Children being dogmatic!

I agree with that merlot. Some people live in filthy and insanitary conditions not because they have pets but because they are unable, or unwilling, to clean their homes.

A dog can be a wonderful comfort and a great friend and I for one don't begrudge the extra time spent vacuuming dog hairs off our carpets.

I would add that, despite this modern hyper-fastidiousness and frenzy to annihalate every germ in our homes, it seems that more and more people now suffer from various allergies, including asthma and eczema.

I never said that people who have dogs live in filthy houses - I just hate where dogs tongues and snouts have been prior to them licking faces, hands, nuzzling. I have to say however, that houses where dogs live smell of dog and last time I was house hunting with my daughter it was very off putting quite frankly. Working dogs like guide dogs etc never bother me at all because they are ime properly trained not to approach people in any way.what owners and dogs do in the privacy of their own homes is of course up to them.

Ehem. My house doesn't smell of dogs. I'm sitting in bed at the moment with three dogs snoring gently and waiting for me to get up and take them out. We're running an hour late because we overslept. Unheard of here previously. Not all dogs smell, some do and sadly, so do some people. You often find them sharing the same living space.

Goodness this has got off track. If op doesn't want a child or a dog at their celebration then surely they have a final say so. Do the owners of the concerted barn allow this? And do they provide a full orchestra? Or just entertainers?

If you don’t have a dog or generally don’t go to houses with dogs, I think you are much more aware of the dog smell when you do

I’d opt out completely and have a weekend in Paris!

Lots of smelly houses without dogs.

Has this actually been discussed with the daughter? Is she insisting on bringing her puppy, or is it just the son who is being intransigent?

I have 2 DD, the elder is single with a dog the other married with our adored 9mnth GS. The SiL won't allow the baby any contact with the dog, consequently elder daughter has seen very little of her sister or nephew. We are completely torn in the middle, particularly as we also help mind the dog. As we have no extended family, family occasions are now fraught to the point of being non existent.
I so understand OPs feelings. As the children have arranged it surely they should have sorted this out first. Whatever the outcome someone is going to feel hurt, and as a mum OP will feel this too.

Can your DD not simply leave the dog at home and go and visit her nephew? Or use kennels?

My sis-in-law had a dog and whenever she visited insisted on bringing it with her - hence we saw little of her. A shame really.

I am not a dog owner. I have several friends with dogs living nearby, one friend with five; none of their homes smell of dogs. They swear they can smell cats (not theirs) in their gardens.

I love dogs and children but think that if anyone in your proposed party has misgivings about the puppy/dog, that you leave either the puppy or the objector at home! People who object to dogs will find a way to blame the dog for anything that might happen, so (in my opinion) don’t risk it.

We have a lovely, smallish (10 kilo) dog. I was horrified recently when visiting children hit him, thinking this is what you do to dogs. Another time, I turned my back for a few moments, and one five year old had tied our dog to a wheelbarrow to become a charioteer! Doggie was perfectly happy but did look rather bemused. ?

Now, I am much more circumspect about who our dog plays with unsupervised, and dont think that I would put him in a position where children could be inadvertently rough and possibly cause our dog to growl (a warning to keep away) or worse.

Have a lovely birthday weekend, whoever ends up going ?

PS We leave our dog at home when needed with a friend who dog and house sits for us, who we pay, and everyone is then happy. Our SiL isn’t over keen on dogs and although I think he’s being a bit precious, we leave our dog with our trusted dog sitter when we go to visit.

?