Why do people want to bring their dog to our house?

[Anonymous]

This is not the first time this has happened. We have 2 dogs — a puppy and an older dog. We invited friends over for tomorrow night. They have a dog. They want to know if they can bring it. This dog is old enough to be left at home for a few hours.

Why is this is even a question? When we go to someone’s house, we would never think our dog is also invited.

If we tell them the dog is not welcome because it’ll be mayhem with three dogs and our dogs will go crazy having an unfamiliar dog in the house, it’s probable the wife of this couple will stay home to be with the dog.

I just don’t get it.

[Anonymous]

It sounds like they don’t like to leave their dog. That is ok! If you think the wife will stay home if the dog is not invited, then issue the invitation only if you’d be fine with just the husband coming. Let them make their choices and you make yours.

[Anonymous]

We couldn't leave our puppy home alone. Now that the dog is older we are starting to but one of us is always home so the dog freaks out the entire time we are gone.

[Anonymous]

Because they think it'd be fun for the dogs to have a playdate. It's weird that one of them would stay home to keep their dog company.

We have a couple of friends where there's an understanding that when we visit, we bring our dogs (same breed fwiw). But it's literally three families. Our dog can stay home by herself.

[Anonymous]

Because people are weird!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is not the first time this has happened. We have 2 dogs — a puppy and an older dog. We invited friends over for tomorrow night. They have a dog. They want to know if they can bring it. This dog is old enough to be left at home for a few hours.

Why is this is even a question? When we go to someone’s house, we would never think our dog is also invited.

If we tell them the dog is not welcome because it’ll be mayhem with three dogs and our dogs will go crazy having an unfamiliar dog in the house, it’s probable the wife of this couple will stay home to be with the dog.

I just don’t get it.

That’s why they asked, so neither of them had to decline the invitation to stay home with the dog. I don’t know why they can’t leave the dog at home, but my guess is that it’s a pandemic pup who hasn’t spent much time alone and it freaks out when they try it. Maybe they never did crate training and the dog becomes destructive. Maybe it gets so anxious it vomits or has diarrhea.

It’s okay for you to say that adding another dog to the mix will not make for an enjoyable evening for anyone. It’s also okay for one of them to stay home with their dog.

[Anonymous]

Rude.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because they think it'd be fun for the dogs to have a playdate. It's weird that one of them would stay home to keep their dog company.

We have a couple of friends where there's an understanding that when we visit, we bring our dogs (same breed fwiw). But it's literally three families. Our dog can stay home by herself.

We have a townhouse with a very small backyard. “Dog playdate” will turn into our dogs flipping out that a new dog is in the house. Their dog gets skittish a lot. We will spend the entire time refereeing the dogs.

None of these are the same breed. We have a 12 year old grumpy Tibetan terrier and a 5 month old Lab puppy. They have a 2 year old poodle mix.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because they think it'd be fun for the dogs to have a playdate. It's weird that one of them would stay home to keep their dog company.

We have a couple of friends where there's an understanding that when we visit, we bring our dogs (same breed fwiw). But it's literally three families. Our dog can stay home by herself.

We have a townhouse with a very small backyard. “Dog playdate” will turn into our dogs flipping out that a new dog is in the house. Their dog gets skittish a lot. We will spend the entire time refereeing the dogs.

None of these are the same breed. We have a 12 year old grumpy Tibetan terrier and a 5 month old Lab puppy. They have a 2 year old poodle mix.

Our little dog loves big dogs. It sounds like you need to train your dogs better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because they think it'd be fun for the dogs to have a playdate. It's weird that one of them would stay home to keep their dog company.

We have a couple of friends where there's an understanding that when we visit, we bring our dogs (same breed fwiw). But it's literally three families. Our dog can stay home by herself.

We have a townhouse with a very small backyard. “Dog playdate” will turn into our dogs flipping out that a new dog is in the house. Their dog gets skittish a lot. We will spend the entire time refereeing the dogs.

None of these are the same breed. We have a 12 year old grumpy Tibetan terrier and a 5 month old Lab puppy. They have a 2 year old poodle mix.

Our little dog loves big dogs. It sounds like you need to train your dogs better.

When did I say our smaller dog didn’t like our puppy? He does. But he doesn’t like unknown dogs coming into our house. I think that’s pretty normal.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because they think it'd be fun for the dogs to have a playdate. It's weird that one of them would stay home to keep their dog company.

We have a couple of friends where there's an understanding that when we visit, we bring our dogs (same breed fwiw). But it's literally three families. Our dog can stay home by herself.

We have a townhouse with a very small backyard. “Dog playdate” will turn into our dogs flipping out that a new dog is in the house. Their dog gets skittish a lot. We will spend the entire time refereeing the dogs.

None of these are the same breed. We have a 12 year old grumpy Tibetan terrier and a 5 month old Lab puppy. They have a 2 year old poodle mix.

Our little dog loves big dogs. It sounds like you need to train your dogs better.

I have a large, super chill dog who would quietly greet any other dog with tail wagging, a polite exchange of sniffs, and then would lay down and nap. Very few small dogs love him. They tend to bark at him like crazy, just based on his size.

[Anonymous]

Just say your dogs aren't cool with it. They are attached and will probably stay longer/enjoy if their dog is with them - but they will get over it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Because they think it'd be fun for the dogs to have a playdate. It's weird that one of them would stay home to keep their dog company.

We have a couple of friends where there's an understanding that when we visit, we bring our dogs (same breed fwiw). But it's literally three families. Our dog can stay home by herself.

We have a townhouse with a very small backyard. “Dog playdate” will turn into our dogs flipping out that a new dog is in the house. Their dog gets skittish a lot. We will spend the entire time refereeing the dogs.

None of these are the same breed. We have a 12 year old grumpy Tibetan terrier and a 5 month old Lab puppy. They have a 2 year old poodle mix.

Our little dog loves big dogs. It sounds like you need to train your dogs better.

When did I say our smaller dog didn’t like our puppy? He does. But he doesn’t like unknown dogs coming into our house. I think that’s pretty normal.

You need to work it’s your dog more and socialize them.

[Anonymous]

I don’t get it either, OP. I think it reflects really poor manners to even ask a host this question. I imagine you have already responded. If you haven’t, I hope you don’t feel like you need to provide a bunch of reasons why the answer is no.

If only the invited husband ends up attending, I hope it’s still a fun evening and how things played out doesn’t cause you any stress. If they are truly your friends, hopefully this will not cause a rift.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Because people are weird!

Agree with this. I know we're not talking about cats, but I even saw a woman in Walmart carrying her kitten. People just can't seem to leave their pets at home anymore.