scraps off my plate (well I pick it up and give it to them!) - but they know to get this they have to be laid down far away from me, furthest dog away from me gets the goodies first!

They don't get that anywhere but at home, and we eat out at pubs with them regularly where they have learned they don't get anything until we are done and plates taken away.

At home they get on the furniture - if no ones on it they just get up, if a person is on they ask, and they have to get off if asked - visiting other homes they don't get on furniture unless invited.

Does require training though.. sounds like the PIL haven't bothered with this!

[JellyBelly89]

That's incredibly bad for a dog. He will be one of those beggy dogs that pisses everyone off. Mine are not allowed to beg, they are sent to go and lie down if they even try and come close when we eat. All good in bowl is very reasonable. I hope the dog isn't fat, else they really are killing it.

[Thattimeofyearagain]

As a lab owner your pil are nuts to feed the dog human food and double nuts to feed off plates. His farts and poo will stink and he will be begging for food .

[MsAdorabelleDearheartVonLipwig]

Not to mention the hip and elbow dysplacia risk if he's overweight from constantly being fed titbits. Poor dog. Cheeky feckers.