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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

in thinking that just because my dog is big, doesn't mean that he's going to eat my friends baby on sight?

103 replies

MrsRhettButler · 01/07/2010 16:05

hi, i just need some perspective....

i'm doing my friend a favour, (hair and make-up for a wedding) and she refuses to come to my house because i have an american bulldog.
all of my make-up stuff is at my house, i have to cook dinner and a lot to do which would be easier if i didn't have to spend half the afternoon/evening driving to and from her house.

my dog can be put in a cage or in the garden (which i would obviously do before she came) but she is saying that she won't come and her dh won't let the baby into my house!

my dog has never shown signs of being aggressive towards visitors and i have no intention of letting my dog anywhere near her baby

the more i think about it the more pissed off i feel because it seems that she doesn't trust ME

i have agreed to go to her house but now i wish i hadn't as it is putting me out and i feel there is not really a valid reason for her feelings seeing as my dog will be locked out/in

aibu or is she?

i have to go out for most of the evening but will be back later, any opinions would be gratefully received thanks

OP posts:
ifancyashandy · 02/07/2010 20:22

Snobear you clearly don't know about dog training. Crates are not for dogs who need locking up - they prevent that situation from ever happening.

We've crated out dog since she was a puppy - it's not because she is a baby eating monster, far from it - crating her has meant she is trained, knows who's boss and goes to her crate when we tell her to. In fact, it's stopped her from being a baby eater!

(Actually, our dog goes and puts herself in her crate every night at bedtime - awwww! She must like the security - like an adult who has to sleep next to the wall!)

honeydragon · 02/07/2010 22:54

Oooh I know lets shoot the dogs in this order

1st - Search and rescue dogs
2nd - Bomb disposal dogs
3rd - Dogs for disabled
4th Drug sniffing dogs - they are junkies anyway and a drain on society.
and so on and so forth.

MrsRhettBytler

UANBU - this is not a dog thread really is it?
You agreed a favour t a friend, and agreed to make adjustments to your home life to accommadate said freind and she has put you out further. She does not have to bring her baby she wants to. She is VERY lucky to have a friend like you, I hope she returns the favour in triplicate.

Original poster
MrsRhettButler · 03/07/2010 10:36

i did go and do her hair and she did my dd's nails for her and put little diamonds on them whilst i did her dd's hair, dd (4) was very pleased

my day was extremely rushed so i think that next time she will just have to come here if it means putting myself out too much!

i'm too quick to say yes my dp told me last night while we were eating dinner at 9pm!

OP posts:
stubbornhubby · 03/07/2010 10:41

dogs and babys don't mix.

MrsC2010 · 03/07/2010 10:49

I'm looking forward to introducing our little 'un (due in a few weeks) to the 4-legged members of our family.

Original poster
MrsRhettButler · 03/07/2010 11:32

well they do actually stubbornhubby in homes all over the world

OP posts:
mumatron · 03/07/2010 11:39

please explain how babies and dogs don't mix. bit of a broad generalisation i think stubborn

stubbornhubby · 03/07/2010 13:21

Oh, I shouldn't have commented. It's just another dog thread, and no one ever changes anyone else's minds.

the OP said
" i have an american bulldog.
all of my make-up stuff is at my house ... [my friends' dh won't let the baby into my house!"

I am with the friends' DH.

This is for a make up session, right? Two adults concentrating hard on each other.. so EITHER have a baby in the house OR a bull dog. not both.

MrsC2010 · 03/07/2010 13:24

Or the dog safely shut away presumeably with the baby close at hand?? I presume the dog doesn't move at the speed of light in complete silence so is unlikely to creep up on said baby whilst it is next to the adults without them noticing. Even if it had the inclination.

stubbornhubby · 03/07/2010 13:27

well, Mrs C2010, two adults might well not notice if completely focussed on an activity requiring a lot of concentration like, um, making each other up.

MrsC2010 · 03/07/2010 13:31

I'm imagining two ladies facing each other putting make up on, with a baby in a car seat/carry cot or something on the table/chair/sofa/floor next to them. Chatting at the same time, maybe rocking the baby at times if it fusses and having a nice time. In that circumstance yes, I would very much expect them to notice. People seem to be envisaging that this puppy is going to be sat in its pen determined to escape in order to eat the baby, and would be capable of creeping up on them in order to do so. Regardless of hysteria the majority of dogs are not predestined to want to eat/attack others/children/babies. Most are just existing in their environment and attack when threatened.

pagwatch · 03/07/2010 13:32

I want to see the footage of the dog cleverly escaping from the crate , creeping stealthily into the house and setting upon baby, all the while two grown women don't notice the amazing lock breaking dog because they are having a make up session a la 1970s soft porn film....

Julia Roberts and Kiera Knightly can be doing the make up soft focus porn things, Brad Pitt can be escape artist dog and George Dawes can be the baby

MrsC2010 · 03/07/2010 13:37

I have visions of the pup said with head quizzically tipped on one side, staring intently at the latch on the crate and mapping its workings blueprint stylie...and all the while throwing malicious glares at the baby and growling softly to itself in a 'you just wait' fashion. I can see Brad in that role. It would strike just as the last streak of hard-core stripey blusher was lovingly applied.

honeydragon · 03/07/2010 13:41

I don't think it was a dog thread; the issue is that the op was responsible enough to offer to lock the dog up so friend COULD bring her baby is she needed to,even though the dog is trained. This is respectful and sensible as ANY dog can have the potential to go awry. If the dh was looking after the other children could he have managed the baby too? Or could he have paid for her to have make up done at a salon if he didn't want baby on a property with a dog?

Mrsrhettbutler has done the favour now anf I hope she got a very big thankyou for packing everything up and driving to her friends house.

edam · 03/07/2010 13:43

YANBU your friend is.

But I wish people would spare us all this 'Staffies are adorable and never ever hurt anyone' bollocks. I've been chased by a Staffordshire bull terrier and it was scary. Worst thing was it only left me alone when it spotted a little old lady on the other side of the road so I had to go and protect her as well. Bloody thing then ran into a neighbour's house and chased her dd upstairs - the dh had to beat the bloody thing off with a chair. Oh, and ds saw the whole thing. Fortunately it hasn't left him with a fear of dogs, but it is still true that Staffies can be ruddy frightening.

(Obviously the owners were v. irresponsible before everyone starts shouting that 'blame the deed' line. Parents out at work, teenagers at home didn't secure the garden and Staffie got out.)

pagwatch · 03/07/2010 13:47

MrsC2010.. you forgot the da da daa daa da da daa daa of the mission impossible theme playing in the background

do do do...do do do...do do do...da da dup dup dada..........

capricorn76 · 03/07/2010 13:48

Pagwatch and MrsC2010 - thanks for the laugh!

Some people are so hysterical about dogs its untrue. The fact is kids are far more likely to be killed by a car or human than a dog.

I have two dogs, one miniature and one toy breed and cannot wait for my baby to be born so they can meet each other.

stubbornhubby · 03/07/2010 14:39

yes, and we let our toddlers drive the car, and play with the fan belt.

pagwatch · 03/07/2010 14:46

letting a toddler drive would just be silly. Their feet would never reach the pedals.

honeydragon · 03/07/2010 15:08

no pagwatch you're absolutely right,that is too much resonsibility for a toddler,at that age they should be free to play IN the traffic. Bless 'em.

stubbornhubby · 03/07/2010 15:33

Yes, we do that - we know that the traffic in our road would never hurt a child

MrsC2010 · 03/07/2010 16:31

All of the traffic round my way is safely in a massive crate in another street!

nomorebooze · 03/07/2010 16:40

YANBU, You are doing the favour, is she gonna cover your petrol for your drive because she has an issue with your dog. If not she can come to yours or go else where!

On another note:
I shouldn't read Dog threads i get some people are so nieve!. I have a Doberman and a 6 month old. she is fab with my wee one, yes you have to be sensible but just because shes big dosent mean shes aggressive. My MIL has a jack russell who pins my dog to the floor size doesnt always matter, lol. xx

stubbornhubby · 03/07/2010 18:36

We have picnics on the central reservation of the m25 .
You have to be careful of course, but really the children are perfectly safe

hmc · 04/07/2010 20:26

Now that's just stupid stubbornhubby