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Original poster

To stop visiting if my sister brings her dog

535 replies

carnivalqueenthethird · 25/01/2026 20:38

My family (husband & 2 kids) and my sister and her fiancé go to our parents every weekend for a roast. It’s something we’ve always done so nothing new.

My kids are 4 and 4 months old.

My sister has a new puppy - very cute but obviously hyper. At some point she has agreed with my mum that she can bring the dog round with her every weekend and I’m not happy about it for a couple of reasons.

Firstly the dog albeit a puppy is not being trained so it’s a complete nightmare, shits and wee’s everywhere, no recall etc. I know it will take time but my sister and her fiancé don’t really have the time to train a dog (not sure why they got one in the first place, because their work patterns and lifestyle do not lend themselves to taking care of a dog), so this isn’t going to change any time soon, if at all.

Secondly the dog is constantly jumping up at everyone, playing but biting, its teeth are needle sharp and my 4 year old got bitten last week and it punctured his finger, he now doesn’t like the dog. I also can’t put my baby down on the floor at any point because I know the dog is going to jump all over him and potentially scratch/bite. We are there for a good 5/6 hours every time we go, so to hold a baby for that long is difficult.

I told my parents that we won’t be coming round every weekend if the dog is there. My sister has flown off the handle, which I’m used to, but is saying she can’t leave the dog alone as it’s too young. My mum has started guilt tripping me by saying I’m keeping her grandchildren away.

I have said, I’m not keeping the kids away maliciously, I’m happy to come round if the dog isn’t there, but im not prepared for my oldest to be scared in a house he should feel safe in, and for us to not be able to put the baby down on the floor to play all day. I have suggested if my sister can’t leave the dog, maybe she or her fiancé should be the one staying home.

The conversation hasn’t gone down well at all, totally blown out of proportion to be honest and now I’m starting to second guess myself on whether I am being unreasonable or not?

Thoughts?

OP posts:
Thefrenchconnection1 · 25/01/2026 20:44

Crate train the dog. Walk it on arrival (could go somewhere together - kids in park, sister walk dog). When at parents, dog goes in crate allowing baby to play.

MrsLizzieDarcy · 25/01/2026 20:44

I say this as a dog owner and someone who likes dogs more than people - your sister is setting that poor puppy up to fail if she's not correcting behaviour like this. It's one of the first things you do - toilet train, and stop them from jumping up. Learning how to behave in another home is a huge lesson for a puppy.

I would totally refuse to be there at the same time at her until she takes responsibility for the dog she's taken on.

Mauro711 · 25/01/2026 20:43

My most recent dog was a land shark when very young. He’s now 7 months and doesn’t bite anymore as he’s got all his adult teeth. I would never had been comfortable having him around kids when he was at his worst though. It would be much better for everyone to wait until the puppy has calmed down a bit. It would be a shame if your son developed a phobia.

maxandru · 25/01/2026 20:43

Not your house; not your rules!

Bringonsummer88 · 25/01/2026 20:43

Also agree that an option would be to find a way to keep the dog and the children separate. Eg put the puppy in a playpen or in a different room.

Bringonsummer88 · 25/01/2026 20:42

I think you’ll need to go alternate weekends / different days for a while, or perhaps sometimes your sister leaves the dog with her husband at home. Or your parents come to your house sometime and your sister doesn’t come.

FancyCatSlave · 25/01/2026 20:42

I think you are both being unreasonable.

Puppies can’t be left alone but also shouldn’t have the run of the house all that time. They also need down time and rest like a human baby.

There should be separate spaces for puppy and children. They don’t need to be in the same room all day.

If that’s not possible then you alternate who goes each weekend.

WinterWalrus · 25/01/2026 20:41

You’ll just have to visit your parents at different times until such a time as the puppy is trained or the kids are older.

Chickadiddy · 25/01/2026 20:41

Of course YANBU

Your sis needs to get busy training her pup.
Until then, you obviously can't have your child being bitten.

Mindyourfunkybusiness · 25/01/2026 20:40

Then don't go or alternate weekends or someone does Saturday and the other Sunday.