Is it rude not to acknowledge dog?

Training a dog involves ignoring it until it is calm so you aren't ignoring it you are treating it as it should be treated.
Its the other idiots that are causing this large dog to misbehave and setting it up for trouble

I have no interest in dogs and am allergic to them to boot. I find that ignoring them works for me. We have a similar dog in the family and people can't understand why i'm not all over it, but honestly i'd rather have nothing to do with it.

The dog is not “basically their baby”. It’s an animal that needs to be trained.

If you give it attention when it is being boisterous then it reinforces that behaviour.

Ultimately you are helping the dog by NOT making a fuss of it when it is knocking you over.

I adore my dogs, but I wouldn't get offended if someone didn't acknowledge them. It's not like you leave and the dog will say "why doesn't auntie buma love me" 🤣

My dogs know who fusses them, who plays with them, who isn't keen etc and act accordingly.

There's 2 posties that come here, one isn't fond of dogs and they stay away, the other gets leapt on because he makes a massive fuss and gives them treats etc and loves being pounced on by my 2.

Sounds like they need to train their dog better, but yanbu at all.

I think your way is fine, when you come in just say I won't fuss Doggo as he gets so excited and jumps up but how is he getting on?

My friend's vizsla was a jumper, until I did that. Caught him in his solar plexus and he never did it again to anyone. You do need to get the timing right though. I didn't intend to get him there!

I would reply to MIL that you do give it attention when it's calm. That is the correct thing to do, he will learn that calm equals attention.

@Beautifulbythebay

nope! Op can ignore dogs all she wants. Soz.

i would deffo be ignored one that jumps up, hate that kind of poorly trained shit. Dog owners need to sort that out , no one like it

No it’s not rude to acknowledge an animal. They are not humans. It’s batshittery to expect other people to fuss over your animals. It’s batshittery how some people actually fuss more over animals than humans.

Ignoring and turning sideways will usually give the message to the dog. You aren't rude.

I've had dogs all my adult life but being jumped on by dogs whose owners don't put time into training and manners is a pain. And tiny dogs who scratch at my shins and knees.

Maybe you would feel more confident around ddog if you made some effort.. Your life will be a lot easier...

Quick tip - when the dog jumps up put your knee up so he hits his face on it. Only takes a few unpleasant knocks for them to think twice.

(Recommended by my vet, who learned it from Marley and Me!)

That's actually how you're supposed to deal with over enthusiastic dogs - giving them attention when they are displaying the behaviour you want (being calm, not jumping up, etc).

You're fine.

God no. I would turn my back on it repeatedly until it calms down. I cannot abide dogs that jump.

I’m like you OP, not a dog person and don’t much like them jumping up at me. I might given them a little stroke/pat on the head once they have calmed down a bit but generally don’t make a huge fuss of them. I don’t think it’s rude, especially as your SIL presumably knows you’re not that fond of dogs.

Her dog sounds badly behaved and untrained. You’re under no obligation to make some kind of big fuss over it, or to regard it as a key member of the household.

I have found that letting a dog smell you hand (if they are contained someway) helps them to calm down and stop jumping BUT…

it is still the responsibility of the owner to teach their dog some manners. Asking you to make a fuss of a dog you don’t care about is bonkers.

As someone whose dog is their baby (I know, I know) I don't get offended when people ignore her. If the dog is liable to knock you over in excitement and you're a bit nervous of it then I think you are doing the right thing not creating a big bond with it. My dog is very over excited to see people she knows but has no interest in strangers and ignores them.