AIBU to refuse Christmas visits because of the family dogs?

[Xmasinkennels]

So the Christmas plans have started. MIL thinks she is in charge of everyone’s schedules and movements 24-26 dec.

Last year we declined as they all have dogs!

This year she is trying to insist on various times at various peoples houses and I’ve said no ! We can’t be around any of the dogs!

We’ve offered to host here on Xmas eve or Boxing Day but that’s an absolute no as nobody can leave their beloved pets.

She can’t/wont accept that we just don’t like their dogs. MIL has two yappy snappy yorkies. SIL has four dogs. BIL 1 has three. BIL 2 has one. None are well trained and they all smell and it’s just not festive to me at all!!!

We offered alternatives! AIBU to stick to my guns on this

That sounds gross. I was in cafe Nero the other day and there were five dogs there and that made me want to finish as quick as I could and leave. Have a nice peaceful Christmas in your clean house!

I don't like dogs much. They smell bad and they.lick their behinds then lick people's hands and faces . Badly trained ones jump up and their claws hurt . I don't like them near food either . I fully appreciate most people love dogs and some treat them like humans that's their choice no problem . That's fine . But I don't have to that should be fine too . Have the Christmas that suits you and let the dog lovers have their doggy Christmas separately if they can't leave them for a few hours

Why should your Christmas be ruined because of other people's animals? Do these in laws not understand that you also have needs and feelings? Stay away from them.

Don't waiver, keep to your undertaking.

It's not kind for the dogs either.

Hell nah! Wait till you have a baby in tow!!

Stuff that for a game of soldiers, especially if some of them are snappy.

It's Christmas, not Dogmas.

Absolutely not, I have 2 very large dogs, well trained & frequently bathed, which I adore. But as my SIL says trained at gunpoint & I have checked with frequent visitors no doggy smelly in the house. However I would not impose them on anyone, not everyone likes dogs, so rude. No way in hell would I be visiting or allowing them to visit me. Your DH can crack on. Nothing worse than been licked or jumped up on, why can't people train their animals. I also can't stand yappy nippy dogs in coffee shops etc. If they can't lie down & be quiet leave them at home.

🙄 another dog hating thread.

I wouldn't be going. I like dogs but putting 10 unruly dogs together in an enclosed space is asking for trouble. Someone could end up with serious injuries

Ten dogs, YANB remotely U! I like dogs but no bloody way would I be up for this.

So not wanting TEN dogs bouncing around at Xmas makes one a dog hater in your world, does it? Don’t be so ridiculous.

I love dogs but 10 is really far too many! Stick to your guns!

Out of interest, what were the alternatives you offered? For what reasons were they rejected?
DH and I have our own in-law issues at Christmas, but understand that both of us want to see our families, and so does DC, so we come up with a plan and just present it to everyone as diplomatically as we can manage.

As a dog person I say YANBU. You’ve offered alternatives, the balls in their court.

I would arrange to meet at a pub for a drink/meal. Avoid the dogs at houses thing altogether.

I would assume they all want their dogs there more than they want to see you so I guess everyone wins. I wouldn’t have Christmas without my dog and I assume your family feels the same or, like round here, there’s not a lot of dog kennel space available at Christmas.

That’s nonsense

The alternatives include leaving their pets for long periods of time - dogs can’t just be left home like cats, that would make them terrible and neglectful owners.

That's not a Christmas gathering that's a zoo; sod that. There's often two not-very-well trained dogs in attendance when my in-laws all get together and that gets pretty tiresome, but ten?!

Ugh ten dogs would absolutely stink. They can leave the dogs at home surely.

Of course you should refuse if you dislike dogs but is it just you, how do dh and any DC feel? They should be able to attend if they want.

Do you ever see them? Can mil leave dogs with bil and come over or anything like that?

If I really disliked dogs I would not be coerced into it but I'd be trying to maintain a relationship.

I like dogs but 10 dogs is too many especially badly trained ones. YANBU

Ten poorly trained dogs in an enclosed space would be an issue that solves itself, so I suspect it's not quite as bad as you're making out. But either way if you don't want to go - you don't need to go. Does your DH want to go? Or your children?

@Xmasinkennels
Honestly, just stick to your guns
Although we've trained our dog and she's cleaned/shampooed to within an inch of her doggie years she can still seriously pong!
And on a serious note
With all those dogs in close proximity to eachother with the Christmas excitement going on all around
Might not there be an "serious altercation"
That could possibly occur?

The alternatives could be come to theirs for a couple of hours on Christmas Eve or Boxing Day…oh wait that is the suggested alternative not the one you created.