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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To not want friends dog in my house

28 replies

Niceeyes · 20/12/2024 11:07

i have a lovely friend who has a Labrador dog and although I love dogs, I have my own smaller dog, I am not keen on her dog.

The dog hasn’t been trained and jumps up on me and almost topples me over when I visit her. It try’s to sniff your crotch and bottom too. It has excessive saliva all over its mouth and tries to lick me but the main thing is that my friend barely ever washes him. So he really does smell. We’ve been on walks where he’s rolled in fox poo and then he wanders back into her house and sits on her sofa. She will only cold hose him down outside or use dry shampoo…
I patted him on the head yesterday and my hand stank!

the reason I’m mentioning all of the above is because she wants to stay with me for a few nights in January ( her husband is away and she wants the company), and she doesnt have dog care so I know she expect me to take her dog in too. She only lives a 30min drive away.

the dogs both get on very well but I do not want her smelly dog in my house, she doesn’t wipe him down after a muddy walk either so I know my furniture will be ruined

what should I do? Love my friend just not her dog

OP posts:
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Screamingabdabz · 28/12/2024 17:40

The problem then, is not the dog or your friend, it’s your own anxiety about laying down boundaries.

You need to get comfortable saying no, or saying that things ‘don’t suit you’, or that it’s ‘not convenient’ etc otherwise you’re going to be a seething, people-pleasing doormat all your life.

Make it a New Year’s resolution.

Mummyto2boyz · 28/12/2024 17:14

If the stench is the only issue then insist she gives him a bath before hand. Otherwise just say no. I have a labrador and she is terrified of the bath. I have no idea why. She doesn't get as many baths as I would like to give her but would not expect anyone else to put up with her in their house or on their furniture.

neilyoungismyhero · 28/12/2024 00:48

My daughter has a boisterous young lab. I now have a small dog. She adores her dog but always asks me if I am happy for her to bring him to.my small house. I think about the tail flapping at 100mph and his excitement and nosiness and decline mostly. She doesn't get offended and understands.
It's pretty inconsiderate of your friend to be honest to expect you to accommodate her smelly chap.

OlderGlaswegianLivingInDevon · 28/12/2024 00:41

The issue isn't the dog, as the Op could go and stay at the friend's house and take her dog.

The issue is an adult not wanting to stay in their own home whilst another adult is away.

SusiSlippers · 28/12/2024 00:35

I have a dog. I wouldn’t allow my dog into the house after he’d rolled in fox poo. I’d have no problem telling a friend her dog isn’t welcome unless she gives him a bath before visiting. Yuk!

ACynicalDad · 27/12/2024 23:55

Can you go and stay with her?

Welshmonster · 27/12/2024 23:53

Just say she is welcome but not the dog. It is your dogs home as well and while they get on outside of the home it may be different on home turf.

Toopulululu · 21/12/2024 11:39

Not unreasonable at all, just tell her.

worrisomeasset · 21/12/2024 11:37

Dampfnudeln · 20/12/2024 11:32

She must have no sense of smell at all if the dog rolls in fox poo and she lets it back into the house. I was almost sick in the open air when my dog did it. I love big stupid labs, and I don't care if they're a bit smelly, but no way would eau de fox poo be entering my house.

Apparently it’s called nose blindness or olfactory fatigue. Some dog owners get so used to their dog’s smelliness that they don’t realise how much the creature stinks.

caramac04 · 21/12/2024 11:29

I would not expect my dogs to be welcomed or even tolerated in someone else’s house.
The only time this happens is with dog owner friends to whom we return the acceptance of their dogs.
Fortunately mine don’t roll in poo and don’t jump up but I’m pretty sure that they probably do smell at times.
My big dog is not allowed on sofas anywhere.
If my friends said can you leave the dog at home then I’d absolutely be ok with that. I’d just see them during the day or on walks.

Niceeyes · 21/12/2024 11:23

Thanks everyone, just anxious about telling her no… although she would have no problem telling me not to bring mine 🤣

OP posts:
Pensionswew · 20/12/2024 13:04

Not a chance.
My close friend has a gorgeous clean dog but I don't have a dog and don't want dogs in my house.
There is no issue whatsoever.
Good friends should be able to say these things respectfully to each other with out issue.

coldcallerbaiter · 20/12/2024 12:46

It sounds revolting, like a walking cesspit.

NiftyKoala · 20/12/2024 12:43

I would absolutely not have a smelly boisterous large dog in my home. I'd tell her that.

rainbowbee · 20/12/2024 12:41

Say you'll go to her for a night instead as her dog is a bit too stinky for your house? Dogs are happier in their own houses anyway.

Hellskitchen24 · 20/12/2024 12:40

Just tell her? Say she’s welcome but she will have to find alternative care for the dog for the duration.

Ihatelittlefriendsusan · 20/12/2024 12:36

I think you need to be honest with her.

If she is such a good friend, surely you can just have a conversation with her.

Purplebunnie · 20/12/2024 12:24

I'm not sure about this but I thought you could get hot hoses installed for cleaning your dogs. Anyway I digress

No I wouldn't want the dog in my house either. Fox anything stinks to high heaven

Wet dog which has then dried is not an appealing odour either

Endofyear · 20/12/2024 12:05

Just be very honest. It's not fair of her to impose on you with a very smelly large dog that isn't well trained. Why is she worried about staying in her own house for a few days while her husband is away? That sounds like an unusual level of anxiety, surely?

Dampfnudeln · 20/12/2024 11:32

She must have no sense of smell at all if the dog rolls in fox poo and she lets it back into the house. I was almost sick in the open air when my dog did it. I love big stupid labs, and I don't care if they're a bit smelly, but no way would eau de fox poo be entering my house.

Orangesandlemons77 · 20/12/2024 11:32

Just say you will meet her in the day instead, she doesn't need to stay with you.

OverthinkingOlive · 20/12/2024 11:30

She needs to learn how to breathe on her own for a few days without husband. Pathetic.

Stormyweatheroutthere · 20/12/2024 11:23

Sorry friend as much as I love you there simply isn't space in our home for your ddog...

ComtesseDeSpair · 20/12/2024 11:22

Honestly if she’s a good friend I’d just tell her that her dog smells and is too boisterous for indoors. If she’s completely oblivious to this and insists on bringing it everywhere, she’ll end up losing social invitations left right and centre, so as a good friend, helping her to see that is the right thing to do.

TestingTestingWonTooFree · 20/12/2024 11:20

Just say no.