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AIBU?

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Aibu for being unhappy my in-laws are putting a dog "first"

343 replies

GD12 · 08/08/2025 13:38

Basically my MILs son has a giant dog, I think it's a Staffordshire bull terrier but it's massive. It's also untrained. When our daughter was 4 a few years ago ist jumped up on her and scratched her chest at which point I said that our daughter couldn't stay in the house with it. She goes every summer to stay for 5 days and they usually put the dog elsewhere,the dog moving and staying with another relative etc. This year they didn't bother and the solution was to have my daughter stay with another relative instead of at her grans my mil would also stay at the relatives. Am I overreacting being annoyed about this? She has to go and stay with a relative that she's never stayed with before and sees maybe twice a year, that the dog is being allowed to stay in the house and my 7yo daughter has to move out because of it? Myself and hubby have had a fight because he can't see the problem, in fact he'd have her stay with the dog in the house. Maybe I'm being controlling but it's really pushing buttons in me.

OP posts:
Justchilling07 · 08/08/2025 19:51

GD12 · 08/08/2025 19:24

They mentioned staffie I'm sure and it was my husband that mentioned "freshly decorated home" not me, like I said. Did you not read what I posted?

Edited

Yes l read your further post op, you quoted me🙄
It was husband that mentioned the freshly decorated home, however you’re the one who’s bringing this up, why, it has no relevance, only demonstrating there’s more to this, you don’t like any dogs and a way to get your point across is to say, the dog is dangerous, when there’s no evidence of this.
Op you are being unreasonable, you questioned whether you’re being controlling, clearly you are.

RantzNotBantz · 08/08/2025 19:51

ZippyKoala · 08/08/2025 19:46

Must admit I am a little surprised by how many people wouldn't let a 7 year old go away with family for a week full stop. Not that it's a problem if it works for you and your family, but I'll be delighted if by that age my mum (or MIL) and DD have the sort of relationship where they want to spend a week together and I therefore get a week of down time with DH!

In our family kids LOVE staying with grandparents for a few days.

ZippyKoala · 08/08/2025 19:46

Must admit I am a little surprised by how many people wouldn't let a 7 year old go away with family for a week full stop. Not that it's a problem if it works for you and your family, but I'll be delighted if by that age my mum (or MIL) and DD have the sort of relationship where they want to spend a week together and I therefore get a week of down time with DH!

EmeraldShamrock000 · 08/08/2025 19:45

Littleredgoat · 08/08/2025 19:42

And OP doesn't want her to go. The dog is a red herring. The OP has said numerous times she doesn't want to be parted from her child but puts up with it to keep the peace

I don't think a large untrained bully breed is a red herring.
The grandparents are ridiculous protecting their dogs feelings.

Littleredgoat · 08/08/2025 19:42

Bubbletrain · 08/08/2025 19:39

Stuff her and the dog. I would not be sending my DD7 anywhere, with anyone, for a week on her own. Which relative is she staying with? Do you know them well enough to know that she is safe? This is not ok and it would be a hill I would be prepared to die on, no matter who I offended, and if my DH wasn't on board, stuff him too!!

Edited

And OP doesn't want her to go. The dog is a red herring. The OP has said numerous times she doesn't want to be parted from her child but puts up with it to keep the peace

Bubbletrain · 08/08/2025 19:39

GD12 · 08/08/2025 14:02

I don't want her to go, I'd be absolutely happy and would rather for her to stay at home than go away over 100miles away for a week but this has become "a thing" that if I said I didn't want to happen would cause a massive argument(which it has now anyway). I'm not doing it for childcare, I'm doing it to appease MIL who wants her for a week.

Edited

Stuff her and the dog. I would not be sending my DD7 anywhere, with anyone, for a week on her own. Which relative is she staying with? Do you know them well enough to know that she is safe? This is not ok and it would be a hill I would be prepared to die on, no matter who I offended, and if my DH wasn't on board, stuff him too!!

ZippyKoala · 08/08/2025 19:38

RantzNotBantz · 08/08/2025 19:25

THE CHILD WILL NOT BE IN THE HOUSE WITH THE DOG!

Good grief , so many posters missing this fact.

And everyone wanging on about the bloody breed and size. It makes no bloody difference whether it is the Hound of the Baskervilles or Grommit: it won’t be anywhere near the OP’s Dd.

I wonder how this country functions sometimes.

Oh…

Best comment 😂😂

The breed, size or even temperament of the dog is irrelevant. OP has decided it has injured DC once so they don't spend time together. Seems reasonable to me. MIL has respected this.

The dog is at the house this summer. It lives there so this also seems reasonable to me. It's okay to feel a bit annoyed about it, sure, but its between BIL and MIL what goes on with the dog.

So all it comes down to is does DC go and spend a week with MIL in the relatives house? At age7 it feels the simple way to answer this question is to explain the situation to DC and ask if she wants to go? If she does, it feels unreasonable to object just because its a different house. If she doesn't, then MIL has to lump it. Feels like at 7, this could and should be DCs choice regardless of house now anyway!

TheCurious0range · 08/08/2025 19:37

For contrast PIL foster dogs, they like to have DS for a week (Mon to Fri ) each dinner to do things with him sometimes take him camping for a few days, they live in the country side and have a huge allotment at the end of their garden and chickens etc, so DS also loves it. They make sure they do not have a foster for that time, they've turned dogs down or when taking them earlier in the summer say they have to either be gone or looked after for the week by another member of the charity because those dogs are not their own , their background isn't always fully known and it doesn't matter how docile a dog seems it's not a risk to take with a 6 year old. Those are grandparents who love dogs but prioritise their desire to have their grandchild at their home without parents. We also don't need the childcare FWIW, but we love the relationship they have.

ThatNoisyTealBird · 08/08/2025 19:32

I feel sorry for the MIL in this situation tbh. Sounds like BIL isn't prepared to move out with the dog for a few days - maybe can't find a friend/relative willing to put up with untrained, pita, aggressive Fido. MIL is stuck in the middle and trying to find a solution so she can see her granddaughter. Wonder how she feels about having her grown son and his massive dog living with her. I'm probably in her generation and I know I wouldn't be thrilled (actually I wouldn't have let him move in permanently with a small, well trained dog let alone this pita!)

Could MIL come and stay with you?

If you don't want your DD staying with someone she doesn't know well, especially is she doesn't seem keen, then you are not unreasonable to say no. MIL is an adult and will have to come up with another solution.

StiffAsAVicar · 08/08/2025 19:28

GD12 · 08/08/2025 19:13

Ive really no idea its a big tall thing. I was sure they mentioned staffie but idk. MIL used to walk it but can't anymore as it drags her off her feet.

Edited

Staffordshire bull terriers are very chunky but they have short legs, if the dog has long legs it may be an XL Bully. They may be calling it a Staffie to avoid judgement or having to follow the new rules.

EmeraldShamrock000 · 08/08/2025 19:28

It is madness to put the dog before a DGC.

miraxxx · 08/08/2025 19:27

You are dealing with a bunch of bullies here OP. Keep your daughter at home and tell your DH and MIL to take a flying leap.

RantzNotBantz · 08/08/2025 19:25

Finteq · 08/08/2025 19:15

YANBU

I'd be putting my foot down and wouldn't let my daughter go.

It's not worth the risk for her to stay with the dog. And I wouldn't want my kid in shit situation because a BIL can't grow up.

THE CHILD WILL NOT BE IN THE HOUSE WITH THE DOG!

Good grief , so many posters missing this fact.

And everyone wanging on about the bloody breed and size. It makes no bloody difference whether it is the Hound of the Baskervilles or Grommit: it won’t be anywhere near the OP’s Dd.

I wonder how this country functions sometimes.

Oh…

GD12 · 08/08/2025 19:24

Justchilling07 · 08/08/2025 19:20

Op, you’ve said you don’t know the breed.But now you’re saying it’s 100% 'some sort of staffie’.It’s incorrect to say Staffordshire bull terrier are dangerous dogs, if they were, they would be on the dangerous dog list.
It’s not your business, why your in-laws have a dog, 'in their freshly decorated home’ (what a strange thing to say) By saying it’s a Staffordshire terrier, when you don’t really know, comes across, as just another dog bashing thread.Fair enough you don’t like dogs, however you can’t expect others to kick their dog out of their home to suit you.

They mentioned staffie I'm sure and it was my husband that mentioned "freshly decorated home" not me, like I said. Did you not read what I posted?

OP posts:
miraxxx · 08/08/2025 19:24

Aout25 · 08/08/2025 18:09

She visits with her parents but not stays there once a year in her own. She's unlikely to have much there!

OP says she has her toys there. Why do so many of you discount OP's characterisation of a dog she knows but none of you know and of a situation involving her very young child's comfort re the familiarity of a house where she will be spending a week without her parents? I think OP should put her foot down and not be coerced into sending her child on this visit.

Justchilling07 · 08/08/2025 19:20

GD12 · 08/08/2025 18:57

It's 100% some sort of staffie or cross breed or something, they've mentioned it. Beyond that I don't know what it is. It's taller than my waist easily and has a lot of muscle and is massive. My husband was even shocked when he first saw it and asked why his mum was allowing it in her freshly decorated house and it was a puppy then. I'm not gaslighting anyone.

Edited

Op, you’ve said you don’t know the breed.But now you’re saying it’s 100% 'some sort of staffie’.It’s incorrect to say Staffordshire bull terrier are dangerous dogs, if they were, they would be on the dangerous dog list.
It’s not your business, why your in-laws have a dog, 'in their freshly decorated home’ (what a strange thing to say) By saying it’s a Staffordshire terrier, when you don’t really know, comes across, as just another dog bashing thread.Fair enough you don’t like dogs, however you can’t expect others to kick their dog out of their home to suit you.

elessar · 08/08/2025 19:18

If it’s taller than your waist then it’s absolutely not a staffie, which are normally no taller than 40cm at the shoulder.

Sounds like it could be an XL bully from what you describe, but then you ought to know about it as it’s a banned breed that would have to be registered. So maybe a completely different type of dog entirely.

If it’s so big, and it jumped up at your daughter when she was 4 I’m amazed it only scratched her chest, I’d have thought it would completely knock her over.

can you describe the aggressive behaviour it displays? I know you’ve said it several times but then you’ve also said the other family members describe it as being playful. So what’s it doing that makes you sure it’s being aggressive?

Finteq · 08/08/2025 19:15

YANBU

I'd be putting my foot down and wouldn't let my daughter go.

It's not worth the risk for her to stay with the dog. And I wouldn't want my kid in shit situation because a BIL can't grow up.

GD12 · 08/08/2025 19:13

StiffAsAVicar · 08/08/2025 19:10

Staffordshire bull terriers aren’t massive or giant, are you sure it isn’t an XL Bully? :/

Ive really no idea its a big tall thing. I was sure they mentioned staffie but idk. MIL used to walk it but can't anymore as it drags her off her feet.

OP posts:
StiffAsAVicar · 08/08/2025 19:10

Staffordshire bull terriers aren’t massive or giant, are you sure it isn’t an XL Bully? :/

LaughingCat · 08/08/2025 19:04

Cosyblankets · 08/08/2025 14:43

You don't want her to be in the house with the dog.
She won't be.
Grandmother wants to stay a week with the child.
She will be
What's the issue?

This. YABU - feels like the relatives have done exactly as you wanted and found a compromise that works for everyone.

I think you hit the nail on the head, OP, when you mentioned being controlling…

RantzNotBantz · 08/08/2025 19:04

Cakeorchocolate · 08/08/2025 18:41

I don't see why you're going along with it.
You don't need her to go. MIL and H want her to go, but MIL doesn't want it enough to ensure the house is safe for dd, nor does your H.

I wouldn't be happy with my dd staying in a house with a dog with questionable behaviour or in a virtual strangers house.

I'd just refuse to allow her to go. Disagreements are better than unsafe situations.

Read the OP!

The child will not be in the house with the dog!

The MIL and child will stay with another relative… so that the child is not in the house with the dog!

waitingforthehallmarkedman · 08/08/2025 18:59

I think I'd just suck it up this year and make other plans for next summer. Try and nip this arrangement in the bud. You've time to think of something....

RantzNotBantz · 08/08/2025 18:58

What is the problem with a 7 year old spending 5 days (although you keep saying ‘week’ ) with her gran? If she is happy to go and has a good time with her gran?

What is the problem with Gran and your Dd spending that time at another relative’s house? Presumably a relative of your DH? Who your Dd does know because she sees her twice a year. And… she will be there with gran?

It is very kind of the other relative to be so accommodating, enabling your MIL to (quite rightly) keep your Dd away from the dog.

You seem to be just looking for a fight.

Unless the relative is somehow even worse than the dog??

ItsameLuigi · 08/08/2025 18:58

Justchilling07 · 08/08/2025 17:49

Op is being unreasonable.Op’s child is not a regular stay over visitor, she stays for 5 days once a year There’s lots of posters on here, who can’t stand dogs, so really would never understand, a dog, is dare l say it, part of of someone’s family, no doubt that will anger people, but it’s true.Op has said, she doesn’t really want her daughter to go, stay with her in-laws.So what’s the real issue here!
Op doesn’t want her daughter to go, her in-laws are not or are unable to make other arrangements for their dog.It’s unreasonable, to expect someone to make arrangements for their dog to leave, just because, the dog, jumped up once and left a scratch
Complete over reaction.

I don't like dogs myself and still see why op is being unreasonable, either say no entirely or accept that grandma's made a plan which you've agreed to and are now looking for a way out.

Pets are family, just not my family because I just about manage my head above water with children 😂😂

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