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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think dog owners should be considerate when bringing their dogs to family events

52 replies

curiousgop · 06/02/2022 10:37

I have a DS who is 3. We have no dogs but DS has been exposed to friends' dogs with careful supervision and is generally happy around them.

DPs sister (P) has a 7 month old puppy who is very very hyperactive, very interested in DS, probably because he's the only child he's met before.

P doesn't live at DPIL anymore, but is generally there approx 4 times a week (stops by after work 3x week without fail and usually round once at the weekend). Generally takes the puppy with her on the non working day.

We are suitably close with DPIL, and usually see them once every 2-3 weeks. They prefer us to go there as more space, and we're happy as get a nice cooked meal.

Often when we go to DPIL, P will come over to see us as well, which is generally fine as we get on well. However, it's become really stressful and hard work as now every time we go to see DPIL, P comes with the puppy who is literally all over DS. DS finds it upsetting being jumped up repeatedly, harassed when chilling out on the sofa etc. We are constantly (politely) getting the dog away from her. P does make some efforts, but I would say not enough. But I do acknowledge that a puppy is a puppy and will act like a puppy. P wouldn't, for example, put the puppy on another room or anything like that.

A few weeks ago, DH spoke to DPIL and said it would be nice to see them just us and them, as it would be good for DS to be able to relax (and to be honest, for us to relax). It appears to have fallen on deaf ears though as we are seeing them for the first time today in 7 weeks (all had covid in succession) and P is coming with the puppy.

DPIL seemingly don't want to rock the boat and say anything to P, and we don't feel able to ask her not to come to her own mums house. It's just annoying as she sees DPIL 4x a week, and we haven't seen them in 7 weeks. Would have been nice to be able to relax and not guard DS from being jumped on.

P thinks that the puppy is hyper but 'wouldn't hurt a fly'. Unfortunately I've seen 'wouldn't hurt a fly' dogs hurt people in the past so am of the view you can never truly trust a dog, especially with children.

So;

YABU: The dog is family and should be welcome at all family events.

YANBU: Its reasonable that on some occasions P either makes other arrangements for dog or doesn't come, as DS and us should be allowed some RELAXED quality time with DPIL.

Or something else? Talk to P about taking more responsibility for dog at meet ups? Invite DPIL here instead so we can have say over who comes (our place is a lot smaller but might have to start doing this)?

(A slightly separate AIBU but why does P always have to go when we go? She's there all the time, does DP not get any time with his DP without her?)

OP posts:
itwasntaparty · 06/02/2022 10:52

Totally excessive contact IMO between all of you but yes, ddog should be there but needs to learn to behave.

Singlebutmarried · 06/02/2022 10:56

The puppy needs to be taught that jumping on anyone is not acceptable.

If it were me, and the pup kept jumping, if just up and leave. Never mind if the PIL have made dinner for everyone or not. Make it very clear why you are leaving.

SIL could easily keep pup on a long lead and use corrective action (firm no/clicker) when pup is misbehaving, but she has chosen not to.

Shoxfordian · 06/02/2022 10:57

Yanbu about the dog but yabu not to occasionally host your pil and make them dinner - hosting should be a two way street

curiousgop · 06/02/2022 10:57

Excessive from us to see DPIL for an afternoon every 2-3 weeks?
I agree P is excessive with it but that's out of my control.

OP posts:
curiousgop · 06/02/2022 10:58

@Shoxfordian

Yanbu about the dog but yabu not to occasionally host your pil and make them dinner - hosting should be a two way street
We do invite! They ask us to go to them instead if possible!
OP posts:
Shoxfordian · 06/02/2022 11:00

Ah ok, I’ll let you off then

PostThenGhost · 06/02/2022 11:02

YANBU

I’ve never understood why people think it’s acceptable to take their dogs to other peoples house at all.

We never feel the need to take our dog everywhere with us, she is fine for a couple of hours alone. Baffling. All it does, by taking them everywhere all the time, is set them up for a huge amount of separation anxiety when they are then left alone.

curiousgop · 06/02/2022 11:02

@Shoxfordian

Ah ok, I’ll let you off then
Yeah sorry, I just reread and see that it reads a bit like that. They have been here many times over the years, but for several reasons (including difficult parking here) it's easier for all if we go there.
OP posts:
Iamkmackered1979 · 06/02/2022 11:03

That’s ridiculous all she is teaching that puppy is to be all over kids. He is able to practise the (bad) behaviour and therefore is rewarding behaviour for him so unless he is stopped he’ll carry on harassing your child and then any other he comes into contact with. Is she not going to train her pup? I had a bouncy retriever but we kept him from the kids to stop him jumping all over them and taught him to be calm (rewarded calm good behaviour) he has a boundary and that is the same wherever we go he will go and settle on it.

The pup should be on lead near your child especially at 3 a dog is in your face and big at that age I wouldn’t have it. You need to speak to dogs owner and tell her you don’t want her puppy jumping on your toddler etc. I can’t be bothered with people who just allow their dogs free reign without even trying to train them. Puppy pen/gate kept in another room? It’s not hard! Hope you get things sorted op

JustUseTheDoorSanta · 06/02/2022 11:05

Your DH needs to talk with his sister to explain that the puppy needs more training as the jumping is getting more problematic now it gets older. If she won't train the dog then keep your DS away from the dog.

As for the PIL; you asked to see them by yourselves and they have P coming now, so you can just cancel if that means you don't want to go. Explain you asked to see them by themselves but as they are busy you'll come in 2 weeks instead, if they are free at that time.

curiousgop · 06/02/2022 11:05

@Iamkmackered1979

That’s ridiculous all she is teaching that puppy is to be all over kids. He is able to practise the (bad) behaviour and therefore is rewarding behaviour for him so unless he is stopped he’ll carry on harassing your child and then any other he comes into contact with. Is she not going to train her pup? I had a bouncy retriever but we kept him from the kids to stop him jumping all over them and taught him to be calm (rewarded calm good behaviour) he has a boundary and that is the same wherever we go he will go and settle on it.

The pup should be on lead near your child especially at 3 a dog is in your face and big at that age I wouldn’t have it. You need to speak to dogs owner and tell her you don’t want her puppy jumping on your toddler etc. I can’t be bothered with people who just allow their dogs free reign without even trying to train them. Puppy pen/gate kept in another room? It’s not hard! Hope you get things sorted op

Thank you. I've never had dogs so I don't really know much about training or what a reasonable expectation of a puppy or training them is, glad to hear I'm not being unreasonable in that respect.
OP posts:
Notonthestairs · 06/02/2022 11:06

It's not your house so you don't get to set the rules.

From your end you need to clear and consistent. "DS doesn't get along with the puppy. For now we will only visit when it's not there. Let us know when you are free."

And then be consistent.

The puppy will develop and calm down. You need to be firmer and explicit in the meantime.

And it's not up to you have often their daughter visits - entirely up to your in laws.

DiddyHeck · 06/02/2022 11:08

@itwasntaparty

Totally excessive contact IMO between all of you but yes, ddog should be there but needs to learn to behave.
Totally excessive contact IMO between all of you

Eh? Who are you to decide that for a family? Confused

curiousgop · 06/02/2022 11:09

@Notonthestairs

It's not your house so you don't get to set the rules.

From your end you need to clear and consistent. "DS doesn't get along with the puppy. For now we will only visit when it's not there. Let us know when you are free."

And then be consistent.

The puppy will develop and calm down. You need to be firmer and explicit in the meantime.

And it's not up to you have often their daughter visits - entirely up to your in laws.

Agree about not setting rules, but think following our chat with them it would have been reasonable of them to listen and put up a boundary on our behalf with P and the puppy, but get that others may disagree.

Or to tell us outright that they aren't happy to do that, not just let it happen again when we are all ready to go over there?

OP posts:
Hoppinggreen · 06/02/2022 11:09

Of course the dog should be better trained but it’s really up to your PIL to dictate who is there etc.
I sympathise but ultimately it’s your decision whether to go or not

MissM2912 · 06/02/2022 11:11

What kind of a dog is it??

curiousgop · 06/02/2022 11:11

@MissM2912

What kind of a dog is it??
Start
OP posts:
curiousgop · 06/02/2022 11:11

**staffy
Autocorrect sorry

OP posts:
DiddyHeck · 06/02/2022 11:13

If it's any consolation OP, 7 weeks is a long time in the life of a puppy so it might be a bit less excitable now. Probably not when it first sees you all but hopefully it'll settle down quicker. Personally I'd keep speaking to P about it.

LethargicActress · 06/02/2022 11:13

The puppy might naturally be a bit calmer by now if it’s seven weeks since you’ve seen it.

JemimaTiggywinkle · 06/02/2022 11:13

I agree with you completely, I wouldn’t want a puppy jumping all over my child.
Is there a reason DP hasn’t talked to his sister about it?

Notonthestairs · 06/02/2022 11:14

People won't change unless it's in their interest to do so.

They need to know there are consequences to not listening to your concerns.

For the time being the dynamic doesn't work for you. So stick to your own boundaries.

The puppy really will calm down I promise - I adore my dog but they can be terrible over excited sharknados when they are small. I thought we never be able to leave the house again.

Stop feeling too embarrassed to draw a line.

Notonthestairs · 06/02/2022 11:14

But never ever suggest their daughter visits less. It's up to them.

Crayfishforyou · 06/02/2022 11:14

@Notonthestairs

It's not your house so you don't get to set the rules.

From your end you need to clear and consistent. "DS doesn't get along with the puppy. For now we will only visit when it's not there. Let us know when you are free."

And then be consistent.

The puppy will develop and calm down. You need to be firmer and explicit in the meantime.

And it's not up to you have often their daughter visits - entirely up to your in laws.

This. The puppy will calm probably calm down in time. But that doesn’t mean your child has to tolerate it.
SamphiretheStickerist · 06/02/2022 11:16

Good luck with "the puppy will settle down" malarkey.

Ours is three now and, because all the lockdowns made meetings inside, or outside, nigh on impossible for months one end, he has absolutely no concept of polite behaviour with visitors. His puppyish over excitement remains wholly intact.

Without some serious attention to his behaviour that puppy won't be able to learn how to behave. So you really do need to have words with her, tell her she leaves it at home, trains it, keeps it off your child, doesn't visit when you do - her choice. Or you will have to stop visiting and she can explain to PILS why she thinks her puppy is more important than their relationship with the some and grandchild.

Be that blunt...

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