What can be done about in-laws dogs?

Question

I used to love visiting them, but they have a large white german shepherd and now a small chi/pom type dog. They are the worst behaved animals! I love dogs, I love all animals, I have many myself, but my animals don't bother people. And to make sure they don't, when we have company, I put my dogs in another room. I realize that even though I love them, not everyone has to.
But they let their little dog literally climb all over you. 2 weeks ago, I was wearing a brand new coat, and this little thing was literally clawing its way up my back as I sat in the chair..the in-laws thought it was very cute and were laughing. Then last week, we all went out for dinner, I was dressed up, and told my husband when we went back there, to please keep the dogs away from me (I thought it was his place, since its his parents), but I still left covered in hair and smelling like dog. What do you do? I don't want to be rude, but they are oblivious to their bad behavior. I don't even want to go there now.

Sadly, they never do settle down, and the "parents" think its all very cute and that I should be loving all the attention. I've had dogs my entire life, I love them, but I've always respected that others might not love them like I do..and especially when someone is dressed up. I just find it so rude and stupid of them to allow the bad behaviour. I guess I need to stop being so passive about it, and just speak up and maybe they'll get the hint. I'm always so worried about being rude, but I think their actions are incredibly rude. The saddest part is, the mom is "training" a beautiful little puppy for their grandmother, and this adorable puppy is going to be the exact same way. She seems to think "training" means teaching it to sit and shake a paw..she doesn't know the meaning of obedience training. Her other 2 dogs are 1 and 3 years old, they will never be well behaved. Its like visiting people with really bratty children..no fun at all.

Answer 1

Good lord, we have the same problem!
These are a mini goldendoodle and a standard goldendoodle. We've told our relatives exactly what they need to do ... for starters get a new professional trainer! But the in-law half (and the main in-home trainer) is literally mentally challenged (I'm not being mean, here. She's on medication).
The "puppy" is a year old and still not house trained. The older dog has so many issues from previous owners, she will not except the pup -- they fight constantly.
Their biggest problem is the in-law half will not train consistently.
She shoos the dogs off the couch, then 5 minutes later invites them up to cuddle. She says a dog is smart enough to know the difference. Do you think that after a year of this course of duel training the dogs KNOW the difference. You guessed it, they STILL jump wildly on the furniture AND are under foot begging in the kitchen AND jump up on people. The larger dog almost knocked over my 81 year old Mom! The in-law's solution was to crate or tie the dogs down. Worked for a short time -- until that inconsistency kicked in again. Besides, all that being cooped up, that's no way to treat an animal. There's no backyard to throw them out to, either.

My advice is refuse to enter the house unless the dogs are under control. It'll be REALLY difficult to do, but it's either that or always wear your worst clothing when you're over there.

An aside: I had a boyfriend that had unruly dogs. He claimed, "Love me, love my dogs." Actually, dispite their behavior -- I did love his dogs, it was HIM I couldn't stand!
:-D :-D :-D

Good luck!
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Answer 2

As they are very rude in my opinion, sometimes only stern behaviour on your part will do. When you go there and the dogs climb onto to you or up on you, shush them away and say sternly no. Ignore your in-laws stares and if they questioned you, just tell them I feel uncomfortable having the dogs all over me. And repeat as needed, in the meantime don't wear good clothing, even if you're going out to dinner with them. Should they comment on that, just tell them, that you don't want your good clothes ruined by the dogs. If they have any manners, they will get the message and if they don't, stop visiting for a while and if they ask you for dinner, tell them you have plans and you want a rain check. Eventually, I hope they will get the message.

Answer 3

This is a very tough call. You inlaws are noit going to change their behavior or work at changing their dogs. They think it is cute and you are not going to change their minds.
If it were me, (and I have in laws that hate me) I would stop going into the house if I was dressed up. Let your husband explain to his parents why you will not come into the house. Let him figure out how to tell his partents that you would rather not be covered in dog hair and stink in your nice clothes and then have to sit through dinner.
It is very rude of your inlaws to allow their pets to behave this way. It is not the dogs fault that they have no manners but it is the owners. Not that they are going to ever admit it. Most likely she has no clue about how to take control of the situation and really train the dog to do anything.

Answer 4

As they are your realitives now also, don't put it all on husband but insist he back you up on it and sit down with them and explain that it is putting a big strain on your visits and would they kindly put their dogs in another room when you are there. Maybe you can meet them half way and arrange a time to interact with the dogs by wearing old clothes and as suggested turn your backs on them and ignore them. eventually they will no you are a no touch human. I have a friend with a big dog that likes to jump on you and it took about ten times of doing this that now I can pet the dog and say (enough) while turning my back and he just goes and lays down. Sometimes it takes awhile, but you are not being rude they are. Stand your ground and if they dont understand avoid going and when they ask tell them again your sorry but its to uncomfortable for you having to fight the dogs off.

Answer 5

in the united kingdom you would be charged with animal cruelty. For punching a dogs, presuming that the dogs suffered no severe harm, you may in all threat be fined £a hundred and fifty with £seventy 5 expenditures and banned from protecting a dogs or cat for 5 years. the optimal penalty was 6 months' imprisonment, a £5000 positive and a ban on protecting animals for existence. whether, i think of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 extra effective the optimal term of imprisonment and the optimal positive. i don't comprehend what it incredibly is now yet i think of it may be 2 years' imprisonment and a £20,000 positive. i've got in basic terms checked the Act. fifty one weeks is the optimal term of imprisonment, no longer 2 years. The £20,000 positive is right.

Answer 6

The best thing you can do is ignore the dogs and turn your back on them (or move out of the way) when they jump on you. Don't push them away, because that is attention. Any attention is good attention to dogs. It will also help if youR husband does the same thing. And you must remember to be CONSISTANT in your training. If you come over in play clothes do not encourage them to jump on you or they just wont learn.

Do not acknowledge them until they settle down. Only pet them or say hi to them when they have all 4 paws on the floor. If they are very excitable, do not talk to them with a happy high pitched voice. By doing this, you are conditioning them to not jump on you.

Dogs don't like to be ignored. They will learn that the only way you will pay attention to them is when they greet you with all four paws on the ground.

This was one of the hardest things to teach myself is to ignore a dog until they settle down. But, once you do it, they do learn that you will not pay attention to them until they settle down.

It is unfortunate that your in-laws don't hold them back until they settle down. You might want to politely suggest to them, to please not let them jump on you because you don't want to get pet hair all over your nice clothes. They might not have any idea you feel this way. Some people don't realize things until it is pointed out to them. You might also, want to suggest that it would be good to try and teach them to not jump on people because what if an older person or child comes over and the bigger dog could accidentally knock them down. Or in the nicer weather, the little one can scratch people and that hurts.

Good Luck!! It will take some time, but practice ignoring them in the mean time.

Answer 7

Unfortunately, there are A LOT of people in this world who think that many undesirable behaviors are "cute" when the dog does them. Sadly, proper training in at least manners is something most people just don't care about.

If it were me, I would be avoiding visiting as much as possible.

Answer 8

In some cases like this, you have to start your own training session for the dogs, you have to train them to not jump on you just every time push them off of you and even if you have to hold them down, they arent your dogs but somebody has to take action in this situation, the dog will respond

Answer 9

There's not much you can do without hurting someones feeling or causing a problem between your son and his parents. Just wear old clothes when you go there.

Answer 10

History says, Stalin shot all his in-laws (i.e. his wife's relatives)
So don't you have the guts to at least poison a stupid mutt? If not, then send it to the dog pound OR Complain about it. You can also give a 440 Volts of electric shock to it's testicles (i.e. if it is a male)
that's the best way to make a dog learn manners.