I'm in an awkward situation.
My husband's family are a small close family and we often have family gatherings at my sister-in-law's home because they have the space to accommodate everyone.
Now they have two dogs - a bassett hound and a pug (i think). They love their dogs and are very much part of their family - as they should be.
We have a good relationship with our family so this is why it's very awkward for us.
The bassett jumps up on people when excited. I'm not a dog person. I don't like the smell of dogs, don't like them slobbering on me, don't like them jumping on me, don't like the smell of dog on me and my clothes. That's me but being in their house I understand that their pets are part of their family and I just have to put up with it.
However.... we have a 5 month old baby and I don't want the dogs anywhere near him. The dogs aren't used to having babies or children around. They are friendly dogs but no-one can predict how a dog would behave around children if they're not regularly exposed to them.
We visited their home when our baby was about 3 months old and the bassett was jumping up on me trying to smell the baby, trying to bite the baby's dummy, constantly hanging around. I hated it so much. I don't want dog slobber on my baby either. My baby doesn't sleep well when out and about so I couldn't put him upstairs in a room. I had to hold my unsettled baby the whole time and try and keep the dog away. They roused on the dog when they saw me trying to push the dog away but I really hated the situation. My husband feels the same way.
I KNOW that if we asked them for the dogs to stay outside, they would feel very offended. I don't know what to do. I don't want to cause conflict or offence but at the same time I don't want the dog around my baby. It's only going to get worse when my baby starts getting mobile and not wanting to be held.
It's fine for families who already have dogs and introduce their new baby to the dog (and vice verca) but we don't see them regularly. Only birthdays and Christmas.
Any advice?? Play pens don't work because they had their christmas tree in a play pen and the dog still managed to get to the decorations and eat them.
Thanks for any advice.
My husband's family are a small close family and we often have family gatherings at my sister-in-law's home because they have the space to accommodate everyone.
Now they have two dogs - a bassett hound and a pug (i think). They love their dogs and are very much part of their family - as they should be.
We have a good relationship with our family so this is why it's very awkward for us.
The bassett jumps up on people when excited. I'm not a dog person. I don't like the smell of dogs, don't like them slobbering on me, don't like them jumping on me, don't like the smell of dog on me and my clothes. That's me but being in their house I understand that their pets are part of their family and I just have to put up with it.
However.... we have a 5 month old baby and I don't want the dogs anywhere near him. The dogs aren't used to having babies or children around. They are friendly dogs but no-one can predict how a dog would behave around children if they're not regularly exposed to them.
We visited their home when our baby was about 3 months old and the bassett was jumping up on me trying to smell the baby, trying to bite the baby's dummy, constantly hanging around. I hated it so much. I don't want dog slobber on my baby either. My baby doesn't sleep well when out and about so I couldn't put him upstairs in a room. I had to hold my unsettled baby the whole time and try and keep the dog away. They roused on the dog when they saw me trying to push the dog away but I really hated the situation. My husband feels the same way.
I KNOW that if we asked them for the dogs to stay outside, they would feel very offended. I don't know what to do. I don't want to cause conflict or offence but at the same time I don't want the dog around my baby. It's only going to get worse when my baby starts getting mobile and not wanting to be held.
It's fine for families who already have dogs and introduce their new baby to the dog (and vice verca) but we don't see them regularly. Only birthdays and Christmas.
Any advice?? Play pens don't work because they had their christmas tree in a play pen and the dog still managed to get to the decorations and eat them.
Thanks for any advice.