Family Christmas - dogs, toddlers

Crazy dog person here too and I completely agree with this. I love my dogs and I also host Christmas dinner, including family members with young children. My dogs go to daycare while the guests are here. I completely trust my dogs but they're still animals and I just don't want to risk it.

I would be concerned they'd agree not to bring the dog and then arrive on the day with the dog anyway. If you think that might happen, I would make sure you have enough food at home (assuming it's Christmas Day and the shops will be shut) so you can easily just go home and make dinner for yourselves.

Given the way your post was written OP, I'm going to guess that Christmas this year is at your parents house. In which case, you speak to DParents and ask if DB's dogs are coming. If their answer is yes then you explain that the dogs are too risky to be around children and if they come, you and grandchildren will be staying home for Christmas. DB will likely spit his dummy out and it'll become of case of your parents choosing between your children or his dogs. How your DB still has the dog beggars belief. In my world, if my parents chose a siblings dogs over my children, they would see very little of them in the future. My parents however are very reasonable people. You did refer to dogs in the plural in your post... obviously if you have any dogs, they cannot go either (it has to be fair).

It’s called „The cult of a Dog” where dogs are not trained,socialised and are allowed to do anything including biting.They come above everybody in the eyes of their owners.

@offmydesk where does the gathering takes place? If it’s at yours then state that dogs are not invited. If it’s at your parents ask them if the dog is coming and if so decline the invitation explaining why.

Better to have a fall out then deal with child scarred for life. Heck knows what might trigger the dog. It takes seconds for attack to happen.

@offmydesk I just wouldnt be going! say you have something else arranged! they are crazy to keepa dog which has already bitten their baby!!

You shouldn't be worried about your brother.
Just tell him you don't want the dog/s. Simple.
If he dosent come he dosent come.

Honestly? I'd go nuclear and report the dog to the police as dangerous based on it biting the baby. Can't go to Christmas if it's staying with the police

I couldn’t be around a dog that’s bitten their baby so wouldn’t go to them if that’s the option or would state if the dog is there eg elsewhere or brought to your home that you won’t have that.

I think the big part you missed which may determine answers is whether you are hosting at your house or a guest in another family members house?

If it’s your house then sorry no dogs allowed, dog owners then can decide if they want to attend or not or if your a guest ask the host if dogs are attending and if they are say unfortunately you won’t be spending Christmas with them

I would assume he’s bringing the dog then if he has in previous years? If it’s someone else’s house I’d say that I’m afraid I wouldn’t be coming (and say why) and if he’s meant to be coming I’d be sending a direct text to say he can’t bring the dog/s if he’s coming for the very valid reason of it being known to bite.

If the dog was going to be at Christmas, I wouldn't go. I wouldn't have my toddler around a dog with a history of biting children.

If I was hosting, the dog wouldn't be coming. If that mean the brother didn't come either 🤷🏻‍♀️

What the fuck is wrong with people and dogs these days? One of the last times I visited my MIL my 3 year old child sat down on the couch at the other end of her ‘Fur Baby’. The dog snarled and lunged, protecting ‘His’ couch. Luckily I was there, I scruffed it and threw it.. the MIL came came running to check on the dog, never mind it could have ripped her grandchild’s face. My children haven’t been back since.. and won’t ever be.

Brother's dog has history of biting, specifically their baby.

And you are wondering how to 'broach the subject'?! lol
Say:

Hey bro, your dog bitten the baby recently?

Or

Hey bro. Are you bringing that baby-biting dog? If so, it's a no from us. Cheers and Merry Christmas.

Believe it or not, I know a woman who is fully aware that due to her child's rough handling of their puppy, the puppy might bite/scratch the child, and she has a plan of what to say to the hospital if this happens. That's her strategy. Pre-prepare a lie.....

People are WEIRD.

Why didn't the Police remove the dog after it bit a baby?

How has the dog not been put down or rehomed???

The dog has bitten their baby?!

That's the bigger issue not Christmas! The dog needs rehoming or even PTS.

No I wouldn't have this dog around my children either, and I am a dog owner and lover.

The dog has bitten the baby and they still have it?!?

That would be a massive no no for me I’m afraid, I couldn’t trust it around any children with that history.

We have a similar issue - not a known biter, but a rehomed lockdown dog staying in an unfamiliar house, bright lights, interesting food smells and our one year old running riot...

The dog is being shut away separately for the duration, but we're also limiting the duration of our visit.

Babies, toddlers and dogs don't mix. And small children aren't great either.

It's not clear if it's your house. If it is, just say, "I'm afraid we can't host your dog." If it's someone else's, then talk to the homeowner first, but you may need to be prepared to go elsewhere, or at least threaten to.

Sheesh, I don't even take my dog to other people's houses because she can't be trusted not to ferret out sweets/chocolate that people without dogs leave in places she finds very convenient. If your brother is genuinely allowing a dog that has bitten his child to still be around the baby, you surely say - it's the dog or me!?

How much of a history?! Once would be too much for me

Depends on who is hosting but

Him - sorry DB, I am not comfortable with my kids in the same room as your dog so we are going to stay at ours this year. Please come and visit us when you can without the dog - would love to see you

You - just to confirm we are happy to host you all, but not the dog - we are a pet free house now

Parents - Mum & Dad - what have you agreed with dBro about the dog? Just letting you know we will need to visit separately if it's coming

I’m an insane dog person - take her everywhere. But I would always ask if someone had kids and if they said they didn’t want dog with kids I wouldn’t blink. You can’t trust any dog hundred per cent with kids

as for your brother still have dog around kids after a bite history cripes

WTF! the dog has bitten the baby (more than once!?) and the dog is still breathing?

If your post is genuine I would be reporting them to SS. No dog that bit would be in the company of myself not to mind my children. Honestly the stupidity of some peyis astounding.