I visited friends after lockdown at their home. They have a Labrador, which is a little over a year old. Before I even entered, the dog was so excited by a visitor. She leapt up continuously, dashed about the room, leapt up at me again. She nipped me several times in the process.
First of all, I am used to dogs, particularly large dogs. This was, however, the most manic, hyper and intensely over-the-top greeting I have ever seen from any dog. She almost knocked me to the floor three times. It went on for ten minutes.
Secondly, my friends did very little to calm her down except tell me to move to the garden to prevent her peeing on the floor. They had just mowed the lawns. (Brilliant!) When the dog did finally calm down and my friends were able to greet me, it lay down panting. My friend patted her and sat: "What a well-behaved young dog she is." I was flabbergasted!
I've come away with a bruise on my arm from being nipped and my clothes grass stained and in tatters. The suede on one of my heels is torn with teeth marks. My trousers are ripped on the hem. My top and jumper are covered in grass stains. The elbow of my jumper is completely shredded.
I've recently started a new job, which I came straight from to visit them. It was after a period of uncertainty and living very frugally. So, a month in, I bought the nicest clothes I could afford for in-person meetings that are coming up in the next months. This was a significant treat - this was the first time I have ever spent considerable money on new clothes. It was, of course, the first time I had worn this outfit that this happened.
I decided it would be churlish to mention anything to my friends and they did not seem to notice the damage. They would also be surprised (perhaps even horrified..!) at how much money I had spent on the outfit. I hoped it would be easily solved by sending everything to the dry cleaners and a good tailor. However, they came back with some of the damage and stains still visible and the jumper and shoes irreparable.
I realise they are only clothes. I realise the dog is young, probably hasn't seen any guests to her house for her entire life. I also realised that I didn't say anything at the time it happened. But I feel both upset and resentful that it happened. I don't want to visit them again. Damage aside, the dog continually nips. Even as a dog lover, being around her makes me tense and nervous.
Am I being unreasonable? It feels like not only has this incident cost me an expensive outfit, but also changed the way I see the friendship.