to ask SiL to pay kennel fees for our dog over Xmas?

[bex2011]

We have been invited to my PiL over Xmas along with DH's brother and his family. They have said they will only go if our dog goes into kennels. SiL has a real problem with the dog and her children being in the same house. We have FiL has said he will put a baby gate at the kitchen door and the dog can stay behind that. Dog and children wouldn't need to be in the same room at all. This isn't good enough. Dog shows no signs at all of agression. She is fine with my niece and nephew and has adapted really well to having a baby in the house. Everyone who knows the dog and the situation thinks it's ridiculous and there is no reason why dog and children can't be together.

They will be at inlaws from Xmas day lunchtime until boxing day evening. The kennels have said that dog would need to go in Xmas eve before lunch until day after boxing day, totalling 4 days of kennel fees.

AIBU to ask them to foot the bill for this? Part of me knows that I am, but they show no degree of compromise to find a situation that works.

"Staffs are fighting dogs... at the end of the day they are bred to be aggressive"

Really? What a pile of crap. Can I have links to a reputable source hiphop notDailyMailthankyou.

Your FIL will probably feel guilted into footing the bill for kennels if forced to choose between both of you. How would you feel then? I would ask your SIL if she's prepared to pay, just to emphasise how unreasonable she's being, but be prepared for a negative reply.

To be honest I have no idea. At a guess I'd say it's the German Spitz. Everytime I fill in their 'what dog is right for me' quiz it tells me I should get a German Spitz, no matter what answers I give

It's probably not, though. It is probably another 'fighting' breed. Their breeding made them into very ammeanable, people pleasing dogs.

As part of the sport they had to be handled by a variety of strangers, before, during and after the fight. Any dog who showed aggression would be banned from the sport and would not be bred from. They were normally destroyed. Such breeding did not happen with hunting or retrieving breeds. They were selected for their ability to kill smaller animals. No-one deems them as dangerous because of their history. I find this very confusing.

I like Staffys too. I think they get a terrible press, poor things....and it's because they have been adopted as the mascot of the moron. Not the dogs' fault is it?

Aww to the staffys. They are such lovely dogs.

"Dooin out of curiosity what is the second breed the KC recommends to be housed with children?"

SURELY it's Labradors...

Actually this is what we do when we go travelling and can't take the dogs, they go to PIL's. PIL's love them and keep pestering us to go away again so they can have the puppies. So if SIL now said that the PILs cannot have the dogs there as she wants to visit during this time, this would indeed be a serious problem.

My dogs don't go in kennels either. For short visits they can stay at home. For longer visits I only go if the dogs are welcome too. We always take them on holidays with us. They've been to Sweden, England, Wales, France, Denmark, Germany, Belgium, Holland, Luxemborg and Ireland. The only time they've not been welcome anywhere is anywhere where sister is lurking.

Staffy's aren't pretty dogs, that's their biggest problem. They need a makeover. Some eyelashes, maybe.

Oh I disagree...but I think that's just a matter of taste. I think staffys are often really cute!

Maybe SIL isn't scared of the dog at all, maybe she watched this and thought it was a documentary

I agree with chickens, they need to employ "Hello Kitty!" branding team.

plenty on WIKI to start with bemybebe

descended from dog-fighting ancestors, very muscular dog with strong athletic ability, The breed is naturally muscular and may appear intimidating, Staffordshire bull terrier, like all dog breeds, is capable of dangerous behavior (but unlike all dog breeds this is a particulalry muscular & strong dog bred from fighters). They express their affection through jumping up, nuzzling, licking[17] and pawing (clearly this can make some people very nervous). The Staffordshire Bull Terrier is subject to breed-specific legislation in various countries, which ban members of the Bull and Terrier family. Staffordshire Bull Terriers are known to suffer from Hereditary Cataracts (HC) and L-2-hydroxyglutaric aciduria (L2HGA)?a metabolic disorder resulting in behavioural changes and dementia-like symptoms

And I've known some lovely Staffs (my sister had 2) but I wouldn't want my young kids around them. My choice, not yours.

'Temperament

Although individual differences in personality exist, common traits exist throughout the Staffords. Due to its breeding, and history, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier is known for its character of indomitable courage, high intelligence, and tenacity. This, coupled with its affection for its friends, its off-duty quietness and trustworthy stability, make it a foremost all-purpose dog.[3] It has been said that "No breed is more loving with its family"[4]

The breed is naturally muscular and may appear intimidating; however, because of their natural fondness for people, most Staffords are temperamentally ill-suited for guard or attack-dog training. Staffordshire Bull Terrier puppies are very easy to house train.'

The above is also from Wiki.

'Description

One of the most popular of all the terriers, the Staffordshire is renowned for his courage, which unfortunately can lead him into bad ways with other dogs owing to his tendency to ?get his retaliation in first?. With the human race, however, he is kindness itself, and his genuine love of children is well known. He is descended from a cross between the Bulldog and a terrier, and thus combines the temperaments of the two breeds. ' This is from the UK KC.

I am baffled hiphop why are you so selective with your presentation here.

descended from dog-fighting ancestors, very muscular dog with strong athletic ability, The breed is naturally muscular and may appear intimidating, Staffordshire bull terrier, like all dog breeds, is capable of dangerous behavior (but unlike all dog breeds this is a particulalry muscular & strong dog bred from fighters).

Also to point out "Descended from dog-fighting ancestors" does not mean bread for ..., in fact "because of their natural fondness for people, most Staffords are temperamentally ill-suited for guard or attack-dog training."

Reading comprehension problems?

The other breed that gets a mention by the KC as to how good they are with children is the Bulldog.

"And I've known some lovely Staffs (my sister had 2) but I wouldn't want my young kids around them. My choice, not yours."

Absolutely! Just do not try to present your prejudice as opinions based on fact.

"Absolutely! Just do not try to present your ignorance and prejudice as opinions based on fact."

I have wondered why we've never gone down the route of pants for dogs? our increasingly hygiene obsessed society would suggest this would be a goer .

Would certainly allay some of fears of those obsessed with the invisible germs that don't seem to be making any one ill in an otherwise perfectly clean looking house, of whom there seem to be an increasing number.

Myself, I think if it's been cleaned, it looks clean, everyone living there is healthy, why work yourself into a lather about potential invisible dirt that you can't see and won't hurt you?

But, OP have you considered offering dog pants as a further compromise to the dog gate?

SIL may be delighted not to go. I'd be hot footing it off to my parents as quick as the wind coyld take me! . I wouldn't be being difficult, just neither me or my kids would enjoy xhristmas with the dog, and I'd feel guilty that it was shut up because of me. I'd just rather be elsewhere.

Also laughing at the (apparently perfectly rational) fear that the beast may at any moment leap over the baby gate and savage the entire family as they sit watching the Wizard of Oz eating Quality Street.

only selective in that you seem to be puzzled as to why some people don't want to be around these dogs. Why can't you accept that not everyone wants to be around strong muscular dogs, bred from dog-fighting ancestors, with tendancy to have a hereditary disorder that results in behavioural changes?

I did quote "like all dog breeds" above, and was only really quoting the snippets that show the dogs can be dangerous. That is what you asked for.

Anyway as chickens states they have an image problem. They may all be as harmless as fluffy kittens - guess that's why all the thugs and drug dealers around my way have them.

I was at a BBQ this summer where a very nice chap had one - spent the entire time defending the dog telling us how fab and gentle they are, how well trained it was blah blah blah. Dog kind of fucked it all up though by running off from his very responsible owner later in the BBQ, scampered through the house with the owner chasing him (when he was ment to be outside) and jumped on top of my 3 month old baby. Yeah really harmless - DD was fine but it's just luck as he jumped on her face with very long claws.

I DON'T LIKE THEM!!!!! I'm ALLOWED NOT TO LIKE THEM!!!! LOTS OF PEOPLE DON'T LIKE THEM and if you get one you should know this as part of the research a responsible dog owner will do.

I have no problem with people not liking them. I have a problem with people presenting this dislike as the dogs being 'dangerous' and presenting this as fact. Nothing could be further from the truth. Temprement wise the Staff is the best dog you could have.