Dogs & Guests.

That-Crazy-Rat-Lady

Well-Known Forumite
Apparently I am holiday destination 101 this year!

Just finished hosting friends and family the last two weeks now another person has decided Scotland is the place to be!

One problem.... They want to bring their dog.

I have a number of issues:

1. I don't like their dog, it's big, stinky and aggressive
2. I have very timid cats which are my babies
3. Our garden doesn't have secure fencing
4. There are a trillion pheasants ripe for the chasing
5. I have just renovated the guest room and don't want it caked in mud and slobber

Thoughts? Am I being unreasonable?

I broached the issues (very politely) above and was told my concerns were 'nonsense' ....

I'm tempted to move into a one bed hut in Antarctica so no one will visit me ever again!!
 

Gramaisc

Forum O. G.
I'm tempted to move into a one bed hut in Antarctica so no one will visit me ever again!!
You have a new GP and he has discovered that you are allergic to canines.

I have always fancied a fortnight in Antarctica - Christmas would be a nice time there - let me know when you have settled in.

You will be moving there because there are no dogs* now?




* To stop them giving distemper to the seals, or something like that.
 

Glam

Mad Cat Woman
1. It's your home.
2.Who crosses the threshold is purely up to you and your husband.
3. Your cats are part of your family, their happiness comes before anyone elses.
4. If anyone disagrees with the above statement, then they aren't cat lovers and don't have a right to stay in your home.
5. Again, it's your home, you are not the be and end all of peoples cheaper holidays up in Bonnie Scotland.

You have a new GP and he has discovered that you are allergic to canines.

I have always fancied a fortnight in Antarctica - Christmas would be a nice time there - let me know when you have settled in.

You will be moving there because there are no dogs* now?




* To stop them giving distemper to the seals, or something like that.
6. I will very happily visit you if you move there ↑
7. I adore Cats.
 

joshua

Well-Known Forumite
No dogs, it's your home, if they can't or won't respect that then they can simply not visit, and if they try the old trick of saying ok no problem then bringing the damm thing because "the sitter/kennel cancelled" then they can get back in thier car and bugger off.
Never let anyone especially "friend's" bully you in your own home
 

staffordjas

Well-Known Forumite
Years ago we were going to look after a friends dog while she was on holiday after she begged us to as a favour. It was only used to being kept in a cage/kennel outside normally , but she assured me that he was calm in the house when he came inside..... only lasted at ours a few hours and had to ring her to take him back. (The neighbour then went around for the fortnight and fed him in the cage). Friendly enough , but massive and was bounding around the furniture like a lunatic. After a 3 hour walk over the chase trying to wear it out, it was still bounding around breaking everything. Whilst waiting for her to arrive , we put him in the garage next to the kitchen for a short while (comfy with the light on ) . In a few minutes he had scratched hell out of the wooden kitchen door we had at the time.

Such a shock after having our own 'unsmelly' (She just smelt of Johnsons baby shampoo lol ) well behaved dog for 18 years beforehand . Put me off looking after anyones dogs ever again!

Stick to your guns and think of your house, cats and you first!
 

littleme

250,000th poster!
Thanks guys - I've been torn up about it all afternoon made to feel like I'm a complete bitch xxx
Completely right to ask them not to bring the dog.... My parents dog was a biter that constantly bit both myself and minime, my parents didn't believe me (he would sneak up behind us and bite the backs of our legs/bum when we were going from one room to the other) , even when I showed them the huge bruise on minime's leg he had caused they insisted that they wouldn't put him in another room as he hadn't done it. It all ended quite badly with me storming out (just before covid) and telling them they were welcome to come to my house, but we wouldn't visit with the dog there again.

They stubbornly stuck to this, and although I relented through covid and started visiting/dropping shopping, minime was to scared to. Sadly the dog passed away a few months ago, but it had all caused a massive rift in the family.... Minime has only recently visited them with me, and now we're subjected to random remarks about us both hating dogs and we should be scared as they now have a new puppy. We aren't scared of dogs, just that one! Both my older sons have doggos, 5 in total, and we had a beautiful Golden Retriever.... When he went, we decided it wasnt fair for us to have another dog with us both working... So I've ended up as crazy-cat-lady with 3 cats.

Stand your ground @That-Crazy-Rat-Lady!
 

darben

Well-Known Forumite
Apparently I am holiday destination 101 this year!

One problem.... They want to bring their dog.

I have a number of issues:

1. I don't like their dog, it's big, stinky and aggressive
2. I have very timid cats which are my babies
3. Our garden doesn't have secure fencing
4. There are a trillion pheasants ripe for the chasing
5. I have just renovated the guest room and don't want it caked in mud and slobber

Thoughts? Am I being unreasonable?

I broached the issues (very politely) above and was told my concerns were 'nonsense' ....

No you’re definitely not being unreasonable!
It’s an awful scenario you’re in. Obviously don’t know the details and no need to know but even without pets it’s just plain cheeky to impose yourself on anyone without being invited. It’s your home, it’s up to you who crosses the threshold and when if they don’t understand that they don’t deserve you.
 

littleme

250,000th poster!
Thanks everyone!

There have been tears over this (and I'm not one to sob)

Thank you for your kind words and threats of sabotage - cheered me up muchly!
If we spot them on the way to yours with the dog in the car, we will get the stingers out..... Then divert them to my parents house, I'm sure they'd love another dog to look after.
 

Gadget

Well-Known Forumite
I love dogs, got three of the hooligans. I would never take them to a normally pooch free home unless it was the home owners suggestion. It's your home and your cat's home and if you would rather not have a dog there then that is all there is to it. Perfectly reasonable and if they were any kind of a friend they would respect that and should have factored in an alternative already in the event you declined to invite the hound. Do not feel bad about it. Heck, I would even hesitate to ask to stay with friends, I would be happy to stay nearby and just visit and meet up. I'd need a concrete invitation first. It's just rather cheeky else.
 

PeterD

ST16 Represent.
I tend to go everywhere with the hairball in my avatar. If it's to friends and they said don't bring said furball I would arrange for someone to look after her or choose not to go if those arrangements couldn't be made. The cursing would be on myself and not the people. They can ask whatever they want.
 
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