My aunt doesn't want me to bring my dog to Christmas day

[onethickpony]

My Aunt has told me that she doesn't want me to bring my dog on Christmas day. There are going to be 22 of us so I can understand maybe she is worried about it being overwhelming, but my dog is very clean and well behaved and has been at most large family gatherings without issue.

Should I just respect her wishes or AIBU to push back and least ask why? Sad to think of my dog alone on xmas day (yes i am a crazy pet parent).

Also if you don’t want your dog being left alone all day, then simples you don’t leave it all day. You go for a dinner and then go home!

OP, you must on some level know that you are being daft.
I say this as a fellow dog owner.
They are your pet, no one else's. Dragging them round to other people's houses is a comparatively new social trend dogs in the past managed fine without this.
They aren't actually human children.

Set your dog up at home, chews, water, comfy bed etc and leave them for as long as they will be comfortable.

I love dogs but they are indifferent to Christmas. Go and enjoy yourself, but maybe for a shorter period.

22 people?

To be honest I’d rather stay at home with the dog.

Your Aunt has generously invited you to spend Christmas Day with her. She has either explicitly said that the invite doesn't extend to your dog, or has declined your request for dog to come too. Either way, the answer is clear. She doesn't need to justify her stance.
So the choice is yours what to do on Christmas Day. Either decline the invitation or shorten your visit.

Her house, Her rules

She said no. You want a reason. The reason is that she doesn't want your dog there.
I worked it out for you so now you don't have to be rude.

For gods sake
The dog won't know it's Christmas
22 people don't want a bloody dog there

I cannot believe you even think this is a good idea to be honest

If you don't want to go stay at home

Her house her rules

I won't be entertaining peoples pets on Christmas Day that's for sure

Either you are being a Dick or this is a reverse - which makes you a Dick

You accept your aunt doesn't want your dog there and make arrangements accordingly.

We've said the same to my in laws. They'd be very welcome on Xmas day but they dog isn't.

Of course you can’t push back.

Don’t take the dog.

Go for the afternoon. Eat. Come home early because you can’t leave the dog. Feet up. Dog snuggles. Perfect.

This is even more funny than the people who post about a child free wedding and is it ok to ask if they will make an exception for little Johnny.

She’s not being U but as a crazy pet parent too, I probably wouldn’t go because my dogs would be sad, and I’d feel guilty.

Plus they’d likely pull the tree down

I am a dog owner and think YABVU.

You need to stay with your dog, manage your time at your aunts to ensure the dogs needs are met or make other arrangements.

At this stage does anyone NOT have a dog? I am getting heartily sick and tired of the amount of time, broadband width, and space on here given over to hairy animals. Keep it to the dog and cat boards please.

Anyway, the dog is not theirs, it is yours. First thing I would ask if I had a bloody dog is "is it ok to bring dog?" It is just polite. I would abide by the answer, which in this case would be No, dogs not allowed. OK so.

@PleasantBirthday

It sounds like OP’s dog has been at family gatherings before I so don’t think it unreasonable to think dog can come again or that she should feel embarrassed about it.

You can't assume that someone wants your pet at their home in the first place, but then to put them in the awkward position of having to tell you that you can't bring a dog to a meal for 22 people? Really, an adult should know, not wonder if they should be pushing back.

No, you shouldn’t assume but I don’t think it’s unreasonable to ask. If the dog has been at previous gatherings then it’s reasonable to think it could be at future gatherings also.

As for a meal for 22 people, it’s not like the dog is going to be meandering through the crowd or sitting at the table. She could bring a travel crate and set it up in quiet corner returning hourly for a potter around the garden. But only if host agrees to this ofcourse.

“Pushing back” is absolutely not something you can do here

The invitation is to you, not your dog

She’s had to make that clear, which is bad enough, please don’t make her feel uncomfortable by asking “why?”

YABVU. Of course you should respect her wishes - she doesn’t want an animal there.

You chose to get an animal so you have to live with the consequences of that, and one of those is that the majority of the time people aren’t going to want your dog to tag along with you.

You are not a “pet parent”. This animal is not your child. You are just its owner.

22 people is too many feet, too many hands and too much noise. It won’t be pleasant for the dog and it could get stressed and bite. Leave it at home. If it bothers you to leave the dog then you can stay home too (I would).

How many of the other 22 people have a dog? Maybe it's a case of if you take yours then others will want to do the same

You cannot "push back" that would be incredibly rude.

How far away is aunts from yours? If it's possible I would leave dog for 2/3 hours and visit aunts for lunch then go back home.

If that isn't doable then I wouldn't go at all.

You're not a pet parent. You're a dog owner. Get a grip.

I am guessing this a reverse.

Because no one is this dense. I have dogs. I love dogs. That doesn't mean they have to do everywhere I do.

They also don't know it's Christmas day.

YABU I’m afraid and I love dogs.