Doggy Dilemma

[foodluva]

My sister who lives in England wants to come for a holiday to Scotland (where I live) with her hubbie and kids. She wants to stay in my house so she can catch up with family etc. I was delighted with this and told them my house is their house etc. Problem is that she has a dog and I am NOT a dog lover. When I moved into my current house we spent alot of time and money getting rid of the doggy smells (replaced carpets etc) and restoring the garden which had been p***** on all over leaving burnt grass. She is trying to arrange for someone to look after her dog while she's away (kennels are a no no!) but has asked me if worst case scenario, the dog can come. I've told her no!! She was kind of okay with this but basically if she can't get a doggy sitter then she won't be able to come. I feel like a terrible sister. Am I being unreasonable?

[kawakiri]

How long will the dog be there for? I'm sure they wouldn't let the dog run riot and let it pee everywhere.

[joeluke]

Your sister obviously thinks more of her dog than she does of you

[mccfluff]

no it's your house. why are kennels out of the q?

[kawakiri]

I wouldn't put my dogs in kennels.

[kawakiri]

If she lives in Mid Cheshire I'll look after the dog.

[craft1948]

My dog has been in kennels twice.........he hated the first ones and sulked for a week when we got home................he loved the second ones.

[Barmaid]

Most pet owners view their animals as part of the family so I can understand why your sister would want to bring hers. However, non dog owners often do not like other people's pooches in the house - for the reasons you mentioned above. That does not make you unreasonable. I've been in the situation myself when a friend turned up to stay and brought her two dogs. She was "let down" at the last minute by the dog sitter. I was furious because these were big dogs and my cats were absolutely terrorised. The house stank for weeks and they crapped all over my beautiful garden.

Who is she asking to look after the dog? There are pet sitting agencies who will go in once or twice a day to feed, walk etc. I've used them myself in the past and found them extremely good.

[daffy654]

No you're not being unreasonable. I'm not keen on dogs either and wouldn't have one in my house!

[woofgang]

Well I don't think that your sis would trash your house and garden in the same way but (and I am a dog lover/owner) there will likely be some residual hair/smell. It would be easily dealt with by hoovering and febreeze.
I am assuming that your attitude to dogs is no surprise to her?

Baseline for me is your house, your rules but how much does your sis/family mean to you?

We used to let my dear MIL and FIL use our house when we went on hols. MIL was a smoker and we used to have to have a good old air out when she had gone but to us it was worth it for the pleasure it gave.

[woofgang]

PS I wouldn't put my boys (dogs) in kennels either...

I would be totally incendiary if anyone brought pets/kids to mine without asking..its not fair on the host or the host's pets/kids

[foodluva]

Thanks to veryone for their replies. Kennels are a no no because this dog is like her baby and she wouldn't ever consider putting it into a kennel. She feels it's cruel and can't stand the thought of the dog being upset. She's going to ask a neighbour whom she's good friends with. This neighbour's own dog died recently and my sister's dog knows the neighbour well so she's comfortable with this option.

Kawakiri thanks but she's in Herts.

Barmaid, are the pet sitting agencies expensive? The reason she's coming to Scotland this year is because they are strapped for cash and as a result can't afford to go abroad so money is an issue.

Woofgang, family is important to me that's why this issue is bothering me. At the moment, I am hopeful she will make arrangements for the dog. However, her usual dogsitter is on holiday at the time she is coming to us so we really are hopeful that the neighbour comes up trumps. I really don't want to be in the position where I have to put the stoppers on her holiday because I feel so strongly about the dog.

[R1Geezer]

Stick to your guns, if you say ok as a last resort, the dog will be comming if not she'll get the neighbour to look after it. What sort of dog is it?

[R1Geezer]

Blimey your sister's not Marlene off only fools is she?

[Barmaid]

I don't know how much they would charge in Herts, but I know when I was in Bury St Edmunds I was paying £10 per day plus VAT which for two cats was cheaper than a cattery. The cat sitter also shut curtains, put lights on and watered the garden etc and the cats were so much happier to be in their own home.

[TheOtherHalf]

I dont think you are being unreasonable. I Love dogs but wouldnt want to have one stay in my house for more than a few hours.

[foodluva]

LOL R1 Geezer. Marlene? Close, very close......

She's a small black spaniel of some description. Beautiful and I love playing with her but like TheOtherHalf, I don't particularly want her in my house for any length of time. Anyway, I'm very grateful for everyone's opinions. I'll wait and see what arrangements she comes up with!

[boxtops]

I would stand my ground, it's your house. My cats would never forgive me if I let a dog in, let alone allowed it to STAY. People don't smoke in my house, they go in the garden. You are not being terrible. Barmaid's idea is good - I would use a pet-sitter for my cats if my neighbour didn't feed them while we go away.

[anne50scot]

I do dog sitting for Barking Mad,which takes pets into dog lovers' homes.But if this is not available in her area or she cant afford it how about trying local dog owners she meets when dog walking.She could offer to swop and take their dog when they go on holiday and they would both get free dog sitting.Or I mind local dogs too,ask other dog walkers if anyone does that in her area?

[RATTER15]

If we cant take our dogs, then we don't go, as you can see by my avatar we don't have tiny dogs, when we get married soon, the dogs will be very much a part of our wedding and they will be going on honeymoon with us, we wouldn't have it any other way.

[haysi06]

Hi foodluva, its a shame you don't like dogs but understand and you shouldn't feel bad. Your sis can drop the wee thing off at mine, I've got 3 anyway lol