Anonymous wrote:Because I would be stewing over this for the next three weeks, I'd want to get the conversation out of the way as soon as possible.

I'd call your ILs and say this is the last time you will be watching the dog and you will be having the house cleaned when they return. In the meantime, he will be crated. If they don't want to board him next time, they can choose to use some of the remainder of their time in Florida to find another rental that allows pets.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Find a place to keep him where there is no carpet and he can't see outside and has food, water and a bed. No barking, no muzzle. Put the muzzle on if he's barking a lot. Take it off at night or when you aren't in the house and won't be bothered by him.

I don't understand why OP gives the dog the run of the house if he's destructive and climbs in furniture. Turn part of your house into a boarding kennel.

That's the plan. I've been gone on business or personal travel for a good part of the first three weeks, so thankfully my contact has been limited until now. This weekend was warmer weather where we are, and I was home, so lots more activity going on outside and lots more of the dog going nuts.

I messaged DH from work this morning and asked him to find the old baby gates. Our house is open concept so I can't totally confine him to a non-carpeted space, but I can limit his run of the house. I also told him I will expect that he schedules the carpet/furniture cleaning for after the beast is gone.

I'm confused. So you've been gone for most of the past 3 weeks. Who has been watching this dog?

DH, mostly. Just because I have been on business travel does not mean no one has been home.

I got some baby gates and closed off the front room with the windows where the beast stands to bark. That and keeping the curtains closed has at least eliminated that problem. I told my DH and DS that all rooms are to remain closed (i.e. close the door behind you when you enter and exit a room) so the dog can't access them. That basically limits him to three rooms that are not easily closed off because of the design of our house. And that under no circumstances is the dog to be allowed inside the house without the diaper wrap on. If both have to go in the washer, too damned bad - the dog has to stay in his crate until they are cleaned and dried. I don't want to be mean to him, but I'm not willing to put up with his lack of training for another three weeks. I think DH gets it now that I am not kidding and that he can choose between upsetting his mother or living with a wife who is pissed at him, and justifiably so. I think he understands that his mother emotionally manipulated him into keeping this dog for six weeks after both of his siblings put their foot down, and that six weeks is too long to ask anyone to care for their pet. When I put it to him that in the past year we have basically kept the dog for a total of three months, it hit him that we are being taken advantage of as essentially co-owners of this pet that we do not like and whom we did not ask for. I told him this is not about being unwilling to help family, but about reasonable limits. And this goes beyond any limits that a rational personal would consider reasonable.

I think you are handling it well. You can get through the next 3 weeks. And then never again...

Thank you - exactly. I can hear the objections now, thought - it would cost us $1,000 to board him!! To which I would respond that it is not my responsibility to figure out how to budget for or manage the care of their dog while they travel. IMO if they can afford to stay in FL for six weeks and pay for all of the other travel and home renovations and everything else, they can afford to budget for appropriate care for their pet too. My dog is well-trained and an angel and I would NEVER ask someone to keep her for six weeks. Honestly, I'm miffed that she even asked in the first place, and even more pissed at DH that he said yes over my (well-founded, by the current state of my house) objections.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Find a place to keep him where there is no carpet and he can't see outside and has food, water and a bed. No barking, no muzzle. Put the muzzle on if he's barking a lot. Take it off at night or when you aren't in the house and won't be bothered by him.

I don't understand why OP gives the dog the run of the house if he's destructive and climbs in furniture. Turn part of your house into a boarding kennel.

That's the plan. I've been gone on business or personal travel for a good part of the first three weeks, so thankfully my contact has been limited until now. This weekend was warmer weather where we are, and I was home, so lots more activity going on outside and lots more of the dog going nuts.

I messaged DH from work this morning and asked him to find the old baby gates. Our house is open concept so I can't totally confine him to a non-carpeted space, but I can limit his run of the house. I also told him I will expect that he schedules the carpet/furniture cleaning for after the beast is gone.

I'm confused. So you've been gone for most of the past 3 weeks. Who has been watching this dog?

DH, mostly. Just because I have been on business travel does not mean no one has been home.

I got some baby gates and closed off the front room with the windows where the beast stands to bark. That and keeping the curtains closed has at least eliminated that problem. I told my DH and DS that all rooms are to remain closed (i.e. close the door behind you when you enter and exit a room) so the dog can't access them. That basically limits him to three rooms that are not easily closed off because of the design of our house. And that under no circumstances is the dog to be allowed inside the house without the diaper wrap on. If both have to go in the washer, too damned bad - the dog has to stay in his crate until they are cleaned and dried. I don't want to be mean to him, but I'm not willing to put up with his lack of training for another three weeks. I think DH gets it now that I am not kidding and that he can choose between upsetting his mother or living with a wife who is pissed at him, and justifiably so. I think he understands that his mother emotionally manipulated him into keeping this dog for six weeks after both of his siblings put their foot down, and that six weeks is too long to ask anyone to care for their pet. When I put it to him that in the past year we have basically kept the dog for a total of three months, it hit him that we are being taken advantage of as essentially co-owners of this pet that we do not like and whom we did not ask for. I told him this is not about being unwilling to help family, but about reasonable limits. And this goes beyond any limits that a rational personal would consider reasonable.

I think you are handling it well. You can get through the next 3 weeks. And then never again...

Anonymous wrote:

foist off on the children during their many trips and vacations

You could have always said, "no".

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Find a place to keep him where there is no carpet and he can't see outside and has food, water and a bed. No barking, no muzzle. Put the muzzle on if he's barking a lot. Take it off at night or when you aren't in the house and won't be bothered by him.

I don't understand why OP gives the dog the run of the house if he's destructive and climbs in furniture. Turn part of your house into a boarding kennel.

That's the plan. I've been gone on business or personal travel for a good part of the first three weeks, so thankfully my contact has been limited until now. This weekend was warmer weather where we are, and I was home, so lots more activity going on outside and lots more of the dog going nuts.

I messaged DH from work this morning and asked him to find the old baby gates. Our house is open concept so I can't totally confine him to a non-carpeted space, but I can limit his run of the house. I also told him I will expect that he schedules the carpet/furniture cleaning for after the beast is gone.

I'm confused. So you've been gone for most of the past 3 weeks. Who has been watching this dog?

DH, mostly. Just because I have been on business travel does not mean no one has been home.

I got some baby gates and closed off the front room with the windows where the beast stands to bark. That and keeping the curtains closed has at least eliminated that problem. I told my DH and DS that all rooms are to remain closed (i.e. close the door behind you when you enter and exit a room) so the dog can't access them. That basically limits him to three rooms that are not easily closed off because of the design of our house. And that under no circumstances is the dog to be allowed inside the house without the diaper wrap on. If both have to go in the washer, too damned bad - the dog has to stay in his crate until they are cleaned and dried. I don't want to be mean to him, but I'm not willing to put up with his lack of training for another three weeks. I think DH gets it now that I am not kidding and that he can choose between upsetting his mother or living with a wife who is pissed at him, and justifiably so. I think he understands that his mother emotionally manipulated him into keeping this dog for six weeks after both of his siblings put their foot down, and that six weeks is too long to ask anyone to care for their pet. When I put it to him that in the past year we have basically kept the dog for a total of three months, it hit him that we are being taken advantage of as essentially co-owners of this pet that we do not like and whom we did not ask for. I told him this is not about being unwilling to help family, but about reasonable limits. And this goes beyond any limits that a rational personal would consider reasonable.