Children being dogmatic!

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.

?

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 ?

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.

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 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.

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?

Lots of smelly houses without dogs.

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

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

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?

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.

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.

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.

It may surprise some of you that those of us who have dogs in our lives do not live in filthy houses, small children are not encouraged to let dogs lick their faces, we have things called sinks with soap, flannels and towels, dogs do not lick plates and their food bowls are regularly washed.

A dog curling up on or in your bed can be a comfort in times of stress, a boy and his dog is a force to be reckoned with (that also applies to girls) and how could Christmas be Christmas without a present under the tree for a being that gives you unconditional love?

I believe that for all small children who are nervous around dogs from the very beginning there's an adult!

My daughter and grandsons never minded any of that about the dog licking elsewhere before giving them a kiss. Love really is blind, I think.

Quod erat demonstrandum.

A recent study showed people with pets were healthier due to getting used to germs / bacteria introduced by their pets. Simple hygiene rules of course should be applied, no dogs licking faces, dogs have their own dishes not licking our plates, clean up immediately after any accidents with wipes and disinfectant not a mop.

Oh, lots of yucky things there. And people let dogs sleep on their beds! I absolutely hate seeing people kiss animals on the 'lips', especially children. What can they be thinking?

Not vulgar at all ( you should see what I would have posted if I had wanted to be vulgar as opposed to using the correct anatomical terms). I was telling it as it is = dogs lick their anuses and genitalia and then lick children ( and adults) hands and faces - yuk yuk yukkity yuk. They sniff other dogs urine, faeces and bottoms and then put their noses against your hands - yukkity yukkity yuk

Getting vulgar.

Yuk indeed - and when they sniff your genitalia..........! Groan!

Not you forgot to mention genitalia/anus lickers ( their own) just before they lick a child’s face or hands. Yuk yuk

Thanks, Jalima! That's one thing I can stop worrying about then!

Perhaps it would be too much to have a puppy and several excitable children at the house, although I don't think either of my children would have objected

Anyway, as someone does object I suppose it will be necessary to make other arrangements for the puppy. I don't think a kennel would be a good idea for a puppy - it might be frightened. Maybe your daughter has a friend who would help out, or I think there are some people who look after other people's dogs in their (the dogsitter's) home.

I actually think it's quite a good thing for children to have pets or to have regular contact with animals. I believe it helps them to develop empathy and I think recent research has also shown that it has health benefits. That's not to imply that animals are just around for our own amusement and wellbeing - animals should be treated kindly and with respect.

How about putting the child in kennels and enjoy the puppy!?