IL's Dog

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Board it today.

And pay for it how? I do not wish to pay for this upfront and then make a big dramatic scene of it with my in-laws over the phone. We said we would take the stupid dog - I told DH months ago when they asked that I did not want to, and he overrode me b/c he didn't want to make waves. I am willing to put up with it for three more weeks but I will not take the dog again after this. That is the issue with DH. He doesn't want me to tell his parents once they get home that the dog will no longer be welcome to stay with us. He sure as hell won't want to address this with them over the phone from hundreds of miles away. In all honesty, I'm not concerned about MIL getting upset with me. I know she will and I think that is her problem to deal with. I am concerned with this becoming a thing between DH and me. He refuses to address it with them and if I do, and MIL gets all passive-aggressive with him, it will be my fault. I do not think that is fair. I think HE should address this with his parents or at the very least back me up. But I know he won't.[/quote

Haven't you ever boarded a dog? You don't pay when you drop the dog off, you pay when you pick the dog up. So drop the damn doc off and let the in laws pay to get him out.

No honestly I never have. We just recently got a dog and took her with us on vacation last year. So this is good to know - thanks!

[Anonymous]

OP, crate him.

[Anonymous]

I love dogs almost more that people but this is bs. take the dog to a kennel after they leave, pick up morning they get back. or tell them you are going out of town that week. I would never let a dog piss all over my house. I have a great friend that has a dog like that. I tell her hell no. I watch that dog at her house.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hi there,

I haven't read through all of the replies, but this is what I would do:

For the remaining portion of this visit ...
1) Get a crate and a dog pen so the dog is contained (preferably in your basement or somewhere else that muffles sound). If your ILs don't refund you the money, just return them when you're done.
2) Get a bark collar. I suggest getting one that has a remote and also has a sensor for when you're away.
3) If you think there is still a risk of biting after the dog is contained in a pen, get a muzzle.
4) Check out Rover.com and find a petsitter who will take the dog when you need a break. The sitters there are a lot cheaper than boarding places.
5) After laying out the expenses with your husband, suggest he ask your parents for reimbursement.
6) No matter what, let the ILs know that the dog spent weeks in the pen because he was so destructive. Maybe they won't want to leave him with you after that.

For next time ...
1) Tell the ILs about Rover.com and say they should find a sitter who will take their dog, or suggest that they take the dog with them to FL.
2) Lay down the law with your husband -- the dog isn't staying there anymore. Tell him you'll be happy to help the ILs find a sitter (in case they aren't great with computers), but that you can't deal with the dog again. If need be, blame it on the neighbors. Say they're complaining and threatening to call animal control because of the barking.

Good luck!!

Just remember that none of this is the dog's fault. Dogs don't house train themselves, they need loving guidance from people to know what the rules are. This poor dog for whatever reason was never taught the rules. The idea of caging this dog in a basement away from everyone just makes me sad. Crates are meant to be used as safe dens for dogs when their owners can't watch them or the dog needs a rest. Treating the crate like a cage to put an unwanted animal is so not the purpose of a crate. Dogs are social animals, they need positive interaction in order to be healthy.

Yes. I would hate to have this dog over to my house. I understand the Op not wanting the dog at her house, I really do. But I doubt that Op would ever take her frustrations out on the poor animal. I think she should just give the dog as much kindness as she can and if she feels like she's losing her cool and can't deal anymore - board that dog.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hi there,

I haven't read through all of the replies, but this is what I would do:

For the remaining portion of this visit ...
1) Get a crate and a dog pen so the dog is contained (preferably in your basement or somewhere else that muffles sound). If your ILs don't refund you the money, just return them when you're done.
2) Get a bark collar. I suggest getting one that has a remote and also has a sensor for when you're away.
3) If you think there is still a risk of biting after the dog is contained in a pen, get a muzzle.
4) Check out Rover.com and find a petsitter who will take the dog when you need a break. The sitters there are a lot cheaper than boarding places.
5) After laying out the expenses with your husband, suggest he ask your parents for reimbursement.
6) No matter what, let the ILs know that the dog spent weeks in the pen because he was so destructive. Maybe they won't want to leave him with you after that.

For next time ...
1) Tell the ILs about Rover.com and say they should find a sitter who will take their dog, or suggest that they take the dog with them to FL.
2) Lay down the law with your husband -- the dog isn't staying there anymore. Tell him you'll be happy to help the ILs find a sitter (in case they aren't great with computers), but that you can't deal with the dog again. If need be, blame it on the neighbors. Say they're complaining and threatening to call animal control because of the barking.

Good luck!!

Just remember that none of this is the dog's fault. Dogs don't house train themselves, they need loving guidance from people to know what the rules are. This poor dog for whatever reason was never taught the rules. The idea of caging this dog in a basement away from everyone just makes me sad. Crates are meant to be used as safe dens for dogs when their owners can't watch them or the dog needs a rest. Treating the crate like a cage to put an unwanted animal is so not the purpose of a crate. Dogs are social animals, they need positive interaction in order to be healthy.

Yes. I would hate to have this dog over to my house. I understand the Op not wanting the dog at her house, I really do. But I doubt that Op would ever take her frustrations out on the poor animal. I think she should just give the dog as much kindness as she can and if she feels like she's losing her cool and can't deal anymore - board that dog.

OP here. Yes, I agree. It is not the dog's fault. He was ill-trained when my IL's got him and instead of getting him training, they just put up with it. I lost my cool on him once and then realized the I am really mad at DH for giving in to his mother and MIL for even asking us to do this for six weeks in the first place. When I asked about muzzles that just seemed wrong - the only kind that would prevent him barking would also prevent him from opening his mouth to pant, drink, etc. So not really useful for an entire day or hours on end. And I am not going to shock a 13 year old dog. So baby gates it was, and a threat to kill DH if he let the dog run around without the diaper wrap again. (DH is also going to shampoo the carpets with a borrowed machine - yay!!) The dog sleeps in a crate at night and when we're away, but so does my own dog. So far the gates/curtains drawn/diaper combo is working to limit damage to my home and sanity.

Thanks to all of you who provided instructive advice, some of which was obvious (baby gates, why didn't I think of that?). In my fury I couldn't even think straight. Now we are doing okay but yeah, I can't do this again. The dog just has too many issues for a two-parent working household with a busy schedule to manage, and I've never in my life encountered such a difficult and ill-behaved pet - he doesn't do half this stuff at their house. I guess I've been lucky with my own!

[Anonymous]

Take the stupid piece of shit dog to the humane society and have him put down. Tell the IL's that the dog went to doggie heaven. If they cared that much about the dog they would take him along for the six weeks they were gone.

[Anonymous]

The dog is gone!!!!!!

By this point, I think DH is happier than me, if that is even possible.

And my MIL offered to pay for carpet cleaning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The dog is gone!!!!!!

By this point, I think DH is happier than me, if that is even possible.

And my MIL offered to pay for carpet cleaning.

Well miracles really do happen! Thanks for the update Op. Glad to hear you survived the dog-in-law's stay. Never again .

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The dog is gone!!!!!!

By this point, I think DH is happier than me, if that is even possible.

And my MIL offered to pay for carpet cleaning.

I am dying to know - did you tell your in-laws that you won't take the dog again? What is the resolution?!?!?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The dog is gone!!!!!!

By this point, I think DH is happier than me, if that is even possible.

And my MIL offered to pay for carpet cleaning.

I am dying to know - did you tell your in-laws that you won't take the dog again? What is the resolution?!?!?

Not yet. They just got back last night and DH wants to wait until after Easter ( we are hosting) to avoid unnecessary drama. But he is now resolute so it will happen soon. I'll come back and update you on how it goes!

[Anonymous]

Well doggone it--Easter is over. Did he confront or give another excuse about why he can't tell them no?

[Anonymous]

they foist off on the children

Say, "NO"

A solution to the many problems posted on DCUM.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well doggone it--Easter is over. Did he confront or give another excuse about why he can't tell them no?

Yes, please update!