Children being dogmatic!

I should put the puppy in kennels for its own safety! Good luck with the 4 smalls. Just rereading see the pup is probably DDs baby at present - o'h go on mix them all up.

Oh dear, my idea of a waking nightmare. Nearly all of my family are allergic to cats and dogs. If it was my birthday treat I would be saying thanks but no thanks. We always rent properties that do not allow pets.

Great comments, - if different opinions! Thanks so much. Lots to think about, and I love the comments from merlotgran!

Love your alternative idea Jalima give me a puppy any day. ( ducks behind sofa ) ☺

Luckygirl's post had me humming the theme tune from The Great Escape.

I take it nobody thought to get the poor thing castrated?

Not ‘keen on dogs’ doesn’t equate to ‘doesn’t like dogs’. I can tell from luckygirl’s comments though that she is actually a dog hater which is something I certainly find worrying. There a big difference between being concerned about mixing dogs and children and actually leading the thread into dog hate country.

Also intrigued by the concept of a ‘concerted’ barn. Does this mean it can be folded up (like a concertina)?

Just feel sorry that the OP will have her weekend spoiled by these kind of people in her family.

How are puppies expected to get used to children if adults throw their hands up in horror whenever the P word is uttered?
It's a great idea to get the puppy used to the children/the children used to the puppy but putting together four little children, one of whom doesn't like dogs, and a puppy, on a weekend away in a strange place for a holiday which is supposed to be a treat for Granny's birthday is not the right time or place.

Phew, take a breath Jalima

I m another in the camp of no dog both for the kids and the puppies sake
One of my grandkids was so frightened of dogs at that age that even a tiny puppy would have been awful for him and to his little mind would have been the equivalent of an unexploded bomb
I don’t like the crate idea the noise of kids spinning around the room would surely frighten the puppy and I don’t think it’s fair to keep a dog in a crate
For everyone’s sake keep them separate on this occasion

Gosh - what a shame this has become your problem Ranworth1.
Personally I'd tell your son to visit his sister and her pup and sort it out between themselves.
I've just been on holiday with my son's puppy and we all had a great time because the pup was well managed. Simples!

I'm glad I don't have this problem. I'm no Barbara Woodhouse.

Think Essex accent.

The puppy died (as an adult dog) whilst leaping over a barbed wire fence to commit an act of buggery with another male dog - something it was wont to do. What a delight he was! The council men came to take the body away and that was when my innocent ears first heard the word f***, as in "Blimey it weighs a f***ing ton!!"

How are puppies expected to get used to children if adults throw their hands up in horror whenever the P word is uttered?

Puppies and small children are a great mix so long as there is supervision and the children are made aware that they are not toys and might nip.

The problem is the adults. Not the children.

However the puppy is no bigger than a cat and is well trained
still tiny but well-trained? Perhaps toilet trained but unused to small children.

Alternatively, take the puppy and get a childminder to have all the children for the weekend.

What happened to your puppy, Luckygirl?

I was trying to write unexploded, and just noticed when I tried to type it this time the sodding predictive text tried to change it again.

Should have been unexploded. I wouldn't advise exploring one.

It’s a puppy not an unexplored WW2 bomb!

Love that Merlotgran. Puppies and children are a great mix. Tell your eldest DS and his family to get a grip and not spoil your special birthday or just stay away.

I would be more worried about the puppy getting pulled around by the children; even in a nice, over friendly way.

It's a puppy not an unexploded WW2 bomb!

On the other hand........

I remember my parents buying me a puppy for my birthday (yes - those of you who know how I feel about dogs will be chuckling!) and it was misery for me. It followed me round biting my ankles, as puppies do. I did not see it as fun. I would not wish this on your DGS on what is meant to be a celebratory weekend.

Puppies and little children are a bad mix - what adults see as a little nip does not feel like that to a little child.

An unpredictable puppy, along with four under-4s, and some adults wanting to unwind.
What could be nicer? Really?

Yes Merlot but...families, you know?

What could be nicer for the DGCs than to have a puppy to play with. Why do some adults get so hung up about it?

The four year old DGC may not be keen on dogs but a puppy?

It's supposed to be your treat.