Am I being unreasonable?

[superbabysmummy]

Ok, so I'm pregnant and worried I am being over hormonal. Before I say something to my yard I need a poll, what would you do and am I being ridiculous?

My yard has just introduced a new rule, the reason behind which I completely understand ... "All dogs on leads". However this rule it expressly states is not applicable to dogs who live/work there. The reason for he new rule is that the people who own the yard are sick of having people incl their kids treading poo in through their house - totally get it! They have also had an incident with a visiting dog and one of their chickens ... I get it!

My issue is this, the ratio of dogs that live there and work there is 6 to liveries 2, the other livery with the dog is there at different times to me so when I am there it is inevitable that my dog will be tied up outside my stable and there will be 6 dogs running free around her which is just dangerous... The upshot is that I won't take her to the yard which restricts when I can go, massively. I picked the yard in the first place as dogs as supposedly welcome!

Unfortunately the girl who runs the place has an answer for everything so challenging this is not going to be fun. I haven't yet seen the rule enforced with the farrier/vet whoever else visit with their dogs...

Am I being unreasonable to expect the new rule to apply to all dogs even if they work there?

[superbabysmummy]

Thanks all for taking the time to comment, going to carefully chat to the yard owner in the morning and see what comes from that...

[Floralnomad]

In that case I think I'd be tempted to speak directly with the owner and say that it's not really on that the employees( including the manager) get to bring their dogs when you are the paying customer and see what they say .

[superbabysmummy]

Owner - 1 dog, fair enough, Manager 2 dogs. Employees, 3 dogs between 2 of them...

[Floralnomad]

Who has the 6 dogs is it the owner or the manager ,I assume from your posts that they are different people ?

[superbabysmummy]

Plus, after 6 years at this yard, the rules change in one week? For 6 years it's not been a problem (& I've picked up after her religiously)

[superbabysmummy]

That's my point, I completely understand and have no issue with the reasons behind it, I certainly wouldn't want my kids stomping poo through my house either, my issue is - why should my dog be the only one out of 7 dogs on a lead/tied up? I agree with you, I'm annoyed about the fairness if it, should it not be all or nothing? If the rule is no dogs then it needs to be no dogs, not all dogs with the exception of 6!

[Gabilan]

Conversely, every yard I've been on has had dogs. I like them, as I can't have my own. They're generally yard owners' dogs and I expect the yard owners to pick up after them. I like having them on guard duty.

[Floralnomad]

Well I've kept my horses and ponies on full livery for 22 years now and personally would be pretty annoyed if I was on a yard where there were any dogs loose , I might make an exception for an owners dog but that's it . At our current very small private yard even the owners dogs are not allowed ,I dont pay a lot for livery to be dodging dog shit . Before I had my DC and had my horses on DIY it was still only the owners dog allowed on the yard and that was a nuisance .

[Gabilan]

I think I'd bide my time and see how it works out. How careful are they about picking up after their own dogs? If they're not doing that, I think you can ask them about what's happening.

I wouldn't go in all guns blazing. I might ask if it's OK for your dog to be loose if you pick up after it and explain that being dog-friendly was one of the reasons for choosing the yard. Otherwise, unless it's a fantastic yard and the only one in the area I'd be looking around for somewhere different.

[superbabysmummy]

Thanks Pixel, kind of how I view it. Foral, thanks for taking the time to comment, still have the same view if I told you I pay competition yard prices? Don't think id be so upset if I was paying DIY prices but I pay a lot for my livery each month... Prob covering a salary each month but yet they get to bring their dog & I don't..

[Floralnomad]

YABU , it's their yard so they make the rules , if you don't like it move your horse .

[Pixel]

Mmm, well if there are still so many dogs running around loose is tying your dog up going to make much difference to the poo? Sounds horrible actually, we have several liveries with dogs but everyone is expected to keep an eye on their dogs and pick up their poo, not just leave them to their own devices. As a paying customer you shouldn't really be having to deal with the health hazard of their dogs' poo either. Unless the owners are going to be picking up after their own dogs and expecting the same of visiting farriers etc then their argument doesn't hold much weight. They'd surely be better off training their children to take their shoes off before traipsing through the house!

I don't know. Perhaps you could be all gushy and 'agree' with them that their new rule is very sensible as having to deal with poo everywhere when you visit your horse is really not very pleasant and you look forward to a nice clean yard. It might make them think about the effectiveness of their policy.