Brother wants to bring his dogs here for Thanksgiving...

[Anonymous]

but seriously: there's really no winning on this. you can tell your brother not to bring the dogs, and of course it's within your rights - but you might find that he decides not to come. which will just add several new levels of resentment to a family relationship.

is there really no way to keep the dogs confined to a room in your house that isn't carpeted while they're visiting? you don't even need to say that it's because of the pee and poop - just say that it's for the cats. that should be reasonable.

[Anonymous]

I am a dog person but I was going to say No until I saw the part where you say you take your dog to their house.
I think you should reciprocate graciously.
You know the dogs get along already, maybe keep the 2 dogs and your cat separated for a few days.
Think how you would feel if you had to board your dog somewhere when you go to their house.

[Anonymous]

Think how you would feel if you had to board your dog somewhere when you go to their house

Every dog owner needs to have a reliable kennel/arrangement that they trust. I can't imagine making the decision to be a dog owner and not having this in place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is no way I would allow dogs to pee all over my house when I had 10 play people there for a holiday.
In the future I wouldn't bring my dogs to their house either, just so it's not an issue either way.

+1

[Anonymous]

Stop being a PITA and let them bring the dogs. If they have multiple accidents, then don't allow them again. It's not fair that you bring yours to their house.

My SIL doesn't allow us to bring our dog to her house cause she's not sure how her cars will react. It is a huge pain cause then we have to line up a sitter (do not like to kennel a rescue). She is the sweetest dog and has been around cats many times with no issue. It really annoys me.

[Anonymous]

My initial impulse is to say no way to the dogs (because I wouldn't let someone bring pets into my home that would upset my own pets...and I hate dogs in any case).

However, you have a dog, which you have taken into your brother's home, at his invitation. If you actually took your brother up on this and he welcomed your pet into his house, it would be rude of you to forbid his dogs at your house. Can't you get a baby gate and put them in a room where they can't do any damage?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:She ALWAYS lets us bring our dog to her house (which I appreciate).

They let you take your dog to them? But you won't reciprocate??

+1 kennel the cats

[Anonymous]

Hold firm and say no, OP.

[Anonymous]

It is different when you have cats! All the PP who focus on fairness and say let them bring the dogs probably don't have cats.

OP, I would apologize to your family, say that they're right that you've brought your dog to their house before and you aren't reciprocating, but blame it on your cats -- even tell them that one has had peeing issues and the vet doesn't want any strange animals in your house to increase your cat's anxiety. Whatever it takes -- but it's not fair to your cats to have strange dogs over, and you should draw a line.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP - Wow, I'm surprised that only one person here 13:34 agrees with me. My major issue is (and maybe I didn't highlight this enough) that their dogs are CONSTANTLY having accidents on their carpeting. I mean, multiple times a day. I really don't want that in my house. I think I'd put up with the crowding and the possible cat issue if it weren't for that, but that one thing really puts me over the edge. You guys are saying you would just deal with that? Because my brother and SIL are in denial that their dogs are constantly having "accidents", I doubt they will have their dogs wear diapers, but good suggestion, PP. I'm not backing down on this, but I just wanted to know if I was being unreasonable. I guess the answer is yes! Oh well.

+1 on doggy diapers. Our dog never has an accident at home, but has been known to have them in other homes. When we bring him somewhere or ask family to watch him, he always has a diaper on indoors.

[Anonymous]

I have a dog, and there's no way I'm letting someone's peeing/pooping animal in my house. OP, do NOT allow this, you will regret it.

Also, I think you shouldn't take your dog to their house anymore, in fairness.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have a dog, and there's no way I'm letting someone's peeing/pooping animal in my house. OP, do NOT allow this, you will regret it.

Also, I think you shouldn't take your dog to their house anymore, in fairness.

I have a dog and cats, and would never let their lives be disrupted by dogs who aren't trained. For all the people who are saying you should let the dogs come because you took your dog there, the circumstances are different. It's not an equal situation. You should veto the dogs, but for the sake of family relations, don't take your dog there anymore either.

[Anonymous]

It is very nice of you to host, but please consider the time, effort and expense it takes your family to travel to get to your house.

We used to travel to my MIL's for Thanksgiving. It was a day of travel on both ends. We would both have to take two extra twork days off to travel on the most horrible traffic filled days to travel. The dogs we had then, we would kennel, our bill for kenneling would be 100 a day. Rates go up on holidays. When we had kids we stopped travelling. MIL was never that gracious of a hostess, we Told them they could come and see us. They don't want to travel during he holidays so we do not see them.

I seriously doubt their dogs are as bad as you say. Let it go, your pettiness is the thing that splits families. Learn to be a gracious host.

Life is too short, invite their dogs over and don't be a pain in the ass.