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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask her to cut short her 'holiday'

42 replies

dizzybiatch · 10/08/2012 07:53

Someone i know asked me if i would look after her dog for the weekend. I have a big dog, hers is even bigger. I have a small house and small kids.

I said yes because she said she was stuck for dog care. The dog drops weight in kennels and she didnt want to put her through that when she has just been in for a couple of weeks. She has gone 5 hours away to visit her new partner.

So far the dog has wet the floor, whenever she is in the garden she jumps the wall and goes off down the rd, she has initiated 3 horrible scuffles with my dog- first time she got up on my couch and before i could go over to get her off my dog had gone to sniff her and she jumped on him, second time she was sniffing my worktop where food was sitting and my dog went over, and lastly my dog went sniffing her bed. My kids are now feeling nervous around dog and she is quite licky/mouthy (in a friendly puppy way as only young) and tbh dog is bloody hard work.

She 'needs' to sleep near someone and so i put her in my room and this morning as soon my little one who co sleeps stirred she came over and started licking her face. She woke up in an absolute panic and it was an hour before we usually get up.

AIBU but i feel i want to ask her to cut her break short. My kids are back at school after the weekend and so this is our last weekend. She told me the dog would sleep all day but obviously in our house this just isn't the case. Im bloody knackered. Sad

OP posts:
PicklesThePottyMouthedParrot · 10/08/2012 07:55

Can you call her say it's not working and drop the dog at the usual kennels?

Natzer · 10/08/2012 08:00

We put our dog in with a local lady, where the dog lives in the house as 'part of the family' like at home. She's fully insured and all of that stuff, secured garden, experienced with dogs of all sizes and temperaments. Anyone like that near you that can help by taking the dog in? (assuming jabs are up to date)

giraffesCantTakePartInThe100ms · 10/08/2012 08:01

yanbu sounds awful

agree with kennels plan though too

Original poster
dizzybiatch · 10/08/2012 08:11

local kennels are full which was another reason she asked me. Dog fretts and chew in there too and apparently soils the kennel which i think the owner thought was because she wasnt getting out enough etc. The owners are friends of hers. Im now thinking the dog isnt as easy as she perhaps find her at home. I feel for her, she adores the dog and i am a big softie for animals too but i could cry, im so tired, its like having a new baby. My Dh says i abu if i text to say it isnt quite working out how we thought because it will spoil her hol but tbh having the dog is spoiling my last weekend with the kids and other than saying i would help i dont owe her anything. She has offered she would return the favour but the reality is i would never ask as i know it would be too much. Although she did tell me the other day she thinks my dog takes the piss out of me Hmm

OP posts:
diddl · 10/08/2012 08:15

Would the dog be better off at home with you visiting it, if that would work?

zipzap · 10/08/2012 08:24

Text or call her to ask her if there is anybody else that she knows that could have it rather than saying straight off that she needs to come and get it.

Are there other kennels that you could put it into? If the kennels owner is a friend of hers, maybe they could recommend somewhere or somebody else that could have it. Or they could have in the day togive you some respite.

But given it is going to be your last weekend before starting back I would definitely try to get the dog to go somewhere else given it is so much more of a hassle and disruption to look after than you were told.

HandMadeTail · 10/08/2012 08:25

It's a dog! It doesn't "need" to sleep in your room and frighten the living daylights out of your baby.

It sleeps all day with your friend, but I'm guessing she doesn't have DC or another dog to excite it.

Can you set up a "run" for it in the garden? A long wire or rope attached at opposite ends of the garden with its lead looped around it. The dog can run up and down the garden, without getting away. I know it's not ideal, but it's better than kennels.

Oh, and next time, say "no"!

Original poster
dizzybiatch · 10/08/2012 08:39

The owner told me if she was in reach of me then she would just lie in her bed once i told her to stay there. Hmm Obviously her dog is just taking the piss out me too Hmm

No other kennels in our area and dont have the paper work id need anyway.

I texted last night and let her know we were having teething problems.

Hopefully today will be easier.

Just feeling a bit taken for a ride. Bloody hard work. And there will definitely not be a next time.

OP posts:
PicklesThePottyMouthedParrot · 10/08/2012 08:49

See how today goes! Take a firmer hand with the cheeky hound.

PicklesThePottyMouthedParrot · 10/08/2012 08:49

(both of them!)

SoleSource · 10/08/2012 10:41

Aren't most dogs hard work? Maybe you should honour your promise and in future say no if you're not sure about anything, of which I suspect you wasnoot to begin with. It is your fault.

LookBehindYou · 10/08/2012 12:00

You have a dog so you must have had some inkling how a young dog in a strange environment would behave. I don't think you should call her back from her holiday. If you had said no she wouldn't have gone.

bumpybecky · 10/08/2012 12:27

I'm dog sitting at the moment (last day today) and no not all dogs are hard work. Our house guest has been lovely, she has made the place VERY hairy though!

I think you have been taken for a ride dizzy the owner's description of the the dog's behaviour isn't accurate. Can you try what handmade suggested or have the dog on a long line in the garden?

How long are you supposed to be having this dog for? is it until Sunday?

LookBehindYou · 10/08/2012 13:13

I didn't see your last post Dizzy. Do you have access to a crate or a long chain lead that could be attached outside? The dog will have to be contained as best as poss until the woman comes back.

Kladdkaka · 10/08/2012 13:29

Water pistol. I'm currently dog sitting a totally bonkers, hyperactive dog, because the owners had to fly home due to family bereavement. It's running riot round the house. The water pistol is a very effective weapon in getting my bloody shoe back calming it down.

As for the scuffles, ignore them, they're normal dog behaviour establishing who is boss. We've had loads as my dog lets her know he's in charge and she ignores it and gets even worse

HappyAsChips · 10/08/2012 14:54

Agree with HandMadeTail. Can you tie it up in the garden? Feed and water it out there and keep it out of the house. Then it can't wet the floor, lick the children or fight with your dog. I wouldn't let it sleep near anyone in the bedrooms either (yuk) it's a dog, not a child. As long as it's fed, watered and looked after as best you can, you don't need to pander to it.

RossettiConfetti · 10/08/2012 15:16

I second water pistol, or actually water in a cleaned-out old squeezy washing-up liquid bottle is helpful too. I would let her know the dog is being a pain though.

Original poster
dizzybiatch · 10/08/2012 23:37

Thanks to all those with the helpful suggestions.

To those who are not so helpful 'its my fault'... for what? Being the only one kind enough to give it a go? I won't offer again because the dog is a pita. Have dog sat others who were fine.

OP posts:
bumpybecky · 10/08/2012 23:49

has the dog behaved any better today Dizzy? hope so...

Socknickingpixie · 10/08/2012 23:53

yabu because you said you would BUT she is also bu for not being honest about the dog

Original poster
dizzybiatch · 11/08/2012 00:17

Been a bit better thanks bumpy but had a very early start thanks to her giving my youngest a good face lickin at the crack of dawn ....

OP posts:
SkinnedAlive · 11/08/2012 00:26

I would call her. You, the dog and the kids are unhappy. You don't have the facilities to look after the dog - if it jumps the fence and gets onto the road and is killed you will get the blame. I wouldn't want my pets miserable while I was away and would come back stright away if a petsitter called me so I would hope she would do the same.

SkinnedAlive · 11/08/2012 00:28

You did her a really nice favour but it is not working out so don't feel guilty :)

NonnoMum · 11/08/2012 00:29

You let a strange dog lick your baby's face?
Eugh.
Get rid of it - now.

maddening · 11/08/2012 00:35

can't she. Take it with her to her partners house?
ywnbu to ask her to take dog back and responsibility for arranging alternative care or look after herself