Please help me break the cycle with MIL

[CallMeOnMyCell]

Have posted about MIL before but have name changed since.
I like MIL, she is pleasant enough but I find her overbearing and I find her visits stressful as she brings her untrained, yappy dog with her. It climbs all over the furniture and is just generally annoying. We live 200 miles away so visits are always overnight and are becoming more frequent.
I'd like to get some control back and ask DP to visit her more often so she isn't here so much. I'd also like to get Christmas back and not have her here every year but how can I do this without sounding mean?
I wouldn't mind every other Christmas but I've dreaded this Christmas so much because she is here. She doesn't help out at all and we will have a 9 month old baby next Christmas so would love it to just be the three of us.
Any advice very welcome!

Does DH have any siblings?

No he's an only child, MIL lives with a relative so wouldn't be on her own at Christmas.

What does the relative do at xmas if MIL is with you? What do your parents do?

I think you need to get into a routine tnat yiu see MIL on alternate years but that is only really kind and feasible if she has other options and obvs you wouls need to see her after xmas anyway I would think

Just say we are having Xmas by ourselves next year, would you like to come after Xmas or in the New year etc.Then go out for the day with her and your child for a walk, then the dog is off the furniture and will hopefully sleep when its back at yours.
Also she needs to be helping out, I'd ask her directly to do things, like MIL could you give me a hand please with the washing up/MIL would you tidy the table please?
I think its really rude that she doesnt offer to help.

I'm the opposite actually. I don't want my DM helping taking over or my MIL. I don't necessarily like help from DH either. I find help stressful. I use the preparations as an excuse to have peace and quiet when we have guests.

I get what you're saying about it being stressful having your MIL there, and next year you should feel free to say to her that you want a quiet Christmas Day with just the three of you, and suggest arranging something for New Year.

Where’s the relative for Christmas?

Go to your family next Christmas?