to be mad with my sister about a new puppy!

[mrsws]

My sister has basically got a puppy to try and fix her depression/fill the hole her husband is'nt. So - we are due to go and stay with her at the weekend with our 2 YO DS. Now she has got a dog and my husband has said that he is'nt happy as the dog has come from a farm where it has kind of had a pack life. She's 5.5 months old but not house trained; not vaccinated or wormed; I dont think its been round any children and its proberbly coockoo from being inbred! (they dont kno if its brother is its uncle or even its dad!)

AIBU to ring her and say we wont be coming? We have kind of been against the dog in general as I think its unfair on the dog to use it to try and fix their 1 year old marrige! So I think she may think its just us being unreasonable - but I love my sister and I want to go and stay with her. I'm just worried about the whole situation!

Thank you for reading my rambling question -hope you wonderful Mumsnetters can guide me!

Mrsws - I think somtimes on MN people are far too ready to jump to conclusions and pass judgement on others, and this is what has happened here, so don't feel badly about it. After all these are nothing more than words on a page!

As for the puppy - this is a puppy NOT a kimodo dragon for God's sake! At 5 months it will be playful and maybe "nippy" with puppy teeth and yes you may have to watch your toddler with the puppy and not leave them alone, but the way people are talking it sounds like you are entering the jaws of hell.

I think the main thing with dogs and children is that everyone is sensible (especially the owners) and realise that dogs and small children are often not a good combination AND that the child's safety comes first. If your sister had acquired an adult dog of one of the larger breeds and knew nothing of the dog's background I would think you would need to be very careful, but this is a puppy. It will be playful and maybe a bit boisterous and if your toddler is not used to dogs he may be a bit afraid but on the other hand he may love the puppy's antics.

Not sure why everyone is concerned about worming (your child can't catch them you know) and vaccinations are to protect the dog and your sister should get these done if she is a responsible owner but again your child is not going to catch anything. Needless to say the puppy needs to urinate and deficate somewhere where it can be immediately cleaned up.

Go and emjoy your time with your sister and the puppy - I'm sure you'll have a lovely time.

I think if you don't have a dog you haven't a clue if not being wormed and vaccinated was a problem.
No-one in our family has a dog and if someone got one and mentioned it hadn't been wormed or vaccinated and wasn't house trained and invited me over with a toddler I'd be concerned as I'd presume these things may harm my toddler otherwise why mention them?

Dawnybabe, what exactly can a baby catch from dog poo? An unwormed dog does prevent a small risk of eye problems if direct contact between baby and the worms. But an unvaccinated dog is no risk whatsoever!

Not all dog owners follow like sheep down the 'all dogs must be vaccinated' route. I am one of them. There are other options!

Rebeccadimond - No - know alot of people who have dogs and I have been to houses before with puppies with my son. The biggest problem I had is that this one is already 5 months old so not a little pup anymore and not used to children at all!

Thesunshinesbrightly, Shockers and Undomestichousewife - thank you for your comments I did kind of feel like I was bitter n twisted by the end of Tuesday night and to be honest i was'nt going to look back on here. That is the chance you take tho when posting - espesially wen putting such a stoopid heading! Anyway thank you

Ooops just realised there was another page of replies! (Can you tell I have a teething toddler this week!)

Just wanted to say thank you to everyone really for your advice. I have had a look on a few websites REF Child meets puppy so well armed - will also be making sure I keep an eye on my sons beloved 'Tiggy'!