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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

In-Laws dog

28 replies

Bottleofbeer · 04/04/2011 11:15

Is a bulldog, it stinks, not just doggy smell but if anyone is familiar with the breed they have a very distinctive smell to them (I've smelled it on every bull dog I've ever come across including the one they used to have) it's offensive, it puts me off my cup of tea it's so bad. It drolls and shakes it all over you. My kids come home stinking of it.

I don't really have an AIBU question to put to you because I can't expect them to put the big stinky thing outside just because we're there but urghhhh I can still smell it from yesterday.

OP posts:
Original poster
Bottleofbeer · 04/04/2011 11:16

That'll be drools.

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millimurphy · 04/04/2011 11:41

Can be of no help - but if mutual sympathy will do, my PILs have two awful boxer dogs - they jump up, drool, get hair everywhere and generally smell bad. I aint a dog person I admit it, and loathe going to see them because of these stinking hounds (awww, just let them lick you, they're just being friendly...). They treat them like their children as well, from slobbery mouth kisses to couch and bed privileges over human occupants. I try to just grin and bare it. Told you not much help, sorry.

Original poster
Bottleofbeer · 04/04/2011 11:48

It's horrible isn't it? half of me thinks it should be put in the yard wen they have visitors. I'm sitting there cringing at the smell and the fact that my kids are eating and it's shaking slobber all over them. They too treat it like a child, it's sweet, he just wants to be friendly. Yeah well go and be friendly and dribble all over somebody else's shoes.

It's at the point I think we might as well wait to visit at a time we're all due a bath, oh, and put on any old clobber since it'll be slobbered on anyway. Lovely going out for a family meal for mother's day smelling of....I can't even describe it. And to sit and listen in detail and be shown it's awful, equally stinking excema because bulldogs have so many folds of skin. It's really offputting.

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millimurphy · 04/04/2011 12:02

The excema thing sounds awful - I also have to sit, listen and be attentive to the dogs numerous medical problems (now Honey's just had diarrhea, but today her poos are much better, aren't they baby - kiss, kiss, lick, lick). I don't have kids yet, but one is on it's way and I am dreading him/her being anywhere near these dogs.

Don't suppose you get the whole cups/plates/eating utensils fiasco as well? You are politely sitting and drinking your tea, watching MIL let said dogs slurp from her cup. Plates are also licked clean, and milk left in cereal bowls especially for the little teasures. Everything later half-heartedly washed in lukewarm water. I could be sick. I will usually refuse all food unless desperate. I sound awful don't I :(?

wakeupandsmellthecoffee · 04/04/2011 13:28

Have you tried sitting on the floor next to them and just slobber all over them . Dribble a bit to for good measure . If they say anything just reply but I'm only being friendly . lol

LucyGoose · 04/04/2011 17:11

Your PIL's need to take that poor dog to the vet, it probably has some kind of skin infection, as bulldogs are prone to these. Read quotes below from bulldog site:

Dermatitis, Pyoderma, and Staph are common skin bacterial infections in dogs. Staph bacteria is normal flora on the skin of dogs. The infections can range from surface, superficial or deep. They normally begin when something causes the skin to become irritated and inflamed and allows the bacteria to attack the skin:flea bites, allergies{inhaled,contact,or food} or a continuously moist and poorly-ventalated environment in skin folds.

Skin fold pyoderma is normally on a bulldogs face, around a females vulva, or under the screw tail. Some of these infections can be recognized with patch hair loss, crustiness and scaling and a foul or sweet smelling odor to their skin. If the infection is left untreated, involvement of deeper parts of the skin is possible and if left untreated or not healed 100% could escalate in to demodectic mange. It is very important to keep your dogs coat healthy at all times. Usually an oral antibiotic such as Cephlexin, or clavamox is prescribed along with medicated shampoos.

If you have a dog that continues to have crusty spots that look like ringworm but isn't. He probably has a staph infection. Normal protocol would be to start him on the NuVet vitamins if he is not already on them.

Vallhala · 04/04/2011 17:42

I don't need to add anything about the welfare issue as LucyGoose has explained it excellently.

That aside your comment that "half of me thinks it should be put in the yard wen they have visitors." are fine... as long as you only ever think them. Let's just say that anyone who said to me that they wanted my dogs put out into 'the yard' when they visited would be told to go home and not to return.

When you consider how unhygenic most humans are, particularly children, the whole idea of complaining about the smell of a dog is quite laughable really.

Oh, and btw, he dog is not an "it", any more than your child is.

Vallhala · 04/04/2011 17:44

"... the dog is not an 'it'... ", not "he dog is not an it...".

SandStorm · 04/04/2011 17:57

Hmm - well, it's their house and their dog. The only solution I can come up with is to stop visiting their house but make sure they know they are very welcome at your house, whilst gently asking they don't bring their dog.

If this is going to cause problems you're just going to have to suck it up I'm afraid.

TarheelMama · 04/04/2011 23:00

I can't put my dog outside for visitors because she will inevitably bark. Either from seeing us through the window or if a cat has the audacity to sit on the fence or other people are talking outside.....there's just no stopping her from barking when left on her own.

I always make the point when I invite people round that I have a dog. Then it's their choice to come or not.

midori1999 · 04/04/2011 23:06

One of the huge benefits for me of having lots of dogs is that non doggy people rarely visit. I like it that way. No-one would ever suggest to me my dogs were put outside for visitors, this is my dogs home and they belong in it.

It does sound like the dog may need to see a vet though and it might be a good idea to mention this to them.

chicletteeth · 04/04/2011 23:06

It's not that bad. I've had three bulldogs and they smell a lot better than a lot of humans!
None of mine used to smell at all (well, no more doggy than any other dog that is)
Oh, and why don't you go and sit in the garden?

I thought not?

BluddyMoFo · 04/04/2011 23:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Mousesmummy · 04/04/2011 23:14

My dog is a terrible licker and he is put outside when we have visitors, particularly children as he is roughly the same height as them and after seeing what he eats at the stables I would not want him 'kissing' any children. If it is very cold or wet, he goes in the utility.
We usually know in advance if we are having guests over so will have taken him out for a good run beforehand so he is ready for a sleep, and therefore doesn't mind being on his own.

BellaMagnificat · 04/04/2011 23:15

^I don't need to add anything about the welfare issue as LucyGoose has explained it excellently.

That aside your comment that "half of me thinks it should be put in the yard wen they have visitors." are fine... as long as you only ever think them. Let's just say that anyone who said to me that they wanted my dogs put out into 'the yard' when they visited would be told to go home and not to return.

When you consider how unhygenic most humans are, particularly children, the whole idea of complaining about the smell of a dog is quite laughable really.

Oh, and btw, he dog is not an "it", any more than your child is.^

Valhalla I love you and want to have your puppies Blush

BellaMagnificat · 04/04/2011 23:16

woof! the italics thing didn't work and I was ever so careful ...

Original poster
Bottleofbeer · 05/04/2011 14:10

The dog is being treated by the vet, bloody hell, assumptions much?

Everyone who has a pet imagines they (the animal) don't smell - sorry, they do.

IT stinks and slobbers :))

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Original poster
Bottleofbeer · 05/04/2011 14:13

My little its (my kids - to make the doggy people feel better) don't lick their own bums then expect a kiss. They tended to quit the dribbling a while ago too haw haw.

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LineRunner · 05/04/2011 14:29

Three pals have dogs who are allowed to jump up wildly and bark at visitors. This kinda tells me that:

  1. They don't know how to train their dogs properly;
  2. They don't give a toss about the fact that I have had jumpers and tights ruined by their dogs' claws, sometimes on the way to work, and on one occasion I've been scratched and it bloody hurt;
and
  1. They presumably don't exercise their dogs sufficiently, because quite frankly they can't control them; I really just can't picture idyllic walks and off-lead romps in the countryside - they'd never see the bloody dogs again.

My grandparents had working dogs and they would never jump up on a person. They were very well trained, well treated, well fed, and well exercised - if you think enough of your dogs I think you will train them properly. It's a lot of hard work, though...

Anyway, I avoid going to these pals' houses - I say I'll meet them out somewhere.

Original poster
Bottleofbeer · 05/04/2011 14:33

FIL used to train gundogs, he knows exactly what he's doing but this one was two when they recently got him and he'd not been treated so well so it's all a slow process.

To be fair, I really don't think it's at all unreasonable to expect to visit somebody and not get drooled all over but ta for the handy hint about washing my clothes, honest to God, I had never even considered that before hehehe...

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LineRunner · 05/04/2011 14:39

I've just re-read your OP. Honestly, I wouldn't be able to stand it.

Original poster
Bottleofbeer · 05/04/2011 15:09

I really can't stand it! but it's (Sorry, HE) is their dog and he lives there so I gotta suck it up!

I will just refuse food because whatever anybody thinks, it's NOT nice to eat while a dog is literally drooling on your feet. Bleurgh.

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RevoltingPeasant · 05/04/2011 16:31

Bottle, do you know that their dog is specifically being treated for a skin disorder, though?

I know that my dog has a 'doggy' smell but there is a distinct difference between that and the, er, special smell she has if she has an ear infection or similar. Animals have a distinct smell, but it should be an 'earthy' one like straw (ime, anyhow) and if it smells fetid, that is generally a sign of illness.

And yeah, personally, I can't stand cats and I have a friend whose cats are dreadfully behaved - jumping on your lap, clawing, etc. But the cats live in her house. So I don't go or I go and deal.

RevoltingPeasant · 05/04/2011 16:32

Although if they are letting the dog/s (is there more than one?) eat off 'human' plates, that is nasty. My dog will get leftovers from a meaty dinner - but in her bowl and after everyone else eats.

Dogs should not be fed at the table when DP can see, anyhow.

Original poster
Bottleofbeer · 05/04/2011 17:17

Yes he's being treated properly for a diagnosed skin condition. Every bulldog I have ever been near has smelled the same. Maybe I'm more sensitive to it but I can't bear the smell of them.

My cat is a little shit to be fair, soooooo I don't let it just jump up on people and annoy them. They've got a right to be able to visit and not be pestered by her.

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