Am I in the wrong?

[14NG88]

It was my grandmas 80th last weekend so my mum had hosted a chimps tea party at their house. Mums brother shows up with his wife and kids and the kids immediately start screaming and crying over my mums 3 month old Dacshund puppy and partially sighted 6 year old toy poodle neither of which were a bit interested in them. His wife then demands no dogs can be in the house as they upset her children.

I mean if you don't like dogs you're a wrong'un imo but each to their own just ignore them. Surely a dog that's got no interest in you can't be much of a problem? Also in my eyes it was quite rude to start making demands in a strangers house. I could understand if the kids were toddlers and these were big dogs fussing maybe but not an 11 and 9 year old with 2 tiny quiet dogs who were enjoying chews in their basket.

It caused a bit of a rift so interested to know if anyone thinks this was unreasonable?

I think for the sake of the dogs it's best if they aren't around large groups. But surely they knew your mum had dogs? In which case if it was an issue they should have mentioned it before hand or not come (or with the age of the kids prepped them before hand!).

If the dogs were unfriendly, scared of people or ones who jump up/ won't leave people alone then it's reasonable for them to be put elsewhere, but if they just sit in their place, generally ignoring people I think it's fine.

Chimps tea party?

For the sake of stopping the noise I'd put them into another room for the duration of the party. The dogs I mean, unfortunately I don't think you'd get away with shutting the door on the kids. She knew it would be an issue so should've handled it better.

Would also like to know what makes a tea party a chimps one. Please tell me you'd invited actually monkeys.

Agree it's rude btw. I'd just want to quickly move on and minimise the situation whilst the party is in progress and maybe discuss it afterwards.

Yes, chimps tea party? Is that a typo or a thing?

YANBU by the way, with regards to the dogs.

Chimps tea party?!

Did you all drink typhoo tea and dress up ?

Haha maybe thats a local thing around here I've always called afternoon partys a chimps tea party and so do other people I know.

Oh and the party was in the drawing room, the dogs stayed in the kitchen but we were having drinks outside in the garden prior to the start which is where this occured

I suspect that there are 2 versions of events.

My son is incredibly scared of dogs and I always appreciate it if we go to someone's house with a dog if they put them in another room. I would never insist they are put out of the house though. If we were somewhere where they refused to keep the dog away we would have to leave. I've only ever been to one party where the hosts refused to keep the dogs away and it wasn't fun. Most can see it is a genuine fear and don't want to upset my son.

I mean if you don't like dogs you're a wrong'un imo

Oh I quite like dogs, it's insufferable dog owners I can't stand.

Your Uncle, aunt and brood are what I would refer to as being ghastly people

As such their histrionics over the hosts dogs would have been met with, “Oh dear, how sad, never mind.” and an instruction to stay in the garden rather than impose on the dogs in their own home.

How is your aunt ‘a stranger’ to your mum?!?

I'm also wondering why you called them " strangers " - surely this is your Mums brother and his family ? Strangers? And yeah out the dogs elsewhere when people are invited - they always cause problems.

" put the dogs" not " out the dogs".

Well obviously you need to get a cage. Maybe 2. .
Make sure it's properly closed to keep the dc safe.
Then the dogs can run free and enjoy the party!

Well I’m a wrong un, and o tho k try we’re really rude. I mean even I couldn’t be scared of a dachshund puppy, they sound like they are keen on drama.

o mean I think they were really rude

I know you explained it but I can't get past "chimps tea party".

What is this thread about?

I'm a bit confused why you describe your mum's house as a stranger's house to your mum's brother and his wife. Are they not, well, family?

if you don't like dogs you're a wrong'un imo

Precisely!

Your Mam's brother is a stranger to your Grandma?

Did you drink tea made from PG Tips, 148GNN?

I think they were rude, they must have known there would be dogs in the house and there was no need to carry on so when the dogs were small and well behaved. Let's face it, your mum wouldn't have had them around otherwise. However there is something wrong with kids of that age being so scared of the dogs. I wonder if they've been condition to be afraid of dogs and that's not right, you can't spend your life being afraid of them because there are so many around.

My mother was afraid of dogs though if she got to know one that wasn't too big, she was OK but I remember when I was a child her showing her fear and expressing it. Once I was going down the road and a boxer dog from opposite neighbours ran up and greeted me. I screamed in terror! That was because of my mother's influence, I am certainly not scared of them now.

I too wonder about your mum's brother being a stranger to grandma.

Whathappenedtooursummer, your comment was hilarious! Wish I'd thought of it.