AIBU to NOT want to take my DS to stay in a house with 5 dogs?

[girlafraid]

Dogs are all of previous character but with no experience of children

1 rottweiler
1 german shepherd
1 mastiff
2 spaniels

The main issue is that these are my Dad's dogs and if we do not visit we will not see him - he lives abroad and doesn't travel

I'm told I'm being ridiculous but I can't see this not being an issue for me for some years yet. There is nowhere to pen the dogs up so to keep DS safe I would need to carry him around

yANBU, better to be safe than sorry and the horror stories you hear are usually dogs owned by grandparents.

Can't you stay in a nearby hotel and just call in during the day or go on outings with your Dad? That way, you wouldnt need to see the dogs much.

We wouldn't be able to go because we would all sneeze to death.
I second the hotel or maybe self-catering idea.

I think your dad should be the one making an effort here - surely he can arrange for the dogs to either be elsewhere or pen them up?? I love dogs and any one of those breeds alone i would be wary of, but not overly so - together - nup, just not worth the risk. Your son could be seriously hurt just by them jumping around.

Surely your dad can see this??

Thanks for the responses, I don't have the greatest relationship with my father but still have the remnants of a childhood desperate to please and it's hard to let go of that.

After 30 years I think I've finally found something where it's just too important for me to be the one backing down.

For the record, he last came to visit me 12 years ago! I will get a lot of abuse over this decision but I will also feel guilty

BTW - I think the staying nearby option is a great one, but we have to be able to afford it so that maybe one for the distant future

I would not take a child near any of those dogs. 3 of them where bread for defence/attack, it's in their blood, isn't it?

YANBU-I would keep him well away.

Sounds like he is the sort of person who prefers dogs to children...

Actually rottweilers were bred as draught dogs and herding dogs, not guard dogs originally. It's silly to say it's in their blood. I've met some excellent specimens,never had a bad experience with a well bred well trained rottweiler.

German Shepherd dogs were also bred for herding purposes.

However I wouldn't say the op is being unreasonable. If the child isn't accustomed to dogs and/or if she is a little unsure about the dog's temperament or the owner's ability to handle them then she isn't being at all unreasonable.

Don't even think about it. Imagine if you stayed with him. You wouldn't relax for 2 seconds. I have a dog and so walking every day i see most breeds around and about. No way i would trust a German Shepherd near my kids under any circumstances. Have come across too many with 'issues' of one sort or another. Funnily enough, have never come across a 'bad' rottweiler considering their reputation. All the ones i know are softies.