Where the pet goes when company visits

[ladawn]

I know we've discussed this topic a couple of times on this forum, but I saw this in the paper today and thought this was a good way to handle this.

Aug. 11, 2003, 8:20PM

FOCUS: MY PET WORLD
Let guests know you have a pet
By STEVE DALE
Tribune Media Services
Q: I want to know what's proper when visiting the home of someone who has an indoor pet. Should the homeowner put the pet in a separate room or confine it to a pet taxi (crate)? Or is it OK for the pet to run loose and annoy the visitor? I have no indoor pets (just outside pets), so when a visitor comes to my house, am I wrong to tell them their pet has to stay in the garage or outdoors?

-- C.V., Bryan


A: It's a shame you apparently don't consider your pets members of the family. However, most American pet owners do.

"Still, it's only fair that if you have a pet, you should tell your visitor up front," says "Ask Amy" advice columnist Amy Dickinson of the Chicago Tribune, a cat owner. "I have a friend who is very afraid of cats, and I believe it's fair to consider putting the cat in another room."

Some animals can be put in another room and not fuss. Others make such a ruckus that visitors are more annoyed than if the pet(s) had been allowed to mingle awhile, then saunter off for a snooze. Of course, cats are famous for choosing to be affectionate toward the one person in the room who doesn't like cats.

"Putting a pet outdoors or in the garage may not be reasonable or safe for the pet," Dickinson adds. "That's going too far; it's certainly not necessary to potentially endanger your animal by keeping her in a hot garage (where dangers such as anti-freeze may lurk)."

Dickinson says she worries about her elderly mother, who visits a friend with a friendly, but over-exuberant, 85-pound dog who jumps on people.

"I don't want my mom to get hurt," says Dickinson. "But a better answer than putting the dog away is to teach her not to jump on guests. For as long as she continues to jump on people, that dog needs to be on a leash or taken out of the room when guests arrive."

She adds, "I believe pet owners do need to take reasonable wishes of their guests into account, but then your guests need to understand that they're visiting a home with pets, and understand the pets live there every day. You're just a visitor."

[Jamie & Odin]

ladawn, I'm not of the "love my dogs or leave my house" camp, nor do I automatically put them up when people come over.

I try to come to a resonable balance of respect for everyone.

Take last night for instance; I had three adult guests and four children over to cook out. Keep in mind, I live in a two bedroom apartment that I share with the three dogs.

Odin is by far the best behaved dog. He will lay down just outside of the kitchen while food is being prepared and is barrier trained not to go out the open door; he was allowed to remain free. Foxy is completely food obsessed and "newly" trained which means still pretty unreliable; she was crated. Pebbles is just too little to be under all those feet with so much activity going on, he was crated too.

Now, Foxy and Pebbles got to come out after dinner and meet everyone when the activity level slowed down.

For me, it's just common sense and hopitality.

[tilerspop]

I take into account the guest and the activity we are going to pursue. The dogs all go outside if we are having a sit down dinner, at least while we are eating. If the guest doesn't like dogs I will put them out, but usually, people who don't like dogs or are afraid of them don't come to my house:D Mostly the dogs are allowed to stay in the house, after all, they live there too. :)

[Jaegergirl]

if i know someone is afraid of maverick, i will put him outside or in his room while they visit. i'm one of those "do onto others...." kind of people and feel it's the right thing to do. i'll never forget going to a friend's house when i was younger. her dogs were constantly bitting at my heels. i told her i didn't like the dogs and i was afraid of them (and i'm a dog person to begin with) and her mom refused to put the dogs away while i was there because the dogs were just trying to "herd" me and weren't "hurting" me!! needless to say, i quit going over. i wouldn't want someone i liked to stop visiting because of my dog.

maverick gets very excited when people visit (wants to love everyone) and i know it can be annoying if you're not used to large dogs. so if i can't have him on a leash and be there to prevent obnoxious behavior, then he goes outside or in his room. he really doesn't seem to mind.

[ILoveRotts]

I admit it - I'm the love them or don't come over type.:)

And I don't mean that in a nasty way. I have 2 married friends that are afraid of the dogs. I totally respect that. When we get together, we meet elsewhere - either a restaurant or their house.

The biggest thing I do for my guest is train my dogs well so that they aren't a nuisance.

At my daughter's 1st birthday party - in the back yard - I had 20 adults & 8 kids under the age of 4. My 3 Rotts as well as 2 guest dogs (out of towners) were present and no one had a problem.:) Even my 2 friends who came with their 1 1/2 year old llittle boy.

[Rott-Wiley]

When anyone comes to my home, if they don't like animals, I'll put my dog in a down near me and not allow her to bother them but this is her home and someone coming here has to respect that. I'm not going to let the dog be a pest and I'm not about to change my life to accomidate someone who is not being reasonable in my home.

[LavenderRott]

I do not have a lot of company and I must admit, when I do, it is people who know Chase.

My brother once told me that rottweilers were bred to fight and he would not bring his family over if I would not lock up my dog. Needless to say, he is not invited over.

I will put my over exuberant beagle on a leash when company arrives, however. When every one settles down, the leash comes off.

BTW, Chase often attends family functions at my mother's house. Of the 7 dogs owned by family members, she is the best behaved.

[Brooke&Ryan]

Julius stays out usually whenever company comes. He's not a jumper but just does the butt wiggle whenever he meets anyone new. Usually he'll get to meet and greet for a bit & then if he gets a bit overexuberant we'll put him in his crate with a nylabone for a bit.

Brooke

[rottmommie]

in general,if my guests are annoyed by my dog, they have to tell him to go lay down, or I have to tell him to go lay down.
If all it is is a friendly hello, they will have to get over it. I didnt ask them to come over anyhow.
If i have a party, or invite someone over, I will put the dogs away if it is necessary, because I ASKED them to my house. If you show up unexpected, then expect the unexpected!
NO DOGS near the food area.....guests do NOT like any animals near food!!!

[angel girl]

with my dogs- 1) i will crate them if the guest is afraid of dogs. 2) leash them for the first few minutes and let them greet, after that they will go lie down. But if guests just don't like dogs, well tough, they knew the dogs were here when they came over and they have to respect that this is my dog's home, not theirs.

[tugger5000]

This probably isn't the best of attitudes, but if you don't like my dogs, don't come over. My 80 year grandma spent thanksgiving week with us, and at first, was intimidated by actually sharing a house with a Rott, but when she finally had the opportunity to meet her, it was purely a matter of having Aedia (and Dante) calm down when looking for lovin from my Grandma. (first day or 2 was on the leash...) I will NOT have my dogs knock my Grandma down.

I look at guests coming over has training/socialization opportunities. So far, they've done great...

The only thing I have to tell my guests is "If you don't like dog kisses, don't come over.. they're unavoidable..."

[Leader]

My two are fairly well behaved. They main problem is play drive...They don't jump up but they do have a tendancy to crowd people visiting and then pressing their toys upon them. Ignoring Leader just doesn't work. But he's fairly obediant at home and will leave visitors alone.

EVERYONE I know and who comes to my home KNOWS I've got rotts and that they're part of the family. I do have one 'pal' who is absolutely terrified and panic stricken at the mere thought of dogs. Imagine her reaction to Leader and Blaze. The last time she came, I put them in the kennel together. Just the sound of them playing with a plastic bottle unsettled her 'Is that normal:( :o ' she said.

So, if the weather is clement and someone really is afraid I'd put the dogs in the kennel. But I'd prefer NOT to invite anyone who's going to be uncomfortable. I know they're dogs, and they can be a bit much when they want to play but it is their home too.

Leader;)

[Lady'sLady]

When people usually come to my house they know I have dogs and cats. Some of my friends don't like dogs so I usually corral them in the dining room and we sit at the kitchen table. My mother doesn't like pit bulls or rotties. Since my uncle rescued a pit bull my mother thinks they are wonderful. She has met my girl only once. She wasn't sure what to think. She did say that my girl was ugly. Which I can't believe. When she does come over I usually put the dogs outside because they love company. They will lick you to death before they would bite anyone.

:)

Lady -- Rescued rottie -- 6 yrs.
Nicky -- Golden Retriever -- 3 yrs.
Norman -- Short hair cat -- 8 yrs.
Mystra (sissy) -- long hair calico -- 6 yrs.
Sammy and Kit Kat -- twins -- 3 yrs.
Spanky -- rescued from ditch out front of house -- 9 months

[ladawn]

Company is starting to annoy me, particularly my good friends who come for extended visits now that I no longer live in the same town as them. They complain about the dogs the entire time. That they smell, that they shed, that they are there. I don't crate them when company comes (I promise--as a relatively new dog owner I think I am extremely objective when it comes to determining what is out of line for non-dog lovers because to a certain extent I was one). They don't jump, the dogs are overly attentive the first 5-10 minutes but then they just want to be where the action is observing things. Their presence seems to be a nuisance to these people. At first I was embarrassed but this last time (July 4) emboldened by my out of whack pregancy hormones I requested that next time they come, to practice not complaining about anything and just shrugged my shoulders and said "tough" about the dog related stuff. Before they came we had the dogs groomed and we aired out our house as best we could and bought air freshners and "Lysol-ed" continuously in an effort to reduce the doggie smell (hell I don't like my house smelling like dog either) but in the end--Daisy and Toby are family. Our lives are richer by having them in it. It could be hormones talking, but on the 4th, I liked the dogs way better than the company anyway. If people have small children who are afraid, I crate the dogs but Daisy loves little kids and is so gentle with them it is surreal so for the more easygoing or pet loving parents of those kids, they stay out with the crowd. Short visits I'd be more inclined to crate but lengthy visits, you may have to find another place to stay. Daisy or Toby are not outside dogs so even if I had the desire to try it, I wouldn't feel comfortable after all this time even attempting it.

[Jaegergirl]

imo, it's one thing to put the dogs away, outside, whatever when company comes for short visits out of consideration of the guest(s) like in my case when i can't be watching over maverick to correct his behavior or when i know someone is uncomfortable around him because she is not used to dogs, much less big ones. i've never once been asked by any visitor to put maverick away when they come over, i do it just because. but it's a whole other story if someone comes over and then starts complaining about him. thank goodness it's never happened, but if it did i'd tell them to k**s off and to not bother coming back. that's just plain rude!!!