AIBU to refuse Christmas visits because of the family dogs?

Yeah. I like dogs but a bit scared of them. Especially 10 in one house. I would be fearful of a fight breaking out between them. Plus I agree too that smelly dogs make me really nauseous after a hour or two. (Before those come at me I know not every dog smells but be honest some do and the OP said these dogs do).

I don’t think it is unreasonable not to go to them and not have them over. They decided to have dogs and if you don’t want to be around them (which is just as reasonable a choice as their choice is having them) then just state the truth. Stick to your guns.

@Xmasinkennels
And another thing
Where are 10 dogs
Going to poo?
Excitement and possible christmassy titbits
Will definitely make that happen.........

I look forward to the dog that visits us every Christmas, but this sounds like Hell.

Definitely agree with you OP. I’m not a huge dog fan, always had them growing up and loved them dearly but they were all very well trained and small breeds. Since our last family dog passed away my friends and other family members have got dogs and all are poorly/not trained at all, constantly jumping up at you, constantly bringing toys to throw or just constantly under your feet and in your way. I couldn’t imagine anything worse than 10 poorly trained dogs in one house! Especially with kids in the mix as well!

My in laws have a huge dog, way too big for their house and when it lays down it takes up 85% of the available floor space in the living room which is the only room people can sit and my kids can play. And then it spends the time it’s awake pacing around the coffee table which it can’t get round because we are sitting on the sofas, so we have to then move our feet or get up and down to let the dog past. They refuse to put the dog in the kitchen while we are there so we can actually sit down so we just don’t bother going anymore. I get the dog lives there but when you have a crawling baby and a small child, the last thing you want is a huge dog within reach/tripping over your children.

I’d vote for a no dog Xmas too

Who doesn’t hate poorly trained dogs?

I cannot even imagine who the small number of people are saying YABU and I know some crazy dog lovers.

I love dogs and have three but I would never inflict them on someone else's house.

Your house your rules 🐾

YANBU. MIL brought her dog over yesterday - fine, she was visiting and it was with her. But within ten minutes it had rolled all over my rug, thrown up in the kitchen, left a muddy pawprint on the carpet that I can't get out and shat in the garden. It's just more hassle than it's worth and that's one dog.

Gross. There is no hope in hell that I would have them at mine or would go to theirs with ten dogs!

Can you get cats and say they can't come to you cos not fair on the cats?

Dogs are not allowed in my house.

I would also be worried about what sort of food the dogs could get hold of. So much of it is really bad for dogs - chocolate, anything with dried fruit, onions, even alcohol. That’s before you start on choking hazards from kids toys. YANBU OP and it would be a firm ‘no’ from me too (and I love dogs, but 10 at the same time?! Nah).

Stick to your guns. If you don’t want to be around dogs, just don’t go. I’m a dog lover, but I wouldn’t want to be around so many.

Sounds like my idea of hell 🤮YANBU at all ! That’s way too many dogs!

Are you so unpleasant in all areas of your life, or is it restricted to dogs and their owners?

People who don’t like dogs aren’t welcome in mine. But we are not the family which is subject to this thread

But it’s not ops house, it’s either her MIL or BIL whose house rules allow the dogs

No, that is the recommended time to leave dogs.

Why?

I’d try and arrange a meal out for a few hours on boxing day. That way, it’s on neutral grounds and it’s a given the dogs won’t be going. I’m sure they all leave their dogs to go to work, shopping, out etc so nobody can be unreasonable and say they can’t possibly go. Seems an ideal compromise where you aren’t putting up with ten dogs, and they aren’t leaving their beloved pets for a long period of time.

You would leave a dog all day? What if it needed to go out to the toilet? This goes against all advice about dogs!

because they are pets and they don’t matter even a fraction of the amount as people and family relationships and inclusion

I try hard to avoid going round to peoples houses who have dogs that jump up / bark / are very noticeably there.

I wouldn’t be going to a Christmas Day with lots of dogs, or any dogs that would impact my xmas in a negative way. I’m not interested in them and don’t like the smell, the drool, the bum holes on sofas, the noise or the malting hairs. Or of course the risk of getting bitten. I’d prefer to stay home with no dogs.

What exactly is she trying to insist you do?