Dog and Christmas

aileth

Hi all,

Every year for Xmas we go to my parents on Xmas day and the in laws Boxing Day. We have a two year old dog who still acts like a puppy. He gets very easily excited and is pretty non-stop, but doesn't bite or whatever. We often get told not to bring him to family gatherings as he's 'too much to cope with', which I do understand but it does annoy me a little as to me he's part of the family (my parents love him and always want him there).

I'm sure the same will happen for Christmas, which will mean well have to do an hour extra travelling to drop him back home before travelling on. Christmas is a family time, the pup is part of our family now, you don't not invite certain children over for Christmas because they're too hyper.

Any thoughts? I probably sound silly but each time were told not to bring him it hurts a bit.

In laws have two dogs which ours gets on with well, and if we ever asked him not to bring them etc he'd be very very unhappy, so why does it only work one way?

lostinrates

We have three dogs. I don't expect everyone to want them, dogs can be a pain for people who don't want them, boisterous ones especially.

However, we also consider ours family and want to spend Christmas with them. We'd see the human ones on another day of the festive season

aileth

Yeah I can completely understand them not wanting him at all family gatherings, I suppose I just thought Christmas was one of the occasions where man and beast, all family, get together and it makes me pretty upset him being home alone while we're having fun and other dogs are there.

POPPYOSCAR

I agree with lostinrates.

At least they are being honest with you.

Have you explained how you feel to them?

If it bothers you that much then do not go, just say you cannot leave him alone.

RedBern

aileth wrote: »

Hi all,

Every year for Xmas we go to my parents on Xmas day and the in laws Boxing Day. We have a two year old dog who still acts like a puppy. He gets very easily excited and is pretty non-stop, but doesn't bite or whatever. We often get told not to bring him to family gatherings as he's 'too much to cope with', which I do understand but it does annoy me a little as to me he's part of the family (my parents love him and always want him there).
?

Can't you spend the next few weeks training him? (I'm speaking as someone whose retriever pup was asked to leave training classes as he was too boisterous!) I can totally understand you wanting the dog with you, so why not do some hard work now so that he's better behaved and so people will accept him. There's enough time between now and then surely? Good luck with it !

aileth

They know I don't like him being excluded, and since I told them they never say, "Don't bring him", they say absolutely nothing and expect we won't bring him, and if we do we get, "Why have you brought him?"

I am very tempted not to go to be honest.

aileth

RedBern wrote: »

Can't you spend the next few weeks training him? (I'm speaking as someone whose retriever pup was asked to leave training classes as he was too boisterous!) I can totally understand you wanting the dog with you, so why not do some hard work now so that he's better behaved and so people will accept him. There's enough time between now and then surely? Good luck with it !

I wouldn't really class him as boisterous (I could be wrong), he is like a wallflower when at home with me and OH, it's more like lots of people excite him and always wants to know what's going on, so if someone leaves the room he'll follow them, he'll keep bringing toys to people wanting to play, just generally always 'on the move' and I guess they see him as too tiring.

cte1111

I can understand why they'd rather not have the dog there, sorry. I like dogs but would find it hard to relax if there was one constantly on the go. I don't think you can really liken it to a hyper child, as you wouldn't be able to leave the child at home, where as the dog will be OK on his own (although a bit lonely I'm sure).

aileth

Like I said I can understand, but surely for one day a year, when all the family is getting together? Surely one day a year isn't a hardship? We're only normally there for about two hours.

lostinrates

aileth wrote: »

Like I said I can understand, but surely for one day a year, when all the family is getting together? Surely one day a year isn't a hardship? We're only normally there for about two hours.

The thing is its that one day a year when everyone's patience is already stretched. Food is out because the fridge is over full, the house is full of people who won't remember to close the kitchen door because they aren't used to a dog following them around.

People are tetchy because aunt maud has been critic ing their parenting or uncle Pete has been knipocking back the port and possibly being a bit over familiar with the neighbours.....people are stretched that one day a year more often than not, and the romantic idea that its time we set all worries aside and laught when the dog licks the Boxing Day ham is optimistic.


I think your family are being brilliant. They are telling you what their boundaries are, . Now, you can comply or say, with equal fairness, we love you too, but the dog is important to us so we won't pop in on that day we don't want to leave him alone ....how about you come to us on this later/earlier day or we'd be happier to leave him on that day and visit you.

How long do you visit for? How tough is your dog? Mine love a journey and would be happy in the car for an hour with coats on in cold weather.

Money_maker

Surely if you're there for only 2 hours then dog will hardly notice you've gone? This is your perception rather than the viewpoint of the dog.