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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To have four large dogs in the home with my family?

314 replies

fallingdownasteepsteadyslope · 10/04/2017 18:40

We have 5 children. Wasn't particularly planned as we have two sets of twins. Our oldest two are 9, the middle child is 7 and the youngest two are 4. We have four large dogs (three are what we consider giant breed).
Our 7yr old has made friends with a new girl in the class. We invited her over for a playdate but new girl's mother is refusing to let her come due to our 'big beastly dogs'. She's seen all of them as we take them on dog walks. She then said I was irresponsible to 'have so many dogs and so many children because one of the children will get bit eventually'. It set me off thinking, if you saw me in the street, would you think I was ridiculously irresponsible and 'a inadequate mother'? BTW, this mother has four dogs of her own, three cockerpoos and a cav.

OP posts:
HappCatt · 10/04/2017 21:54

I can't believe anyone would use the phrase 'big beastly dogs^ 😂 It sounds like a joke

StarryIllusion · 10/04/2017 21:59

As long as I'd met them and you, I wouldn't worry. Bigger dogs are normally less likely to bite out of the blue than smaller ones and if they were friendly I wouldn't think twice. It's hardly like they aren't used to children, living with 5 and my kids know how to behave around dogs as I have two myself.

KatieHaslam22 · 10/04/2017 22:00

It's ridiculous! You live in a large house so my guess is that you wouldn't have the dogs and the kids playing in the same area anyway, even if they weren't friendly which I presume they are. Just because a parent is scared of bigger dogs doesn't mean the child has to be.

zeezeek · 10/04/2017 22:19

I couldn't take my two to yours, sorry. They would refuse to leave and then you'd end up with 7 kids 😂

SallyAlbrightsCollegeRoomate · 10/04/2017 22:54

You are getting the MN dog lover echo chamber response.

Lots of people don't particularly like dogs and would not let their children come to your house. I wouldn't - I don't know how well they are trained, how you cope with them, how closely you would supervise my child and if you would be able to cope if one of them did suddenly attack.

mummymummums · 10/04/2017 22:56

You sound like a very responsible dog owner OP, but tbh I would not send my child to yours with so many large dogs, unless I knew for sure they'd be kept apart.
I say this as someone who grew up with the world's soppiest loveliest dog. Unfortunately one day he 'turned' - first at a visitor who we didn't know (but thought possibly the dog sensed something), and later same day on my Dad who he was devoted to. Only my Dad's very quick actions avoided bloodshed. He was seen by vet straightaway and it turned out he had a brain tumour and was put to sleep immediately. It was so sad but as children we could never have stopped him if he'd gone for us. And this was a dog who once saved my Mum from an attack, was loved by everyone locally and slept with the cats.
I can't blame someone for being nervous, but there's no excuse for her to be rude.

5OBalesofHay · 10/04/2017 23:00

Presumably they aren't in the house so why would she worry?

Reactivedog · 10/04/2017 23:01

Ridiculous, children are more likely to be injured in a car or crossing the road.

Havanaclub · 10/04/2017 23:04

Dogs are smelly farty hairy shedding monsters. They can be loving I know that, but they are high maintenance and costly. Need walkies twice a day minimum whether you want to go with them or not. But off ya go.

Reactivedog · 10/04/2017 23:05

Can't be bothered to check but has Havana the obsessional dog hater posted on the thread yet?

I keep asking MNHQ to ban her after her awful posts on the dying dog thread.

Reactivedog · 10/04/2017 23:05

Grin brilliant cross post. That will be a yes then.

tabulahrasa · 10/04/2017 23:09

"Lots of people don't particularly like dogs and would not let their children come to your house. I wouldn't - I don't know how well they are trained, how you cope with them, how closely you would supervise my child and if you would be able to cope if one of them did suddenly attack."

So you'd blanket ban the house rather than trying to find out any of that stuff?...and she can't dislike dogs, she's got some.

Ginandpanic · 10/04/2017 23:10

No you yanbu . Your family sound lovely.

I'd rather visit you than the judgmental mother .

i have one huge dog here and I would love 4 of her. The terrier is more trouble!

OVienna · 10/04/2017 23:10

Yes havana is.
Meanwhile OP you are living my dream. I've two children,a cat, and a dog and I feel like an amateur compared to you. I would scale up to three dogs personally if I could. Not a goer unfortunately. I would actively seek you out as a mate knowing you had an Otterhound as well.

Havanaclub · 10/04/2017 23:13

I love the way you get all your knickers in a twist just because I am me!

Get over yourselves really. Not everyone loves dogs. They have killed more people than I have. Think about that.

I hope I will not be banned for having an opinion. But we shall see.

OVienna · 10/04/2017 23:13

"They have killed more people then I have." Omg

Costacoffeeplease · 10/04/2017 23:16

Dogs are smelly farty hairy shedding monsters. They can be loving I know that, but they are high maintenance and costly. Need walkies twice a day minimum whether you want to go with them or not. But off ya go.

10/10 for observation

And your point is?

Costacoffeeplease · 10/04/2017 23:17

My dogs haven't killed more people than I have Wink

Iamastonished · 10/04/2017 23:18

"Your dogs and lifestyle sound ideal!"

That sounds like my idea of hell Grin

I like dogs, but I don't want to own one dog, let alone four (or 5 children either) as I am far too lazy. I grew up with dogs and totally understand that they are a major commitment, and a tie - both of which I don't want or need just now. DD would be begging me to take her to your house though as she loves dogs.

Xmasbaby11 · 10/04/2017 23:19

That's a lot of dogs and dc! I would assume you were a very hands off parent to have so many kids and animals, as you couldn't keep an eye on them all. But I dobt think I'd make a judgement without knowing you and the dogs' character.

teenagetantrums · 10/04/2017 23:19

I must be slackest mum ever. It never occurred to me to vet any pets in a house before l let my kids go and play. Surely if your dogs live with your kids you know how to deal with kids and pets.

Reactivedog · 10/04/2017 23:19

But far, far fewer than cars or humans or even cows actually.

It's lack of understanding of actual risk, hysterical headlines create views like this unfortunately.

I hope I will not be banned for having an opinion. But we shall see

No, I asked for you to be banned because you came in to a thread where a poster was distraught about her dog dying, you repeatedly posted nasty comments about dogs despite being asked to stop.

You are just a very nasty poster and it's a shame that you were allowed to stay.

Havanaclub · 10/04/2017 23:20

OVeinna.

Say it out loud for everyone to hear/see. OMG is just a cop out.

Dogs have killed. Correct or not? They can be dangerous.

Nancy91 · 10/04/2017 23:21

Havana please stop trolling threads about "doggies" and work on your communication skills.

pennypickle · 10/04/2017 23:24

Dogs are smelly farty hairy shedding monsters. They can be loving I know that, but they are high maintenance and costly. Need walkies twice a day minimum whether you want to go with them or not. But off ya go

Yep they fart - depending on what you feed them. Yep they shed - most dog owners are aware of that. Absolutely they need to be walked at least twice a day..... What exactly is your point?

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