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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be frustrated with my friend and her dog?

122 replies

user1471553275 · 12/02/2026 01:40

I love my friend and we have great fun together but I'm losing my patience with her a little bit so would appreciate some outside perspective.

She has a 6 month old puppy (sausage dog). He's cute and I love dogs. I went with her to collect him and she's incredibly attached to him. Which is part of the problem for me.

He has no sense of asking to go out to the toilet. She has made no attempt to toilet train him as far as I can tell. He's peeing and pooping constantly in her house. She brushes it off with "he's still learning" - I get it to a degree. Puppies have accidents as do adult dogs sometimes. But he's not learning because she's not teaching him. She also says "well it's just small". I have not had a single visit in the 3 months where he has not peed or pooped in the house. I can smell it. She's laughing it off because it's a rental but I don't think it's funny or fair to the dog at all. She's also told me sausage dogs are harder to train. I see no attempt at training.

My friend wants to go to a pub quiz as she is quite lonely. The dog must come with us and only dog friendly is an option. I just don't want to be in places are with her dog peeing/pooping inside. It's just not nice. He pooed in a flower shop last week. She thinks it's funny because he's a baby.

The other issue I'm frustrated with is that she has not left this dog alone at all. Not to nip out for milk, or to the post office - literally both 5 mins from her house. We spoke about it last week as I have said to her she's setting herself up for a difficult future. She did the same with her previous dog but I put that down to her being anxious that she could be out and he might pass away as he was an older chap. I didn't realize that this would continue with the new dog. We went out last week because she had an appointment and I drove her there. She had to arrange someone to come and watch him. The toileting issue was also a problem with the old dog. I assumed he was having "accidents" as he was older but now I'm thinking he was maybe never trained either.

In the past when we'd go out there was constant clock watching and on several occasions we ended the night (for example not having pudding when I'd fancied it) because she wanted to get back for her dog or she just cancelled last minute because of the dog. It drove me insane and I just feel like it's all going in that direction again.

She's aware that it's her anxiety and this is being projected onto the dog. He was upstairs with me last week whilst she let a workman in and he was clearly distressed. He was howling and pacing within seconds of her leaving the room. She's done everything the breeder told her not to do. He's sleeping in bed with her, lays on her all day long and she lets him chew shoes, socks etc so no boundaries at all.

Despite her saying she'd make a start with leaving him last week when we had a chat so that they could start building up time it's clearly not happening. She wouldn't even come out to pick up a takeaway with me and a friend last night and we were less than 5 mins walk from the house.

Everything revolves around whether she can take her dog. I don't want him in my car (he peed on my kitchen rug 2 weeks ago) or to be inside somewhere when he can't control his toileting. I know he can't help it because he's not been taught but it's still not nice.

I don't think it's a good idea for me to raise my concerns again because she doesn't listen. She says all the right things but it's history repeating itself. What would you do. Just avoid situations? I feel bad because we are friends and I know she's lonely but I don't want to be around a whiny dog that can't control its bladder/bowels.

OP posts:
Fends · 12/02/2026 01:57

Could not be arsed to read all of that but your friend thinking it’s funny her dog shits all over the house makes me think YANBU

PollyBell · 12/02/2026 02:04

I could not be friends with someone that insane being friends has to work mutually and to be pefectly honest if I saw any more not caring for the dog propeley for the dogs sake I would tell her I would report to relwvan authorities and yes this is something I would actually say and do, it is not healthy for the dog how can you be friends with a human who does not care for an animal correctly

Quickchangenow · 12/02/2026 02:06

Poor dog. She really isn’t doing him any favours. Does she have a dog training book, if not then maybe get her one. The longer she leaves it to start training the harder it will be.

mondaytosunday · 12/02/2026 02:15

By six months the dog should be well house trained. She’s babying it and doing the dog no favours.

WrylyAmused · 12/02/2026 02:24

She's clearly in the wrong, but you're also being a bit wet.

You don't like it. So you say so. And you hold the boundary.

"No, I don't want to go to the pub quiz/have him in the car/visit your house/whatever. I don't like that your dog isn't toilet trained and it's gross and embarrassing to take him out in public, and unfair to the owners of the places he indiscriminately pees and poos in. I also don't like the smell, and that's not fair to others in public places either. I don't want to be around him until he's trained, so until then, either I'd like to see you alone, or if you're not willing to leave him, then I guess we just can't hang out until he's properly toilet trained."

If your alternative is just avoiding her, then although it's uncomfortable to say so, it's actually kinder to say, as then she has a chance of fixing the issue.

Francestein · 12/02/2026 02:29

It’s very rare for 6m old dogs to have accidents. She is doing it a disservice by not training it. Sounds like she’s very controlling too.

B1anche · 12/02/2026 02:53

She sounds horrendous. I wonder what her landlord thinks about the dog pissing and shitting all over the house.

You need to grow a backbone and set some boundaries OP. Tell her you won't be going out with her or visiting her until the dog is trained.

Onegiantpupil · 12/02/2026 02:59

@user1471553275

@WrylyAmused has nailed it with the advice! You should absolutely do this

FiveShelties · 12/02/2026 03:21

Her landlord is going to be delighted.

Silverbirchleaf · 12/02/2026 03:42

Dogs are a big commitment, and your life does revolve around their needs, and the dog is still quite young, so maybe not be able to be left for very long.

However, your friend is not helping the situation and should be training it.

Lurkingandlearning · 12/02/2026 03:45

It's not as if she doesn't know any better. She has actually going against the advice of the trainer she hired, so she knows she is being negligent towards the dog. She also has a complete disregard for other people's property and feelings. And she is happy to live in a dog toilet rather than put in the work to train the dog.

All of that has put aspects of her character into sharp focus for you. If the dog was rehomed tomorrow she would still be the type of person that would do those things. If she isn't the type of person you want to be friends with, don't waste your valuable time with her. Concentrate on your other friends and fade her out.

LAMPS1 · 12/02/2026 04:45

If you really don’t like this cruel situation, and want to put it right, you have only two options.
There is no middle ground OP. It’s not helping her or the dog to continue with the gentle approach. Both options need you to be much more assertive than you have been so far.

You either come down hard on her and tell her that no it isn’t funny or cute in any way to let her poor dog down by teaching it to live in it’s own shit and by teaching it to be over reliant on her. You further tell her that she doesn't deserve to have a dog and her landlord certainly doesn’t deserve to have her as a tenant. Tell her it’s not about the poor dog it’s about her as a person and she needs to seek professional help for herself from a therapist and for the dog from a dog trainer. Provide contact details for both so that she has no excuse.

Or you can drop her as a friend telling her exactly why. You are ashamed of her and will no longer tolerate her lazy choices. Give her the contacts and tell her to get back to you when she has raised her standards by getting her dog properly trained and her stinky house professionally cleaned.

If your own situation is such that you can no longer take her problems on, then that's completely understandable. You just fade her out of your life if that’s the case. But it might be good if you could first give her those contact details.

i hope it’s not too late for her to improve life for her dog and for herself with a good kick start from you.

pollyglot · 12/02/2026 04:55

YouABU because you never once mentioned the fact that the dog is costing the landlord a fortune. All about you, and how it's not fair on the dog. I just got rid of a tenant whose dog - OUTSIDE ONLY - ruined the carpet, costing me thousands to replace it, the underlay and have the floorboards treated.But you do you...

Flintgranet · 12/02/2026 05:05

Yabu to expect something else from your friend. Your long list of her crimes is pointless and seems to go back years. This is Dog #2 and this is who she is.

Just back away. Let her do her.

Mapletree1985 · 12/02/2026 05:12

She won't think it's funny when she doesn't get her deposit back from the landlord.

RollOnSunshine · 12/02/2026 05:36

Bin her off. I could not be friends with somebody who thinks any of that is acceptable.

DigitalNomad2 · 12/02/2026 05:56

pollyglot · 12/02/2026 04:55

YouABU because you never once mentioned the fact that the dog is costing the landlord a fortune. All about you, and how it's not fair on the dog. I just got rid of a tenant whose dog - OUTSIDE ONLY - ruined the carpet, costing me thousands to replace it, the underlay and have the floorboards treated.But you do you...

Another landlord here in exactly this situation. I have to rip up all the carpet and get floors sanded and polished, or covered with something if they're not in good enough condition.

It's costing thousands.

Even though the carpet has been cleaned it still stinks. It has to go.

It's people like this woman who are irresponsible dog owners who ruin it for the decent ones. I will never ever again allow a tenant to have a pet.

Quickchangenow · 12/02/2026 06:05

DigitalNomad2 · 12/02/2026 05:56

Another landlord here in exactly this situation. I have to rip up all the carpet and get floors sanded and polished, or covered with something if they're not in good enough condition.

It's costing thousands.

Even though the carpet has been cleaned it still stinks. It has to go.

It's people like this woman who are irresponsible dog owners who ruin it for the decent ones. I will never ever again allow a tenant to have a pet.

I thought it was going to be illegal to refuse pets soon?

Ukefluke · 12/02/2026 06:09

pollyglot · 12/02/2026 04:55

YouABU because you never once mentioned the fact that the dog is costing the landlord a fortune. All about you, and how it's not fair on the dog. I just got rid of a tenant whose dog - OUTSIDE ONLY - ruined the carpet, costing me thousands to replace it, the underlay and have the floorboards treated.But you do you...

Well its not her dog and its not her who is ruining the carpets..........

newornotnew · 12/02/2026 06:13

I don't think it's a good idea for me to raise my concerns again because she doesn't listen. Yes it is not your place.

What would you do. Just avoid situations? It is about setting your own boundaries. Just explain to her you are not comfortable being out with an untrained dog in pubs/shops, and of course you can't have the dog in your home/car. Say you're happy to meet outside if you want to continue the friendship.

Tohold · 12/02/2026 06:16

You seem to pin a huge amount of your social life on this friend. What about just upping more time with other friends. She is an inconsiderate and crap dog owner - that’s not going to change.

beAsensible1 · 12/02/2026 06:19

Well of course she lonely if she can’t go anywhere and her house smells like a dog toilet.

all her behaviour is of someone who doesn’t want to spend any time with people. She is curtailing the dogs development to meet her own emotional needs. That is quite neglectful.

FeralWoman · 12/02/2026 06:20

YANBU.

I’d be tempted to contact the breeder and let them know how she’s going against all of their advice. They might ask for the pup to be returned.

It was be easier and less time involved to toilet train the dog than to constantly clean up after it, but it sounds like she doesn’t even do that. Gross. If she can’t be bothered taking it outside she could at least get it to go to the toilet on a disposable puppy pad. Less cleaning and less stink.

Poor puppy. No dignity and not being taught to be confident and independent.

FeralWoman · 12/02/2026 06:21

Does she perhaps enjoy the smell of dog shit and dog pee? Maybe she has a kink for it.

DiscoCuntCode · 12/02/2026 06:28

She is a fool and I feel sorry for her dog tbh.

It is true that sausage dogs can be harder to house train, but a) this is well known so she must have had this knowledge from the start and b) this means you need to put extra effort into house training then not less effort!!

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