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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:
Cherrytree86 · 12/02/2026 12:35

It’s only a bit of puppy wee/poo, OP! You sound a bit precious

B1anche · 12/02/2026 13:06

Cherrytree86 · 12/02/2026 12:35

It’s only a bit of puppy wee/poo, OP! You sound a bit precious

Wow...the MN bar getting lower and lower.

Christmasinmecar · 12/02/2026 13:29

Cherrytree86 · 12/02/2026 12:35

It’s only a bit of puppy wee/poo, OP! You sound a bit precious

So you would live in a home that stinks of shit and piss too then ? 🙄

Cherrytree86 · 12/02/2026 13:32

Christmasinmecar · 12/02/2026 13:29

So you would live in a home that stinks of shit and piss too then ? 🙄

Yep! Fur babies are so worth it

shhblackbag · 12/02/2026 13:34

Cherrytree86 · 12/02/2026 12:35

It’s only a bit of puppy wee/poo, OP! You sound a bit precious

There's nothing precious about not wanting to be in a house that stinks of animal piss and shit. Or objecting to bringing an animal that isn't toilet-trained to a pub.

Tohold · 12/02/2026 13:45

Cherrytree86 · 12/02/2026 13:32

Yep! Fur babies are so worth it

do you have children @Cherrytree86

Ever have guests over?

Tohold · 12/02/2026 13:45

Christmasinmecar · 12/02/2026 13:29

So you would live in a home that stinks of shit and piss too then ? 🙄

Probably does already

TorroFerney · 12/02/2026 14:09

ClaireEclair · 12/02/2026 09:09

And you’re not wet! That’s unfair. You clearly care about your friend xx

Two things can be true. She is wet.

butterpuffed · 12/02/2026 14:21

From OP saying her old dog used to have accidents and OP's friend saying about the new one 'He's still little' and 'he's still learning' , it actually comes across that she doesn't know you have to house train puppies. She thinks they learn by themselves ! Crazy .

bananamilkshakeforeveryone · 12/02/2026 14:26

Cherrytree86 · 12/02/2026 13:32

Yep! Fur babies are so worth it

What is wrong with you? I have a dog and she doesn't piss and shit all over the place inside. Your house sounds revolting and incredibly unhygienic

Sidebeforeself · 12/02/2026 14:33

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 didnt think it was legal these days to refuse a pet?

Sidebeforeself · 12/02/2026 14:34

Cherrytree86 · 12/02/2026 12:35

It’s only a bit of puppy wee/poo, OP! You sound a bit precious

Please explain how shit and urine from a puppy is different to any other kind? Is it invisible and smells of roses?

Wexone · 12/02/2026 15:58

Cherrytree86 · 12/02/2026 12:35

It’s only a bit of puppy wee/poo, OP! You sound a bit precious

Oh we have found the friend 😜

Christmasinmecar · 12/02/2026 17:30

Cherrytree86 · 12/02/2026 13:32

Yep! Fur babies are so worth it

Gross but I think you really believe the smell of piss and shit is attractive, still takes all sorts. Bleugh to fur babies though. They are animals love get over it 😉

ThejoyofNC · 12/02/2026 17:35

Her house must absolutely stink so I'm assuming she does too. I wouldn't spend any time with someone who smelled like dog shit.

Jllllllll · 12/02/2026 18:31

She sounds like an awful dog owner and shouldn’t have a dog. She’s projecting her neediness onto the dog which isn’t fair. I would have a serious conversation with her about it because I love dogs and think owners should think of the dog and their well being but not in way she is doing it. Thank god she doesn’t have kids.

user1471553275 · 12/02/2026 18:38

Just back from work so catching up. Someone asked how would I feel if someone did this in my property. I'd be livid obviously and I am not remotely condoning what she's allowing. The puppy doesn't know any different as he hasn't been taught. My dogs stare at me and know the word for toilet. We've had accidents occasionally and mine were not pups when I got them but that was what they accidents and not a daily occurrence.

She's wanting to do the best for him but I have told her what's happening isn't. She's also feeding him lots of treats and got told off by the breeder as he got a little chunky. She kept saying he was growing into his body and asked me what I thought when told he was a bit fat. I was honest and said he was. The vet unfortunately told her he was fine but I could see he was looking a bit rotund. I'd already asked her if she was feeding him chicken as I'd spotted the packet in the fridge. The excuse was because he had his vaccines....the packets of chicken are a regular item in the fridge so not a one off!

Next time I see her if he toilets I'm going to say that it needs to stop and I won't be going out with her as some of you suggest. I am not dependent on her as someone indicated, I have empathy for her.

In regards to what happened when he pooped in the flower shop, she did clear it up and I think the shop owner was all very nice about it. I suppose there wasn't any other option but I'm absolutely sure they would of been annoyed, if it was my shop I'd be pissed off. It's not nice. I am absolutely not condoning it.

I'll be honest I did expect as some of the more recent replies have suggested that it's potentially me being precious as it's a small dog so get over it. If my dogs had a wee or poop it would be a considerable mess to clean up as they are big dogs. I think the consensus is that it doesn't matter that it's small, it's still just plain inconsiderate, unhygienic and lazy which has been how I've felt.

It's been really helpful to reflect on things. I think she is of the view it's a small dog so doesn't need trained as can just pick him up. She's stated this on multiple occasions. He does get walked but I think a quick jaunt round the block - probably no more than 20 mins of guess. She did talk about puppy classes before she got him but clearly not happening.

I'm under no illusion that she can't be arsed putting in the effort. I've stood out in the rain begging my dog to go toilet when we first got them until we learned their patterns etc.

I'm going to limit my visits, I've stood firm already on not coming in my car and not agree to going anywhere with him until he's clean. I think she's sadly created a clingy little dog but he's her dog not mine and as many of you have indicated I don't have to be part of it.

Appreciate the perspectives.

OP posts:
Isthateveryonethen · 12/02/2026 19:05

RollOnSunshine · 12/02/2026 05:36

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

Same. Or anyone who’s life revolves around a dog for that matter.

Chrysanthemum5 · 12/02/2026 19:26

FoxtrotOscarFoxtrotOscar · 12/02/2026 09:11

Sausage dogs are the wurst.

Don’t have much to add but I just wanted to acknowledge this excellent joke

DigitalNomad2 · 12/02/2026 19:32

Sidebeforeself · 12/02/2026 14:33

I didnt think it was legal these days to refuse a pet?

my property is in New Zealand where it is legal

BurtsBeefCrisps · 12/02/2026 20:30

I think what she is doing is almost cruel. That’s not a happy dog.
For context I adopted a dog just over 5 weeks ago. She sleeps in a crate, she hasn’t had one single toileting accident, she is great with my child, she can be left for up to 2.5 hours and we are building this up. Of course there are things to work on but it’s been pretty easy, because we’ve put the work in early on.. The info is all out there, it’s not hard, and dogs need routine and boundaries to be content.
I don’t know what to suggest as she’s clearly not open to listening but I’d struggle to watch that and would have to avoid her.

Idropped · 13/02/2026 06:33

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