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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Dog in the garden - who is BU?

44 replies

Roseberrry · 12/03/2016 07:27

We have a medium size breed puppy who is full of energy. He gets walked enough but still enjoys time spent exploring our garden.

Dh however doesn't want him in the garden as he wants to have it looking perfect. He bought a pen which is a big rectangle shape and is big enough for puppy to happily do his business in but he only wants puppy to be in his pen when outside and never in the rest of the garden.

I feel this is unfair on the puppy and can't see why he's not allowed to play in the garden under supervision.

Who is BU?

OP posts:
Arpege · 12/03/2016 07:29

Your DH shouldn't have bought a dog if he's that precious about his garden.

HIBU

Sparklingbrook · 12/03/2016 07:30

What Arpege said. What's so special about the garden?

Flashbangandgone · 12/03/2016 07:32

I think your DH is BU... Getting a puppy isn't a convenient accessory..... If he can't run in the garden I'd imagine DH is equally strict about the house... Not much of a life for a dog! DH should get over himself.

SilkObsidian · 12/03/2016 07:32

I wouldn't want a dog loose in my garden if I spent lots of time and effort making it lovely. The dog will trample things and dig.

What's wrong with the pen? If it's too small why not take him for extra walks?

I think your DH should come before the dog!

QueenofLouisiana · 12/03/2016 07:34

So he actually wants a guinea pig?

HIBU. The puppy needs garden space to play, it probably isn't too keen on admiring a stripy lawn or the colour co-or donated flowers. Smile

Flashbangandgone · 12/03/2016 07:34

In fact I'd go so far to say couping up a puppy in a pen like a rabbit is cruel. Did he actually want this puppy? Or was he persuaded?

Original poster
Roseberrry · 12/03/2016 07:35

Puppy mostly lives in the kitchen but can come through and spend time in the living room with us, he's more than happy with this as he still gets lots of attention. It's our first summer of having a nice garden so I can understand where he is coming from.

I can't walk the puppy much more than I do as it would be bad for him.

OP posts:
Original poster
Roseberrry · 12/03/2016 07:36

He bought the puppy, chose it himself.

OP posts:
Flashbangandgone · 12/03/2016 07:37

I can't walk the puppy much more than I do as it would be bad for him.

Ok... Sounds like he's getting a lot of attention/exercise if you're walking him that much!

Sparklingbrook · 12/03/2016 07:38

Did he not consider his award winning garden before getting the puppy?

Catzpyjamas · 12/03/2016 07:38

Whose decision was it to get the puppy?
When you are all out in the garden (if we get a summer), will the puppy still be confined to his pen?

bimandbam · 12/03/2016 07:40

Puppy should be supervised in garden until he is old enough to be allowed out alonr without trashing stuff.

I don't let our dog onto the decked area as the dcs play on there and I don't want pee/poo where they scrim around. But she has a little patio area for toileting in between walks which I keep clean.

OliviaBenson · 12/03/2016 07:43

HIBU and cruel to be honest. Dogs aren't a fashion accessory. Maybe try training puppy to stay out of the flower beds.

scarednoob · 12/03/2016 07:44

Husband in the pen. Dog in the garden. Sorted.

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 12/03/2016 07:45

He is b u. Let puppy use garden, ban the husband.

AgathaF · 12/03/2016 07:46

The dog can be trained to pee and poo in just one area of the garden and to keep off flower beds and not dig. It's really unfair to not let it play in the garden and probably not a good choice of pet for someone who is so precious about stuff.

Catzpyjamas · 12/03/2016 07:46

My DM had a gorgeous garden and a 40kg dog. He was trained not to destroy the plants and did the toilet out on walks. Your DH is BU and needs to get on with training the puppy so that his garden doesn't get destroyed.

ReginaBlitz · 12/03/2016 07:49

Poor dog! Mostly lives in the kitchen? And is not allowed free roam of the garden! Why the fuck did you get a dog, they are meant to be part of the family not shut away in the kitchen it's cruel.

Pipbin · 12/03/2016 07:53

Hold on a minute. He wanted this dog yet he won't let it be in the garden and you have to walk it? He will only allow it in the kitchen and sometimes in the living room.

Why did he want a dog?

rosie1959 · 12/03/2016 07:53

Never heard of anything so daft poor dog
I have had dogs all my life and allowed free run of the house and garden Found the children could make more mess than any dog
How is the dog supposed to learn stuck in a pen You can train a dog not to trash the flower beds etc but not by being stuck in a pen
All my dogs have enjoyed wandering the garden on a nice day and sprawling out in the sun They gave so much more than worrying about the odd trampled flower

Original poster
Roseberrry · 12/03/2016 07:53

He's not shut away in the kitchen, our kitchen is the heart of our house and where we spend most of our time. He gets more than enough attention, that's not the problem.

I think this is enough to show him I'm right Smile puppy is an intelligent little thing and I'm sure he can be taught not to ruin our flowers when we put them in. Not too sure if our children will be the same!

OP posts:
StitchesInTime · 12/03/2016 07:53

I don't really understand why someone would get a dog and then not let it into their own garden.

Can't he at least try training the dog to stay away from the flowerbeds etc?

topcat2014 · 12/03/2016 07:55

Surely everyone knows that you get a dog and then everything gets trashed, and you all end up in some kind of hybrid dog/person kennel - I thought that was part of the attraction, meaning you no longer need to give a damn?

skankingpiglet · 12/03/2016 08:04

I wouldn't want a dog running free in my house or making a mess of my garden, so I'm with your DH on that. However, this is why we don't have a dog.
Pets are family. We have a cat and she has the same rights to space as every other family member. It sounds like this puppy has a very limited space to explore. Will it grow into a large dog? The kitchen, occasional use of the living room and a square of grass in the garden doesn't sound enough to me.

MetalMidget · 12/03/2016 08:10

Surely everyone knows that you get a dog and then everything gets trashed, and you all end up in some kind of hybrid dog/person kennel

I think we must have been lucky! We have a rescue dog, and he's not even remotely destructive, indoors or out! He does leave his toys on the floor though, but I see that as good preparation for our forthcoming child! :D

I'm sure the pup can easily be trained to leave flower beds alone and to toilet in one spot.

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