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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

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Original poster

Making relatives understand

37 replies

PhoebeNPenny · 11/04/2014 10:57

Hello
I'm new to MN and to being a dog owner. I didn't realize you could love a pet as much as I love my new puppy. My daughter & husband adore her too. However my problem is with other relatives who expect us to lock her up or out of the way when they come over (uninvited I might add). My dog is part of my family and I don't want to lock her up (she's tiny btw) - has anyone else had this problem? Is there a better way to keep me & family happy? It might be because I'm a new pet owner but I don't want to shut my puppy away. Anyone?

OP posts:

Owllady · 11/04/2014 11:09

The only time I would put mine out of the way is if someone was scared?
Mind you I have just had the Bosch engineer here and she didn't take much interest, just did some weird body moving and acted neurotic

Original poster

PhoebeNPenny · 11/04/2014 11:11

No one is scared of her but many just don't like animals. I find it annoying and I know she is just an animal in their eyes but she's a valued member of the family to me, my daughter and husband. I want to nip this in the bud with her being a pup.

OP posts:

SharpLily · 11/04/2014 11:18

If there are behavioural issues such as jumping up, nipping etc. then it would be wise to nip these in the bud with training but if that's not the issue then I don't see why you should put her away anywhere. Next time they ask you to put her away when they visit I would ask 'why?', and if there's no reasonable response then tell them, politely, to get stuffed. She lives there, they don't.

Gileswithachainsaw · 11/04/2014 11:21

If no ones scared of her, and there are no issues with her jumping up or licking or nibbling etc then hell no.

Phobia or a baby is different but if they are going to turn up unannounced and demand you lock up a well behaved friendly dog who's sat on the chair ignoring them then feck off.

Original poster

PhoebeNPenny · 11/04/2014 11:27

She doesn't really jump up at anyone. She's more of a snuggler or sleeper. I would be more understanding if someone was scared of her.

OP posts:

SharpLily · 11/04/2014 11:30

Then they have no right to tell you to put her away. Make this clear and with any luck you'll be able to look forward to fewer (uninvited) visitors.

drinkyourmilk · 11/04/2014 11:30

I will happily come and snuggle with a silky cute little puppy.
Tell anyone who demands the puppy is put away that it's his home.

Gileswithachainsaw · 11/04/2014 11:31

On a side note can you post a pic? :)

Tell them they are welcome to sit in the crate :o

Youdontneedacriminallawyer · 11/04/2014 11:32

I hate dogs, and would probably stop going to the house of a friend or relation if they bought a dog. My neighbours are very understanding, and shut their dogs in the conservatory when we go round.

It's not a case of being scared particularly, its just that I don't like them. Don't like their slobber, don't like the fact that I get dog hairs on me, don't like the sniffing, don't like the licking, don't like the barking, and don't see how houses with dogs can really be hygenic (and I'm the last person to worry about hygiene in my own home).

Houses with dogs smell of dog too - no matter how clean the dog and house. Dog owners don't realise, but I can tell as soon as I go through a door if there's a dog in the house. The smell is horrible. Worse in some houses than others, but still horrible.

I'm with your relatives on this one.

Original poster

PhoebeNPenny · 11/04/2014 11:33

I thought I was maybe a bit biased (as Penny is my furbaby ). I know not everyone likes puppies (not even an 8 week yorkie) but I'm going to remain firm with this. I am looking forward to less uninvited visitors. Thanks for the replies.

OP posts:

ExitPursuedByABear · 11/04/2014 11:36

Ahem - we do need a picture of pup.

Just smile sweetly and tilt your head next time someone asks you to locke her away.

We only did this when DHs sister came who is allergic to dogs.

Gileswithachainsaw · 11/04/2014 11:36

A yorkie? All this fuss over a yorkie puppy?

Good grief.

I'd understand if it was a massive untrained dog who sent visitors flying.

Owllady · 11/04/2014 11:37

I really don't care if my house smells of dog! It's MY house

Owllady · 11/04/2014 11:38

This is the 2nd dog recently I have heard called penny it's my dd name

Youdontneedacriminallawyer · 11/04/2014 11:40

That's absolutely fine owllady - and I have no objection to your house smelling of dog. You have a dog who lives there, and you're happy with him, he's part of your family etc.

I was just saying that personally, I don't like the smell of dog, and dog owners should acknowledge that having a dog might restrict the number of visitors they have - for some this is a good thing! :)

drinkyourmilk · 11/04/2014 11:40

Yes. I think we can't make a proper judgement until there is a picture.

Gileswithachainsaw · 11/04/2014 11:40

People can smell worse than dogs do anyway. I'd rather smell dog than the people I seve who stink of fags booze dirt sometimes vomit and fart freely

SharpLily · 11/04/2014 11:40

Don't like their slobber, don't like the fact that I get dog hairs on me, don't like the sniffing, don't like the licking, don't like the barking,

That's fair enough and brave of you to say in what is clearly a mainly dog loving thread , but assuming the dog is not slobbering, sniffing, licking, barking etc. but peacefully snoozing in a basket, for example, and given that the dog hairs will be there on the furniture regardless of whether the dog is in a crate or another room or elsewhere, would you say it's reasonable for guests to tell the OP to put her dog away?

I appreciate you simply don't like dogs and you are lucky that those around you are understanding, but I don't like my friend's badly behaved children so I simply avoid visiting rather than ask her to hide them away in their own home.

Owllady · 11/04/2014 11:41

And dogs don't fart freely Giles? :o

SnakeyMcBadass · 11/04/2014 11:41

I only shut my mutts away if we have a baby or very young visitor. I choose not to mix my dogs with tiny people, it's just less stressful all round. I would separate them from anyone with a genuine fear or allergy, of course, but everyone else has to just deal with it. They live here. You don't like dogs? Don't visit

Original poster

PhoebeNPenny · 11/04/2014 11:43

Penny at 4 weeks - I can't take anymore as my camera is in a box somewhere (we just moved)

OP posts:

Gileswithachainsaw · 11/04/2014 11:44

Oh phoebe put that uncontrollable ferocious beast away!!

SnakeyMcBadass · 11/04/2014 11:44

OMG. That's hamster sized. How can you object to something you can barely see?!

Original poster

PhoebeNPenny · 11/04/2014 11:45

I know! She obviously takes up soooo much space

OP posts:

Pootles2010 · 11/04/2014 11:46

I'm not mad keen on dogs, but i'd never tell someone to put theirs away! I just wouldn't go to their house.

Tell them that the dog will be out, if they'd rather you met somewhere else that is fine, but you won't be putting her away.

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