Dog owners - help!
My SIL has a giant, boisterous, energetic neapolitan mastiff. He's still almost a puppy, so he may get less boisterous, but nevertheless is a massive, powerful and to me at least, rather scary dog. Though he is very sweet natured and I have not seen him behave aggressively.
He is absolutely beloved to my SIL and brings her a lot of happiness. I fear that she doesn't have a lot of perspective when it comes to him.
I have a little baby who will shortly become mobile. Baby and dog are already interested in one another. The dog is quite happy to jump up at an adult holding the baby. The dog has managed to lick the baby's face.
I'm concerned that if I can't stop the dog licking the baby's face, then I can't stop the dog from eating the baby's face / killing the baby, to be blunt. In a fight between me (or anyone really) and the dog, this dog would win. This isn't a judgment of the dog's character, he appears to be a big softie but I just can't be comfortable about this.
I'm also worried that as he is so boisterous, even accidentally he might nip my baby, which would hurt my baby (!) and result in the dog being put down and break my SIL's heart.
I was hoping that my in laws would step in and set up some ground rules to keep dog from baby at their house (which is almost the only place I see SIL), but they haven't.
How do I have this conversation with my SIL? I don't want to criticise her or her dog. I'm not proud, I'm happy to play the worry wort if that's what I've got to do. I could go through my parents in law? I could ask my husband to deal with it - he would, but he's blunter than I am. SIL has had a difficult time recently and her dog seems to have really made a difference, he's so important to her. I am v fond of her and don't want to upset her but have to keep baby safe.
Any tips for managing this difficult conversation?
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The doghouse
How to talk with SIL about her dog and my baby?
4 replies
BabyNoNaps · 17/06/2019 00:22
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