What does your family think of your dogs?
- Thread starter meepitsmeagan
- Start date
My dad adores all the dogs of the world, but he and Pip especially have a mutual admiration society going.
My mom tolerates dogs but doesn't love them. She does like Pip, though, because he's quiet. The others are a bit too rambunctious for her.
My MIL and FIL also love all dogs. They live out of state so they don't see our dogs much but we went on vacation with them with Pip once and they adored him.
My mom tolerates dogs but doesn't love them. She does like Pip, though, because he's quiet. The others are a bit too rambunctious for her.
My MIL and FIL also love all dogs. They live out of state so they don't see our dogs much but we went on vacation with them with Pip once and they adored him.
Beanie
Clicker Cult Coordinator
Well everybody in the whole world loves Auggie, so.
My sister is very much a dog person so she loves them both. BIL is a person who likes dogs (as opposed to "dog person") so he likes them but he doesn't interact with them hardly ever.
My parents love Payton but also are a little unsure of how to deal with him, really. They try their best but when he gets... Payton-y... my dad is inclined to just start yelling at him and my mom gets frazzled. I generally do not allow Payton around other members of my family. It doesn't take much to unleash the beast, so I just... don't.
My sister is very much a dog person so she loves them both. BIL is a person who likes dogs (as opposed to "dog person") so he likes them but he doesn't interact with them hardly ever.
My parents love Payton but also are a little unsure of how to deal with him, really. They try their best but when he gets... Payton-y... my dad is inclined to just start yelling at him and my mom gets frazzled. I generally do not allow Payton around other members of my family. It doesn't take much to unleash the beast, so I just... don't.
They think Summer is sweet but dippy and hyper. Pretty accurate.
Hank is the golden child. He truly is for some unknown reason but they think he's really hyperactive. My BIL actually said he would not have a dog like Hank 'unless he had 30 acres and didn't want nice things'. Haha
Mia... pretty much everyone thinks she's weird. My stepmom and her HATE each other. :/ She likes my sisters and my one sister's BF and my dad and that's it. She is often referred to as the alien.
Hank is the golden child. He truly is for some unknown reason but they think he's really hyperactive. My BIL actually said he would not have a dog like Hank 'unless he had 30 acres and didn't want nice things'. Haha
Mia... pretty much everyone thinks she's weird. My stepmom and her HATE each other. :/ She likes my sisters and my one sister's BF and my dad and that's it. She is often referred to as the alien.
My family aren't really dog people. Most of them are cat people. They have all come to learn to love Dekka. Most of them think Schen is a little weird. My grandmother in particular I don't think likes Schen. They never watch my dogs but Dekka is welcome when there won't be cats. My brother quite likes both of them. The whippets were his favourite.
Picklepaige
Active Member
Everyone in my family loves Finn.
My aunt and uncle are constantly asking when is Finn coming to visit...not when is their niece coming to visit ahaha.
My aunt and uncle are constantly asking when is Finn coming to visit...not when is their niece coming to visit ahaha.
Finkie_Mom
It's A Red Dog Revolution
My parents only like Pentti and Bubbles because they are calm LOL. My siblings generally like Kimma and Bubbles. In-laws obviously love Pen since they have him now, and they love the girls (Bubbles has sleep overs there on occasion).
Jari gets no love LOL. But he's also the youngest and most crazed.
Jari gets no love LOL. But he's also the youngest and most crazed.
Samsonyte!
New Member
I still live with my parents and my little brother. None of them are really dog people, they're all cat people, but they like Sam and Wilson fine. Especially Sam since he's an easy dog to live with and they'll watch Sam if I leave for a few days but they won't watch Wilson. I don't think my brother likes Wilson much since he's kinda weird and hyper but he just ignores him. Everyone loves Sam.
My grandparents all like both of the dogs fine, but my one grandma thinks I abuse them because I train them
My grandparents all like both of the dogs fine, but my one grandma thinks I abuse them because I train them
My family are all dog people, maybe more than me! Cousin with border collies that works her dogs, another cousin and aunt that still foster where I quit for the most part.
My aunt and uncle that host Christmas have five dogs I think and invite everyone to bring theirs. Mine are to unruly now but it's worked in the past. Now husbands family thinks that's just crazy! Mention to anyone on his side we have a doberman and you get the look. They are not animal people in general. They had a bird when he grew up. His sister got a dog that she allows to snap at her kid so not sure that's ever gonna change.
In general when company is over I do kennel the dogs or put them downstairs because blitz can be overwhelming for a dog person. I don't expect a non animal person to out up with him and don't want anyone saying he hurt them when he jumps on their head.
My aunt and uncle that host Christmas have five dogs I think and invite everyone to bring theirs. Mine are to unruly now but it's worked in the past. Now husbands family thinks that's just crazy! Mention to anyone on his side we have a doberman and you get the look. They are not animal people in general. They had a bird when he grew up. His sister got a dog that she allows to snap at her kid so not sure that's ever gonna change.
In general when company is over I do kennel the dogs or put them downstairs because blitz can be overwhelming for a dog person. I don't expect a non animal person to out up with him and don't want anyone saying he hurt them when he jumps on their head.
CrystalGSD
Member
I live with my parents still so they obviously have to tolerate the dogs to some extent... But anyways, my mom is the most ambivalent in the family. She is definitely a bit of a germiphobe, as she hates dogs sniffing, licking, or being in her proximity unless she wants it, and she doesn't want dogs on couches because "germs". Despite all this I will catch her occasionally patting Crystal on the head or calling Crystal her baby lol 
My dad loves both dogs, although he definitely favors Crystal a ton. He's not a dog person, but he likes dogs. My brother loves both dogs, again likes dogs but not a dog person. My sister likes both dogs although she tends to wish they were chihuahuas so they could carry the dogs around lol.
Extended family is ok with dogs but not great. Cousins own a dog but it is an outdoor dog and left in the backyard, and my other cousins own a cat. Overall though, they're fine with my dogs.
My dad loves both dogs, although he definitely favors Crystal a ton. He's not a dog person, but he likes dogs. My brother loves both dogs, again likes dogs but not a dog person. My sister likes both dogs although she tends to wish they were chihuahuas so they could carry the dogs around lol. Extended family is ok with dogs but not great. Cousins own a dog but it is an outdoor dog and left in the backyard, and my other cousins own a cat. Overall though, they're fine with my dogs.
ThreePs
Member
Good timing
Holiday visiting is upon us, so this is well-timed. I adopted a new dog and I feel like no one in the family likes him :cry:.
My sister was scared of him at their first meeting so I crated him to calm down and acclimate, then let him out when things had settled. She saw/realized he was terrified, which he shows through growling. She is warming up to him but still uncertain. Her dog loves him so that helps.
Everyone thinks he barks too much (I agree!) which scares them. Big sis says he's hyper. Psssht.
He is very, very different from my well-traveled, snuggly, tiny, elderly Papillon. That takes time, folks!
Holiday visiting is upon us, so this is well-timed. I adopted a new dog and I feel like no one in the family likes him :cry:.
My sister was scared of him at their first meeting so I crated him to calm down and acclimate, then let him out when things had settled. She saw/realized he was terrified, which he shows through growling. She is warming up to him but still uncertain. Her dog loves him so that helps.
Everyone thinks he barks too much (I agree!) which scares them. Big sis says he's hyper. Psssht.
He is very, very different from my well-traveled, snuggly, tiny, elderly Papillon. That takes time, folks!
*blackrose
"I'm kupo for kupo nuts!"
My siblings find Abrams a bit overbearing and annoying. (So do I, so. Hahaha) But they don't have anything against him, and when I still lived nearby my younger brother would petsit for me when I needed him to.
My dad likes Abrams. Don't know if it's because he's my dog (and I'm my dad's "favorite"), or if it's because he's a good ol' boy Retriever and he loves good ol' boy dogs, but he really likes him. When I'd take Abrams with me when we visited, he liked to take him outside and play fetch with him. Mom likes him, too, which boggles my mind. He's her "Buster". She always wants me to bring him when we visit.
Everyone loves Cynder, no issue there. Lol
My dad likes Abrams. Don't know if it's because he's my dog (and I'm my dad's "favorite"), or if it's because he's a good ol' boy Retriever and he loves good ol' boy dogs, but he really likes him. When I'd take Abrams with me when we visited, he liked to take him outside and play fetch with him. Mom likes him, too, which boggles my mind. He's her "Buster". She always wants me to bring him when we visit.
Everyone loves Cynder, no issue there. Lol
JacksonsMom
Active Member
My family all love Jackson.
My dad sees the worst sides of him LOL as he's spazztastic over at his house -- lots of barking, begging, running, chasing cats -- all heavily re-enforced by my dad. But my dad loves him anyway. He's really the only person I trust to watch him when I go away for more than a night. He's a good 'granddad'.. he understands Jackson's weird quirks and habits. He will even volunteer himself to sleep on the couch since he knows Jax doesn't like my dads bedroom (again, a weird quirk). My dad and stepmom are 'dog lovers' though.
My mom and step-dad whom I live with primarily love him too. They're not really 'dog people' per say but they don't mind having him around at all. They're more the type to enjoy having a dog around but are clueless to the actual responsibility of owning a dog besides feeding it and taking it outside to go potty. Every once in a while they play with Lola (but you can understand why she's basically turned into my dog... ) and my stepdad will take Jax outside for me if I'm not home.
Jackson's always welcome on family vacations or on holidays with my immediate family. My grandparents love him, aunts and uncles, etc. Even my really close non-blood related 2nd family who are not dog people like at all love him (but they don't really want dogs in their house so I do respect that).
I think he's well loved because he actually prefers NOT to be pet or fussed over, so he's very content to just lay close by or take a few treats lol. He is very rude about just hopping on sofas etc because he's used to it and it's never been discouraged... so I would never take him to someones home who I knew was particular about that sort of thing but otherwise he's well behaved. He's used to being in others homes as I'm a pet sitter and he goes with me on most overnights I do if the owners are cool with it and most completely are.
Edit: wow reading through some of these posts has me so grateful my family is the way they are. Even my most non-dog-friendly family members would never make me leave Jackson in a crate in a closet in an unfinished basement! lol. I would be mortified. I literally wouldn't even bother going there.
My dad sees the worst sides of him LOL as he's spazztastic over at his house -- lots of barking, begging, running, chasing cats -- all heavily re-enforced by my dad. But my dad loves him anyway. He's really the only person I trust to watch him when I go away for more than a night. He's a good 'granddad'.. he understands Jackson's weird quirks and habits. He will even volunteer himself to sleep on the couch since he knows Jax doesn't like my dads bedroom (again, a weird quirk). My dad and stepmom are 'dog lovers' though.
My mom and step-dad whom I live with primarily love him too. They're not really 'dog people' per say but they don't mind having him around at all. They're more the type to enjoy having a dog around but are clueless to the actual responsibility of owning a dog besides feeding it and taking it outside to go potty. Every once in a while they play with Lola (but you can understand why she's basically turned into my dog... ) and my stepdad will take Jax outside for me if I'm not home.
Jackson's always welcome on family vacations or on holidays with my immediate family. My grandparents love him, aunts and uncles, etc. Even my really close non-blood related 2nd family who are not dog people like at all love him (but they don't really want dogs in their house so I do respect that).
I think he's well loved because he actually prefers NOT to be pet or fussed over, so he's very content to just lay close by or take a few treats lol. He is very rude about just hopping on sofas etc because he's used to it and it's never been discouraged... so I would never take him to someones home who I knew was particular about that sort of thing but otherwise he's well behaved. He's used to being in others homes as I'm a pet sitter and he goes with me on most overnights I do if the owners are cool with it and most completely are.
Edit: wow reading through some of these posts has me so grateful my family is the way they are. Even my most non-dog-friendly family members would never make me leave Jackson in a crate in a closet in an unfinished basement! lol. I would be mortified. I literally wouldn't even bother going there.
Last edited:
Cobain and Rigby are "my" dogs, whilst Oz and Ruby are the family's.
Right now I'm living back at home....
Cobain is wonderful and can do no wrong. Dad loves to tell everyone about how he is the smartest dog ever, and basically more human than dog, and the only good dog in the household.
Adversely, Rigby is awful. Bad dog, annoying, just terrible in every way.
Though I did get this picture
Soooo
Mom has about zero understanding of basic dog behaviour and body language. So she likes to blame Rigby for things that Rig clearly gave many, many warning signals about (she also likes to punish said warning signals that I've worked diligently to get Rig to display over the past few years). But most of the time she does like her.
No in-laws at the moment, however my ex's parents both love my dogs. Even though Rigby absolutely hated his mom for some reason, she still loved her anyways.
Right now I'm living back at home....
Cobain is wonderful and can do no wrong. Dad loves to tell everyone about how he is the smartest dog ever, and basically more human than dog, and the only good dog in the household.
Adversely, Rigby is awful. Bad dog, annoying, just terrible in every way.
Though I did get this picture
Soooo
Mom has about zero understanding of basic dog behaviour and body language. So she likes to blame Rigby for things that Rig clearly gave many, many warning signals about (she also likes to punish said warning signals that I've worked diligently to get Rig to display over the past few years). But most of the time she does like her.
No in-laws at the moment, however my ex's parents both love my dogs. Even though Rigby absolutely hated his mom for some reason, she still loved her anyways.
It's hit or miss with me and mine, but mostly fine. And I've given up worrying on how to make it not hit or miss, because I think there are factors other than the dog's actual behavior that are stronger determinants of whether someone likes a dog or perceives them as well-behaved, usually having to do with the person. It's a crap shoot. So I just try to concentrate on training him so that I consider him well-behaved, in the sense that I can take him calmly where I need and want to. In my opinion he has work ahead of him still, but he is coming along and getting better with age.
My grandmother, who dislikes/is afraid of large dogs, actually really likes Index which is a huge compliment to me. She likes me to bring him to her retirement home for visits even though pets aren't really supposed to be allowed in the apartments.
A lot of other family members are impressed with his level of training, though I think their bar is just low. My mother likes watching him, my boyfriend likes him. Most of the others like him and get excited to see him when we run into one another, but many admit they wouldn't own a dog like him, which is not only fair but frankly wise. :rofl1:
On the other hand, though... the biggest fight with my father I've had in the past year was over the dog and his escalating a correction I'd told him to stop giving and had never given him permission to give to begin with. It resulted in my asking him to leave and nearly having to call the police to get it to happen. I'm generally a pretty cool-headed person but if you have an issue with my dog you need to take it up with me unless it's a safety emergency, period, and let me handle it... trying to DIY with my dog is something I have insanely little tolerance for.
Basically, really, the only time I have problems with family and the dog is when they show up at my house unannounced and as a result it's more difficult for me to keep him quiet or from jumping up on them excitedly. I've also had a bit of trouble with some related (and unrelated) roommates essentially causing their own problems with him by not following my directions re: jumping, crating and begging. For those things I'm little apologetic because I don't like surprise visitors and/or they exacerbated the issue and set back my training in the process. I've been told (again by my father) to "control my dog" under those circumstances and it got him laughed at, because hey, I will... if you'll let me control my household by not walking into it whenever the heck you feel like it and not ignoring my training methods in favor of beating his crate with a broom, you yoink. If you want me to respect your training credentials maybe you should start by teaching your dog not to run off every time you open the car door or pee in the house.
My grandmother, who dislikes/is afraid of large dogs, actually really likes Index which is a huge compliment to me. She likes me to bring him to her retirement home for visits even though pets aren't really supposed to be allowed in the apartments.
A lot of other family members are impressed with his level of training, though I think their bar is just low. My mother likes watching him, my boyfriend likes him. Most of the others like him and get excited to see him when we run into one another, but many admit they wouldn't own a dog like him, which is not only fair but frankly wise. :rofl1:
On the other hand, though... the biggest fight with my father I've had in the past year was over the dog and his escalating a correction I'd told him to stop giving and had never given him permission to give to begin with. It resulted in my asking him to leave and nearly having to call the police to get it to happen. I'm generally a pretty cool-headed person but if you have an issue with my dog you need to take it up with me unless it's a safety emergency, period, and let me handle it... trying to DIY with my dog is something I have insanely little tolerance for.
Basically, really, the only time I have problems with family and the dog is when they show up at my house unannounced and as a result it's more difficult for me to keep him quiet or from jumping up on them excitedly. I've also had a bit of trouble with some related (and unrelated) roommates essentially causing their own problems with him by not following my directions re: jumping, crating and begging. For those things I'm little apologetic because I don't like surprise visitors and/or they exacerbated the issue and set back my training in the process. I've been told (again by my father) to "control my dog" under those circumstances and it got him laughed at, because hey, I will... if you'll let me control my household by not walking into it whenever the heck you feel like it and not ignoring my training methods in favor of beating his crate with a broom, you yoink. If you want me to respect your training credentials maybe you should start by teaching your dog not to run off every time you open the car door or pee in the house.
amberdyan
Active Member
I agree that well behaved to one is not well behaved to all. My friend Amanda hates when dogs jump on her and Hugo knows not to. My mom, however, loves when he slams into her for cuddles. I let him jump on me when I ask for it. I just like enthusiastic greetings.
Locke
Active Member
- Joined
- Oct 27, 2010
- Messages
- 1,919
- Points
- 36
Wow, after reading all these responses, I feel very lucky to have a pet friendly family. I never really imagined having family so hateful of my pets. I think all of my close family and SO's family has a dog/dogs or a cat/cats.
My parents, my sister and her wife, and I all share dog sitting duties. My sister and SIL have never watched Smiley for me, mostly because my parents are the go to, but I'm sure they wouldn't mind watching him for an evening if my parents weren't available. They like Smiley and think he's a weird little genius (not that far off the truth), but I think they're a bit intimidated by his needs, even though their dog is way more needy in a different way.
My parents love Smiley, and think he's a little angel (he's really not!). They offer to dogsit all the time, just so they can get some quality Smiley time. My Mom loves how cuddly he is, and my Dad loves to play tug with him and take him on long walks.
The dogs are always invited for family dinners and celebrations at any of our houses.
My SO's family are cat people, but really like Smiley. They invite him to join family dinners, but it's hard with the cats. I have to keep him on leash the whole time so that he doesn't bother the cats because they will attack him if he does. It's still nice to know that he's wanted there. Last year, my SO's mom and siblings even got him Christmas presents! So cute.
My parents, my sister and her wife, and I all share dog sitting duties. My sister and SIL have never watched Smiley for me, mostly because my parents are the go to, but I'm sure they wouldn't mind watching him for an evening if my parents weren't available. They like Smiley and think he's a weird little genius (not that far off the truth), but I think they're a bit intimidated by his needs, even though their dog is way more needy in a different way.
My parents love Smiley, and think he's a little angel (he's really not!). They offer to dogsit all the time, just so they can get some quality Smiley time. My Mom loves how cuddly he is, and my Dad loves to play tug with him and take him on long walks.
The dogs are always invited for family dinners and celebrations at any of our houses.
My SO's family are cat people, but really like Smiley. They invite him to join family dinners, but it's hard with the cats. I have to keep him on leash the whole time so that he doesn't bother the cats because they will attack him if he does. It's still nice to know that he's wanted there. Last year, my SO's mom and siblings even got him Christmas presents! So cute.
This is pretty much my goal for Indy re: jumping, which became a bit of a vice due to a combination of treeing instinct (? Or something... he's just always been quick to climb anything and I suspect there's a relationship) and inconsistency in early training introduced by wayward roomies, I think. Whatever the cause he's proving a little more difficult to train away from it than most dogs seem to be.
It's a problem I'm actively working on... but then, that's why it's so annoying to me when family members with boundary issues stroll into my darned house while I'm trying to keep my ramen from boiling over and a) expect to be allowed to yell at the dog when he inevitably gets amped up and forgets himself, giving him attention for his trouble or b) expect me to drop what I'm doing with no notice to accommodate their presence by leashing the dog, etc.
I want him to learn... they're just very much not helping and can take their complaints elsewhere at that point.
Last edited:
BostonBanker
Active Member
I got so tired of people un-doing any work I did on teaching Meg not to jump up. I was working at a barn, and she was loose with me all day, and people coming in and out of the barn would regularly pet her for jumping up. I finally changed the rules, since I didn't think it was fair to be upset with her for doing something she was regularly rewarded for. Instead, I taught her a very solid off. Now the rule is that she can jump up unless she's told otherwise. It worked so much better for me, although I realize it may not for dogs who regularly meet people without the owner near by.
AmandaNola
Wanna Pet My Wiener?
My parents LOVE my dogs. My mom favors Nola and Olivia, and my dad has a soft spot for Pike. They're almost bigger dog people than I am.
One of my sisters doesn't care for my dogs, one likes them for the most part, and the youngest adore them. One brother likes them well enough, one is nervous around dogs in general, but warms up with time, youngest likes them.
I don't see my extended family much at all, but they're not dog people.
One of my sisters doesn't care for my dogs, one likes them for the most part, and the youngest adore them. One brother likes them well enough, one is nervous around dogs in general, but warms up with time, youngest likes them.
I don't see my extended family much at all, but they're not dog people.