Unbelievably thoughtless
By GreenMoo
@GreenMoo (11834)
June 10, 2012 2:43pm CST
We accept volunteers at the farm who help us out in exchange for meals and accommodation and the change to live a different lifestyle for a while.
This afternoon a couple arrived that I'd been expecting. What I didn't expect was that they'd have a dog with them. I have six dogs and five cats, plus goats, rabbits and poultry. Other people's dogs are never a good idea.
So anyway, they break it to me about the dog and rather than send them packing I say they can stay so long as it gets on with mine and doesn't bother the other animals. So we introduce it to my sole female dog. No problem. Then we introduce it to the first of my five male dogs. Big problem. Their dog is also on heat!
My five male dogs are now in the house, throwing themselves against the inside of the door trying to get at it. I'm awaiting the local neighbourhood dogs anytime now, then mine will go even more beserk, barking at the intruders on their turf.
Their female dog is now caged in their car, but my dogs know it's there, they can smell it of course. I can look forward to another week or so of this. Joy.
How thoughtless, to turn up at someone's home with a dog that isn't expected, and a dog and heat at that. Am I being over fussy, or do you agree? I don't want to send them packing as they seem to be really nice people. But how can you forget to tell your hosts you'll be bringing a dog? What would you do, in my shoes?
5 people like this
9 responses
@GardenGerty (157551)
• United States
10 Jun 12
Personally I think I would be pulling my hair out. It is actually their problem, if they do not want her bred. They need to get her fixed. Is is possible they could board her somewhere else? Probably not. I think in any further advertizing I would specify that this is a working vacation and pets are not allowed.
4 people like this
@GreenMoo (11834)
•
10 Jun 12
Even worse, she's some special breed who isn't allowed to fall pregnant by some 'mutt' like mine are. Sigh. And she's not even theirs, which I really don't understand. Why would you show up with somebody else's dog?!
Dogs are actually mentioned more than one on our website. It just goes to show that people don't read.
5 people like this
@GardenGerty (157551)
• United States
10 Jun 12
In that case I would be sending her packing.
3 people like this
@PageTurner (2825)
• United States
10 Jun 12
Hello GreenMoo
I agree with you that it is unbelievably thoughtless of those guests who not only showed up with a dog, unannounced, but a dog in heat, no less!!
We regularly travel with our dog, but we would never bring her along to a place without checking first to see if it is okay. Plus, on no condition, would I bring her while in heat.
As important as I think hospitality is, in this case, I don't think it at all unreasonable to ask them to reschedule a return visit, sans dog, as this is obviously not working out.
3 people like this
@GreenMoo (11834)
•
11 Jun 12
I think the dog came on heat later than they were expecting and scuppered their plans, and now she's on heat thee's little they can do about it.
I have no idea what they are doing with this dog. It's a very expensive pedigree dog, and beautiful, but it does seem rather odd hauling it half way across Europe. It belongs to a breeder, so is certainly not unwanted.
It's too hot for the dog to be in the car all day, although if we parked the car under the trees and left all the doors and the boot open it would be OK in it's cage. I think we'll have to work out some sort of rota for letting the dogs free, as I can keep mine in the house for part of the day if need be.
So far the neighbourhood dogs haven't caught a whiff of her. I've given them very strict instructions that they are not to walk her in the direction of the village!
3 people like this
@PageTurner (2825)
• United States
10 Jun 12
It is just so thoughtless. In some ways, I can see they may be doing a good deed to keep this dog away from other dogs (you mentioned it wasn't theirs. Are they doing a favor for a friend? Did they rescue it?) but it is just not a good idea in so many ways.
How is the weather there? Is it safe for the dog to be left in the car?
I imagine you may find a whole herd of dogs around that car soon!
3 people like this
@sharra1 (6340)
• Australia
11 Jun 12
I think it is extrememly rude for them to bring this dog with them. They should never have brought a dog without asking you permission first but with one of heat you cannot take them anywhere. I know that if the dog is a pedigree then you are not allowed to have them fixed or you lose you right to show them. However, if she is a show dog then they should have arranged to have her kept somewhere safe, not brought her to your farm. She certainly cannot stay in a cage all that time.
If I was in your shoes I would ask them to remove the dog and if they do not want to leave her with anyone then they should leave and arrange another time when they can come without their dog. I had a pedigree female once and I used to go crazy during the times she was in season. I have had all my female dogs fixed since then as I did not want any pups and it does drive the dogs crazy. I have no wish to go through that problem again.
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
11 Jun 12
I would not have even let them get their stuff out of the car, I would have turned them around and told them go home or find someplace to board the dog. It's not fair to your dogs to put them through that misery and it's not fair to the visiting dog to be kept in the car--and it's dangerous in the heat of summer. I would send them home right now, no matter how nice they are!
2 people like this
@GreenMoo (11834)
•
12 Jun 12
Actually, I'm rather glad I didn't. After an initial bout of excitement, my dogs have calmed down to the extent that they don't care about her at all. She's the best behaved dog I have ever met, and this morning was left in charge guarding a hole in the wire of my animal house to stop the little goats escaping until we could get back with materials to block it up!
I can't work out why my dogs aren't bothered. They occasionally give her back end a sniff, then wander off again. It's so unlike them!
1 person likes this
@chicksdigscars (5483)
•
11 Jun 12
I completely agree that that is utterly thoughtless.
I know you don't want to ask them to leave, but I have a female chihuahua and a male chihuahua and before i'd a chance to get her spayed, she came into heat. AND LET ME TELL YOU, it was the worst experience of my entire life 1. trying to keep them seperated and 2. listening to my male chihuahua get on the way he did to get near her!
It's a complete disgrace of them. Is there no where they could go and leave the dog? like with a relative or anything?
2 people like this
@GreenMoo (11834)
•
12 Jun 12
We have one female and five males, so I'm VERY familiar with the noise the boys make when they can't get what they want. I feel so sorry for our girl dog!
Actually, this dog has turned out to be an absolute sweetie, and although she is obviously on heat my dogs are really not bothered. It's so weird it's almost spooky. after an initial bout of craziness they calmed down and now they just give her the odd sniff then wander off. It's as if she's cast a spell on them ....
2 people like this
@BarBaraPrz (45484)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
11 Jun 12
Maybe they kidnapped the dog and are holding her for ransom to pay for their vacation... 
Seriously, though, I agree with what everyone else before me here have said. Idiots.
(The dognappers, not everyone else before me here...)
Seriously, though, I agree with what everyone else before me here have said. Idiots.
(The dognappers, not everyone else before me here...)
1 person likes this
@GreenMoo (11834)
•
12 Jun 12
Stranger things have happened!
They've explained the deal to me now. These people look after the dog, although it belongs to a breeder. When the breeder is ready to breed it, she keeps the puppies and hands over the papers for the dog in return for their care.
2 people like this
@GreenMoo (11834)
•
25 Jun 12
It's not really like forgetting your toothbrush is it?!
She's been a dream actually, a really lovely dog. Which is just as well!
Her owners went out on the razzle tonight so she's joined mine in the workshop and all seems calm out there at the moment. Her season must be over.
1 person likes this
@katsmeow1213 (28717)
• United States
11 Jun 12
Yeah, notice would have been nice. Personally, I don't like dogs and don't want to be around dogs I don't know. Whenever I'm invited somewhere I always warn the host that I don't do well around dogs. If they have a problem with putting their dog away for my visit, then I just don't visit.. not a big deal. I make sure to let them know ahead of time because I think it's rude to show up and assume they'll tie their dog up without notice.
This is because I once had a visitor that was rude to my cat. I'd just gotten the kitten, and the visitor knew about it. She did not say a word. Kittens are very playful and have sharp little claws, which I'm sure you know. She would lay her clothes out on the furniture, then yell at the kitten for running across her clothes and possible poking holes in them. She did nothing but complain about the cat and yell at it the whole time she was there. I was very upset by it.
Discussing pets before a visit somewhere is always a good idea, whether you are bringing the pet or going somewhere that has pets. If it's going to be a problem, you need to be aware of it ahead of time so you can make proper arrangements.
1 person likes this
@GreenMoo (11834)
•
12 Jun 12
The girlfriend of a friend of ours isn't nice to our cats, and it really annoys me. she picks them up by the scruff of the neck and looks at them as if they're dirt. If she doesn't like them, why not just leave them alone? This is outside, so it's not as if they're in her space.
I totally agree that if you either don't like or have animals you should always discuss it before arriving at someone's house. I've never any problem sticking my dogs in the house if we have visitors, but not when someone is scheduled to stay for three months as these people are!
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