My parents are 85 years old and when my sisters bring their large dogs over my parents can’t even get up and walk around. It is only a matter of time before these dogs knock them over. They are large not well behaved dogs at all. I don’t blame the dogs on this. I need to address this issue and I don’t think it is going to be well received. Please help! Everyone is going to feel just awful when they knock my mother over who is 120 pounds. I need help!
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Your family sounds fun! My daughter’s little pooch is like that. He loves my daughter so much! He was 5 years old when she rescued the little guy. She tells him before coming to see me, “Let’s go see grandma.” He gets excited as soon as they pull into the driveway. He runs straight over to me to be loved. He always puts a smile on my face. He’s adorable! I love that dog. I dog sit him when she goes out of town. He’s good. He behaves. He is glad to see my daughter when she gets back though. All they want is love...
You’re right. It just depends on the circumstances. There is a beautiful black lab that goes to our church. He is very well behaved in mass. I’m always amazed at the service dogs. They are so smart too.
I didn’t bring my dog to anyone’s house because some people would freak out because of his size. He was too big to do that with.
Different families have different ways of being with their dogs. My family has always included dogs at events, parties, holidays, camping and more. My extended family is the same. Nobody would think to ask 'can I bring the dog?' as it is assumed the dog will come too.
Other families keep their dog at home, still more choose not to have dogs at all.
My dogs know they are going somewhere later today. They have seen me packing up for the weekend and know when they see me move the crate that they will be going into the car next.
Where we are going is a place where the neighbours have let their dogs roam freely for the past 50 years. And you know what? There has never been a fight or an issue. I know now everybody wants dogs leashed up all the time or contained in a yard, but we have 11 unfenced acres, lots of roam for the dogs to roam. The neighbours have smaller properties, but my dogs go to their places and theirs come to ours.
Op have you talked to your parents about the visits? How do they feel? Do they like to see the dogs?
my dog is part of the family. He’s a small dog, a 15lb terrier mutt.He’s completely indoors ever since our other dog died 4-5 years ago. He seems to suffer from anxiety now that his companion is gone. Anyway my in-laws never cared for animals much. They especially did not like animals in the house. They would have rather we put the dog outside when they visited but I never did. My husband would put him out and I would let him right back in. It’s the dogs house and it’s not like he ever jumped on anyone. He might sit and watch you while you eat, hoping you dropped something but he never jumps on anyone. I don’t care if someone doesn’t like dogs or what, they don’t have to come over. If they want to come over, then they have to accept that the dog is in the house. I’m not going to put my dog outside & trigger his anxiety not to mention upset the neighbors with his nonstop barking, just because you don’t like dogs. Don’t come over then. Luckily all our friends are dog people & allow their dogs in the house too so I’ve never actually had to be rude and tell them to deal with the dog or not come over LOL!
I’m 5’3” and love dogs of all sizes. I would love to have a big dog again but the husband says no more animals.
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Depends on the breed. I am only 5 feet also. Greyhounds are so gentle. They don’t bark all day. Great dogs! They are couch potatoes. It’s the little ones that are yappy! My schnauzer was sweet but crazy!
The greyhound was so laid back. They almost have a ‘cat’ personality. He never jumped on anyone. They are smart and listen very well. He was so close to mom. They were best buds.
I didn’t think I wanted a big dog but I got tired of the constant barking of my schnauzer. I researched easy going dogs and greys were listed. I miss him.
I agree if a dog bothers someone they should remove the dog. Training a dog is part of being a responsible dog owner.
I said after the schnauzer, no more dogs, then I got my grey. It’s been awhile since he died and I haven’t rescued another dog. I think about it but it’s so hard to lose them. They both lived until 13 years old. My cat was 16.
I would have a house full of people already and one of my sister in laws would invite four other people. It gets worse, she proceeded to ask me to add to my menu to have their favorite food.
I looked at her like she had two heads! I told her no, that I was not a short order kitchen and she was more than welcome to host a dinner for them. This is one of the reasons that I stopped hosting holiday dinners.
Or asking to bring extra guests to a wedding. I’ve seen that too. I said no to that too. That’s nerve! Plain and simple. If they aren’t invited they shouldn’t be pushy! That goes for dogs or people.
It’s called manners. There are places that board pets. If there is a certain situation with an animal, then ask permission to bring them. My daughter brings her poodle to my house. But she has a long drive and she asked me first. I told her it was fine. Bernie is old. So he isn’t rambunctious around mom.
My mom does okay near animals. She adored my greyhound. He was so gentle with her. She misses him and it broke her heart when we had to put him down.
The only place I took my dog was to the dog park. Even there, once in awhile someone would have a crazy dog that would fight with the other dogs and there were a few law suits over vet bills.
I always left when I saw dogs that were aggressive with others. My dog was a wuss. He would have gotten hurt. He was beautiful. He was sweet. He wasn’t a fighter so he would not have defended himself.
You can’t reason with stupid people. This guy told a woman that her dog was fighting his dog. What does she say? “Oh no, he’s just playing.” He told her again that her dog was going to hurt his dog.
Sure enough he did. Well, the woman ended up having to pay the vet bill. They were banned from the park if they injured another dog or a person.
I would focus all of the comments on keeping everyone safe and not about the unruly dogs.
Find one that makes a point of explaining how much happier dogs are when they are trained and know what is expected of them. They are a lot like little kids in that aspect, they feel safe when they are controlled by authority and confidence. Of course lovingly applied.
My dogs are small 20 and 10 pounds. Mum has a much larger Pitty cross and all the dogs get along.
Anyway back to the visit. You are not said if the sisters are visiting form out of town or across town? If they are in town, then the dogs could stay home. If they are coming from out of town, they cannot leave the dogs in the car, so another arrangement needs to be made.
Is there a room in the house the dogs can be put into? Is there a fenced yard?
Now I used to have a larger dog and she came everywhere with me. She was a rescue and could not be kenneled. When we visited Dad she stayed in the utility room. She could see us through the open doorway. She would have preferred to be at my side, but this was a workable compromise.
The time to talk about this is not when the dogs are at your parents house. The time to talk about this is between visits. Bring it up as your concern about your parents falling, losing their balance and perhaps tripping over the dogs.
If your sisters are coming from out of town, do some research on local doggy day cares or other options for the dogs during the visit. Talk to the doggy day cares as the ones I have used need up to date vet records and usually a trial visit before a longer one.
I think its up to your parents to ask sister not to bring the dogs. And for the reason you have stated, they may fall trying to get around them. My DH has no problem telling people no dogs.
The same could be said about cats. The three I had when my parents were alive and would visit us, the cats were easy going [they were elder cats] and never got underfoot. My parents and those three cats have since passed, and the current cat I have wouldn't be good with elders as she runs likes she is on a high speed police pursuit, thus someone would get knocked over.
Let's say they love the dogs coming over. Then I would gently say "You know Mom and Dad love those great dogs of your; they give them a new lease on life; but they are so exhuberant I am a scardy cat about what might happen. Is there any way they could come on leash and then be in another gated room later. Their skin is fragile, they fall easier; I know it's silly but it has me on pins and needles every time".
If Mom and Dad hate them, ha ha, it's easier. It is just "You know I think Mom and Dad are a bit scared by the dogs; they are more prone to stumbles, falls, bleeding from a happy jump. And it scares the life out of me. Is there any way you could visit without them? Or have them gated in another part of the house? I hate to ask, but...............
and blah blah.
If nothing works, it might have to be less pretty. As someone said on another thread, something WILL happen. And then it will get addressed. Let's just hope the something isn't bad.
So, you can be calm and polite about it. Ask if they've ever noticed that your parents can't get up and walk around when the dogs are there? You don't have to say anything about the dogs not being well behaved. Just that it's a fall risk for your parents and imagine how bad everyone would feel if they got tangled up with the dog and hurt themselves?
Good luck.