Anonymous
Post 12/08/2025 15:36     Subject: My in-laws gave my teens a puppy. WTF?
Not ok to do but my feelings would differ hugely if it's a mini poodle v. a large dog. What was it op?!
Anonymous
Post 12/08/2025 15:32     Subject: My in-laws gave my teens a puppy. WTF?
I would completely ignore the dog as if it weren't there. The in laws would then have to deal with it. Or DH would have to.
Wasn't a gift for me and I don't want it.
Anonymous
Post 12/08/2025 15:20     Subject: My in-laws gave my teens a puppy. WTF?
Anonymous wrote:Thank you all. Back to update. DH told his parents that they should keep the dog at their house. They reluctantly agreed. Kids were OK with it, but I'm still shaken that they even tried.


Even they were reluctant to take it! Crazy they didn't think that through at all.
Anonymous
Post 12/08/2025 15:10     Subject: Re:My in-laws gave my teens a puppy. WTF?
I would be livid. They took all your agency away, not even being able to pick the kind of pet yourselves. People who do this are very selfish and create chaos in your home. There is an unwritten rule that people should not give living creatures as gifts. They totally lack any consideration, but they want to score all the points with your children.
Anonymous
Post 12/07/2025 07:31     Subject: My in-laws gave my teens a puppy. WTF?
Anonymous wrote:Send the dog home with the in laws. It’s their dog not yours.


This. My BFF’s in-laws did the same to her. The dog ended up living at the in-laws house and the kids got to play with it when they went over to visit.
Anonymous
Post 12/05/2025 23:08     Subject: My in-laws gave my teens a puppy. WTF?
Anonymous wrote:Send the dog home with the in laws. It’s their dog not yours.


This. Shelter tomorrow
Anonymous
Post 11/13/2025 11:21     Subject: My in-laws gave my teens a puppy. WTF?
Anonymous wrote:Even if I had a specific litter in mind, I'd still want to actually pick out my dog. Dogs are definitely a whole family consent situation.

I love dogs and it's because I love dogs that I see this situation as bonkers. Dogs are companions, they are a commitment of over a decade and thousands of dollars a year. They are not toys. Springing a dog on someone like this is treating a dog like a toy.


Agree! I love dogs and this would make me furious even if we were in the middle of actively looking for a new dog!
Anonymous
Post 11/13/2025 11:14     Subject: My in-laws gave my teens a puppy. WTF?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Kids who grow up with dogs are better off overall.

Our little dog is everything. We have dog sitters when we go away, we take him with us a lot because he only weighs 7 lbs. There are so many carriers now, even for bigger dogs. I can’t say enough about the positive addition he is to our family.

I know it wasn’t a good idea for grandparents to do that but their hearts were in the right place. And playing sports won’t be going on for much longer anyway. Grandparents can take the dog on weekends!

Here’s a good article on the benefits of having a family dog.

https://total.vet/24-benefits-for-kids-growing-up-with-dogs/?srsltid=AfmBOopoEaMSZK8IF_64V84DMjY2SfbYXLxkdG7Q0FMx5LjlHTNEnVyC



I absolutely love dogs, I am the one asking people to pet their dogs all the time. Our dog is a member of our family.

She’s also a LOT of work and a lot of money and it causes us stress when we travel because we find a good dog sitter but then they move away or stop doing Rover.

I would never impose a dog on someone who didn’t want one, even if research says it’s good for kids and even if *I* think it’s good for kids. It may not be right for that family and everybody needs to respect that.



I understand that no one should buy another family a dog. It’s a shame that they can’t make it work. Did OP say they bought a purebred dog or a rescue?


No reputable breeder or rescue would provide a dog under these circumstances.

My sister got her dog from a breeder and they asked for pictures of her living space and a vet to forward records to before she was allowed to take her puppy home. I got a stray kitten from a rescue and also had to send them pictures of her food/bowls/litter box and provide vet records to show my current cat was up to date on medical care.


I’m sure that’s true in this area. I’ve adopted animals from a pound in a rural area. All you need is a pulse and the $50 adoption fee. They are happy for any animals that get adopted, since so many end up euthanized.
Anonymous
Post 11/13/2025 09:13     Subject: My in-laws gave my teens a puppy. WTF?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Kids who grow up with dogs are better off overall.

Our little dog is everything. We have dog sitters when we go away, we take him with us a lot because he only weighs 7 lbs. There are so many carriers now, even for bigger dogs. I can’t say enough about the positive addition he is to our family.

I know it wasn’t a good idea for grandparents to do that but their hearts were in the right place. And playing sports won’t be going on for much longer anyway. Grandparents can take the dog on weekends!

Here’s a good article on the benefits of having a family dog.

https://total.vet/24-benefits-for-kids-growing-up-with-dogs/?srsltid=AfmBOopoEaMSZK8IF_64V84DMjY2SfbYXLxkdG7Q0FMx5LjlHTNEnVyC



I absolutely love dogs, I am the one asking people to pet their dogs all the time. Our dog is a member of our family.

She’s also a LOT of work and a lot of money and it causes us stress when we travel because we find a good dog sitter but then they move away or stop doing Rover.

I would never impose a dog on someone who didn’t want one, even if research says it’s good for kids and even if *I* think it’s good for kids. It may not be right for that family and everybody needs to respect that.



I understand that no one should buy another family a dog. It’s a shame that they can’t make it work. Did OP say they bought a purebred dog or a rescue?


No reputable breeder or rescue would provide a dog under these circumstances.

My sister got her dog from a breeder and they asked for pictures of her living space and a vet to forward records to before she was allowed to take her puppy home. I got a stray kitten from a rescue and also had to send them pictures of her food/bowls/litter box and provide vet records to show my current cat was up to date on medical care.


Perhaps the grandparents put in the application for the dog using their home, address, etc.?
Anonymous
Post 11/13/2025 09:11     Subject: My in-laws gave my teens a puppy. WTF?
I have teens and can confirm a puppy is endless work even with the rm helping out. They each walk puppy one time a day and watch him after school and help on weekends. But I’ve had to work from home a ton, get up in the middle of the night and am otherwise exhausted and behind taking care of puppy. They are in for the cuddles but not for the training or the cleaning up of diarrhea and I can’t ask them to get up for the 2 am pee breaks because I don’t want them to fail out of HS.
An older dog could potentially be cared for by teens but not a puppy.
Anonymous
Post 11/13/2025 09:11     Subject: My in-laws gave my teens a puppy. WTF?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:Thank you all. Back to update. DH told his parents that they should keep the dog at their house. They reluctantly agreed. Kids were OK with it, but I'm still shaken that they even tried.

Wow. I hope for the dog’s sake they’re up for that commitment.

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