Ollie does tend (still) to be barky, no? I could see if there was a way to keep him away from the baby if they were worried about the two of them working each other up, maybe. If it's just "ooh, dog germs", NSM then.

Years ago, I used to hang out with a group of friends who visited a beach house over New Year's Eve every year.

The first year with Bartleby was fine. The other two visiting dogs were massively laid back and everyone got on fine.

The second year, unfortunately, the householder's new girlfriend had a Jack Russell with appalling manners. She kept attacking Bartleby and the owner would giggle something like 'She's such a scamp.' At one point, (after he'd dug in between me and a wall to avoid her) I very calmly got our stuff together and prepared to leave. It was 10pm.

I wasn't angry but I also wasn't going to spend the night fretting about my dog's safety. They didn't see a need to restrain their dog and I didn't see a need to be upset about it.

It was their house, their rules. I had no right to ask them to do anything they did not want to do.

I guess I'm with Barb in that way. I would NEVER ask someone to behave differently in their own home.

We're a couple of hours into it and thus far we've been asked to:

* Put the dog away while the baby fed and
* Block the television because the baby isn't "allowed" to watch tv.

I am so very over this.

Ollie is still barky - which is for sure on us for being bad dog owners. But she had her husband walk in to the house, say "Baby is sleeping. Can you lock up Ollie so he doesn't wake her up?" Didn't say hi, didn't even come ALL THE WAY into the house.

Aims, that is bullshit. They should stay home.

Block the television because the baby isn't "allowed" to watch tv.

OK, this is ridiculous.

Wow. Just wow.

Well, that would be an invitation I would not extend again.

I ask everyone who enters my home if they have a problem with dogs. Clients get a mega-pass on issues such that the little guy does not come into the office. In 10 years, I've only ever had one person completely reject having him around.

BUT, if someone opted into a social event at my house, knowing that Bartleby is a resident, and asked me to 'put him away', I'd suggest that their legitimate discomfort would be immediately alleviated by their departure.

Ollie is the epitome of bad dog manners - which is totally on us. He jumps up on people, he licks, he's overly affectionate. But in an attempt to mitigate that, we tell EVERYONE - push him down if you don't want him. He'll settle in a bit and sleep the rest of the night. I don't mind people coming over not wanting to be inundated with the love that is The Beagle. But they KNEW him when they ASKED if we could make this gaming HQ.

Yeah, that's pretty rude, Aims. Whenever my friends come over with kids, I put the dog outside or in the basement because he herds and he bit a child once (it was a food related incident, and I have been training him more, but better safe than sorry, right?)

I can see MAYBE saying something like "I am nervous about starting to socialize Baby X with dogs? Can we introduce them, and then could Ollie go outside for 45 minutes so Baby can wander for a bit and get some energy out before we tuck him in the pack and play?"

But the TV thing? WTF-EVER. Get a sitter if your darling is so easily corrupted?

What has happened to common courtesy?

A guest comes IN making demands on your family and space?

Really?

I have a friend whose dog is as sweet as he is huge and undisciplined. This is the friend who asked me to train her dog because she has neither the time, nor the inclination to do so herself (I declined). She seems put out when I ask her to leave her dog at home when she comes to visit, despite the fact that he as peed every time he's been in my house.

I figure that turn about is fair play, I don't even suggest bringing Bartleby when she invites us to her house...even when she specifically asks if he can come. Not. gonna. do. it.