Don't want my brother's dog at Christmas

[Keepoffmyartichokes]

Every year we host Christmas for both families, it's always a lovely day but a bit chaotic. This year my brother who has to travel about 40 minutes but due to sharing custody of his children only stays about 3 hours wants to bring his cockapoo. We don't want the dog in our house, we don't have pets, we have nice flooring we don't want scratching, nice furniture that we don't want to dog jumping on. It's a spoiled dog and not very well trained. My DS who is 13 said he doesn't want it there as it's jumpy and he's not keen. My MIL has had a knee replacement this year and is a bit unsteady still and I think it will cause stress for her as a trip hazard. But how do I tell my brother kindly without coming across as a dog hater.

We have dogs, I’m very much a dog person. I’d never take them to someone’s house for Christmas, that’s madness!

No he has gone away with work unexpectedly so I will speak to him when he is back home

No, my brother has two dogs they don't come into my house. It's his choice to have dogs not mine. I wouldn't just let the dogs come for Christmas, I don't want dogs in my house and that's a valid choice. It's an invitation and if they have to decline due to the dogs that's entirely fine .

People saying leave it in the car, put it in a crate, surely that's worse than leaving it at home after a good long walk?!

Wow so animals/ dogs have need to exist? If you followed your logic all the way through there would be no animals on the planet!

Your logic is absurd. As much as I realise humans are ‘supposed’ to be the superior race, I think you will find that history shows dogs are far nicer than humans! And they are not called ‘man’s best friend for nothing! It’s humans lack of familiarity and fear that causes them to say things like that. Dogs can fulfill a huge societal function- leading the way for a blind person , a deaf person, a therapy dog, a bomb detection dog, drug detection dogs- shall I go on. Or will I be demonstrating what an entirely ignorant and arrogant human you are. How many wars has a dog caused? Has a dog ever caused a genocide or a holocaust?! I’d rather live in a world of dogs any day of the week! Pathetic to put a dog in the category of a cigarette! Perhaps carry on talking to your houseplants love :)

Excuse Typo - NO need to exist

But a dog is NOT a proper animal. Not in the true sense. It’s a man made creature, it does not support the eco system as animals in the wild do. In fact, dogs are actively harmful to it.

You are correct though - there are some specific functions where dogs are useful such as for the blind, or police dogs. But this is not the vas majority of dog owners and this is not the case for the OPs brother. For the average Joe who keeps one as a pet, I maintain it is a hobby and a thing chosen to do for recreation that has an antisocial impact on others, just like smoking.

Hardly selfish or ridiculous. All she said is that he wants to bring his dog. Nothing about insisting on it or throwing his toys out of his pram if he can't. He can ask the question and she has the right to say "no"

The dog is one of the family and your brother doesn't want to exclude him at Christmas.

A Cockapoo is hardly going to knock anyone over and your son should take this as a learning opportunity unless you want him to be afraid of dogs all his life.

YABU

Behave yourself. Horses have never started a war and have served useful functions for centuries, but i wouldn’t want one in my house on Christmas Day. You sound barmy!

Wow, just wow. Its a dog, my goodness, its part of the family. Your too houseproud, putting material things before humans and animals.....

Good. The stupid cow. He could have overheated and died.

This christmas i have my daughters dog, mother in laws dog & sister in laws dogs coming, we have no dog of our own.
The dogs dont always get on but i would rather they brought their dogs then them not be able to come & spend the day.
It is utter madness but my view is that when they are all gone, the mess left behind will soon be cleaned up, the dog pooh, smell and hairs will be gone but the memories of the time spent together will stay.
Life is short, so is mess and family time is presious!

How do you know the child is a spoilt brat and will cry and scream through dinner?

Stupid comment. It's up to people who they have in their own homes.

You are like my brother, he doesn't want my dogs in his house. He's never said as much but I can tell.
I don't get annoyed, my dogs are my babies not his.
If he said can i bring my cat round with me I wouldn't like that as i'm not a cat lover. I just go on my own or me and DH go and leave the dogs with the in laws

No it isn't. It's a pet.

In the same way that some people on here think it's dreadful to pee in the shower or not change your bed clothes every 48 hours, lots of people think dogs are unhygienic. We all have different standards.

Also the OP has a son who is scared by the brother's badly behaved dog. Maybe the brother could train the dog properly?

Wise up he is asking to bring his dog not a wild animal, some of the answers here leave him in a boot we do , wtf , pets are family and should be treated as such. Yea you are not dog haters keep telling yourselves that.

100%

I cannot believe all the people who feel entitled to take their dogs to other people's houses. It is an absolute joke. Especially since lockdown. Stand your ground with the CFs.

The dogs safer being left at home than in a freezing cold car for hours

Just tell him he is welcome but the dog isn’t.

I would rather have several dogs to one child screaming, crying, dirty shoes on sofa or using it as a trampoline, food and sticky fingers everywhere. I love them in their own home but not mine thank you!

What a BS excuse. The dog wouldn't do anything to the flooring. If you don't want the dog there, fine, but acting like a small dog would damage your floor is just insane.

Leave the dog at home for a few hours .ai have a dog and do t expect it to go to other s.

Cockapoos can be a nightmare. He will have to leave it at home. Its your house so say no.