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Dogs. Genuine question for dog owners.

171 replies

Eatyourveg88 · 27/12/2018 08:58

I’ve never had a dog but I’m an animal lover and have had many pets myself in the past, eg cats, small pets. I have nothing against well behaved dogs!

If I visit the house of a person with dogs, AIBU to expect not to be :

-licked
-scratched
-jumped at
-have items taken from me
-barked at
-have my shoes chewed etc

This is what happens when we visit a relative with dogs. I’ve never really liked it but up until now I’ve tolerated it. I don’t feel in danger as the dogs are harmless, I just find it really annoying and don’t relax at their house.

However now I’ve got a baby so this Christmas I said I wasn’t prepared to visit them due to the dogs. Was I being unreasonable?!

I said they were welcome to visit us (without the dogs) or we could meet in a pub or somewhere.

The relatives are upset we didn’t visit.

If you have dogs, is that what it’s like in your house?!

OP posts:
MaidenMotherCrone · 27/12/2018 09:02

In my house you would be sniffed, possibly leaned on and have to suffer a pair of eyes staring into your soul (bit uncomfortable).

You’d also get a heavy cat or 2 on your knee.

Rainbowqueeen · 27/12/2018 09:05

At my house my dog goes outside when we have guests. It’s just easier that way

Otherwise yes she would jump on you and bark at you. Actually the barking would still happen

meepmoop · 27/12/2018 09:05

You'll probably get a jumping lick from my dog however we would be there and we have a baby gate on the living room door so once you're past the entrance it would be dog free.

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FennyBridges · 27/12/2018 09:07

All of that behaviour is unacceptable, but I have to say my gorgeous big dog would give your hand a kick by way of greeting you or reminding you that's he's there.

Some dog owners stupidly think everyone loves their dog as much as they do. Additionally, some dog breeds are more intelligent than others.

I wouldn't take a baby to those dog households. But my dog wouldn't behave like that - he'll give the baby a sniff and then sit down or leave the room. We'd probably say, "Don't lick the baby!" And, "It's a baby! You leave that little baby alone!" and he would - satisfied that he'd investigated and said hello.

He's an intelligent breed and we've raised him to be gentle. Think therapy dog training ♥️

SinglePringle · 27/12/2018 09:07

You might get barked at as it’s a method of communication for a dog and I can’t predict what she might want to say to you / the household.

Scratching / jumping not allowed. Licks are love fro her (especially if you’ve got fake tan on. She seems to love the taste 🤷🏻‍♀️).

You will get hairy though because she is.

ContraryToPopularBelief · 27/12/2018 09:08

It very much depends on my guests. If you're not doggy people then they get locked away. If you like dogs you'll get a dog on you're knee. If you are in the middle the dogs will wander about but not be allowed to sit on you.

Ploppymoodypants · 27/12/2018 09:09

Maidenmother , your house sounds lovely!

My house would be dogs barking on arrival. Big dog behind baby gate in boot room (he get worried about children) and small dog would jump on sofa next to you for love, but if you had baby I would call dog to me and stop her doing that as I know mums can worry about dogs and babies and hygiene etc.

FennyBridges · 27/12/2018 09:09

Aargh. LICK not kick!

He too has gorgeous eyes like MaidenMotherCrone 's that will bore into your soul! And he's a leaner!!!

Mamia15 · 27/12/2018 09:11

A few sniffs - no jumping/scratching/licking etc. My dogs tend to leave visitors alone unless they show an interest and pat/stroke them.

CarolDanvers · 27/12/2018 09:11

You might get barked at initially. He’d be told to stop and if he didn’t he’d be put into another room. I would be aware of your comfort levels with him the whole time and if he made a nuisance of himself in any way he’d be put in another room.

dudsville · 27/12/2018 09:12

People will get upset about all sorts of things. Be polite but be clear and don't make it bigger than it is. That's all you can do.

Dementedswan · 27/12/2018 09:12

In my house you'd be greeted then left alone by my big Labrador. Every now and again he may come and give you a paw. If we have a visitor who doesn't like dogs he goes in his crate which is rare as he doesn't make a pest of himself.

tryinganewname · 27/12/2018 09:12

You will get jumped and licked as you enter my house and barked at when coming towards the house. You will then be sat up against when you sit. All of it is friendly behaviour in our case.

It's their house, not yours. I believe if you don't like it then meet the people elsewhere.

Karwomannghia · 27/12/2018 09:14

When my dog was with us I would go along with whatever the guest was comfortable with, from wrestling on the floor to being shut in a different room.

Coloursthatweremyjoy · 27/12/2018 09:15

Here you get greeted by the dog first...by which I mean he comes rushing out to say hello, sniff you and demand a fuss. I do check people are okay with dogs first if they are strangers. Then he goes off to find a place to sleep.

No jumping, he doesn't bark unless you are a squirrel, no scratching or licking allowed.

Your relatives dogs sound poorly trained. I wouldn't take a baby to a house where dogs were allowed to behave like that.

CarolDanvers · 27/12/2018 09:16

tryinganewname you’d really let your dogs do all that to a guest in your home and expect them to lump it? How ill mannered.

Floralnomad · 27/12/2018 09:16

My dog gets very excited when people first arrive and will run around them but once they’ve said hello and stroked him he will just either stare at them or follow them around ( depending on whether they are moving about) . He doesn’t lick , jump up , take things or chew stuff .

Angie169 · 27/12/2018 09:16

My dog would bark a couple of times and jump on you once or twice but that would be it . He would fetch his ball /toy for you to play with or throw for him .
It's not acceptable for any pet to make visitors feel uncomfortable esp when there are babies around

Doggydoggydoggy · 27/12/2018 09:17

In my house, the dog will run at you and bounce around as you come in and if you sit on the sofa she will try to sit next to you __on you— but I ask her to lie down on the floor or the sofa quietly and the majority of the time she will, if she doesn’t I put her out.

I wouldn’t be at all happy about being barked at, definitely wouldn’t be impressed having shoes bitten or things pinched and I wouldn’t like scratching or excessive licking and jumping up either.

I wouldn’t visit with a young baby either because I would be worried about accidental injury

GobblersKnob · 27/12/2018 09:19

In my house you would be sniffed on arrival. One dog would very much like to lie next to you on the sofa, possibly with her head on your knee, especially if you were holding a baby, because she has a weird, maternal, all consuming love for small people. However I appreciate that some people wouldn't like that so I'd ask, and if you weren't happy I'd ask her to move. Other dog would curl up as far away from you as possible and deny your existence until you had visited several times. After which he would like to lie very close to you as you are clearly his new best friend, but again would move if asked.

If you were a regular visitor, you would be greeted with loony dancing, gifts of battered plush toys and much tail waving and weaving around you, but they wouldn't jump.

I adore dogs, but do not like being jumped on, but accept it from puppies, being scratched and having my stuff chewed would annoy me no end.

Chesneyhawkes1 · 27/12/2018 09:19

Mine bark when the door is knocked but not at actual visitors.

2 of them will want to greet you. My friends are doggy people so don't mind them having a cuddle.

They don't steal or chew though. If guests weren't doggy I'd put them in a different room.

yikesanotherbooboo · 27/12/2018 09:21

We put dogs away in kitchen when guests arrive. If guests go into the kitchen or are keen to see dogs there would be sniffing and licking. Some guests seem to excite the dogs and they jump up so we don't introduce them to people who aren't keen.i hate dogs jumping up myself but am very happy to give a pat with a new dog.

ADastardlyThing · 27/12/2018 09:22

You'd get a crotch sniff, zoomies around you in excitement, farted on and then the full weight of a 3 stone lump sat on your knee.

Heatherjayne1972 · 27/12/2018 09:22

Yanbu.
My daughter got bitten by a family dog at Christmas once- she was one

If I had a dog it would be outside when visitors with (or without) a baby were there
Or I wouldn’t expect them to stay
If I was visiting a home with a dog id expect the dog to go outside or I’d do what you did - not go

Hoppinggreen · 27/12/2018 09:25

You would get barked at when you walked in and then a big golden lump would sit in front of you ( probably on your feet) waggling his bum in excitement and nudging your hand with his nose until you stroked him
Once you had acknowledged his wonderful ness he would largely leave you alone ( unless you had a biscuit with your cuppa in which case you would get “the eyes”)
Obviously we send him away from anyone uncomfortable with this.

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